Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-12-06
N E SSAG E
offhe Senate

been emiRently prosperous In all its mateal IN
ests The general health has been excellent our har
sts have been abundant and plenty snies throughout
a land Our commerce and manufactures have been
osecutsd with energy and industry and have yielded
r aud ample returns In short, no nation IN the tde
time has ever presented spectacle Of greater mate
prosperity than have done until within very re-
mt period. a = ge -r-t - 80 -, A
why Is It, then, that discomfort extensively
evais and the Union Of the States which the source
all these blessings, is Threatened with DESTRUCTION
he ongcontinued and ntempeate interference OF tue
orthern people with the question OF slavery IN tne
outhern States has at length produced Its natural ell
ets The different sectiohs of the Union arc now III,
Arod against each other, and the time has arrived,
3 much dreaded by the Father OF his country Whcn
ostile geographical parties have been formed nave
ona foreseen and often forewarned my countrymeh o.
Inc now impending danger This does hot proceed sole
from the claim on the part of Congress or the terrific
ial legislatures to exclude slavery from the Territories
or from tho Efforts Of different States to defeat the ese
bution of the fugveslave law. All or any OF these
evils might have been endured by the South without
Hanger to the Unon las others have been in the hope
that time and reflection might apply the remedy The
Immediate peril arises not much from these causes
rs from the fact that the incessnt and violent hgi-
taon Of the slavery question throughout the North
for the last quarter OF century, has at length pro.
duced Its malign influence the slaves, and inspired
them with vague notions Of freedom Hence sense OF
security longer exists around the family altar This
feeling of peace home has given place to apprehenons
of servile Instruction Many inatron throughout the
South retires at night in dread Of what may bcfd herself
and her children before the morning Should this appe
hension of domestic danger whether real or imaginary,
extend and intensity itself until II shall pervade the
Of the Southern people, then dsunion will be-
inevitable Selpreeervation Is the first law of ma
turc and has boon implanted In tho heart Of man by his
Creator for the wisest purpose and no political union
however aught with blessings and benefits IN oil other
respects long continue. If the necessary consequence
be to render tho homes and tho hresides Of nearly half
the parties TO 1t habtually aud hopclessy insecure
Sooner or later the bonds of such Union must DO
cred 1t my conviction that this fatal pcried has not
yet arrived and my prayer to God Is that He would pre-
scrve the Constitution and the Union throughout all
generations.
But let us take warning In Time and remove the
Of bangor 1t cannot be denied that for Ave and twenty
years. tho agitation at the North against slavery in the
South has been incessant In 1888 pictorial hand bills
and infammatory appeals, circulated extensively
throughout the South of character to excite the pas
oas Of the slaves and In the language Of General Jack
son ito stimulate them to instruction. aud produce all
the horrors of servle war;" This agitation has ever
noe been continued by the public press by the proceed
ing of State and county conventions and by abolition
and lectures The time Of Congress has been DC
cuped In violent speeches this ending subject
and appeals in pamphlet and other FORMS endorsed by
distinguished Names have been sent forth from this cen
tral point, and spread broadcast the Union. -
How easy would II be for the American people to settle
the slavery question forever, and to restore peace and
hasraony 10 this distracted country. .-.--.-
They, and they alone, do it. All that Is neecsssry
to accomplish the object, and all for which the slave
States have contendej Is to BIO let alone, and per-
way As sovereign States, they and they alone are
responsible before God and tho world for the slavery
letting among them. For this, the people of the North
a4o not more responsible and have right to in
terfere than with similar Institutions in Russia in Bra
nj Upon their good and patriotic fobearance con-
fou still greatly rely. Without their aid it is beyond
The power Of any President no matter what may BIO his
political procvities to restore peace aud harmony
aong the States Wisely limited anil restrained as is his
psver under Constitution and laws he alone can
accomplish but little. for good or for evil on such mo-
montous question. ..t -
And this brings me to observe that the election Of any
of fellow citizens to the Office Of President does
not Of eelf afford just for dissolvng the Union
This Is especially true his election has been effect
Cd by mere plurality and not majority. of the poo
pls and hos resulted from transient and temporary
Osuscs which may probably again occur In order
to justify resort to revolutionary resistance the Fcea
Government must be guilty Of "a Deliberate papabe
Constitution, The late presidential election however
has been held in strict conformity with Its express prov
IONS. How, then, the result Justify revolution to
destroy this very Constitution Reason Justice regard
for tho Constitution, all require that shall wait for
overt and dangerous act on tho part of the Pros
dent elect before resorting to such remedy
1t Il said however that the antecedonts of the Prcs
dent elect have been sufficient to justify the fears of the
South that he will attempt to invade their constitutional
rights But such apprehcnsons OF contingent danger
In the future sufficient to justify the immediate destiuc
ton OF the nobest system of ever devised by
mortasH From the very nature of his Office. and it's
high responsibilities he must necessarily be conservative
The stern duty Of administering the vast and complicated
Of this Government affords IN itself gnaran
toe that he will not attempt any violation of clear
constitutional right. After oil no Is no more than tho
chief executive officer of the Government His province
ID not to make, but to execute the laws and it is
markabe fact in history that Notwithstanding the
repeated efforts of the antisavery party, single act
has passed Congress- unless may possibly except
the Missouri Compromise, imparng, in the slghtcst de-
gree the rights Of the South to their property in slaves
And may also be observed judging from present ind
hat fcnft