The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-07
The PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
HE OPPOSES SECESSION, and DECLARES IT
REVOLUTION.
HE RECOMMENDS A CONVENTION TO
AMEND THE CONSTITUTION.

HE RECOMMENDS A CONVENTION TO
AMEND THE CONSTITUTION.
WASHINGTON, Tuesday. Dec. 4.
The Presidents message was presented
to the Senate and House, to-day by his
Private Secretary, Mr.. Glossbrenner. In
the House, the message was read by Col.
Forney, the Chief Clerk, and in the Sem
ate, by the Secretary. "
After attending to the great commercial,
agricultural and other material prospects Of
the country, the President asks why is it
then that discomfort now so extensively pre-.
walls, and the union of the States, which is
the source of all those blessings, is threatens
ed with destruction? The long continued
and incorporate interference of the North
ern people with the question of slavery in
the Southern States has at length produced
its natural effect. The different sections Of
the Union are now arrayed against each
| other, and the time has arrived, so much
deplored by the Father of his Country
when hostile geographical parties have been
formed.
This does not proceed solely from the
claim on the part of Congress or the Ter
ritorial Legislatures to exclude slavery from
the Territories nor from the efforts of the
different States to defeat the execution of
the Fugitive Slave Law. But the imme-
date peril arises from incessant and violent
agitation of the slavery question through
out the North for the last quarter
Of century, which has produced
its malign influences among the slaves, and
inspired them with vague notions of freedom.
Hence sense of security no longer exists
around the family altar. This feeling of
peace at home has given place to apprehen.
sions Of servile insurrection. Many ma
tron throughout the South retires at night
in dread of what may befall herself and
children before the morning. Should this
apprehension OF domestic danger extend and
intensity itself until it shall pervade the
mass of the southern people, then disunion
will become inevitable. Self preservation
is the first law OF nature, and no political
union, however fraught with blessings and
benefits in all other respects, can long con-
tinue if the necessary consequence be to
render the homes and fresides of nearly halt
the parties to it habitually and hopelessly
insecure. Sooner or later the bonds of such
union must be severed. 1t is my convic-
tion that this fatal period has not yet ar
rived.
After referring to the incessant agitation
against slavery at the North, for the last
twenty-five years, both by the press and
the people, and asserting that the time of
Congress is occupied with violent speeches
on this never-ending subject, he remarks,
how easy would it be for the American
people to settle the slavery question forever,
and restore place and harmony to this dis.
tracted country. This can be done by let
ting the Slave States alone, and permitting
them to manage their own State affairs,
as they only are responsible before God for
slavery existing among them, and with
which the North has no more right to inter
fere than with the similar institutions in
Russia or Brazil. The President still
relies on the good sense and forbearsnce of
the people, alleging it is out Of the power
of any President to accomplish but little.
This leads the President to observe that
the election of any one of our fellow citizers
to the Office of President does not, of itself,
afford Just cause for dissolving the Union.
The late election having been held in strict
conformity with the provisions of the con-
stltution, does not justify determination to
destroy this very constitution. Reason,
justice and a regard for the constitution, all
require that we shall wait for overt and
dangerous acts on the part of the President
elect, before resortiDg to such a remedy.
MIR. Buchanan refers to the fact that the
Presidents province is not to make but to
execute the laws. 1t is alleged as one cause
for immediate secession, that the Southern
States are denied equal ri ghts with the other
States in the common territory. But by
what authority are these denied !? Not by
Congress, which has never passed, land be-
lieve never will pass, any act to exclude
slavery from these territories, and certainly
not by the Supreme Court, which has SOL
EMMY decided that slaves are property, and
like all other property, their owners have
right to take them into the common terrific
ries, and hold them under the protection of
the constitution. The anticipation that
Congress may pass some law obnoxious, is
no good reason for dissolution.
The President reasserts the power of
Congress over property in tine territories
The sacred rights of property are secured
by the constitution.
The most palpable violations of consti.
tutional duty which have yet been COM
mitted consist in the acts of different state
legislatures to defeat the execution of the
fugitive slave law. 1t ought to be remem-
bered, however, that for these acts neither
Cnnuress nor anv President ran inotIu he