Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-01-04
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Es'IOv Gtissn, Of tAs Ssnats.

and num6rOus blessings throughout the past year The
general health Of the country has been excellent; our
smiles throushout the land. Indeed notwithstanding
onr demehts, we have much reason 70 beleve from
the past evers IN our history, that We have enjoyed
The special proiection Of Divine Proydenee ever since
cut origin a. a nation We have been eHPossa 70
grsss but on each successive occasion the impending
cloud has been daaipated At the momsnt IL appeared
instSsOnI has passsS away Nay We ever Be under
the Divine guidance and protection. . u.
Whilst Il 30 the duty Of the President "fIom time 70
time 20 give 70 Congress- Information Of the state Of
the Union shall refer In detail TO the recent sad and
bloody occurrences AZ harpers Ferry. sun Prope,
10 themselves, derive their chief Importance from the
sapprshensieo that they arc but symptoms Of an
iDeurabe disease In the public mind which may break
out IN stl more dangerous outrages and terminate t
,st n az oPsR gsr s the North TO abolish slavery IN
apprehension, they ought to afford silsmn warning
all 70 beware Of hs approach Of danger Our Un,
our constsnt and waiehfl vigilance for its preserva-
ton. In this view, let me implors my eountrymen,
North and South, to cultivate the ancient feeling Of
mutual forbearanee and good will towards each other,
and strive to aay the demon spirit Of sectional hatred
snd strife nov alive 10 the land This advice proceeds
'yicee commenced In the last geneFation among the
wise and conservative statesmen Of that day, near
g all passed away, aud whose frat and dearest earthly
wish to leaye hts county TRANQUIL prospsrouS uni
ssd and poFsrfai.
ally in this country, there is an ineessant 6ux and
rehux Of public opinion. Questions which In their
day assumed a most threatening aspect, have now
nearly gone from the memory OF men. They are
.'vOlcanoes burnt out, and on the lava and ashes
and squslld scori@ Of old eruptions grow the
peaceful olive, the cheering vino, and the sustain
ing cornIi Snch, in my opinion, will prove 10 be
the fate OF the present sectional excitement should
those who wisely seek to apply the remedy, con.
tinue always TO confne their efforts within the pale
Of the Constitution. III this couise be pursued,
the existing agitation on the subject OF domestic
slavery, like everything human, will have its day
na..Ic nNl.a.
tToversies, Public opinion in this country is all
powerfal, aud when it reaches dangerous excess
upon any question, the good sense OF the people
will furnish the corrective and bring 1t back within
safe limits. Still, TO hasten the auspicous result,
at the present crisis, we ought to remember that
every rational creature must be presumed 10 in
tend the natural consequences OF his own teach
ings, Those who announce abstract doctrines
snbversive of the Constitution and the Union must
not be surprised should their heated partizans ad-
vance one step further, and attempt by violence to
carry these doctrines into practical effect. In this
view of the subject 1t ought never TO be forgotten
that, however great may have been the political
advantages resulting from the Union to every por
tcn OF our common country these will all prove 10
be as nothing should the time ever arrive when
they cannot be enjoyed without serious danger to
the personal safety Of the people Of fifteen MEM
bers Of the confederacy. II the peace Of the do.
Ineste freside throughout these States should ever
be invaded--if the mothers Of families within this
extensive region should not be able to retire to rest
OF what may be their own fate and that OF their
children before moruing-it would be vain to re-
count to such people the political benefits which
result to them from the Union. SelfpreservatiOn
Is the first instinct Of nature and therefore any
state of society in which the sword is all the time
suspended over the heads of the people, must at
last become intolerable. But indulge in no such
gloomy forebodings. On the contrary, firmly be
eve that the events at Harper's Ferry, by causing
the people to pause and reflect upon the possible
peril to their cherished institutions, will be the
means, under Providence, OF allaying the existing
excitement and preventing futui outbreaks of q
similar character. They will resolve that the
Constitution and the Union shall not be endanger
ed by rash counsels, knowing that, should "the
silver cord lie loosed or the golden bowl be bro
ken at the fountain, human power could never
unite the scattered and hostile fragments.
~ cordially congratulate you upon the final
settlement by the Supreme Court of the United
States the question of slavery in the Ter
ritories, which had presented an aspect so truly
formidable at the commencement OF my admins
istration. The right has been established Of
I. every citizen to take his property of any kind,
including slaves, into the common Territories
belonging equally TO all the States of the cons
federacy, and to have it protected there under
tho federal constitution, Neither Congress nor
Q Territorial Legislature nor any human power
has any authority to annul or impair this vested
right. The supreme Judicial tribunal of the
country, which is q CO ordinate branch Of the
government. has sanctioned and affirmed these
principles of constitutional law, SO msnifestly
lust in themselves, and 80 well calculated ia
promote peace and harmony among the States.
Il is a striking proof of the sense ofjustice
which is inherent in our people, that the pro
perty in slaves has never been disturbed, to my
knowledge, in any of the Territories. Even
throughout tho late troubles in Kansas there
has not been any attempt, as am credbly in
formed, to Interfere, in single instance, will
the right of the master. Had any such attemp
been made the judiciary would doubtless have
afforded an adequate remedy. Should they fai
to do this hereafter, it will then be time enough
to strengthen their hands by further legislation
Had it been decided that either Congress o
the Territorial Legislature possess the powe
to oannul or impair the right to property in slaves
the evil would be intolerable In the latter event
there would be struggle for majority of tn
99 members Of the Legislature at each successive
election, andthe sacred rights of property helC
under the Federel constitution would depen,
for the time being on the result. The agitation
would thus be rendered incessant whilst tn
Territorial condition remained, and its banefu
81 influence would keep alive dangerous excite
ment among the people of the several States
Thus has the status of Territory, during
the intermediate period from its first settlemen
until IL shall become State, been irrevocab
q ixed by the fnal decision of the Supreme Couri
F0FJuuaJo mas DteH tuts lOf tn1 prosperity
the Territories as well as the tranquility of tn
By States. Now, emigrants from the North an
the South, the East and the West, will meet II
the Territories on common platform, hayin
brought with them that species of property bes
adapted, in their own opinion, to promote the
1a welfare From natural causes the SLAYER
ia question will in each case soon virtually settl
itself and before the Territory is prepared f
admission as a State into the Union this deci
sion, One way or the other, will have been
90 foregone conclusion. Meanwhile the settle
l ment Of the new Territory will proceed wishOU
serious interruption, and its progress and pro-
poIity will moth endangered or retarded by v
olent political struggles.
EEa When in the progress Of events the inhab
tants of any Territory shall have reached Il
number required to form State, they will The
hin proceed, in a regular manner, and in the exc
ciss Of the rights Of popular sovereignty,
form a constitution preparatory to admissiC
into the Union. After this has been done,
employ the language Of the Kansas and N
Fld bRaska act, they ''shall be received into q
daa Union with or without slavery, as their const
tuition may prescribe at the time Of their admi
sion." This sound principle has happily be-
recognized, in some form or other, by an almo
unanimous vote oi both houses OF the last Co
gress.
Alllawiul means at my command have be
ssss employed, and shall continue to be employs
- 70 execute the laws against the African sla
trade. After most careful and rigorous q
~ animation OF our coasts and thorough inves
sl7s cation Of the subject, We hsve not been able
a,4, discover that any slaves have been impogi
tnk. h. TTntfad Gfafaa a h. k.s a