The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-12-12
S Y N o p S I S 3.
OF THE
PrESi d e - t,S .MeSSNRe.
WaShinQtons Dec

Of the country, the President asks-why
is it, then, that discomfort now so exten
sively prevails, and the union of the States
which is the source of all blessings, j.
threatened with destruction? The Ions
continued and incorporate interference o
the Northern people with the question o
slavery in the Southern States, has a
length produced its natural effect. Tn,
different sections Of the Union are now ar
rayed against each other, and the time has
arrived so much dreaded by the Father o
his Country, when hostile geographical par
ties have been formed. This does not pro
ceed solely from the claim, on the part o
Congress, or the Territorial Legislature, T.
exclude slavery from the Territories, MOI
from the efforts of the different States t.
defeat the execution Of the Fugitive Slave
Law, but the immediate peril arises from
incessant and violent agitation of the slave
ry question throughout the Northern States
for the last quarter Of a century, which has
produced its malign influence on the slaves
and inspired them with vague notions o'
freedom. Hence, . sense Of security nc
longer exists around the family altar This
feeling of peace at home has given place to
apprehension of servile insurrection.-
Many matron throughout the South re-
tires at night in dread Of what may befal
herself and children before the morning.
Should this apprehension of domestic dan.
ger extend and intensity itself, until it shall
pervade the masses Of 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 continue, if the necessary conse
qucnces be to render the homes and fire.
sides Of nearly half the parties to it perpet.
ually and hopelcssly insecure. Sooner OF
later the bonds of such Union must be
severed. 1t is my conviction that this fatal
period has not yet arrived.
After referring to the unceasing agita.
tation 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 speech.
es on this never-ending subject, he remarks:
how easy would it be for the American peo-
pie to settle the slavery question forever
and restore peace and harmony to this dis.
tracted country, which 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 in.
terfere than with similar institutions in
Russia or Brazil; and the President still re.
lies on the good sense and forbearance Of
the people. He alleges 1t is out Of the pow.
er of any President to accomplish but little,
which leads him to observe that the elec
ton Of any Of our fellow-citizens to the Of
fee of President does not in itself afford
great cause for dissolving the Union. The
late election having been held in strict con.
formity with the provisions of the Consti.
tuition, does not justify resolution to des
troy this very Constitution. Reason, jus
tice and regard for the Constitution, ali re
quire that we should wait for some over
and dangerous act on the part Of the Presi
dent elect, before resorting to such Icme
dy. Mr.. Buchanan refers to the fact that
the Presidents province is not to make bu
to execute the laws. 1t is alleged, as ont
cause for immediate secession, that thu
Southern States are denied equal rights with
the other States in the common territory
but by what authority are these denied?-
Not by Congress, which has never passed
and believe never will pass, any act to ex
clude slavery from these territories, anG
certainly not by the Supreme Court, which
has solemnly decided that slaves are prop
erty, and like all other property, their own
ers have right to take them into the com
mon territories and hold them there under
the protection of the Constitution. The an
ticipation that Congress may pass some Law
obnoxious, is no good reason for dissolu
ton. The President reasserts the power o
Congress over property in the Territories
and the sacred rights Of property are re
| cognised by the Constitution. The mos
| palpable violation Of constitutional duty
which has yet been committed, consists ir
the acts of different State legislatures to de
feat the execution Of the Fugitive Slave
| Law. 1t ought to be remembered, however
that for these acts neither Congress or any
President can justly be held responsible
having been passed in violation of the Fed
eral Constitution. They are, therefore
null and void. 1t will be the duty of tn,
next President, as it has been my own, t,
act with vigor in executing the Fugitiv,
Slave Law, against the confirmed enact
ment Of State legislatures. We are not t
presume in advance that he will violate hi:
duty, which would be at war with every
principle Of justice. Let us wait for tn,
overt act. The Fugitive Slave Law ha.
been carried into effect in every contested
case since the commencement of this ad
ministration. Let us trust that the State
legislatures will repeal their unconstitution
al and obnoxious enact. Unless this shall
be done without unnecessary delay, it is
impossible for any human power to save the
Union; and the Southern States have =:
right to domand this act of justice from tn,
Northern States. Should this be refused
the injured States, after having first used
all peaceful means to obtain redress, would
be justified in revolutionary resistance t
the Government Of the Union. Tho al.
legged principle that as each State became q
party to the Union by the vote Of its owr
people assembled in convention, so any one
Of them may retire from the Union in q
similar manner by the vote Of such con
| vention, is wholly inconsistent with history
as we'll as the character Of Y Federal Con
stitution.
He then rshearses portion Of Genera
Jackson's message Of 1888, relating to the
nullifying ordinance Of South Carolina, and
says this government was intended by its
founders to be perpetual, and not to be an
nulled at the pleasure Of any one Of thu
contracting parties. Tho President then
enumerates the powers conferred on Con.
gress by the Federal Government, and that
these powers may be effsctual, it also pos,
sesses exclusive right to lay and collect oil
import duties and other taxes, and has
adopted efectual means to restrain the
States from interfering.
In order still further to secure the unin.
tsrrupted exercise Of these high powers
against State inteiposition. it Is provided
that the Constitution, and the laws Of the
United States which shall bs made in pur-
suance thereof and al treaties made OF
which shall be made. under tho authority oi
tha InitAd Stakas shall hA fha snn.arn., mr.,