The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-01-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
Fe!lOp Citizen, Of the Senate
and House of Representatires:

Fellop Citizens Of the Senate
and House Of Repressntatires:
Our deep and heart.f felt gratitude is due to
that Almighty Power which has bestowed
upon US such varied and numerous blessings
throughout the past year. The general health
of the country has been excellent; our har-
vests have been unusually plentiful. and pros.
pcrity smiles throughout the land. Indeed,
Notwithstanding our dement's, we have much
reason to believe, from the past events in our
history, that we have enjoyed the special rro-
lection of Divine Providence ever since our
origin as nation. We have been exposed
to many threatening and alarming difficulties
in our progress but on each successive oc-
casion tho impending cloud has been dssi-
patod at the moment il appeared ready to
burst upon our head, and the danger to our
institutions has passed away. May we ever
be under the divine guidance and protection.
The Harper's Ferry Affair.
Whilst it is the duty Of thePresident "from
time to time to give to Congress information
of the state of the Union," shall not refer
in detail to the recent sad and bloody occur
rences at Harrer's Ferry. Still, IL is proper
to observe that these events, however bad
and cruel in themselves, derive their chief
importance from the apprehension that they
are but symptoms of an incurable disease in
the public mind, which may break out in
still more dangerous outrages, and terminate
at last in an open war by the North to abol-
ish slavery in the South. Whilst, for myself,
/ entertain no such apprehension, they ought
to afford a solemn warning to US all to beware
Of the approach Of danger. Our Union Is
q stake OF such inestimable value as to de-
mand our constant and watchful vigilance Tor
its preservation. In this view let me imp'ore
my countrymcn, North and South, to culti-
yate the ancient feeling of mutual forbcarance
and good will towards each other, and strive
to allay the demon spirit Of sectional hatred
and strife now alive in the land. This advice
proceeds from the heart Of an old public func-
tionary whose services commenced in the last
generation, among the wise and conservative
statesmen of that day, now nearly all passed
away, and whose first and dearest earthly
wish is to leave his country tranquil, prosper
Gus. united and powerful.
We ought to reflect that in this age, and
especially in this country, there is an inces-
SAINT fux and reaux Of public opirion. Ques-
tons which, in their day, assumed most
threatening aspect, have now nearly gone
from the memory of men. They are "vol-
canos burnt out, and on the lava and ashes,
and squalid scoriae of old eruptions, grow the
peaceful olive, the cheering vine, and the sus.
tanning corn" Such, in my opinion, will
prove to be the fate Of the present sectional
excitement, should those who wisely seek to
apply the remedy, continue always to coniine
their efforts within the pale of the Constitu-
ton. Ii this course be pursued, the existing
agitation on the subject of domestic slavery,
like everything human, will have its day, and
give place TO other and less threatening con-
troversics. Public opinion in this country is
all powerful. and when il reaches dangerous
excess upon any question, the good sense OF
the people will furnish the corrective, and
bring it back within safe limits. Still, TO
hasten the auspicious result, at the present
crisis, we ought to remember that every ra-
tional creature must be presumed to intend the
natural consequences OF his own teachings.
Those who announce abstract doctrines
subversive OF the Constitution and the Union
must not be surprised should their heated
partisans advance one step further, and at
tempt by violence to carry these doctrines in
to practical effect. In this view Of the SUBJ
ject it ought never to be forgotten that, how
ever great may have been the political adyan-
tages resulting from the Union TO every por-
ton of our common country, these will all
prove to be as nothing should the time ever
arrive when they cannot be enjoyed without
serious danger to the personal safety Of the
people Of fifteen members OF the coniederacy.
II the peace OF the domestic ireside through
out these States should ever be iuvaded-if
the mothers OF families within this extensive
region should not be able TO retire TO rest at
night without suffering dreadful apprehen-
sions OF what may b. their own late and that
of their children before morning--it would be
vain to recount to such apcople the political
benefits which result TO them from the Union.
Self preservation il the first instinct Of na
ture; and therefore any state OF society in
which the sword Is all the time suspended
over the heads of the people. must at last be.
come intolerablc. But i indulge in no such
gloomly forebodngs. On the contrary,
firmly believe that the events at Harper's
Ferry, by causing the people to pause and re-
fect upon the possible peril to their cherish.
ed institutions, will be the means, under
Providence, Of allaying the existing excite!
ment, and preventing future outbreaks Of
similar character. They will resolve that the
Constitution and the Union shall not en-
dansered by rash counsels, knowing that,
should 1.-THE silver cord be loosed or the gold
en- bowl DO broken at the fountain"
human power could never reunite the scat.
tered and hostile fragments.
Siarery m tie Territories.
i cordially congratulate you upon the fnal
settlement BY the Supreme Court Of the United
States Of the question Of slavery in the Terri
tories, which had presented an aspect so truly
for midable at the commencement Of my ad-
The right has been established
Of every citizen to take his property Of any
kind. Including slaves, into hecominon Terrific
ries belonging equally to oil the States Of the
To have 1t protected there un-
der the federal constitution. Neither Congress