Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-01-05
Presidents Message.
Gentlemen Of .Sen0te.

Our deep and heartfelt gratitude Is
due to that Almighty Power which has
bestowed upon Us such varied and nu-
merous blessings throughout the past
year. The general health of the coun.
try has been excellent; our harvests
have been unusually plentiful. asi
prosperity smiles throughout the land.
Indeed, notwithstanding our demerits.
we have much reason To believe from
the past events in our history, that we
have enjoyed the special protection OF
Divine Providence since our origin as
nation. We have been exposed to
many threatening and alarming diff
culties in our progress: but on eacis
successive occasion the impending
cloud has been dissipated at the mo
mrnt it appeared ready to burst upon
our head, and the danger 20 our insti-
tutions has passed away. My we ev-
er be under the Divine guidance an
protectionl
While it is the duty of the Presi-
dent from time TO time to give Ia
Congress information of the state o!
the Union," | shall not refer in de-
tail to the recent sad aud bloody occur
rences at IIarper'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 symp-
toms OF an incurable disease in the
public mind which may break out in
still more dangerous outrages and ter
inmate 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 a
solemn warning tc Us all to beware OF
the approach of danger. Our Union
is stake of such inestimablc value as
to demand our constant and watchful
vigilance for its preservation. In this
view. let me implore my countrymen,
North and South, to cultivate the an
cient feelings of mutual forbcaraucc
and good will towards each other. and
strive to allay the demon spirit of Sec
tional hatred and strife now alive III
the land. This advice proceeds from
the heart of an cid public functionary
whose service commenced in the last
generation. among the wise and con
servative statesmen of that day. now
nearly all passed away, and whose first
and dearest earthly wish is to leave
his country tranquil, prosperous, uni
ted. and powerful.
We ought to reflect that in this age
and especially " in this country, there j,
an incessant flux and reAux of publ
opinion. Questions which in theii
flay assumed a most threatening :
beet have now neariy'gone from I'll
memory of men. They are "volcav
noes burnt out. and on this lava and
ashes aud squalid >coriae of old erup-
tions'grow the peaceful olive,the cheer
ing vine, and the sustaining corn. =
Such. in my opinion, will prove to he
the fate OF the present sectional excite
ment. should those who wisely seek to
apply the remedy, continue always to
confine their efforts within the pale ol
the Constitution. If this course le,
pursued the existing agitation on the
subject OF domestic Slavery, like every
thing human, will have It's day. and
give place to other anil less threatens
ing controversies. Public opinion in
this country is sll-powerful. and when
it reaches dangerous excess upon anF
question, the good sense of the people
will furnish the corrective, and bring
it back within safe limits. Still. to
hasten this auspiciou> result, at the
present crisis, We ought to remember
that every rational creature must be
presumed to intend the natural conse-
quences of his own teachings. Those
who announce abstract doctrines sub
versive of 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, how
ever great may have been the political
advantage 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
can not be enjoyed without seriods
danger to the safety of the people ol
fifteen members of the confederacy. ii
the peace of the domestic treslde
throughout these States should ever be
invaded-if the mothers of families
within this extensive region should
not be able TO retire 10 re at night
without suffering dreadful apprehen-
sions of what might 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 o
nature, and therefore any state OF so
ciety in which the sword is all the
time suspended over the heads OF tn
people, must at last become intolera
ble. But | indulge in no such gloom,
forebodings. On the contrary | firm
" believe that the events at Harper
Ferry, by causing the people to paus'
and reflect upon the possible poril t.
their cherished institutions, will b
the means, under Providence, of allay
ing the existing excitement and pre-
venting future outbreaks of simila
character. They will resolve that tn
Constitution ANIL the Union shall no
be endangered b rash counsels, know
ing that should "the silver cord b
loosed or the golden bowl be brokel
at the I'd untain" human powe
could never ret mite the scattered an