Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1860-01-05
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

4
E.zo. e,,ise.s 81 ia Ss~ase s~d H0~ref Rtp'
resr~txires;
Our deep and heart-felt gratitude b due 70
that Almighty Power whieh hss Bestowed up
on us such varied and numsrcss basss'ngs
throughout the past year. The senefa heshn
Of the country has been eSoelicnf our nsr'
vesss hes been unusually plentifal, and proc
pcri,y smiles throughout the land: lndecd,
notwithstanding our densrits. We have much
reason TO believe FROM the pas. events In our |
history. that We have enjoyed the special pro- |
lection Of Divine Providence ever sipee our |
sfgin As 8 nation. We have been exposed
% many threatening and alarming dih-
cultics in cur progress but on each success
ave occasion the impending cloud has been dis
apatcd a the moment appeared ready 10
burst upon our bead. and shs danger 70 our
institutions has posed avsy. May We ever
BE- under the divine guidance and protection
whilss ID 10 the duty Of the President from
time TO time TO give TO Congress information
Of the State Of the Union" shall no, refer
in detail to the recent sad and bloody occur
rences a, Harpcrs Ferry. Still. il 10 proper
20 obscrve thai these events. however bad and
cruel In themselves. derive their chief impor-
lance from the apprehension that they are but
symptoms OF an incursble disease IN the pub
lie mind. which may break cut IN siiil mOre
dangerous outrages and terminate at last IN an
omen war by the North to abolish slavery IN
the South. Whilst. for myself entertain no
such apprehension. they ought - ahord So
lenn warning TO US all 10 beware Of the ap-
proaeh Of danger. Our Unlou - stake ot
such incstimable value A 10 dcinand cur
constant and vatchful vigilance for its prcser-
y.t;on. In this view, let me implore my
eosntrymcn, North and South. TO cultivate
The ANCIENT feelings Of mutual forbearance
and goodwill towards each other, and strive
70 allay the demon spirit Of sectional hatred
and strife now alive in the land. This advice
proceed, from the heart Of IN old public fnne-
tionary whose service commenced in the last
generation. among the wise and conservative,
statesmen Of that day. now nearly all passed
away, and whose frst and dearest earthly wish
is TO leave his country tranquil. prosperous
united. and powerful.
We ought To reflect that in this age. AM
especially in this country, there is an iDoessan
aux and refux Of public opinion. Question
which in their day assumed most threaten
iag aspect. have now nearly gone from tn
memory Of men They are volcanoes burn
out. and on the lava and ashes and sluali
scorie Of old eruptions grow the peaceful olive
the cheering vine, and the sustaining corn. =
Such. in my opinion. win prove ~ be the fat
Of the present sectional excitement, shouf
those who wisely seek to apply the remedy
continue always 10 eonfnc their efforts With
the pale Of the Copstituticn. II this cour.
be pursued, the existing agitation on the sui
iect Of domestic slavery like everything human
will have its day and give place u other and lc'
threatening controversies Public opini"
this country is ali-powerful. and when, The
g . dangerous excess upon -arsh the cor
good sense of the pea within sale limits
rectiye and brinSSpicious result. at the
Still, to hasten sught 70 remember that
n nsuUhd o. sature must be presumed TO
intend the natural consequences Of bis own
teaching Those who announce abstract doe
trines subvcrsive Of the Constitution and the
Union must not be surprised should their heat
cd partisans advance one step further. and at
tempt BY violence 70 carry these Doctrines in
70 practical effect. In this view Of the sub
Jet il ought never TO be forgotten that. how
ever great may have been the political sivan-
tAges resulting from the Union 30 every por-
ton Of our common country, these woald ali
prove 10 be a. nothing should the time ever
arrive whea they eanno. be enjoyed without
serious danger 70 the personal safety Of the
people Of fifteen members Of the confederaey
II the peace Of the domestic 6reside through
out these States should ever be invaded-ifl
che mothers Of families within this extensive
region should not be able ~ retire to rest At
night without suffering dreadful sppreheRsions
Of what may be their own fate and that Of
the children before the morning--it would
be vain to recount 10 such people the poiiti-
ca. benefits which result 10 them from the
II NJ Galf = Ill e. l
Of nature and therefore any state Of Soo,sty
in which the sword II all the tune suspended
over the heads Of the people. must II Las, BE-
come intolerAble. But indulge in no such
gloomy forebodings. On the contrary, I6rn,-
ly believe that the events Of HSrpers Perry.
BY causing the people % pauss and reject mp
on the possible peril to their cherished tns,ita.
tons. viii be the means. under Providence. 81
Allaying the existing e1citemeB, pnd prevent
Jag future outbreaks Of siElilog character. 80
They will resolve that the Cons,iiu, ion aud
the Union shall not be endangered by rash
eOunsels, knowing that. shoald the silver
cord he loosed OF the golden bowl b. broken
at,the fountain. human power could never
reunite the scattered and hostile iragnents
cordially congral ula.s you upon the SnaI
settlement by the Sapreme Court Of the 4
>yics. which had presented an aspect 80
:, = formidable ~ the commencement Il INV
= Illustration. The right has boen established
EVERY citizen 10 take be property u any
kind. including slaves. into the comRsa Ter
ritorles belonging eqaally 10 all the States of
che COnfedersey. and ~ have Il protected there
andeT the Federal Constitution Neither
Congress nor = territorial legislature nor any
human power has any authority 10 Ennul OF
impair this vested right. The supreme Judi.
dicIAl tribunal of The country. which Is q CO.
ordinate branch of the Government, has sane
toned and affirmed tbess principles Of conssi-
iutlonai law. 80 Danifestly just 10 thsmsrlves.
ND - veil calculated 10 psom0te peace and
is.'mOny among the States. u u striking
rod of the sense Of justice which is ~ inheg-
a 10 our people. thai the property in slaves
as ever been disturbed. " my knouledRe.
q any Of The Territories Even throughout
he late troubles IN Kansas there has not been
NJ attempt, - ] am eredibly informed. 10 in
eff-Tc ~ single instance. With the night u
be zAstes Had any such aiteInps been
a ~ u a