East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-12-06

oSllSNiuiaii "ihi o'hoih uicteil"i HiVHlS<4
ties of the country, the President as ~
" Why is it, then, that discomfort now so
extensively prevails, and the Union of
States, which is the source of all these
BLESSINGS, Threatened with dIstractionf
The long-contnucd and incorporate in
reference of the northern people with
the question of slavery in the southern
States has at length produced its natural
effect. The different sections of the
Union are now arrayed against each 9TH
er, and the time has arrived, so much
dreaded by the Father of his Country,
when hostile and geographical parties
have been formed This does not pro.
ceed solely from the claim OIL the part of
Congress of the Territorial Legislatures
20 exclude slavery from the Territories,
nor from the efforts of the different States
TO defeat the execution of the fugitive
slave law; but the immediate peril arises
from the incessant aud violent agitation
of the slavery question throughout the
North FOR the last quarter of century,,
which has produced its malign influence
on the slaves, and inspired them with
vague notions of freedom Hence a
sense Of security no longer exists around
the family altar. This feeling Of peace
at home has given place to apprehensions
of servile insurrection. Many a matron
throughout the South retires at night in
dread of what may befall herself and
children before the morning. Should
this apprehension of domestic danger ex-
tend and intensity itself until it shall per.
wade the masses of the southern people,
then disunion will become inevitable
Sch-preservation is the first law OF nature,
and no political union, however fraught
with blessings and benefits in all other
respects, can long continue if the neces
sary consequence be to render the homes
and fresidcs Of nearly half the parties to
it habitually and hopclessly insecure
Sooner or later the bonds Of such Union
must be severed. 1t is my conviction
that this fatal period has not yet arrived"
After referring to the iucessant agita-
ton against slavery at the North for the
last twenty-five years, both by the press
and the people, and asserting that the
time Of Congress is occupied with violent
speeches on this never-ending subject, he
remarks: GLOW easy would it be for the
American people to settle the slavery
question for ever, and restore peace and
harmony to this distracted country,
which can be done by letting the slave
States alone, and permitting them to
manage their own State affairs, as they
only are responsible before God for sla-
very existing among them, with which
the North has no more right to interfere
than with the similar institutions in
Russia or Brazil" ........,.. ...s
The President still relies on the good
sense and forbearance of the people
alleging that it is out Of the power Of
any President to accomplish but little
which leads him to observe that " The
election of any one Of our felow-citizens
to the office of President does not of it
self afford Just cause for dissolving the
Union. The late election, having beer
held with strict conformity with the pro
visions Of the constitution, does not JUST
fy resolution to destroy this very con
stitution. Reason, Justice, and a regart
for the constitution require that we shall
wait for some overt and dangerous act OF
I the part of the President elect befor,
resorting to such a remedy" anna
Mr.. buchanan refers to the fact tina
the Presidents province is not to make
but to execute, the laws. f" 1t is alleged
MS one cause for immediate secession tina
{ the Southern States are denied equa
rights with the other States in the com
) mon territory; but by what authority ar
these denied? Not by Congress, which
never passed, and, I believe never vii
pass, any act to exclude slavery from
these Territories; and certainly not by
the Supreme Court, which has solemn.
| decided that slaves are property, and, lik
all other property, their owners have
right to take them into the common Ter
ritorics, and hold them there under tn
) protection Of the constitution. The an
ticipation that Congress may pass som
law obnoxious is no good reason fol-. dis
solution"
The President re.asserts the power Q
Congress over property in the Terrific
9 rics, and that the sacred rights of prop
crty arc secured by the constitution
"Tho most palpablc violation of consti
+ tutional duty which has yet been com
a United consist in the acts Of differen
/. State Legislatures TO defeat the cxecu
, ton Of the fugitive slave law. IL ough
to be remembered, however, that 70
| these acts neither Congress nor on
0 President can justly be held responsible
Having been passed in violation of tn
Federal constitution, they are therefor
null and void. 1t will be the duty of tn
e next President, as it has been my own, t
act with vigor in executing the fugitiv
slave law against conflicting enactment
Of State Legislatures. We are not Z
presume in advance that he will violat
his duty, which would be ut war wit
/, every principle of justice. Let us wal
= for the overt act. The fugitive slav
I law has been carried into execution
Q every contested case since the commence
nent Of the present administration. lie
. ms trust-that the State Legislatures vii
repeal their unconstitutional and obnox
ri ious enactments. Unless this shall b
done without unnecessary delay, 1t Is i'm
possible for any human power to save tn
II e. n