Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-12-14
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FsHOtV Citizens of The Senate
and House of Representatives /:

Throughout the year since our last
meeting the country has been eminently
prosperous in all its material interests.
The general health has been excellent,
eur harvests have been abundant, and
plenty smiles throughout the land. Our
commerce and manufactures have been
prosecuted with energy aud industry, and
have yielded fair and ample returns. In
short, no nation in the tide Of time has
ever presented a spectacle Of greater
material prosperity than ne have done
until within very recent period.
Why is it, then, that discomfort now so
extensively prevails, and the Union of
the States, which is the source of all
these blessings, is threatened with de-
struction? The long continued and in
temperate interference of the Northern
people with the question Of slavery in
the Southern States has at length pro-
duced its natural effects. The different
sections of the Union are now arrayed
against each other, and the time has ar
rived, SO much dreaded by the Father
of his Country, when hostile geographi-
cal parties have been formed. l have
long foreseen and often forewarned my
countrymen of the now impending dan
ger. This does not proceed solely from
the claim on the part of Congress or the
Territorial Legislatures to exclude slave
~ from the Territories, nor from the eff
forts of the different States to defeat the
fugitive slave law. All or any Of these
evils might have been endured BY the
South without danger to the Union, las
others have been) in the hope that
time and reflection might apply the rem
edy. The immediate peril arises not so
much from these causes as from the fact
that the incessant and violent agitation
of the slavery question throughout the
North for the FAST quarter of century
has at length produced its malign inAu-
enoe on the slaves, and inspired them
with vague notions of freedom.
Hence scene of security no longer
exists around the family altar. This
feeling of peace at home has gwen place
tn apprehensions of serEiie insurrection.
MANY matror throughout the South re-
tires at night in dread of what may be-
fall herself and her children before the
morning. Should this apprehension oil
domestic danger, whether real or imag-
inarv. extend and intensity itself until ii
shall pervade the masses of the South
ern people, then disunion will become in
eyitabIe. Self-preserFation is the frst
law of nature, and has been implanted
in the heart of man by his Creator fol
the wisest purpose; and no politica
uniou, however fraught with blessing;
and benefits in all other respects, car
continue, if the necessary consequence
be to render the homes and the freside:
of nearly half the parties to it habitually
and hopelessly insecure. Sooner or Ia
fer the bonds Of such Union must bt
severed. 1t is my conviction that thi'
fatal period has not yet arrived; and
nv prayer to God is that He would pre-
serve the constitution and the Unior
throughout all generations.
Bul let US take warning in time, ant
remove the cause of danger. 1t can
not be denied that, for five and twenty
wears, the agitation at the North agains
slavery at the South has been incessant
In 1885 pictorial handbills and inham
matory appeals were circulated extensive
Iv througout the South, of charaete
10 excite the passions of the slaves AM
in the language of General Jackson, 1t
stimulate them to insurrrection and pro
duce all the horrors of servile war.
This agitation has ever since been con
tinued by the public press, by the pro
ceediugs Of the State and County Con
vention, and by abolition sermons an
lectures The time of Congress hs
been occupied in violent speeches on thi
never ending subject and appeals j
uhamphleG and other forms, endorsed b
distinguished names, have been sent fort
from this central point, and spread broad
cast over the Union.
How easy would it be for the Amer
can people to settle the slavery questio
for ever, and to restore peace and harms
nv to this distracted country
They, and they alone, can do 1t. a
that is necessary to accomplish the objei
and all for which the slave States haS
ever contended, is TO be let alone, an
and permitted TO manage their domest
institutions in their own way. As so'
ereign States, they and they alone, al
responsible before God and the worl
for slavery existing among them. FL
this, the people Of the North are n
more responsible, and have no mol
right to interfere, than with similar i
stitutions in Russia or in Brazil. UpC
their good sense and patriotic forbearani
confess / still greatly rely. Witho
their aid, it is beyond the power Of ar
President, no matter what may be b
own political proclivities, to restore pea
and harmony among the States Wise
limited and restrained as is power, und
our constitution and laws, he alone C
accomplish but little, for good or for e'
on such momentous question.