Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-12-08
The Presidents Message.
EsllOsr- Citizens Of the Senate

its material interests. The general health has
been excellent, our harvests have been abun-
dant, and plenty smiles throughout the land.
Our commerce and manufactures have been
prosecuted with energy and industry, and have
yielded fair and ample returns. In short, no
nation In the tide of time, has ever presented
a spectacle of greater material prosperity, than
we have done until very recent period Why
is it then that discomfort now extensively pre-
walls and the Union of the States, which is the
source of all these blessings, is threatened
with destruction? The long continued and
intemperate interference of the Northern peo-
pie with the question Of slavery in the South
ern States, has at length produced its natural
effects. The different sections of the Union
are now arrayed against each other, and the
time has arrived so much dreaded by the Faith
er OF his Country, when hostile geographical
parties have been formed. have long fore
seen, and often forewarned my countrymen of
the now impending danger This does not
proceed solely from the claim on the part of
Congress or the Territorial Legislatures 10 ex-
clude slavery from the Territories: nor from
the efforts Of different States to defeat the ex-
ecutiOn Of the Fugitive Shave Law. All or
any of these evils might have been endured by
the South, without danger to the Union, as
Others have been, in the hope that time and
reflection might apply the remedy. The i'm
mediate peril arises, not so much from these
causes as from the fact that the violent agita-
ton OF the slavery question throughout the
North for the last quarter Of century, has at
length produced its malign influence on the
slaves, and inspired them with vague notions
of freedom; hence a sense of security no long
er exists around the family altar This feeling
of peace at home has given place to appreben-
sions Of servile insurrection.
Many a matron throughout the South, retires
at night, in dread of what may befal herself
and her children before the morning. Should
this apprehension of domestic danger, whether
real or imaginary, extend and intensity itself.
until il should pervade the masses of the
Southern people, then disunion will be inevi-
table. Sefpreseryation is the first law of
nature, and has been implanted in the heart of
man by bis Creator for the wisest purposes.
and no political union, however fraught with
blessings and benefits, in all other respects,
can long continue, if the necessary conse-
quences be TO render the homes and firesides
OF nearly half the parties to it habitually and
hopelessly insecure. Sooner or latter the
bonds of such a union must be severed. Il is
my conviction that this fatal period has not vet
arrived, and my prayer to God is that he
would preserve the Constitution and the Union
throughout all generations But let us take
warning in time, and remove the cause of dan
ger. 1t cannot be denied that for five and
twenty years, the agitation at the North
against Slavery in the South, has been inces-
SAINT In 1885, pictorial hand-bils, and nfiam-
matOry appeals were circulated extensively
throughout the South, of character to excite
the passions of the saves-and in the Ian
guage of Gen. jackson, TO stimulate them to
insuuection, and produce all the horrors of a
servlle war. This agitation has ever since
been continued by the public press, by the
proceedings of State and County Conventions.
and by abolition sermons and lectures The
time Of Congress has been occupied in violent
speeches on the never ending subject, and ap-
peais in pamphlet, and other forms endorsed
by distinguished names, have been sent forth
from this central point, and spread broadcast
over the Union. How easy would it be for
the American people to settle the slavery ques-
ton forever, and to restore peace and harmony
to this distracted country. They alone can do
it.
All that is necessary to accomplish this OBJ
jcct, and all which the slave States have ever
contended for is to be let alone, and permitted
70 manage their domestic institutions in their
own way as sovereign States. They, and they
alone, are responsible before God and the
world for the slavery existing among them.
For this the people of the North are not more
responsible, and have no more right TO inter-
icre, than with similar institutions in Russia
or Brazil. Upon their good sense and patri-
otic forbearance, | confess / still greatly relv.
Without their aid it is beyond the power of
any President, no matter what NAV be his own
political proclivities, to restore peace and har-
mOny among the States. Wisely limited and
restrained as is bis power under our Constitu-
tion and laws, he alone can accomplish but little
for good OF evil, on such a mOmentous ques-
ton; and this brings me to observe that the
election of any one of our fellow citizens to
the Office of President, does not of itself afford
just cause for diSsolving the Union. This is
more especially true if his election has been
effected by a'mere plurality, and not major
ity of the people, and has resulted from tran
sient and temporary causes, which NAV proba-
bly, never again occur. In order to Justify
resort TO revolutionary resistance, the Federal
Government must be guilty of deliberate,
palpable and dangerous exercise ofpowers not
granted by the Constitution. The late Presi-
dental election, however, has been held in
strict conformity with its express provisions
How then can the result Justify revolution to
destroy this very Constitution Reason. JUS
tice and regard for the Constitution all require
that we shall wait for some overt and danger
Gus act or the part of the President elect, be-
fore resOrting 10 such a remedy
1t is said, however, that the antecedents
Of the President elect have been sufficient
10 justify the fears of the South that he will
attemp TO Invade their Constitutional rights:
but are such appreheIsions OF contingent
danger in the future sufficient to Justify
the immediate destruction of the nohlest svs-
TEN of government ever devised bv mortals9
From the very nature of his Office and its high
responsibilities he must necessarily be con
servative. The stern duty of administering the
vast and complicated councils of this Govern
ment affords in itself a guarantee that he will
uot attempt any violation OF a clear Constitu-
nonal right. After all, he is no more than the
Chief Executive officer of the Government.
HIS province is not to make, but execute its
laws, and IL is a remarkable fact in our history
that notwithstanding the reported efforts of
;he antl-savery party, no single act has ever
passed Congress, unless we NAV possibly ex-
cept the Missouri Compromise, impairing in the
slightest degree the rights of the South to their
property in slaves. And it may also be OBJ
served, Judging from present indications, that
no probability exists Of the passage of such an
act by majority of both Houses either in the
present or the next Congress
Surely under these circumstances we ought
TO be restrained from present action bv the pre-
ccpt of Him who spske as never man spoke.
thUt sufficient unto the day is the evil there
Of The day of evil may never come unless
we shall raShly bring it upon ourselves. Ii is
alleged as one cause for immediate secession,
that the Southern States are denied equal rights
with the other States in the common territories.
But by what authority are these denied? Not
by Congress which has never passed, and |
peiieve never will pass, any at to exclude
Aayery from these territories; and certainly
ROT 10y tne supreme Court which has solemnly
lecied that slaves are property, and like all
VSer property, their owners have a right to
% hem into the common territories and hold (
de1 there under the protection of the ConSti- !
full. So far then as Congress is concerned, /
thc ljectiOn is not 10 anything they have al .
reao done, but to what they NAV do hereafter.
IL Ill surely BE- admitted that this apprehen-
siolof future danger is no good reason for an /
IMMEDIATE dissolution of the Union.
lis true that the Territorial Legislature of /
kasas, on the 23d of February 1860, passed, .
Y -eat haste, an act over the veto of the Gov
irr, declaring that slavery is. and shall be
fFer prohibited in the TERRITORY. Such an
I however, plainly violating tue rights of
1pcrtv secured by the Constitution, viii sure
e declared void by the Judiciary whenever
all be presented in legal form. Only
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