Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-01-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fslloso-oitizens Of the Senate and
Ho,,ae 0f ReDresen totire

| PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
/ Fsllow-oitizens Of the Senate and
/ House Of Representatives:
| Our deep and heartfelt gratitude is due to
that Almighty Power which has bestowed upon
us such varied and Numerous blessings through
out the past year. The general health Of the
country has been excellent our harvests have
been unusually plentiful, and prosperity smiles
throuRhou. the land. Indeed, notwithstanding
our dsmerits, we have much reason to believe
from the past events in our history, that we have
enioyed the special protection of Divine Provi-
dence ever since our origin as nation. We
have been exposed to many threatening and
alarming difficulties in our progress; but on each
successive occasion the impending cloud has been
dissipated at the moment it appeared ready to
burst upon our head, and the danger to our in
stitutions has passed away. May we ever be un-
ider the Glvile guidance and protection!
| 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 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 chief Importance from
the apprehension that they are but symptoms of
an incurable disease in the public mind, which
may break ont in still more dangerous outrages
and terminate at last 10 an open war by the North
to abolish slavery in the South. Whilst, for my
self, entertain no such apprehension, they ought
| to afford solemn warning to US all to beware
of the approach of danger. Our Union is a stake
of such inestimable value as to demand our con-
start and watchful vigilance for its preservation.
In this view, let me implore my countrymen-
North, and South, to cultivate the ancient feel
! Il e.. Loor md to
wards each other, and strive to allay the demon
the land This advice proceeds from the heart
| of an old public functionary whose service com
menced in the last generation. among the wise
and conservative statesmen of that day, now
nearly all passed away, and whose first and dear
est earthly wish is to leave his country tranquil,
prosperous, united, and powerful.
! We ought to reflect that in this age, and espe-
cially in this country, there is an incessant fux
and refIux of public opinion. Questions which
| in their day assumed most threatening aspect,
have now nearly gore from the memory OF men.
They are 'svolcanoes burt out, and on the lava
aud ashes and squald scorie OF old eruptlons
grow the peaceful olive, the cheering vine, and
| the sustaining corn.~ Such, in my opinion, will
prove to be the fate Of the present sectional ex-
element, should those who wisely seek to apply
1 t1o TeuGUy, COutluuo w SOhhuO oAioAA "
forts within the pale of the Constitution 1t this
course be pursued, the existing agitation on the
subject of domestic slavery, like everything hui
man, will have its Gay and give place to other
and less threatening controversies. Public opln-
ion in this country is all powerful, and when 1t
reaches dangerous excess upon any question,
the good sense of the people will furnish the cor
rective and bring it back within safe limits
Still to hasten this suspicious result at the pre-
sent crisis, we ought to remember that every ra-
| tional creature must be presulnedsto intend the
natural consequences his own teachings: Those
who announce abstract doctrines subversive OF
The Constitution and the Union. must not be sur
prised 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 ad-
vantages resulting from the Union to every por-
ton of our common country, these would all
prove to be as nothing should tie time ever ar
rive when they cannot be enjoyed without Sc
rions danger to the personal safety of the people
Of fifteen members of the CoDfederacy. If the
peace Of the domestic Preside throughout these
States shonld ever be :invaded-if the mothers Of
families within this extensive region should not
be able to retire to rest at night without suffer
ing dreadful apprehensions of what may be their
own fate and that of their children before the
morning-it would be vain to recount to such a
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 sus-
pended over the heads of the people, must at last
become intolerable. But indulge in no such
gloomy forebodings On the contrary, firmly
believe that the events at Harper's Ferry, by
causing the people to pause and reflect upon the
possible peril to their cherished institutions, will
be the means, under Providence, of allaying the
existing excitement and preventing future out
breaks of similar character. They will resolve
that the Constitution and the Union shall not be
endangered by rash counsels, knowing that,
should "the silver cord be loosed Or the golden
bowl be broken at the Fountain humaa
power could never re-unite the scattered and
hostile fragments.
cordially congratulate you upon the final SET
Element by the Supreme Court the United Sta
ties of the question of slavery in the Territories,
which had presented an aspect so truly formida
BILE at the commencement of my administration.
The right has been established of every citizen
to take his property Of any kind, including sla-
YES, intot the common territories belonging equal
ly to all the States in the Confederacy, and to
have it protected there under the Federal Con-
stitution. Neither Congress, nor a territorial
legislature, nor any human power has any au-
thority to annul or impair this vested right
The supreme judicial tribunal of the country,
which is coordinate branch of the Government
has sanctioned and affirmed these principles of
constitutional law, SO manifestly just in themsel
YES, and so well calculated to promote peace and
harmony among the States. 1t is a striking proof
of the sense of justice which is inherent in our
people, that the property in slaves has never been
! disturbed, to my knowledge, in any of the Ter
ritories. Even throughout the late troubles in
Kansas there has not been any attempt, as | am
credbly informed, to interfere, in a single in
stance with the right of the master. Had any
such attempt been made the Judiciary would
doubtless have afforded an adequate remedy
Sheud they fail to do this hereafter it will then
be time enough to strengthen their hands by fur
Their legislation. Had it been decided that eth
or Congress or the territorial legislature possess
the power to annul or impair the right to proper
ty in slaves, the evil would be intolerable. In
the latter event. there would be a struggle for a
majority of the members of the legislature at
each successive election, and the sacred rights of
property held under the Federal Constitution
would depend for the time being on the result.
The agitation would TINS be rendered incessant
whilst the territorial condition remained, and its
baneful influence would keep alive a dangerous
excitement among the people Of the several Sta