The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-01-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

that Almighty Power which has bestowed up
nm ms such varied and numerous blessings
throughout the past year. The general heai'h
of the country has been excellent; our harvesls
have been unusually plentiful, and prosperity
smiles thu Uughout the land. Indeed, notWl'h-
sfantIoc our dement's, we have much reason 70
heIteye from the past events in our history, thaI
we have enjoyed the special protection oil Di-
v;ne Providence ever since our origin as ma
tion. We have been exposed Ia inany threa'e-
ming and alarming difficulties lE our progress
but on each successive occasion the impending
cloud has been dicsipated at the moment 1t ap-
peared ready TO burst upon our head, and Inc
danger to our institutions has passed away
May We ever be under the divine guidance aud
protection
Whilst it is the duty of the President "lrom
time to time to give to Congress information OF
the state of the Union,' | shall not'reier in de-
tail to the recent sad and bloody occurrences at
Harper's Ferry. Still, it Is proper to observe
that these events, however bad and cruel IN
themselves. derive their chlef importance from
the apprehension that they are but symptoms OF
an incurable disease in the public mind, which
may break out in still more dangerous outrages
aud terminate at last in an open war by the
North to abolish slavery in the South. Whilst,
for myself, | entertain no such apprehension,
they ought to afford solemn warning to US all
TO beware Of the approach OF danger. Oar u
MON is stake of such inestmable value IS to
demand our constant and watChiul vigilance Ter
its preservation. In this view let ne IiEpIoTe
nv countrymen, North and South, t9 cultivate
the ancient feelings OF mutual torbearance and
goodwill towards each other, and strive to al
Law the demon spirit of sectional hatred and
strife now alive ia the land. This advice pro-
ceeds from the heart of an old public tunc:l0n-
ary whose service commenced in the last gene
ration, among the wise and conservative states
men ofthat day, now nearly all passed away,
aud whose first and dearest earthly wish IS to
leave has country tranquil, prosperous, unlted,
and powerful.
We ought TO reflect that in this age, aad es-
pecialIy in this country there is an Iacessanf
flux and refux of pnblic opinion. Questions
which in their day assumed most threatnlng
aspect, have now nearly gone from the mem
ory of men. They are volcanoes burnt out,
and on the lava and ashes and squalld scofia OF
old eruptions grow the peaceful olive, the chee-
ring vine, and the sustaining cora" Such, IN
nv opinion, will prove TO be the fate OF the
present sectional excitement, should those who
wisely seek to apply the remedy, continue al
ways to confne their efforts within the pale OF
the Constitution. IF this course be pursued,
the existing agitation on the subject Of domestic
slavery, like everything human, will have lis
day and give place to other and less threatnIag
controversies. Puoilc oplnjon IN this c2ua!ry
is all powerful; when 1t reaches dangerous eX-
cess upon any QUESTION, the good sense ot the
people will furnish ths corrective aud ortnS 1t
back within safe limits. Still, to hasten ms
auspiciouS result, at the present crisis, We ought
10 remember that every rational Creature mus'
be presumed to Intend the natural consequences
of his own teachings. Those who announce
abstract doctrines SubverSive Of the Constitution
and the Union, must not be surprised should
their heated partisans advance one step further
and attempt by violence 10 carry these doc
trnes into practical effect. In this view OF the
subject it never ought 10 be forgotten, that,
however great may have been the political ad-
vantages resulting from the Union to every
portion Of our common country, these would
all prove TO be as nothing should the time ever
arrive when they cannot be enjoyed without Sc
rious danger 20 the personal safety OF the peo-
pie of fifteen members OF the coniederacy. Ii
the peace OF the domestic ireslde throughout
these States should ever be invaded-It the
=, others of families within this extensive region
sr uld not be able to retire to rest al night with
.aut suffering dreadful apPrehensions of what
1nkr be their own fate and that OF their children
before he mornng-it would be vain to recount
10 sueF 4 people the political benefits which re-
suite em from the Union. Sell-preservation
istbe 5r st instinct Of nature and therefore any
81 tNrj ,r al thl
time suep, n ded over the heads of the people,
must al ia. become intoerabe. But indulge
3 IN no such 81 oomy forebodings. On the con-
trary, Lirnllv- believe that the events at Har-
per's Fea7y, by causing the people to pause and
reflect apoa the possible peril other cherished
insiitQtjoEs, twill be the means, under Prov-
dtuce, OF sGllal ing the existing excitement and
preventing tqtnre outbreaks of similar char
acter. They IgilI resolve that the Constitution
and the Unea shall not be endangered by rash
eounsels, knowing that should s'the silver cord
5e Iooosed or the golden bowl be broken
at the 6ountain," human power could
never reuniIe the Scatt cred and hostile frag-
mAhts
cordtafiy congratulate you upon the final
settlement by the supreme court oil tue United
States Of the question of laverV an the IerrIto-
ries, which bad presente an aspect SO truly
formidable at the commen cement OF my admin
isration, The RIGHT has been established Of
every citizenAe take his property OF any kind
including slaves, lnto the common Territories
belonging equally to all he States OF the Con-
iederacy, and to have it protected there under
the Federal Constitution. Neither Congress,
nor a territorial iegislatu re, nor any human
power has any authority o annul or impair this
vested right. The supreme Judicial tribunal Of
the country, WHICH is co-ordinate branch OF
the Government, has sanctioned and attlrme