, 1860-02-03
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FsllOsO-citiscns Of the Senate and
House Of Representatives:


the past year. The general health Of the coun.
try has been excellent Our harvests have been
unusually plentiful, and prosperity smiles through
out the land. Indeed, notwithstanding our de-
merits, we have much reason to believe, from the
past events In our history, that we have enjoyed
the special protection Of Divine Providence, ever
since our origin as a nation. We have been ex-
posed TO many threatening and alarming difficult
ties in our progress; but on each successive oc-
casion the impending cloud has been dissipated
at the moment Il appeared ready TO burst upon
our head, and the dangers Of our institutions
have passed away. May we ever be under the
Divine guidance and protectionl
Whilst It Is the duty Of the President from
time to time to give to Cogress information Of
the state Of the Union, shall not refer in detail
TO the recent and bloody occurrence 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 apprehen-
sion that they are but symptoms Of an incurable
disease In the public mind, which may break out
In still more dangerous outrages, and terminate
at last in an open war BY the North to abolish
slavery in the South. Whilst for myself enter
tain no such apprehension, they ought to afford
Q solemn warning to us all to beware Of the ap-
proach Of danger. Our Union Is stake Of such
inestimable 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 ancient feelings Of mutual
iorbearance and good will towards each other,
and strive to allay the demon-spirit Of sectional
hatred and strife now alive in the land. This
advice proceeds from the heart Of an old public
functionary, whose service commenced in the
last generation among the wise and conservative
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 espe-
cially in this country, there is an incessant hux
and rcflux Of public opinion. Questions, which
in their day assumed a most threatening aspect,
have now nearly gone from the memory Of men.
They are volcanoes burned out and on the lava
and ashes and squalid scOriD Of old eruptions
grow the peaceful olive, the cheering vine AMI
sustaining corn. Such, in my opinion, viii prove
10 be the fate Of the present sectional excitement
should those who wisely seek to apply the re-
medy continue always to contine their efforts
within the pale Of the constitution. II this
course be pursued, the existing agitation on the
subject Of domestic slavery, like everything hu-
man, will have its day, and give place 10 other
and less threatening controversies.
Pubic opinion In this country Is all-powerful,
and when Il reach 8 q dangerous excess upon
any question, the good sense Of the people will
furnish the corrective aud bring Il back within
safe lmitS Still TO hasten this auspicious result
at the present crisis, we ought to remember that
every rational creature must be presumed to
intend the natural consequences Of his own
teachings. Those who announce abstract doc
trines, subversive Of the Constitution and the
Union, must not be surprised should their heat
cd partisans advance one step further and at
tempt by violence to carry these doctrines into
/ .ne.. L. AZ -
ought never TO be forgotten that, however great
may have been the political advantages result
ing from the Union TO every portion Of our com
nlon country, these would all prove to be as no
! thing should the time ever arrive when they
cannot be enjoyed without serious damage to the
personal safety Of the people Of iifteen members
Of the confederacy. II the peace Of the domes-
tic fireside throughout these States should ever
be invaded; if the mothers Of families within
this extensive region should not bc able 70 retire
to rest At night without suffering dreadful APP
ptehensions Of what may be their own fate, and
that Of their children before the morning, Il
would be vain TO recount to such people the
political benefits which result to IT, N from the
Union. Selfpreservation ia the first instinct Of
nature and therefore any state Of society In
which the sword l. ell the time suspended over
the heads Of the people, must at last become
intolerable.
But indulge in no such gloomy iorebodimgs
On the contrary; firmly believe that the event
at Harper's Ferry, by causing the peoPls to pause
and reflect upon the possible peril to their cher.
ished institutions, win be the means, unler Pro-
vidence, Of allaying the existing excitement and
preventing future outbreaks Of similar char
acteF. They will resolve that the Constitution
and the Union shall not be endangered by rash
counsels, knowing tha', should the si'vsr cord be
loosed, or the golden bowl be broken at the Ioun-
tain, human power could never reunite the scat
tered and hostile fragments.
cordially congratulate you upon the final set:
tlement, by the Supreme Court OF the United
States, OF the question Of slavery in the Terri
tories, which had presented an aspect so truly
| formidable at the commencement OF my admin
istratiOn The right has been established Of
every citizen TO take his property OF any kind,
including slaves into the common territories be-
longing equally to oil the States Of the Conteder-
acy, and have Il protected there under the fede-
raj Constitution. Neither Congress nor Terri
torial LEGS aturc, nor any human power, has any
authority tn annul or impair this vested right
The Supreme Judicial tribunal Of the country,
which Is n aeo-ordinate branch Of the Government,
has sanctioned and affirmed these principles OF
constitutional law, so maniiestly just in them
selves. and so well calculated 70 promote peace
and harmony among the States Il Is striking
proof Of the sense Of justice which is Inherent
In our people, that ths property IN slaves has
never been disturbed 10 my knowledge. In any
Of the Territories. Even throughout the late
troubles IN Kansas there has not been any at
tempt a. ] am eFedbly informed, 70 interfere IN
= sinrle instance with the right Of tie master.
HAD any such attempt been made, the Judiciary
would doubtless have afforded an adequate rem
cav. should they hil 70 do this hereafler, i
win then be time enough to strengthen their
hands by further legislation. Had I been deei'
dcd that either Congrcss OF The Territorial legis-
Iaturo possess the power 10 annul or impair the
right 70 property IN slaves the evil would es