The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-12-14
Presidents s Message.
F'llO,O. Citizens of The Senate

Throughout tho year since our last mont. |
ug tue country has boen ominenty pros.
porous in all its material interests 'Tbo
general health has been excellent our har.
Fns's have been abundant, and plenty smiles
throughout tho land. Our commerce and
manufactures have been prosecuted with en-.
ergy and Industry. and have Yielded fair and
ample returns, Iu short, no nation in the
tide OF time has ever presented "A spectacle
OF greater material prosperity than we have
done. until within very recent period
why Ut, then, that discomfort now so
extensively prevails, and the union of States.
which is the source of all these blessings, is
enfeateneo with destruction: Tho long. con-
snuou ana incorporate interference of tho
Northern people with tho question of Sla
very in the Southern States. has at lepotb
produced its natural effects. The d:furont
sections of the Union are now arrived
against each other, and the time has arrived.
20 much dreaded by tho Father of his Coun.
Try, when hostile geographical parties havo
Oeen formed. l have long ioroseen, and
often forowarned my countrymeu of the
now impending danger This does not pro
eeod solely from tho claim on tho part of
Congress or the Territorial legislatures to
exclude Slavery from the Territn"'.S, "oi
from the efforts of ~ Inherent states TO
Law. All or any of these evils might have
boen endured by the South without danger
to tho Union, (as others have beon) in the
hope that time and reflection might apply
the remedy. Tho immediate peril arises
not 80 much from those causes, as from tho
fact that the incessant and violent agitation
of the Slavery question throughout tho
North, for tho last qrarter of a century, has
ct length produced it's malign influence on
the slaves, and inspired them with vague
notions of freedom.
Hence q sense of security no longer OK
lists around the family altar. This feeling of
peace at home has given place to apprehen-
sions of servile insurrection. Many a mat
ron throughout tho South rctires u: night
In dread of what may befall herself and
children before morning. Should this APP
prcheusion Of domestic danger, whether real
or imaginary. extoud and intensity itself IN
til il shall pervade toe masses of the South.
ern people, then disunion will become inev.
liable. Self preservation is the first law of
nature and has boon implanted in tho heart
of man by his Creator for the wisest pur-
pose;and no political union however fraught
with blessings and beucfts to ovory one 10
all other respects, can long continue, if tho
necessary consequence be to render the
homes and firesCos of noary half tho par.
ties to it habitualy aud hopecssiy insecure
Sooner or later tho bonds of such u union
must be severed. 1t is my conviction tha,
this fatal period has not vet arrived; and
my prayer to God is that He would preserve
the Constitution and the Union throughout
all generations.
But let us take warning in time md re-
move the CAUSE of danger. 1t cannot bC
denied that, for five and twenty years, tho
agitation at the North against slavery in
the South has been inccssant. In 1888. pic
torial haudbils and infamma,ory appeal;
were circulated extensively throughout the
South, of q character to excite the passions
of the slaves; and in tho language OF Con
Jackson.'to stimulate them to insurrccton
and to produce al! tho horrors of eervilt
war" This agitation has ever since beer
continued by the public pross,-by tho pro
oeedings OF state and county conventions
and by abolition sermons and lecturos -
Tho time of Congress has been occupied il
violent speeches on tho ncver-endinG sub
5ect; and appeals in pamphlets and othe
. forms, endorsed by distinguished EGmes
havo been sent forth from this central point
and spread broadcast over the Union.
How easy would it be for the Amoricnr
people TO settle the slavery question foreve
and restore peace and harmony to this dis
tracted country!
They, and they alone, can do it. All tina
Is necessary to accomplish the object, ant
all for which tho slave States have ever con
tended, is TO be let alone. and permitted Il
manage their domestic institutions in thei
own way. AS sovereign States, they, ant
they alone, are responsible before God ant
the world for slavery existing among them
For this, the people of the North are no
more responsible, and have no moro right T.
Interfere, than with similar institutions il
Russia or in Brazil. Upon thoir good sens
and patriotic forboarance | confess great
rely. Without their aid, it is beyond th
power of any President, no matter wha
may be his own political procivities, to re
store peace and harmony among tho States
Wisely limited aud restrained as is hi
power, under our Constitution and laws. Il
alone can accomplish but little, for good 0
for evil, on such momentous question.
And this brings mo to observe that th
election of any ono Of our fellow citizens /
the office of President does not of itself al
ford just cause for dissolving tho Union.-
This is more ospec ally true if his electio
was effected by mere plurality and nc
majority of the people, aud has resulte
from transient and temporary causes, whic
probably may novor again occur. Ia orde
TO justify resort to revolutionary resist
ance, the Federal Government must b
guilty of deliberate, palpable and danger
Gus exercise of powers not granted by th
Constitution. The late Presidential elet
tion, however, has been held in strict cor
formity with its express provisions. How
then, can the result justify a revolution I
destroy this very Constitution: ReasoI
justice, regard for tho Constitution all n
quire that we shall wait for some overt an
dangerous act on the part of the Presiden
before resorting to such a remedy.
1t is said, however, that the anteceden
of the President elect have been suficior
10 justify the fears of the South that nc wi
attempt to invade their constitution,
rights. But are such approhensions of col
tingent danger in the future sufficient to ju
tify the immediate destruction of the u,
blest system of government ever devised
mortasf From tho very nature of his o
fee and its high responsibilities, he mu
necessarily be conservative. The stern dut
of administering tho vast and compicate
concerns of this government, affords in i
self guarantee that he will not atteml
any violation of o clear constitutional righ
After all, he Is no more than the chief o
ecutive officer of the Government. II