Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1860-01-07

RED WING, GO0DHUE
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fellou- citizens of the Senate
and House Of Representatives.:
Our deep and heartfelt gratitude is due te
that Almighty power which has bestowed upo,
Us such varied and numerous blessings through
out the past year. The general health OF tho
country has been excellent; our harvests have
been unusually plentiful and prosperity smile:
throughout the land. Indeed, Notwithstanding
our dement's, We have much reason to believe
from the past events in cur history that We
have enjoyed tile special protection Of Diving
Providence ever since our orig gin US q nation
We have been exposed to many threatening
and alarming difficulties in our progress; but
on each successive occasion the impending
cloud has been dissipated at the moment il
appeared ready to burst upon our head, and
the danger to our institutions has passed away
May we ever be under the divine guidance and
protection!
Whilst it is the duty Of the President "from
time to time to give to Congress information,
Of the State Of the Union" snail not refer ill
detail to the recent sad aud bloody occurrences
ut Harper's Ferry. Still, it is proper to ot.
serve that these events however bad and cruel
in themselves, derive their chief importance
from the apprehension that they are but symp-
toms of an incurable disease iu the public mind,
Which may break out in still more dangerous
outragcs, and terminate at last in an open war
by the North to abolish slavery in the South
Whilst, for myself, entertain no such appre-
hension, they ought to afford a solemn warning
to US all to beware of the approach u danger.
Our Union is u stake of such inestimable value
IS to demand our constant and watchful vigil
ance for its preservation. In this view, let me
implore my countrymen, North and South, to
cultivate the ancient feeling Of mutual forbear-
ance and good will toward each other, aud
strive to aIlay the demon spirit of sectional
hatred and strife now alive in the land. This
advice proceeds from the heart Of all old public
tunctionary whose services commenced in the
last generation, among the wise and conserva-
tive statesmen of that day, now nearly all
pa sed away, and whose first and dearest
earthly wish is to leave his country Tranquil,
prosperous, united and powerful.
We ought to reflect that in this age, and
especially in this country, there is an incessant
flax and reaux Of public opinion. Questions
which in their day assumed most threatening
aspect. have now nearly gone from the memory
Of "'en: They are volcanoes burnt out, and
on the lava and ashes and squalid ~core Of old
eruptions grow the peaceful olive, the cheering
vine, and the sustaining corn." Such, in my
opinion, will prove to be the fate Of the pres.
eat sectional excitement, should those who
wisely seek to apply the remedy continue
always to contine their efforts within the pale
Of the Constitution. II this course be pursued,
the existing agitation on the subject Of Iomes-
tic slavery, like everything human, will have
its day and give place to other aud less threat
ening controversies. Public opinion in this
country is ail-poweriul, and when it reaches u
dangerous excess upon any question, the good
sense of the people will furnish the corrective
and bring it back within safe limits. Still, to
hasten the ausp!cions result, ut the presen,
crisis, we ought to remember that every
rational creature must he presumed to intend
the natural consequences Of his own teachings.
Those who announce abstract doctrines sub.
vcrsive Of the Constitution aud the Union
must not he surprised should their heated par
t!zans advance one step further, and attempt
by violence to carry these doctrines into prac-
tical effect. In this view Of the subject it
ought never to be forgotten that, howcye.
great may have been the political advantages
resulting from the Union to every portion ol
our common country, these will all prove to he
as nothing should the time ever arrive when
they cacnot be enjoyed without serious danger
to the personal safety Of the people Of fifteen
members OF the contederacy. Ii the peace o
the domestic tireside throughout these States
should ever be invaded-if the mothers ol
families within this extensive region should no,
De able to retire to rest at night without suff.r
ing dreadful appreheDsions of what may be
their own fate aud that OF their children before
morn'ng-it would be vain to recount to sucl
. people the political benefits which result Il
them from the Union. Selcp:eservalion is thu
hrst instinct OF nature; and therefore, any stat.
OF society in which the sword is al, the tim,
suspended over the heads of the people. mus
at last become intolerable But indulge i,
no such gloomy forebodirgs. On the contrary
! firmly believe that the events at Harner
Ferry, by causing the people to pause an(
lreaectupon the possible peril to their cherished
institutions, will be the means, under Provi
dence, OF allaying the existing excitement aut
preventing future outbreaks OF u similar char
> acter.; They will resolve that the Constitutio,
and the Union shall not be endangered by rasl
: connsels, knowing that, should the silver core
be loosea or the golden bowl he broken. y a
tue fountain" human power could never re
unite the scattered aud hostile fragments.
! cordially congratulate you upon the fina
settlement by the Supreme Court Of the Unite.
I States OF the question of slavery III the Terri
tories, which had presented an aspect so trul,
formidable ut the commencement Of nv admin
istra'ion. The right has been established o
> every citizen to take his property OF any kind
including slaves, into the common Tcrritorie
belonging equally to all the States of the con
federac?, and to have it protected there uudc
{, the federal constitution. Neither Congress
nor Territorial Legislature, nor any huma,
power has any authority 10 annul or impai
this vested right The supreme judicial tribu
nal Of the country, which is co. ordinate
branch OF the government, has sanctioned an,
affirmed these principles Of constitutional law
$50 manifestly just in themselves, aud so vel
calculated to promote peace and harmon,
among the States. 1t is striking proof q
the sense OF justice which is inherent in ou
people. that the property in slaves has neve
been disturbed, to my knowledge, in anv of tb
|. Territories. Even throughout the late trouble
, in Kansas there has not been any attempt, q
! / nm orks1lihlv i,,fo - :.a..c =. !,