Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-01-05
: PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Numerous blessings throughout the past The general
Reen nnusually plentiful and prosperity smiles throughout
the land Indeed Notwithstanding our demerlts we nave
ncb reason to from past events in our history that
we have enjoyed the special protection of Divine Providence
ever since origin nation we nave Deen exposed
to many threatening and alarming dhGues IN our pro-
res but on each successive occasion the impending cloud
has been dsspaed at the moment 1T appearea feaoy 10
burst upon head and the danger to our mas
passed away May we ever be under the DIVINE guidance
Whist is the duty of the from time to time to
give to Congress information of the state of the Union shall
@ had AND cruel in themselves derive their mpo
incuabe in the public mind which may break out IN
war by North abolish slavery in the South Whilst for
solemn warning to us al to Oh me to demand onr
vew implore countmen North and Sopt 10 cG
towards each ether and strive to aay the demon spirit OF sec
ceeds from the heart of public unconary whose service
the last generation among the wise and coser
hose s and dearest earthly wish country
We Ongh reflect that in this age and especially IN this
country there incessanux and refqx of public opn
on Questions which in their day assumed mot
ing aspect have nearly gone from the memory OF men
They volcanoes burnt out and on the lava ana anes
and squad score of old eruptlons grow ne h
the cheering vine, and the sustaining corn oucn ~ my
opinion will prove to be the fate OF the present econal
excitement should those who wisely seek 10 Apply Inc rem
edy always conne their efforts within the pale
ing agitation on the subject of domestic slavery like every
thing human will have its day and give place to other and
less FeeReg ana reaches
upon any question: the good of the people will furnish
the corrective and bring back within safe limits STILL to
hasten this suspicious result at the present crisis we ought
to remember that every rational creature must be presumed
to intend natural consequences of his teachings
Those who abstract doctrines subvesve OF the
Constitution and the Unon must not be surprised should
by violence carry these doctrines into practical ehec-
In this view of the subject ought to be forgotten
that however great may have been the political advantages
resulting from the Union to every portion OF our common
country would all prove to be nothing should the
time arrive they cannot be oyed without ser
Gus danger the personal safety of the people OF hteen
members of the conederacy the peace Of the
the mothers Of families within this extensive region should
full approximations of what may be their own fate and that
of their children before the mornlng would pc vain TO
to them from the Union sefpreservation the first in
snct of nature and therefore any state of society IN
athe people last become ntoerabe. But indulge
in no such gloomy forebodings On the contrary hrmy
the people to pause reflect upon the possible per
their cherished Institutions will be the MEANS IN:
der Providence of alayng the existing excitement and
preventing future outbreaks similar character They
will resolve that the Constitution and the Union shall not be
endangered by rash counsel, knowing that should the
silver cord be oosed or the golden bowl be broken
at the fountain" human power could never reune the
cordially congratulate you upon the final settlement by
the Supreme Court the United States of the question OF
slavery i'll the Territories which had presented an aspect so
truly Formidable at the commencement of my admnistra
The right has established of every citizen to
take his property kind including slaves into the
mon Territories belonging equally to all the States OF the
COnfederaCy there under the Fed
era Constitution Neither Congress nor territorial egs
ature any human power has any authority to annu or
impair this vested right. The supreme judicial tribunal OF
the country, winch IS coordinate branch OF the Govern
ment has sanctioned and affirmed these principles of
sttutiona law 50 manesy Just IN themselves ana 50 Wen
calculated TO promote peace and harmony among the states
1t striking proof of the of justice whchis inherent
in people, that the property slaves has never been
disturbed to my knowledge, IN any OF the territories
Even throughout the late troubles Kansas there has not
been any attempt, as Crediby informed, to interfere
in single instance with the right of the Had any
such attempt been made, the judiciary would doubtless
this hereafter it will then be time enough strengthen
their hands by further legislation Had been decided that
either Congress the territorial legislature possess the
power to annu or impair the right to property slaves the
S Se g gasg BE for ) BE T tie %
at each successive election and the sacred rights OF
for the time being the result The agitation would thus
be rendered incessant whilst the territorial condition
mained and its banefu influence would keep alive dan
gerou excitement among the people Of the several States
Thus has the status of Territory during the inermed
State rrevocably fixed by the final decision of the
Supreme Court Fortunate has this been for the prosperity
of the Territories we'll the tranquility of the States
Now emgrants from the North and the South the East and
the West will meet in the Territories platform,
having brought with them that species of property best
adapted in their opinion, to promote their welfare
From natural causes the slavery question will in each
virtually settle ITSELF and before the Territory pre-
pared for admission State into the Union, this decision
way the other, will have been foregone conclusion
Meanwhile the settlement OF the Territory will proceed
without Interruption and its progress prosperity
will not be endangered or retarded by violent political stlug
giles.
When in the progress of events, the inhabitants of any
Territory shall have reached the number required to form
State they will then proceed in reguer manner and in
the exercise Of the rights of popular sovereignty, to form
constitution preparatory to admission into the Union. AT
ter this has been DONE to employ the language of the Kan
and Nebraska act they shall be received into the IN
ion with without slavery their constitution may pre-
scribe at the time of their admission"
This sound principle has happily been recognised, in
form or other by an almost unanimous vote of both houses
of the last Congress.
All lawful means at my command have been employed and
sinai continue to be employed to execute the laws against
examination of our coasts and thorough investigation of
the subject have not been able discover that any
slaves have been imported into the United States except
the cargo by the Wanderer numbering between three and
have Paen anGSe IN Inns naWI enterprise
cess as their crimes have deserved number of them
Our history proves that the Fathers Republic in
advance OF all other nations condemned the African slave
trainers of the Constitutions to deprive Congress Of the
power to prohibit " the migration or importation of such
persons as any OF the States, existing shall think
per to admit prior to the thousand eight hun
1t will be seen that this restriction on the power of Con-
gess confined to such States only might think proper
to admit the importation of slaves 1t did extend to
other States to the trade carried abroad According
y we find that early the 22d March, l794 Congress
passed an act imposing penalties and punshments
upon citizens and residents of the United States who should
engage in this tradO between foreign nations The prov
ons OF this act were extended and enforced by the act of
the Tito S Ssrego for their psne to u T..
prohibit, by their own laws this trade any time they
@ ere @ aH e
ing the greatest number of slaves This gave to Congress
~he Immediate power TO act IN regard to all such States be-
they themselves had removed the constitutional bar
rier Congress accordingly passed ac 18th February
18O3 to prevent the importation of certain persons
certain States where by the laws thereof their admissions
prohibited In this matter the importation of African slaves
into the United States was to great extent prohibited
years in advance of 1903.
As the year 1905 approached Congress determined to
suffer this trade to exist even for single day after they had
the power to abolish it, On the End of March, 1907 they
passed act to take effect from and after the day
January, $685., prohibiting the importation of African
slaves into the United States This followed by subse
quent acts of similar character, to which need spe
cay refer Such were the principles and such the prac
tee OF our ancestors more than fifty years ago regard to