The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1860-12-13
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
As we gave the Messageto our readers
in an extra last week, the document will
not appear in our regular issue. Our
sentiments in regard to this last produce
ton of the old Public Functionary are so
fully expressed in the columns OF the
Cleveland Herald that we cannot refrain
from making use Of its own language
instead of attempting to improve on it,
That paper says, "it is what we expected,
but not hat We hoped. The way was
open to Mr.. Buchanan to retrieve his hon
or. in part at leas:. from the foul stains
which have polluted it for the last four
years. The profiigacies and the corrup.
tions of the Federal Government, during
his Administration, are passed, though
not forgotten. No act of the President
could cleanse his political robes Of the
record which a searching lnvesti, alton
has laid before the world, but it was left
for him, had he been possessed of the
spirit of patriotism and moral courage, to
make his last official days his best
days, and to retire with some degree
of credit. He saw portion of the coun
try convulsed with a revolution against
constitutional act, and heard open
threats of treason and rebellion agaipst
t hat Government of which he is the head.
He felt the confederated fabric tremble
under the hurried rushing to and fro Of
armed men, banded together with no
other purpose under heaven but the de-
struction Of the Union He saw, on the
other hand, myriad of peaceable citi
zens, who. having committed no unla wful
act, waited patiently for their executive
Head to plant himself in the path of the
hordes who were arrayed ag gainst law and
order. Here was field for the exercise
of craftsmanship and decision that wo'd
have given to James Buchanan, spite Of
all his Infamous antecedents, the credit
Of being still possessed of one remaining
spark Of national respect and political
honor. Had be now stepped boldly for
ward, and met the rebellious seceders
with the edict, Thus far have ye' gone, but,
by the Eternal, no farther shall ye CO."
he would have retired to the shades of
Wheatland with the consciousness that
he had done one act to entitle him to
place among those who have served their
country.
And Mr.. Buchanan could not fail to
see this, and know that he had,in a mea-
sure, his future good name in his hands
as he penned his Message. But with the
Message before US. where dc we find him?
Weak, vaci.ating, cowardly; Sinking the
responsibility upon the people North. and
the people South. upon Northern legis
lation, and most Of all upon Congress-
He dares to do nothing himself, and flies
from one cover and another, like fright
ened hare when the dogs in the kenne
howl. In the endeavor to stand be-
tween the North and South, he is consis.
tent to the position of neither. 1t is a
violation of the Constitution for any State
to secede, but if any State does secede,
no power in Congress nor out of it can
prevent it. He acknowledges it the du-
ty of the Executive to enforce the laws
"and from this obligation, he cannot be
absolved by any human power" and yet
because it would be difficult, if not i'm
possible, to replace the machinery of tie
Federal Government in South Carolina,
he is powerless to interfere and chooses
to wait nntil Congress shall pass laws Sc
as to more effectually carry out the de-
signs OF the Constitution, hoping, doubts
less, that from their dissensions, no such
laws will be passed until he has lei,
the responsible seat that he now holds.
The Message will do no good at the
South. indeed, the secession press has
repeatedly declared that, let the docu.
ment be what it would, it would have no
effect upon their movements. The ques-
ton is still open.
The President reviews the history OIL
the Constitution; entreats his fellow
countrymen to pause before they destroy
the Confederation; refers to the unsatis
factory aspect OF foreign and domestic
affairs when he took the Presidentia
chair; and returns thanks for present pros.
perity. %. ~ .-e.
Summary of Washington Gossip.
The treasury is SO hard up that it is
feared that the Sl,50O,OOO interest due
January LIST. in coin, will have to he drawn