Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-12-06
Presidents Message.

abundant, and plenty smiles throughout the
land. Our commerce and manufactures have
been prosecuted with energy and industry, and
have Welded fair and ample returns 10 short,
no nation in the tide of time has ever presen-
ted spectacle Of greater material prosperity
than we have done until within very recent
period.
Why is it, then, that discomfort now so ex-
tensively prevails, and the Union OF the States,
which is the source of all these blessings, is
threatened with obstruction? The long-con-
tinued and Incorporate interference OF the
Northern people with the question Of Slavery
in 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 Fathers Of our Country, when hostile geo.
graphical parties have been formed | have
dong forseeu aud often fOrewarned my country
men of the now impending danger. This
does not proceed solely from the claims on the
part of Congress or the territorial Legislature
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 these evils might have been
endured by the South without danger TO the
Union (aS others have been in the hope that
time and reflection might apply the remedy.
The immediate peril arises not so much from
the fact that the nCesSant and violent agita-
tion of the Slavery question throughout the
North for the last quarter Of century, has
at length produced its maign influence on the
slaves, and inspire them with vague notions of
freedom. Hence sense Of security no lon.
ger exists around the family altar. The feel
Jag of peace at home has given place to ap-
prehensons of servile insurrecton. Many a
matron throughout the South retires at night
in dread of what may befal herself and her
children before the morning. Should this ap.
prehension Of domestic danger, whether real
or imaginary, extend and intensity itself until
il shall preVade the masses Of the Southern
people then diSuuon will become inevitable.
Selfpreservaton is the first law Of nature and
has been implanted in the heart of man by
his Creator for the WiSeSt purpose and no
political union, however fraught with blessings
and benefits in all other respects, can long
continue, If the necessary consequence be to
render the homes and the hresdes Of nearly
half the parties to it ithabitnally and hopeleSSIy
insecure Sooner or later the bonds Of such
IL Union must beSevered. It is my conviction
that this fatal period has not yet arrived and
my prayer to God is, that be would preserve
the Constitution and the Union throughout
all generations.
But let US take warning in time, and re-
move the cause Of danger 1t cannot be de
MED that, for FIVE and twenty years, the agi-
tation at the North against Slavery in the
South has been incesSant. In 1885, pictorial
handbills and inAammatory appeals were cir
IL, e
q character to excite the passions OF the slaves,
and, in the language OF Gen. jackson, g to
stimulate them to nSaTcctioD, and produce all
the horrors Of SerViie war; This agitation
has ever since been continued by the public
press by the proceedings Of State and Coun-
ty Conventions, and BY Abolition sermons and
and lectures. The time Of Congress has been
occupied in violent speeches on this never
ending subject, and appeals in pamphlet and
other forms, indorsed by distinguished name,
have beeu sent forth from this central point,
and spread broadcast over the Union
How easy would it be for the American peo-
pie to settle the Slavery question forever and
10 restore peace and humanity to this distrac-
ted country.
They and they alone, can do it, All that
is necessary to accomplish the object, aud all
ior which the Slave States have ever conten-
ded, is to be let alone, and permitted to man
age their domestic institutions in their owu
way. As sovereign States, they, and they
alone. are responsible before God and the
world for the Slavery existing among them.
For this, the people of tde North are not
uore responsible, and have no more right to
interfere than with similar institutions in Rus
sia Or in Brazil Upon their good sense and
patriotic forbearance l confess / still! rely
Without their aid, it is beyond the power Of
any President, no matter what may be bis
political proclivities, to restore peace and har
mony among the States. Wisely limited and
restrained as is his power, under the Constitu-
tion and laws, he alone can accomplish but
little, for good or for evil, on such momen
tous question.
And this brings NE to observe that the
election of any one Of our !Iow-citizens to
the Office of President does not of itself afford
just cause for dissolVng the Union. This is
more especially true if his election has been
effected by mere plurality, and not by a ma
jority Of the people, and has resulted from
transient and temporary causes, which may
probably never again occur. In order to JUS
tify resort to revolutionary resistance, the
Federal Government must be guilty Of de-
lberate, palpabIe, and dangerous exercise " Of
powers not granted by the Constitution. The
late Presidential election, however, has been
held in strict conformity with itssexpress pro.
visions. How, then, can the result justify a
revolution TO destroy this very Constitution :?
all require that we shall wait for some overt
and dangerous act on the part of the Presi
dent elect before resortiDg to such a remedy
1t is said, however, that the antecedents Of
the President elect have been sufficient to
Justify the fears Of the South that he viii! at
tempt to invade their constitutional RIGHTS