Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-12-14

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to US a great deal better than his reasoning.
The World detects divers contradictions, and
discrepancies in the Presidents reasonings-
but then it considers these ''more curious
than important. Consistency is q virtue of
small value in the Worlds esteem.
The staid and truly conservative CONNER
cal takes a somewhat different view of the
Message. 1t says:
1t is totally unworthy of the Executive of this
| great Republic. It's stereotyped abuse Of the
North, its false allegations respecting " the long
| continued and Incorporate interference of the
Northern people with the question Of slavery il
| tho Southern States" its entire silence about
Southern agitation of the Slavery question, cou-
Piled with iterations of the charge that the North
| has kept up such agitation, we pass by as the
haokneyed phrases Of disappointed political par
tisan, deserving the strongest condemnation in an
official document emanating from the President
of the 'choLe country.
The Erening Post says
1t written, evidently, under painful sense
of the difficulty of reconciling his past conduct
with his present duty, and selfish fear of disturb
| ing his relations with faction from whose trea-
sonable tolls he escape except through the
valley Of humiliation.
Of course, it is as impossible for Mr.. Buchanan
to state the issues between the North and South
| correctly, it is for him to hold his head up
straight. His onc-sdedness in both respects has
become chronic.
The New York Sun, (neutraD pronounees
the Message to be :" double-faced and unde-
cided, and in pointed article shows las fol-
lows, the absurdity of the Presidents po-
sition:
The States are bound by the federal compact but
there is power to enforce it, if they repudiae
the obligation. The President is bound to execute
the laws, but he Is without the to do so, if
his agents resign and the posse comita.us and mill
tia are disafected. lie has indeed, the army and
navy to aid in executing process, but judge Ma
grath has resigned, andthere neither is, can
be any process to execute, that this provision of
the Constitution is also dead letter. If a collect
or resigns another can be appointed, but not so
with a Judge, a district attorney or a marshal;
Whence this difference? The inconsistency is
nOnssnsca 1t is obvious that the whole is labor
ed but whimsical effort to prove that the Presi-
dent is sound on the Constitution and unperjured
to his oath of Office but powercss TO uphold the
former TO fulfill tho latter. 1t is palpable
cover of retreat from the sacred responsibilities of
his position; an elaboratey eontrived excuse for |
pusillanimity.
The Courier q Enquirer thinks the mes
sage unworthy Of the Chief Executive,
and unequal to the crisis. We clip the fol-
lowing from a long and severe criticism
"As for the recommendations Of the Message in |
regard to a Convention to change the Constitution |
to suit South Caroit7 and for the purpose Of |
carrying slavery into the Territories. it is all |
bosh The People of the United States love the |
Union; but they have just proclaimed trumpet |
tongued through the Ballot Boxes, that they do |
not love the Institution of Slavery. They have |
said "Let it alone and confne it to the limits Of
the States which love it. We will have nothing |
to do with it. 1t is local, not national; and the |
General Government shall not NEEDLE with it |
We viii protect every State in the enjoyment Of |
the Institution, but we will not recognize its pres
Territories. And in the face of all |
this, Mr.. Buchanan asks change in the Cousti-
tuition by these very people, for the express pur-
pose Of makingIthem stutify themselves and rcpu-
date their recent vote against Slavery excite
ment."
The N. y. Netos (Douglas) is disappoint-
ed. 1t says
Either from lack of natural capacity to gasp
SO great question, through the obstructing
dissensions of a Heterogeneous Cabinet, Mr.. Bu-
chansn has failed to come pto our expectations"
The Albany Journal is perplexed as thus;
sage, and upon its face, that it conceived and
written in patriotic spirit, and with lofty pur-
pose. To arguments strong and clear, to con-
eeptiOn so elevated, conclusions so illogical and
lame, have fitness affinity.
As whole, therefore, hastily read, we know not
how to estimate the Message 0fgoOd, taken sep
srately, there is enough to brighten the darkened
skies-enough to build sanguino hopes npon-
enough even to avert the threatened danger But
qualified, toned down. and a,culated, as it is,we
Ia e form fpfor 70, ,fga
Congress and the people
The Boston Journal forcibly saws
lie argues that no right exist. on the part of
any State TO secede from the Federal Union though
he arrives at the impotent conclusion that no
State ought to be coerced if she should see fit 10
secede In other words secession should not be
regarded as rebellion but tolerated because of
the real weakness of the central power. If this is
to be established as an axiom in the administra-
tion of the federative powers, then the u States,
instead of being frst-class nation, is ag-
gregaton of petty republics with not half the CO.
hesiOn of the German States. Such admission
from Chief Magistrate must lead to
distrust Of the stability of government, and
of the security of our bonds. We shall expect as
the natural result, that our foreign creditors will
be clamorous for the payment Of indebtedness
which each state IN turn may repudiate by seces-
sion, and the Omitted States have dissolved like
snow before the advancing spring.
The Boston Traveller says:
As to the Presidential recommendation that
amendments Of the Constitution should be made,
concedng to the slaveholding interest all that it
has ever asked it is urd to suppose that peace
can come therefrom. There would be hot and
heavy debates, violent agitation than
we have ever yet known, and probably a general
breakdown of the country.
The Springfield Republican says
For its false assumptions and its sectional spirit
there is no palliation, except in the possibility
that by taking the extreme southern side on some
points it may have effect there in delaying
any sudden and violent action.
We conclude our extracts with the follow
ing indication of Mr.. Lincolns opinion of
the Message:
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Dec. 5, 1860 {
4 synopsis of the Presidents Message reached 1
Mr.. Lincoln this morning. He comments very I
severely on its accusatory tone towards the North
and says his own views misrepresented