The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fsllor- Cihsens Of The Senate
and House Of Representaiires:.

al health has been excellent, our harvests
have been abundant, and plenty smiles thro'-
out the land. Our commerce and manuiac-
tures have been prosecuted with energy and
industry, and have yielded fair and ample
returns. In short, no nation in the tide OF
time has ever presented a spectacle OF great
er material prosperity than we have done I'M
til within very recent period.
Why is it, then, that discomfort now 81
extensively prevails, and the Union OF the
States, which is the source Of all these bless
inys, is threatened with destruction? The
long-eontinucd and incorporate interference
Of the Northern people with the question OF
slavery in the Southern States has al length
produced its natural effects. The diuereh.
sections of the Unionare nowarrayed against
each other, and the time has arrived 80 mueh
dreaded by the Father Of his Country, when
hostile geographical parties have been formed;
I have long foresccn and often iorewarned
INV countrymen Of the now impending dan
ser. This does not proceed solely from the
claim on the part Of Congress or the Terri
torial Legislatures to exclude slavery from
the Territories, nor from the efforts OF dit-
ferent States 10 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 las Others have been), in the hope
that time and reflection might apply the rem
edy. The immediate peril arises not 50 much
FROM these causes US from the fact that the
incessant and violent agitation OF the slavery
question throughout the North Tor the last
quarter of century, has at length produced
its malgu influence on the slaves, and IN
spired them with vague notions OF freedom.
Hence sense Of security no longer exists
around the family altar. This feeling OF
! peace nj home has given place TO apprehen-
| sions of seryile instruction. Many mat
ron throughout the south rctires ut night in
dread of what may beiall herself and her
children before the morning. Should this
apnrehension of domestic danger, whether
real or imaginary, extend and intensity itsel'
until il shall peryadc the masses OF the
Southern people, then disunion will become
inevitable. Sclfpreseryation is the first law
of nature, and has been implanted in the
heart of man by his Creator for the wiscst
purpose: and no political union. however
fraught with blessings and benefits in all 9th
or respects, can long continue, If the necessa-
ryconsequenee be TO render the homes and the
frcsidcs of nearly half the parties to it ha-
bitually and hopclessly insecure. Sooner or
later the bonds of such union must be sew
cred. Ii is my conviction that this fatal pc
riod has not yet arrived; and my prayer to
God is that lie would preserve the Constitu-
ton and the Union throughout all genera
tiOns.
But let us take warning in time, and re-
move the cause OF danger. Ii cannot he de-
MED that, for five and twenty years, the agi.
tation Mt the North against slavery in the
South has been incessant. In 1885 pictorial
handbills and indamDatory appeals were cir
culated extensively throughout the South, OF
character to excite the passions OF the
slaves; and, in the language OF Gen. Jack
son, "to stimulate them 10 resurrection and
produce all the horrors OF seryile war. -
This agitation has ever since been continued
by the public press, by the proceedings OF
State and county conventions, and by aboli-
ton sermons and lectures. The time Of Con-
gress has been occupied in violent speeches
ON this never ending subject; and appeals IN
pamphlet and other forms, endorsed by dis
tinguished names, have been sent forth from
this central point. and spread hs-s.-'s' over
the Union.
How easy would il be for the American
people to settle the slavery question forever,
and to restore peace and harmony to this dis
tracted country They, and they alone, can
do il. All that is necessary to accomplish
the object, and all for which the slave States
have ever contended, is to be let alone, and
permitted to manage their domestic ins.itu-
tlons in their own way. Assoyereign States,
thew, and they alone, are responsible before
J God and the world for slavery existing among
them. For this, the people OF the North
are not more responsible, and have no more
right to interfere, than with similar institu-
tions in Russia or in Brazil. Upon their
good sense and patriotic forbearance con-
lcss still greatly rely. Without their aid,
il is b,yond the power Of any President, no
matter what may be his own political pro-
cliyities, TO restore peacean harmony among
the States. Wisely limited and restrained
as is his power, under our constitution and
Z laws, he alone can accomplish but little, for
good or for evil, on such momentous ques-
ton.
And this brings me to observe that the
election Of any one OF our fellow-citizens to
the Office of President, does not Of itself af-
ford Just Gauss for dissolving the Union
This is more especially true If his election
has been effected by mere plurality and not
n majority Of the people, and has resulted
from transient and temporal causes, which
nav probably never again occur. In order
70 Justify a resort to revolutionary resistance,
tie federal government must be guilty Of q
deliberate, palpable, and dangerous exercise
| of powers not granted by the Constitution.
The late Presidential election, however, has
been held in strict conformity with its cx.
press provisions. How, then, can the result
Justify resolution to destroy this very Con-
stitution? Reason, justice, u regard for the
Constitution, all require that we shall wait
for some overt and dangerous act on the part
of the President before resOrtins to such a
remedy.
II Is said, however, that the antecedents
; OF the President elect have been sufficient g
Justify the fears Of the South, that he will
attempt 20 invade their constitutional rights,
Bot are such apprehensons OF contingent
danger in the future sufficient TO justify the
immediate destruction Of the noblest system
of government ever devised by mortals ,
From the very nature OF his Office and 10
HIGH responsibilities, he must necessarily be
conservative. The stern duty of administer
ing the vast and complicated concerns of this
government, affords in itself n guarantee that
he will not attempt any violation of clear
constitutional right. After all, be is no
more than the chief executive officer of the
government. His province is not to make,
but 10 execute the laws; and IL is remark
able fact in our history that, notwithstand-
ing the repeated efforts Of the anti-slayery
party, no single act has ever passed Con-
gress, unless we may possibly except the Mis-
souri, Compromise, impairing in the slightest
degree the rights of the South to their prop
erty in slaves. And it may also be observed,
judging frum present indications, that no
probability exists Of the passage Of such an