Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-12-13
The Presidents Message.

Of publishing it entire and therefore we give
the following synopsis
Tho President commences by stating that
the country has enjoyed much providontial
blessing and material prosperity during the
year, and asks why the country is filled with
discontent2 He answers promptly and dec-
dedly, and makes corresponding suggestions:
The long continued and Incorporate inter-
ference Of the Northern people with the
question Of slavery in the Southern States
has at length produced its natural effects
The different sections of the Union are now
arrsyed against each other, aud the time has
arrived, 40 much dreaded by the Father Of
bis Country, when hostile geographical par
ties have been formed. | have long foresecn
and often forewarned my countrymen Of the
now impending danger. This does not pro-
coed solely from the claim on the part ol
Congress or the Territorial Legislatures to cx.
cludc slavery from the territories, nor from
tho efforts Of different States to defeat the eX-
ecution Of tho fugitive slave law. All OF
apy Of those evils might have been endured
by the South without the Union, las othcrl
have been,) in the hope that time and rehec.
ton might apply the remedy. The iyhme
diate peril arises not so much FROM these
causes as from the fact that the incsSsant ant
violent agitation of the slavery question
throughout the North for the ,ast quarter oil
century, has at length proGdced its maligr
influence ON the slaves, aud inspired them
with vague notions ofIreedom. Hence q
sense Of security no longer exists around the
family altar. This feeling Of peace at home
has given place to- apprehenslons OF servle
instruction Many matron Throughout
tbe South retifes mt niyht in dread of what
koraI, ,Lr.,lr ord h.r cb,ldrer bef,ra III,
~! tSt.'i, ~. ,,,,..l,a,.;o,, r. 40,
horn'hS'' onou'u t,,'' "Fp',."ens'ou VI Wv
msssic Sanger, whether real or imaginary
extend and Intensity Itself until 1t shall per-
ysde tho mnssos Of the Southern people, ther
dlyuniop will become inevitable. Self-pre.
.arx,,ion il ,he first law of nature. and ba,
49, ,,,l',,,oJ in tho heart or man bv hi,
oe'A !" ~ 49,, s' J
Creator ior 'ne "'ees' Pun Poso' anu NJ Po'
litieal union, however fraught WIN dressings
aud benefits In all other respects, can long
continue, il the necessary consequence be te
render tho homes and fresdes OF nearly hall
tho por,ias 10 il habitually and hopelessly in =
g.. o. la,or Tho honds n ,,cL ,
seNu'o' "oone' " =. :, 80.
Union tii"ss W ''''.es .'y w" !,
that this iatal Peri"c mao my yet "'ii'ou
and my prayer to God Is that lie would pre-
serve the Constitution and theUnion through
,ut all conventions
~, La, rs ,oLe warning In time. and remove
III. oan,s Of danysr' Il cannot be denied tha,
far Az, and twenty wears, the agitation at the
Wor,h oro;n,, ,,,v,ry in the South has been in.
..ss.r, in ,s25 n;ctorinl hand hills. md in
asmmatory appeals. were circulated extensiyel,
,hrcugbnut ths South. of IL character TO oxcit,
~. nss.;ons of ,ha al ave,. and. in the Ian puap
or GnnsrL Jncksop. 80 stimulate them to insur
ra.,;on and nrodue. all the horrors of n soryiI,
var" This agitation has ever since been con
,;n,oa h, tho nnblio press by thu procecdinps q
S,o ia and county conventions, aud by abolition
..rn,on. and lectures. Tho tina of Congress
ha. been occunicd in violent speeches on thi.
$50. snd;nv ,ub;eot: and appculs in pamphle
and o,bsr form, an ior.ed by distinguished nume
hav,.bcsn s.nt forth from this central point. nm,
snrosd hroadc,,t ov.r the Union.
How ensy would Il be for tho American peo
,,o 10 settle tho slavery question forever, and t,
rs.torc peace and harmony to this distracte,
.orntrv
IT.. and tb.v aiops ran do Il. All that il
rsces,arv to accompIi,b the object. al d all TO
which tbe slay, States hive ever commended, /
~ bs lct a lone and nermitted TO manage thei
do rio instifutio inn n their A.
aso;on S,a,es ,bcv md tbcv clonc nre r,snon
s;his hsfors God and the world for the SLAYER,
ox;s,;r, amony them. For This. tho neonle a
~ Nh oro no, more ,esnon.ibIo md Inv,
w ~, ,o ;n,arf,re tLan ,r;,l s;,ni,,r In
.,;,,,;ars ;n Rnssi, nv in nrn,;l Inon thri
So .on.. and ,o,r;o,;. f,rho,r,nc. I cnnfoss
s .,1, asaa,Iv roIv W,bont ,heir aid !, is In.
80 No no,nr or o,y pres;der, M malta
what may be hi, own political proclivitiOs. to re
Store peace and harmony among the States
Wisely limited and restrained US IS ms powe
under the tohs; ,,.a ana laTs, nc alono can
Aeepnpr'n ou' ,,'sv, ,ti h'0N VI ''' e'''' VI
'1T Ths pr"sidcnt them deoare, that the election
Of a Presdcn, by constitutional process, is not !
sufficient, ground for dissolving the Union, ant
argues at,lensth against tho doctrine of South
Carolina on this question WIN regard 10 th'
right Oh secession M buSnana" eAptsssSs MN
sa '! S, onS r"~"n,;nn ~ h. .xnonr
U,on, ,srms
In order to ju,.if, secession n, q constitution
al remedy, it must be on the principle that the
Federal Governments is mere voluntary associa
zion OF states to be dissolved at pleasure by an,
one % wv son.raI"ns pal"ss. a '"i' ns."
.nd ,ha j.. ',Iu, ~ p,no
publie opinion in any Of the states. In thi,
manner our thirty-three States may re.olv.
themselves in.o n. many petty. Earring, and hos.
tile republics, saeh ono retiring from the Union
with' Vt rssponsinii'ty' whenever any sudden ex'
e,'ems.. m,sa. ,hpfr iaum 10 s"tn course
tsn into fragments In a few weeks. which cost east
our forefathers many years oftoil prira,iop. an /
blood to establish.
Such a principal is wholly inconsistent
with the history rs well o, the Character of
tho Federal Constitution. After it was fra.
msJ with tho greatest deiboraton and care
il was submitted to conventions of the peo-
pie of the several States Disqualification. 1t,
provisions were discussed at length in these
bodies composed of the first men of the coun-
try. Its opponents, contended that i. con.
ferrel powers upon the Federal Government,
dsnyerou, TO the rights of the States, whilst
its advocates maintained thar under fair
construction of the instrument there was nc
foundation for such appreheusiors. In that
mighty struggle between the first intellect.
Of tbis or any other country il never occur