The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-01-19

fllDH DStWeeH tue FdTtouS SeSII00S~ CT our
common country. Popular Sovereignty
having finally ptevailed. in the full, free
and fai, adoptibn of the Fundamental law
Iof the Territory according to the wishes
of the people, this vexed and dangerous
Question, in that Territory, may now be
considered as satisfactorily and perpetu-
ally settled
Copies of the correspondence between
the Governor of Virginia and the Govern
or of Pennsylvania, on the subject of the
frecent outrage at Harper's Ferry, are here
with'transmitted TO the Legislature. The
letter addressed BY the Governor Of Penn
sylvania, was rnissent to Harrisonburg.
| Virginia, and heuce was not received un-
I'll the first day of DecensbeF, one day be-
fore the execution of john Brown; and,
therefore, it was Impossible to reply to it,
by mail, IN time to reach the Governor
of Virginia before the execution. The
answer was conseqpcnA%sen b. telegraph,
which will account for its brevity and sen
tentiors character
The recent seizure of the public pro-
perty Of the United States at IIarper's
| Ferry, and the invasion Of the State of
Virginia, by small band of desperadoes,
with an intention to.excite the slave pop
ulation to insurrectior, have drawn atten-
tion to the dangers which heset our fed
eral relations, &c IS source Of satisfac-
I ton to know that the authorities of Fir-
/ glnia possessed the means and the deter
minat1on to punish offenders with prompt
ness and justice; that the military force
of the United States was power imme-
diately available to aid in putting down
the outbreak against the epoblic peace -
that the slave population were co1teHted.
with their condition, and unwilling to
unite with disorderly white men IN acts
of treason and murder; and that the
great masses of the people have no sym
pathy, whatever, with any attack upon
the rights and institutions of any Of the
States, and have a deep and abiding de-
yetlon. to our great and glorious Jnion.
To US, as Pennsylvanians, it is gratifying
to believe that the citizens of this Com
moEwealth have R9s, IN any manner, par
ticipated in this unlawful proceeding, and
to know that when some of the guilty per-
petratorS were arrested, within our inris-
diction, they were promptly surrendered
to the justice Of the offended and injured
State
The several States of this Union are Jude
pendent soyereigntics, except SO far as they
have granted certain enumerated power to the
Federal Government. In cases not provided
fer in the Fcdcral Constitution, the several
States, in their relations. 10 each other, o&ght
to be governed by the principles which reg
nlate the conduct of civilized nation. These
| principles forbid, in all nations, 'every evil
practice tending to excite disturbance in anoth-
er Statc" and are feundcd on the maxim, that
" different nations ought in time of peace, to
do one anotbar allthe good they ca 4, without
preindicirg their real interests" This max
i'm, recognized by all civilized governments
applies with peculiar force to the several
States OF this Union. t0u} : together, as they
IRE, by a sacred compact 1or mut,lul support
! and protection :; and, therefore, any attempt
in one STATE, to excite inSurrection in. anoth-
er, is an offence against all the States, because
all are bound by the Constitution to put down
such disturbance; and the act Of Congress
authorizes the President Of the United States
to call out the militia of the several States for
/ the parPose. Il is a high offence agIinst-the
peace Of cur Commonwealth, for disorderly
persons within cur Jurisdiction, to combine
together for tie purpose ef stirring up iasur-
rect.on in any of the States, or to induce the
slaves in the Southern STATES to abscond from
their masters and il would be proper, In my
/ Judgement for the General Assembly to con-
slider whether additional legislation may not
I be necessary to insure the prompt punishment
Cf such offenders against our peace and secur-
| ity~
In determining cur relative duties towards
our sister States, the morality of servtude is
not an open question, for we are bound by the
! legal and meraN obligation of the compact Of
the Union, under which we have been brought
into existence, and preserved as Independents
States, as well as by the principles of u4erna-
/ tional law, to respect the institutions which
the laws Of the several States recognize, and
in no other way can we faithfully fulfil our
obligations as members of lhiS confcdevacv.
While l entertain no doubt that the great
Republican experiment on this continent, so
happily commenced, and carried forward to
| its present exalted position, in the eyes Of the
world wiz continue. under the ProYFcnee of
| God, to be successful tcthe latest generations
it is the part Of wisdom and patriotism to be
watchful and. yigilant aud to carefully guard
a treasure so priceless let moderate coun-
sells prevail let a spiri5of harmony and good
will, and a national frtternal sentiment be
cultivated among the people everywhere
North and Southland the disturbing elements
which temporarily threaten our Union, will
now, as they have always heretofore, assured
ly pass away.
PennsylTaniai in She rast, has pegforrned
her part with unfaltering frmness--let her
now, and in the futdre, be ever ready to dis
charge her confederate duties with unflinch-
ing integrity. Phen will her proud positfcn
| sntitle her, boldly aDd etfrctually, to rebuke.
and assist in crushing treason. whether it shall
raise It's crest in other States, in the guise of
fanatical and irrepressible conflict, between
the North and abe South or assume the equal