Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-12-14
TuE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


Esllov- Citizens of the Senats,
EI. and Hosss Of Representatives
Throughout the year since our last meeting
the country has been eminently prosperou
in all its material interests. The genera
health has been excellent, our hervests hav,
been abundant, and plenty smiles throughou
the land. Our commerce and manufacture.
have been prosecuted with energy and indus
try, and have yielded fair and ample returns
In short, no nation in the tide Of time has
ever presented a spectacle Of greater msteria
prosperity than we hsve done until within .
very recent period. 's'2 ~ f1s9 .3
Why is it, then, that discontent now sc
extensively prevails, aid the Union of the
States, which is the source Of all these bless
inQs. is threatened with destruction2 The
long.continued and inteinperate Interference
Of the Northern peopieswith the question Of
slavery in the Southern States has at length
produced its natural effects. The different
sections Of the Union afe now arrayed against
each other, and the time has arrived, so much
dreaded bv the rather Of his County, when
hostile geographical pssties have been formed.
Ihaye long foressea and often forewarnedmy
coun.rymen of tie now impeding danger.
This does aos proceed solely from the claims
on the part Of Congress- or the tersitorial leg
isists,res to exclude slavery from the Terrific
ries. nor from ths sforts Of different Statss to
desSsR Rtheexec0tioa osthe Fugitive Slave Esw.
All or any OF these evils might have been
endured by the South, without danger to the
Union las others have 5een), in the hope that
time and reflection might apply the remedy
The immediate peril arises not so much from
these causes as from the fact that the lncessant
and violent agitation OF the slavery question
throughout the North for the last quarter of
u century, has ct length produced Its malign
influence on the slaves, and inspired them
with vague notions of freedom. Hence, q
sense of security no longer exists around the
family altar. This feeling of peace at home
has given place to apprehensions Of servile
insurrection. Many matron throughout the
South retires ut night in dread of what may
befall herself and her children before the
morning. Should this apprehension Of do
mestic danger, whether real or imaginary,
extend and intensity itself until il shall per-
wade the masses of the Southern people, then
disunion will become inevitable. Self pres
eryation is the first law of nature, and has
been implanted in the heart of man by his
Creator for the wisest purpose; and no po-
lit;cal 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 fresides of nearly
half the parties to it habitually and hopelessiy
insecure. Sooner or later, the bonds of such
Union must be severed. 1t is my conviction
that this fatal period has not yet arrived; and
NV PRAYER to God is that he would preserve
the Constitution and the Union throughout
all generations.
But let us take warning in time, and remove
the cause of danger. 1t cannot be denied
that. for five and twenty years, the agitation
at the North against slavery in the South has
been incessant. In 1885, pictorial handbills
and lnfammatory appeals were circulated ex-
tensiyely throughout the South, of character
to excite the passions of the slaves; and, in
the language of Gen. jackson, Ito stimulate
them to insurrecton, and produce all the
horrors of servile war" This agitation has
ever since been continued by the public press,
by the proceedings of State and County Con-
ventions. and by Abolition sermons and lee
lures. The time of Congress has been occu-
MED in violent speeches on this never ending
subject. and appeals in pamphlet and other
forms. indorsed by distinguished names, have
been sent forth from this central point, and
spread broadcast over the Union.
How easy would it be for the American
neople to settle the slavery question forever,
and to restore peace and harmonyto this dis
tracted country! They, and they alone, can
do il Ali that is necessary to accomplish
the object and ali for which the slave States
have ever contended, is to be let alone, and
nermitted to manage their domestic instltu-
t;ons in their own way. As sovereign States,
ALox, c1n rpSn0nGlne
Cod and the world for the slavery existing
among them, For this, the people OF the
Nor,b are not more responsible, and have no
moro right to interfere, than with similar in
stitntions in Russia or in Brazi. Upon their
GOOD sense and patriotic forbearance confess
T still greatly RELY. Without their aid, 1t is
hevond the power of any President, no mat
ter what may be his own political procivlties,
~ restore peace and harmony among the
States. Wisely limited and restrained as is
h;s mower under cur Constitution and laws,
he alone can accomplish but little, for good Or
for evil, on such q momantous questioh'
election Of any one of our fellow-citizens to
the office of President does not OF itself afford
;ust cause for dissolving the Union. This is
more especially true if his election mas oech
effected by mere plurality, and not a majority,
of the people, and has resulted from ransieht
and temporary causes, which may prooaoy
never again occur. In order to justify re-
sort to revolutionary resistance, tne redera'
Government must be guilty OF "a deiioerate'
palpable and dangerous exercise OF powers
not granted by the Constitution. Inc iate
Presidential election, however, mas oeen heio
in strict conformity with Its express ProV's-
ions. How, then, can the result Justiiy a
revolution to destroy this very Constitution
Reason, justice, regard for the ConsI''utlon,
all require that We shall wait tor some ogert
and dangerous act on hepart OF the PRESIDENT
elect, before resorting to such remedy.
1t is said, however, that the antecedents OF
the President elect have been sufficient TO
Justify the fears Of the South that ne WIZ
.ttemnt to invade their constitutional rights.
But are such apprehensions OF contingent
danger in the future sufficient to justify the
immediate destruction OF the nooiest system
nf Government ever devised by mortals
f om the very nature OF his ONCE ana us
h;oh RESPONSIBILITIES, he must necessarily be
conservative. The stern duty OF administer
;nc the vast and complicated concerns OF this
Government affords in itself guarantee tha'
he will not attempt any violation OF Clear
const;tut;onal right After all, he is no more
than the chief executive officer OF the GoVern
ment. His province is not to make, put &c
execute, the laws; and it is remarkable lac
in our. history that, notwithstanding tne re
peated efforts Of the anti-slavery party, NJ
single act has ever passed conaress, unles' n
we may possibly except the Missouri Com
promise, impairing, in the slightest degree
the rights Of the South to their property II
slaves. And it may also be observed, judgl,n'
from the present indications. that no prob
bility exists of the passage of such an act, ..
a majority of both Houses, either IN IN
Dresent or the next Congress. Surely, unde
fhese circumstances, we ought to be restralne'
from present action by the precept OF hin
who spake as never man spake. that "suiile IN