Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-01-12
Governors Message.
FROM FIRST PAGE.

bic Degree attracted the attention OF Tue
Nation, and which, from the nature and ex-
tent of the discussions in Congress, has been
productive of much elimination and recrImina-
ticn between the various sections OF our CON-
mon country Popular Sovereignty having
finally prevailed, in the full free and fair ad-
option of the fundamental law OF the Territory
according to the wishes. of the people, this
vexed and dangerous question, in that Terri
tory, NAV now considered as satisfactorily and
perpetually settled
Copies of the correspondence between the
Governor of Virginia and the Governor of
Pennsylvania, on the subject of the recent
outrage at Harper's Ferry, are herewith trans
mitted to the Legislature. The letter address
ed by the Governor of Virginia to the Cover
nor of Pennsylvania, was missent to Harrison
burg Virginia and hence was not received un-
ill the first day of December, one day before
the execution of John Brown and, therefore
it was impossible to reply to it, by mail, in
time to reach the Governor of Virginia before
the execution. The answer was consequently
sent by telegraph, which will account for its
brevity and sententious character.
The recent seizure of the public property
of the United States at Harper's Ferry, and
the invasion of the State of Virginia, by
small band of desperadoes, with an intention
to excite the slave population to insurrection,
have drawn attention to the dangers which
beset our federal relations. 1t is a source of
satisfaction to know that the authorities of
Virginia possessed the means and the deter
mination to punish Offenders with promptness
and justice that the military force of the
United States was a power of Immediately
available to aid in putting down the outbreak
against the public peace that the slave pop
ulaton were contented with their condition,
and unwilling to unite with disordery white
men in acts of treason and murder ;-and that
the great masses of the people have no SYM
pathy, whatever, with any attack upon the
rights and institutions of any of the States,
and have deep and abiding devotion to our
great and glorious Union. To us, as Penn
Sylvanians, it is gratifying to believe that the
citizens of this Commonwealth have not, in
any manner, participated in this unlawful pro-
ceedings, and to know that when some of the
guilty perpetrators were arrested, within our
Jurisdiction, they were promptly surrendered
to the justice of the offended and injured
State
The several States of this Union are in
dependent, except so far as they have granted
certain enumerated powers to the Federal
Government. In cases not provided for in
Federal Constitution, the several States, in
their relations to each other, ought to be gov
erned by the principles which regulate the con-
duct of civilized nations These principles,
forbid, in all nations, "every evil practice
tending to excite disturbance in another
State )" and are founded on the maxim, that
" different nations ought, in time of peace, to
do one another all the good they can, without
prejudicing their real interests" This maxim,
recognized by all civilized governments, ap-
plies with peculiar force to the several States
of this Union, bound together, as they are,
by a sacred compact for mutual support and
protection and, therefore, any attempt in one
State to excite insurrection in another, is an
offence against all the States, because all are
bound by the Constitution to put down such
disturbance and the act of Congress author
ICES the President of the United States to call
out the militia of the several States for the
purpose. 1t is a high offence against the peace
of our Commonwealth for dsorderly persons
within our jurisdiction, to combine together
for the purpose of stirring up insurrectiOn, in
any Of the States, or to induce the slaves in
the Southern States to abScond from their
masters and it would be proper, in my judg
ment for the General assembly TO consider
whether additional legislation may not be
necessary to insure prompt punishment of such
offenders against our peace aud security.
In determining our relative duties towards
our sister States, the morality of servitude is
not an open question, for we are bound by the
legal and moral obligation of the compact of
the Union, under which we have been brought
IpAo apJ ArunI ipJanop1apf
States, as we'll as by the principles OF inter
national law, to respect the institutions which
the laws of the several States recognize, and
in no other way can we faithfully fulfill our
obligations, as members Of this cOnfede:acy.
While | entertain no doubt that the great
Republican experiment on this continent, so
happily commenced, and carried forward to
its present exalted position, in the eyes of the
world, will continue, under the Providence of
God, to be successful to the latest generations
it is the part of wisdom and patriotism to be
watchful and vigilant and to carefully guard
a treasure so priceless. Let modeate counsels
preyail-let a spirit of harmony and good
will, and national fraternal sentiment be cu-
tivated among the people, everywhere-No:th
and Southland the disturbing elements which
temporarily threaten our Union, will now, as
they have" always heretofore, assuredly pass
away.
Pennsylvania, in the past, has performed
her partiwith unfaltering irmaess-let her now,
ard in the future, be ever ready to discharge
her confederate duties with unfinching in.
tegrity Then will her proud position entitle
her, boldly and effectualy to rebuke, and as
sist in crushing, treason, whether it shall
raise its crest iD other States, in the guise Of
fanatical and irrepre ssible conflict, between
the North and South or assume the equally
reprehensible form Of notification, secession,
and dissolution of the Union. Her central
geographical position, stretching from the
bay of Delaware to the lakes-with her three
millions of conservative nonulation-entitles