Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-12-14
LAST ANNUAL MESSAGE
OF
JAMES B u G H A N A W
OF THE UNITED STATES,

AAALAAO GAtA -
FELLow-CITIzEHs or THE SENATE AND HOUSE or
REPRESENTATIVES Throughout the year since oar
last meeting, the country has been ehtmeheiy PLos,
porous in ali its material interests. Inc general
health has been excellent, our haIvests have been
abundant and plenty smiles throughout the land
Cur commerce and manufactures have beer prose-
euted with energy and industry, and have sieiasd
fair and ample returns. In Short no RaSloh ~ .o
tide OF time has ever presented spectacle OF greater
material prosperity than we have done until Within
a very recent period. -
Why is K then, that discomfort now SO eAteA-
sively prevails and the Union of the States, Whicn
is the source of all these blessings is threatened
with destruction7 The long continued and inten-
perate interference OF the Northern people Win
The question Of slavery in the Southern States mas
at length produced its natural effects. Inc dlHer-
ent sections of the Union are now arrayed against
each other and the time has arrived, so much
dreaded by the Father Of his Country when hostile
geographical parties have heen formed have
long foreseen and often forewarned my countrymen
of the now impending danger. This does not pro-
ceed solely from the claim on the part OF Congress
or the terrofia legislatures to exclude slavery from
the Territories, nor from the efforts OF different
States to defeat the execution Of the Fugitive
Slave law All or any of those evils might have
been endured By the Sonth without danger TO the
Union (as others have been, in the hope tnat time
aud reflection might apply the remedy. Inc I'M
mediate peril arises not so much from these causes
as from the fact that the ncessant and violent agi
taton of the slavery question throughout the North
for the last quarter of century has at length pro-
duce4 its nalign influence upon the slaves ana IN
spired them with vague notions oil reeooin'-
11ence sense of security no longer 4Xlsts around
the family altar This feeling Of peace at nome
has given place to apprehenscns of servile insur-
rectiop MANY a Hnatron throughout the South re-
fires at night in dread of what may beiaH herself
and her children bafoTe the morning Shoula thlS
apprehension Of domestic danger, whether real or
srd fufap itself until III Shall
pervade the masses OF the Southern people, then
flsynion will become inevitable. Self-preSerya-
ton is the frs. law of nature, and has been i'm
llanted in the heart of man by his Creator foF the
wisest purpose; and no pohtlcal union, however
fraught with blessings ami benefits in ai other re-
speets can long continue if the necessary eonse-
Guence be to render the homes and hresldes OF
nearly half the parties to il hamtualiy and hope
lessly insecure Sooner or later the bonds OF such
nfon mist be severed. II is my eOEspIeSsSn faS
this fatal period has not yet arrived and my prayer
10 God is that He would preserve the Constitution
and the Union throughout all generations.
But let Us take warning in time, and remove the
eaUse of danger 1t cannot be denied that, for i've
and twenty Years the agitation at the orth against
slavery in the South, has been incessant. In 1888
pictorial handbils, and iEfamnatory appeals, were
circulated extensively throughout the South, o!
character to excite the passions OF the slaves and
IN the language of General Jackson, ''to stimulate
them to insnrfection, and produce all the horrors
of a servie war; This agitation has ever since
teen confined by the public press, by the proceed
ings of State and County conventions, ana oy
sbulition sermons and lectures. The time OF Con-
gross has been occupied in violent speeches on this
1eyer-ending subject; and appeals in pamphlet and
other forms, endorsed by distinguished names, have
been sent forth from this central point, and spread
broadcast over the Union.
How easy would it lie for the American people to
settle the slavery question forever and to restore
peace and harmony to this distracted country.
Thew and they alone. can do II. All that is
necessary to accomplish the object and all for
which the slave States have ever contended, is to
e let alone, and permitted TO manage their domes-
tic institutions in their own way. As sovereign
States they aud they alone, are responsible be-
fore God and tie world for slavery existing among
them For this, the people of the North are not
more responsible, and have no more right to inter-
fere than with similar institutions in Russia or IN
Brazil Upon their good sense and patriotic for
bearanee / confess stll greatly lely Without
their aid it is beyond the power OF any President,
no matter what may be bis own political proclivi-
ties, to restore peace and harmony among tne
States. Wisely limited and restrained as is MS
power, under cur Constitution and laws, ne alone
can accomplish bat little for good or for evil, on
such g momentous question.
And this brings me to observe that the election
Of any one Of our fellow-citizens TO the otice OF
President does not of itself afford Just cause ior
dissolving the Union. This is more especially true
if his election bas been effected by mere pluraiI-
ty, and net majority, of the people, and has re-
suited from transient and temporary causes, Which
may probably never again occur In order 10
ipstify a resort TO revolutionary resistance, the
Federal Government must be guilty Of deliberate,
palpable and dangerous exercise" OF powers not
granted by the Constitution. The late preSideH-
tial election however, has been held IN strict con-
formity with its express provisions. How, then,
can the result justify revolution TO destroy this
very Constitution Reason, justice, regard for
the Constitution all require that We shall wait for
some overt and dangerous act on the part OF the
President elect before resofting to such remedy.
II ID said however, that The antecedents OF the
President elect have been sufficient 10 justify the
fears Of the South that he viii attempt to invade
their constitutional rights. But are such appre-
tensions of contingent danger in the future snfh-
cient TO iustify the immediate destruction OF the
nollest system of government ever devised by
mCrtals? From the very nature OF his oi1ee, and
Its high responsibilities, he must necessarily De con-
segvatiye. The stern duty of administering the
yssr and complicated concerns Of this Government
affords in itself a guarantee that he viii not at
tempt anv violation of clear constitutional Hgnt
After all he is no more than the Chief executive
officer Of the Government. His province is not to
make, but to execute, the laws; aud ii IS re-
srkable fact in our history that, notwithstanding
the repeated effoFts OF the ant-slaFeTy party, ne
single act has ever passed Congress, unless we may
possibly except Ehs Missouri Compromise, impair
ing ia the slightest degree, the rights of the Seuth
70 taelr p-operty In slaves. And IL may also DC
observed, Judging from present Indications, that no
possibility exists OF the passage of such act, by
majority Of both Houses, either in the present OF
the next Congress. Surely, under these circum.
Stances, We ought to be restrained from present
ton ~ the frecept of Him who spake as never mar
spoke, thst .lspficient unto the day In the eYi
thereof Tie day Of eyll may never come, un
less ne shall rashly bring it upon ourselves.
Ii is alleged as one cause for immediate seces
Sion That tie Southern States are denied equa
nights wtA he other States in the common Terri
tories. But hy what authority are these denied
Not oy Congress, which has never passed, and
oeheYeaneTer viii pass, any act to exclude slavers
1rom these Territories and certainly not by tbs