Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-12-13
THE MESSAGE.

we presume our TedueTS nave ere this salts
ned their curiosity with regard to this docu-
ment. To the anxious expectancy with which
its coming was watched, it brings no degree
OF relief, and the general feeling in regard to
II even among members of the party is one of
disappointment. He evidently desires to avoid
all responsibility during his term of Office,
hoping that by pursuing line of policy which
may tend to tranquilize both sections for the
time, his few remaining days in Office may be
quiet ones and that the final settlement of the
difficulties may fall upon his successor. He is
true to his principles in ringing the changes
upon Northern aggression, holding up as the
cause of all this trouble, northern agitation
and the passage of acts rendering void the
Constitutional provisions for the rendition of
fugitive slaves. The implication is that the
North has made the agitation of the slavery
question profession. This is totally unfoun-
ded in point of fact. With the exception OF
O few radicals in the North, the people
cared little about the slavery question till upon
the nefariouS repeal of the Missouri Compro.
mise-a peaceful settlement of o quarter of q
eentury's duration the attempt at coercion of
the popular will in Kansas, intensified by the
Lecompton fraud and later the Announcement
Of the doctrine that the constitution itself car
ried the peculiar Institution into the Ter
ritories, feeling of apprehension arose in the
Northern mind as to how far these aggres.
sions night continue, which has resulted in the
constitutional election of man pledged 10
bring back the administration of the govern
ment TO its old landmarks. This, in fact, is
the sole cause of the excitement at the South
The personal liberty bills, which were not in-
tended as a hndrance to the operations of the
Fugitive Slave law, but only as q protection
TO freemen against the two hasty operations OF
that law, are made q pretext for a secession
that has been long contemplated by the fire.
eating leaders, in the event Of their losing the
power to rule. To the attempt at revolution
for these reasons the President gives the Sc
ceders mild rebuke, saying there is nothing
yet to justify it, and at the same time patting
them upan the back by declaring that no aw
exists impairing in the least their rights of
property in slaves, and reminding them of the
increased security which they possess under
the Dred Scott decision.
The President very ably argues the point
that State has no right to secede yet viii
ateS his position by declaring that any at
tempt by the Government to coerce a State
attempting diSunon would only result in
failure acknowledging the right of forcing
Submission, while the power to do so is futile
All this shows that Mr.. Buchanan is a
mere man of expedieDts, trying the usual re-
sorts Of q small politician to escape from diff,
cultes which he cannot master and overcome
The idea Of promulgating the doctrine, that
In a government there exists right without
remedy, an obligation that cannot be executed,
simply presupposeS that our Government is
slighter, lighter, more fantastcal th at " the
baseless fabric of vision" Language fails
to express the utter contempt existing 10 sound
practical minds for such ridiculous assumptions,
such point-blank contradictions.
When Utah rebeled, an army was forced
the whole breadth of our Territory to allay
it. During the troubles in Kansas the Pres-
dent could find an excuse for employing the
federal power but for the secession of a
State and its threatened seizure upon public
property the President sees no remedy.
In foreign relations the President expert
ences little trouble. BE simply declares the
fact of our being at peace with all foreign
powers, Individually specifying the smaller
States Of Central America while he says
not word of either Paraguay or Peru-the
only Powers with which trouble exists Per
hapS he thinks that the settlement of these
difficulties will be another pleasant job to hand
over to his successor.
Whatever faults the document has, they
are not the same as those of which he has
heretofore been guilty-they are this time, sins
of omission, for which be should be held none
the less responsible. But the people will over
look all such failures in view of the pleasing
fact that it is the last official communication
Of the house of Lancaster.
THE H0MrsTrAn RTTT