The Van Buren press., 1860-12-21
SYNOPSIS OF THE
Presidents MESSAGE.

80 ehU OthcI
OF the country, the President asks. !" Why
is II. then, that discomfort now 50 extern
sively prevails. and the Union OF the States,
which is the source of these blessings, IS
threatened with destruction. The long con :
tinued and incorporate interference of the
Northern people with the question of slave.
ry in the Southern States, has at length
produced its natural effect The different
sections of the country are arrayed against
each other, and the time has arrived. much
dreaded by the Father of his Country, when
hostile geographical parties have been form
ed. This does not proceed solely from the
claim on the part of Congress or the Ter
iritorial Legislatures TO exclude -lavery
'from the Territories, nor from the efforts Of
the different States to defeat the execution
OF the Fugitive Slave Law but the i,nme-
diate peril arises from incessant and violent
agitation of the slavery question through
out the North. for the last quarter OF CEN
tury, having produced its mslign influence
on the slaves. and inspired them with vague
notions of freedom. Hence sense of Sc
curity no longer exists around the family
altar. This feeling of peace at home, has
given place to apprehensions of servile in
surrection. Many mntron throughout the
South, retires at night in dread of what
may befall herself and children before the
morning. Should this apprehension of
domestic danger extend and intensity until
1t shall pervade the masses of the South
ern people. then disunion will become in
evltabie. Self-prcservation is the first law
OF nature, and no political union, however
ffanght with blessings and benefits in all
other respects, can long continue. if the nee
essary consequence b, to render the homes
and firesides of nearly half the parties to it
habitual.y and hopelessly insecure. Sooner
or later the bond of such a union must be
severed. 1t is my conviction that this fatal
period has not yet arrived"
Alter referring to the Incessant agitation
OF slavery at the North for the last twenty
Ave years. both by the press and people,
and asserting that the time of Cor gress is
occupied with violent speeches on ,hi, never
ending subject. he remarks. How easy
would 1t be for the American people to set
tie the slavery question forever, and restore
peace and harmony to this distracted coun-
try. which can De done by letting the slave
States alone, and permitting them to man
age their own StaLc affairs, as they only
are responsible before God. for slavery ex-
Ist among them, and with which the North
has NJ more right to interfere than with
the similar institutions in Russia or Brazii. >"
The President relies on the gool sense
and iolbearance of the people, alleging
that l; Is out OF the power OF any pres:-
dent to accomplish but little, winch leads
him TO ooserHe that the election of any one
of our foiicw eitiaens to the ofiice OF i.rysi-
dent does not afford just cause Tor di.solv-
ing the Union. The late election having
been held in strict conformity with the lie
quiremen,s of the Constitution does not
justify resolution to destroy this very
Constitution. Reason, Justice, and u r.
gard Tor the Constitution, all require that
we shall wait for some overt ani danger
Gus act. on the part of the President elect,
before resorting to such remedy.
Mr.. Buchanan refers to the fact that the
Presidents province is not TO make but ex-
ecute the laws. 1T is alleged as one cause
for imme listc secession that the Southern
States are denied equal rights with the oth
er States in the common territory but by
what authority is it denied ? Not by Con
gress which has never passed. and believe
never will, pass any act to exclude slavery
from these territories and certainly not
by the Supreme Court, which has solemnly
asserted that slaves are property, and like
all other property, their owners have right
to take them into the common territories
and hold them them there under the protec-
ton of the Constitution. The anticipation
that Congress may pass some obnoxious
law is no good reason for a dissolution"
The President reasserts the power of
Congress over property in the territories, and
the sacred rights Of property guaranteed by
the Constitution. " The most palpable vio-
lations of Constitutional duty which hava
have been committed, consist in the acts OF
different State legislatures to defeat the ex-
ecution of the Fugitive Slave Law. 1t
ought to be remembered, however, that for
these acts neither Congress nor any Presi-
dent can justly be held responsible. Hav-
ing been passed in violation of the Federal
Constitutional duty which have been com
mitted, consist in the acts of different State
legislatures to defeat the execution of the
Fugitive Slave Law. l. ought to be re-
membered, however, that for these acts
neither Congress nor any President can
justly be held responsible. Having been
passed in violation of the Federal Con stitu-
ton, they are therefore null and voil. 1t
will be the duty of the next President, as i,
has been my own, TO act with vigor in ex-
ecuting the Fugitive Slave Law against
contendlng enactments of State lcgisla-
lures. We are not to presume In advance
that he will violate his duty. which would
be at war with every principle of justice
Let us wait for the overt act The Fugi-
tive Slave Law has been carried into execu.
tion in every contested case since the com
mencement Of the present Administration
Lei us trust that the State legislatures will
repeal their unconstitutional anl obnnX.
ious enactments. Unless this shall be don.
without unnecessary delay, it is impGssibi,
impossible for any human pc,yer to saw
the Union, and the southern Statos bava
right to demand th: act OF mstice from tn
Northern Sta.es. Should this be resusei
the Injured States, after having frs
used al peaceful means to obtain reire,,
would be justified in revolutionary resls:
ance to the Government of the Onion. Th
alleged principle that as each State becam
party to the Union by the vote of its owl
people, assembled in Convention, SO an,
one of them may retire from the Union in
similar manner by the vote of such Con
vention, is wholly inconsistent with tn
history we'll rs the character OF the Fed
eral Constitution" He then rshearses a por
~ L r r.,s.e,