The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-12-12
IpRRsGDENT's MIEssAGHs
Feiiow Citizens cf The Senate,
and House Of Representatives. /.

ing, the country mas been eminently pr0spe-
rous in all its material interests. The gener-
alhealth has been excellent, our haryests have
been abundant, and plenty smiles throughout
the land. Our commerce and manufactures
have been prosecuted with energy and indus
TRY, and have yielded fair and ample returns.
Ia short, no nation in the tide of time has
ever presented a spectacle Of greater materi-
al prosperity than we have done until within
a very recent period.
Why is IL, then, that discomfort now so
Extensively prevails, and the Union of the
States, which is the source of all these bles-
sings, is threatened with destructions The
long continued and intemperate interference
OF the Northern people with the question Of
slavery 10 the Southern States has at length
produced its natural effects. The different
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 been form
ed. have long foreseen and often fore
warned my countrymen Of the now impend-
ing danger. This does not proceed solely
from the claim on the part Of Congress or
the Territorial Legislatures to exclude sla-
very from the Territories, nor from the ef-
/ forts Of different States to defeat the execu-
tion Of the fugitiye-slaye law. All or any Of
these evils might have been endured by the
South without danger to the Union, (as 9TH
ers have been,) in the hope that time and re-
Election might apply the remedy. The i'm
mediate peril arises not 80 much from these
causes as from the fact that the incesssnt
and violent agitation Of the slavery question
/ throughout the North for the last quarter Of
a century, has al length produced its malign
influence on the slaves, and inspired them
with vague notions Of freedom. Hence a
sense Of security no longer exists around the
family altar. This feeling Of peace al home
has given place to apprehensions Of seryile
insurrection. Many matron throughout the
South retires at night in dread Of what may
befall herself and her children before the
morning. Should this apprehension Of do
nestle danger, whether real or imaginary,
extend and intensity itself until il shall per-
wade the masses Of the Southern people, then
disunion will become inevitable. Selfpre-
ser,ation is the first law Of nature, and has
been implanted in the heart Of man by his
Creator Tor the w'sest purpose; and no poll
tical union, however fraught with blessings
and benefits in all other respects, can long
continue, il the necessary consequence be TO
render the homes aud the fTesides Of nearly
halt the parties to il habitually and hopeless
III insecure. Sooner or later the bonds of
such a Union must be severed. II is my
conviction that this fatal period has not vet
arrived and my prayer 10 God i that lie
would preserve the Constitution and the I'M
ion throughout all generations.
But let Us take warning in time, and re-
move the cause of danger. II cannot be de-
MED that, for FIVE aud twenty years, the agi.
tation al the North against slavery in the
south has been lncessant. In 1858 pictorial
hand-bills. and inilammatory appeals, we're
circulated extensively throughout the South,
Of a character 10 excite the passions Of the
slaves; and. III the Language % General Jack
son, +" to stimulate them 10 iDsurrection, aud
produce all the horrors Of a sersile war;"
This agitation has ever since been continued
BY the public press, by the proceedings Of
State and county conventions, and by aboli-
tion sermons aud lectures The time Of Con.
gress has been occupied in violent speeches
on this ncycr.ending subject; and appeals in
pamphlet aud other forms, endorsed by dis.
tinguishcd names, have been sent forth from
this central point, and spread broadcast over
the Union.
How easy would il be for the American
people 10 settle the slavery question forever,
and 10 restore peace and harmony to this dis
tracted country.
They, aud they alone. can do IL. All that
il ncce@ary 10 accomplish the object. aud
ali ior which the slave States have ever con-
tended, Is 10 be let alone, and permitted TO
manage their domestic institutions IN their
avn way. A. sovereign States, they, aud
they alone. are responsible before God aud
the world for the slavery existing among
them. For this, the people 81 the North sre
not more responsible. aud have mo- more right
to interfere. than with similsr institutions 10
Russia or in Brazil. Upon their good sense
aud patriotic iorbearance ! confess ] still
greatly RELY. Without their aid, il is beyond
the power of any President, no matter what
may be bis own political procli,itics. % r..
store peace aud harmony among the States.
Wisely limited and restrained as is his pow
er, under our constitution and laws. he alone
can accomplish but little. for good or for evil,
on such momentous question.
And this brings me to observe that the
election Of any one Of our fellow citizens
10 the Office Of President does not Of itself
afford Just cause for dissolying the Union.
This Is more especially true il his election
has been effected BY mere plurality. and
not a majority. of the people, and has result
ed from transient aud temporary causes,
which may probably never again occur. IN
order 10 Justify resort to revolutionary re.
sistance, the Federal Government must be
guilty Of "a deliberate, palpablc, and dan.
gerous exercise of powers not granted. by
the Constitution. The late presidential elee.
ton, howeyee, has been held in strict confor-
Unity with It's express provisions. How. then,
can the result justify revolution to destroy
this very Constitutioni Reason, justice,
regard Cor The Constitution. all require that
We shall wait for some overt and dangerous