The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-12-05
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
IelloU citizens of tie Senate
and Honse of Represeafafires:

3Aroaghout the year, since our last meeting, the
sisl The general health has BEEN m excellent
eur A.rvesss have been abundant, and plenty smiles
have been prosecuted with energy and industry and
have yielded fair and ample returns. In short
on the tide Of time has ever presented spectacle Of
within Q very recent period.
Why is it, then. that discomfort now 50 extensively
source Of all these blessings is threatened with
ton The longcontinued and ntemperate interference
OF the Northern people With the question of slavery in
he Southern States has length produced It's natural
effects. The different sections Of the Union
much dreaded BY the Father Of his Country when hos
tile geographical parties have been formed have long
foreseen, and often forewarned counrymen OF the
now impending danger This does not proceed solely
from the claim the part of Congress the Territorial
legislatures to exclude slavery from the Territories nor
ton Of the fugitive slave law All any these evils
might have been endured the South without danger to
and reflection might apply the remedy, The imm ediate
peril arises not from these causes Is from the
ct that the ncessant and violent agitation Of the sa
very question throughout the North for the last quarter
OF century has at length produced its maign influence
on the slaves and inspired them with vague lotions Of
freedom. Hence q sense OF security longer exists
GROUND the family altar This feeling OF peace at home
has given place to apprehensons serve insurrecton
dread Of what beall herself and her children before
NE morning. Should this apprehension Of domestic
sse until it shall pervade masses Of the Southern
people, then dsunion will become inevitable. Hefpre-
planted in the heart Of man by his Creator for the wisest
purpose and political union however fraught with
blessings and benefits in all other respects, long
fnue, IL the necessary consequence be to render the
homes and the resdes of nearly half the parties
habituaIy and hopelessly insecure. Sooner later
the bonds of such Union must be severed. 1t is
conviction that this fatal period yet arrived and
to God is that He would preserve the Consti-
tuition and the Union throughout all generations.
But let take warning in time and remove the cause
Of danger It he denied that for five and twenty
years. agitation at the North against slavery in the
IN piC rial hand
and ndammatory appeals, were circulated extensively
throughout the South Of character to excite the pas
ons Of the slaves; and in the language Of General
sen, to stimulate them to insurrecton, produce all
the horrors of servie war;" This agitation has ever
ings Of State and county conventions, by abolition
sermons and lectures. The time of Congress has been
sct and appeals in pamphlet and other FORMS endorsed
by distinguished Names have been sent forth from this
central point, and spread broadcast over the Union.
How would 1t be for the American people to settle
the slavery question forever and to restore peace and
harmony to this distracted coutry.
10 acsompsh he object and ali for which tbs sssss
States have ever cenended is to be let alone and
mited to manage their domestic institutions in their
way As sovereign States they, and they alone,
reponeble before God and the world for the slavery
listing among them. For this the people Of the North
terfere than institutions Russia or in Bra
x Upon their good sense and patriotic forbearance
I IT matter Il ss
political restore and harmony
1ng and aT s
accomplish but ttle for good or for evil such mo
mentous question.
And this brings to Observe that the election of any
one Of felowcitzens the office of President doe:
not of itself afford just for dssovng the Union
This is especially true if his election has been
ed by mere plurality and not majority, of the peo
pie, and has resulted from transient and temporary
causes, which may probably never again In
Federal Government must be guilty of a deliberate pal
pabe, dangerous exercise powers granted BY
ever has been held in strict conformity with its
provisions. How, then, the result justify revolu
ton to destroy this Constitution Reason justice
regard for the Constitution, all require that we sha
wait for overt and dangerous act the part
before ,s Tssorting to such rem sdy.
dent elect have been sufficient to justify the fears of h
rights Bat are such apprehensions of contingent dan
ger in the future sufficient to justify the immediate
tructon of the noblest system of government
vsed by morals? From the very nature of his office
and its high responsibilities he must necessarily be
servative The stern duty of administng the
complicated concerns Of this Government affords in it
self guarantee that he will not attempt any violation
clear constitutional right. After all, he is NOR,
than the chief executive officer of the Government mi
province not to make but to execute, the laws an,
it is remarkable fact in our history, that not
wthstanding the repeated efforts Of the ansavery par
ty, single act has passed Congress, unless W.
may possibly except the Missouri Compromise mparing
in the slightest degree, the rights Of the South to he
property in slaves. And it may also be Observed udg
ing from present indications, that probability eS
lists of the passage Of such act by majority Of boil
Houses either the present or the next Sure
under these circumstances, we ought to be resraine
from present action by the precept Of Him who spake
never man spoke, that ''sicient unto the day is tn
evil thereof" The day of evil may come, unles
we shall rashly bring it upon ourselves.
It alleged cause for immediate secession tina
the Southern States denied equal rights with the ote
States in the common Territories But by what authort
these denied? Not by Congress, which hae neve
slavery from these Territories and certainly not by tn
Supreme Court, which has soemnly decided that slave
are property, and like all other property, their owner
~ tola tlarx,t tnkOf fha
and hold them there under the protection Of the Cons
sutton.
not to anything they have already done, but to wha
they may hereafter. It will surely be admitted tina
an Immediate dissolution Of the Union. It is true ths
the territorial legislature of Kansas the 2d Febru
ary 1860 passed in great haste act the veto
the governor declaring that slavery Sis and shall
forever prohibited in this Territory. Such an act how
ever plainy violating the rights Of property
the Constitution, will surely be declared void by the u
dietary whenever it shall be presented in legal FORM
Only three daysafter my inauguration the suprsm
S me pes & IN nas
such has been the actious temper Of the times that
correctness Of this decision has been extensively mpugr
adj before the people, and the question has given rise
angry pot teal oncts throughout the country Thof
who have appealed from this Judgment of our highe
thew could invest territorial legislature with power
annul the sacred right: Of property. This powe
ton 10 exercise Every State legislature in the Unio
is forbidden by its constitution to exercise it,
exercised in State except by the people
their highest sovereign capacity when framing
ing their State stitution In like manner, it
be exercised by the people Of Territory represented
convention Of delegates for the purpose Of framing
constitution preparatory to admission State
Union. Then, and not until then, they investe
with power decide the question whether slavery sha
or shall not exist within their limits This an act
sovereign authority and not CT subordinate terrtor
Iarislatiop Where 1t otherwise, then indeed would II
eoualty of the in the Territories be destroy
thei rights Of property in slaves would depend, n
shfng majortes of irresp9psibe territorial egsl
ture Such doctrine from i'll intrinsic unsoundnes
cannot long influence any considerable portion of OF
people much less can 1t afford good reason for di
aolution of the Union.
The most pa pable violations Of constitutional du
vh;ch have vet been committed consist in the acts
aerent State legislatures to defeat the execution of Il
tbat for these acts neither Congress any Presde
can Justly be held responsible. Having been passed
violation Of the Federal Constitution, they therefor
null and void. All the COURTS both State and nationa
before whom the question has arsen have from the
SHINING declared the fugitive slave law to be censtit,
fiopal The single exception is that Of State court
Wisconsin, and this has not only been reversed by Il
proper appellate tribunal but has met with such uniye
sal that there be no danger from
over and again by the supreme Court Of the Unite
States with perfect unanimty Itisfounded upon
press the CONSTITUTIONS requiring that ugiy
slaves who escape from service in one State to anohs
shall be delivered up to their masters. Without th
provision s welknown historical fact that the Cor
tution itself could have been adopted by the Cor
Yentiop. In form other under the acts Of I7g
tive slave has been the law Of the land from the daJ
~ ofouu uutil he fho,