Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-01-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


that Almighty Power whieh has bestowed
. upon us such varied and numerous blessings
throughout the past year. The general health
of the country has been excellent; our har-
vests have been unusually plentiful, and
prosperity smiles throughout the land. In
deed, notwithstanding our dement's, we have
much reason to believe, from the past events
in our history, that we have enjoyed the
special protection Of Divine Providence ever
siace our origin as q nation. We have been
exposed to many threatening and alarming
difficulties in our progress; bHt, on each sue
cessive occasion, the impending cloud has
been dissipated at the Dioment it appeared
ready to burst upon our head, and the danger
to our institutions has passed away. May we
ever be under the divine guidance and pro-
lection.
HARPIR'S PERRY. a,a
Whilst it is the duty of the President "from
time to time to give to Congress information
of the state of the Union" shall not refer in
/, detail to the recent and bloody occurrences ut
Harpsr's Ferry. Still, it is proper to observe
that these events, however bad and cruel in
themselves, derive their chief 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
outrsges, and terminate at last in an open war
by the North to abolish slavery in the South.
Whilst, for myself, Ientertain no such appre-
hension, they ought to afford solemn warn
ing to us all to beware Of the approaching
danger. Our Union is . stake OF such ines.
timabla yalue a to de,n--~a --'-' oonStSnt and
waIcnIul vigilance for its preservation. In
this view, let me implore my countrymen,
North and South, to cultivate the ancient
feeling of mutual forbearance and good will
towards each other, and try to allay the demon
spirit of sectional hatred and strife now alive
in the land This advice proceeds from the
heart Of an old public functionary, whose
seryics commenced in the last generation,
anon. the wise and conservative statesmen
of that day, now nearly all passed away, and
whose first and dearest earthly wish is to
leave his country tranquil, prosperous, united
and powerful.
W. ought to reflect that, in this age, and
especially in this country, there is an inces-
SAINT hux and reflux of public opinion. Cues
tons which in their day assumed more
threatening aspect have now nearly gone from
the memory Of man. They are volcanoes
burnt out, and on the lava and ashes and
soualid scorie of old eruptions grow the
peao,ful olive, the cheering vine, and the
sustaining corn" Such, in my opinion, viii
prove to be the fate of the present sectiona
excitement. should those who wisely seek te
apply the remedy continue always to confint
their efforts within the pale of tho Constitu-
ton. If this course be pursued, the existing
agitation on the subject Of domestic slavery,
like everything human, will have its day, and
give place to other and less threatening con-
troversies. Public opinion in this country
is all powerful, and when it reaches a danger
Gus excess upon any question, the good sense
of the people will furnish the corrective, and
bring it back within safe limits. Still, to
hasten the auspiciouS result, at the present.
crisis, we ought to remember that every
rational creature must be presumed to intend
the natural consequences Of his own teachings
Those who announce abstract doctrines sub
versive to the Constitution and the Union
must not be surprised should their heated
partisans advance one step further, and
attempt by violence to carry these doctrines
into practical effect. In this view of the
subject, it ought. never to be forgotten that,
however great may have been the political
advantages resulting from the Union to every
portion of our common country, these will all
prove to he as nothing, should the time ever
arrive when they cannot be enjoyed without
serious danger to the personal safety Of the
people of fifteen members of the confederacy.
If the peace of the domestic freside through
out these States should ever be inyaded-il
the mothers of families within this extensive
region should not be able to retire to rest at
MI ght without suffering dreadful apprehen
sions of what may be their own fate, and tha,
Of their children, before morning. would be
lain to recount to such people the political
benefits which result to them from the Union
Self-preservation is the first instinct of nature
and therefore any state of society in which
the sword is all the time suspended over the
heads Of the people, must at last become
intolerablc. But indulge in no such gloomy
forebodings. On the contrary, firmly believe
the events at Harper's Ferry, by causing the
people to pause and reflect upon the possible
peril to their cherished institutions, will bt
the means, under Providence, of allaying the
existing excitement, and preventing future
outbreaks of similar character They viii
resolve that the Constitution and the Unior
shall not be endangered by rash counsels
knowing that, should "ths silver cord be
loosed, or the golden bowl be broken
at the fountain, human power could never
reunite the scattered and hostile fragments
SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES.
cordially congratulate you upon the tina
settlement by the Supreme Court OF tn
United States Of the question Of slavery in IN
Territories, which had presented an aspect s.
truly formidable at the commencement of m.
administration. The right has been estab
,lished of every citizenltootake his property 0
any kind, including slaves, into the Terrltorle
belonging equally to. all the States of the con
federacy, and to have it protected ther
L. rol M
gress, nor Territorial Legislature, nor an,
human power, has any authority to annul Q
impair this vested right. The supreme judicia
tribunal Of, the country, which is co -ordinat
branch Of the government, has sanctioned an
affirmed these principles Of constitutional law
80 manifestly Just in themselves, and SO wei
calculated to promote peace and harmon.
among the States. Itis striking proof G
the sense Of Justice which is inherent in GU
people, that the property in slaves has neve
been disturbed, to my knowledge, in any {
the Territories. Even throughout the lat
troubles in Kansas, there has not been an
attempt, as l. am credibly informed, to intel
fere. in q single instance, with the right Of tn
master. Had any such attempt been mad
tho judiciary would doubtless have afforde
an adeq1ate remedy. Should they fail to
this hereafter, tit win then be time enough
Strengthen their hands. by further Legislation
Had It been decided that either Congress (
the Territorial Legislature possess the pow,
10 annul or impair the right to property
slaves. the evil would be intoferable. In Il
latter event. there would Be q struggle for
majority ofthe membsrs Of the Legislature
each successive election, and the sacred righ
.ofproperty held under the federal constitute
would depend for thetims being on the resu
The agitation would thus be rendered nce nee
SAINT whilst the Territorial condition RENAME
and its baneful influence would keep alive
dangerous excitement snong the people Of q
several States eai lssh '-.as 80. =
6i9Thps has the status efa Territory, duril