Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-01-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FsUo,o- Citizens If the tSesats

slowed upon us such varied and numerous
blessings throughout the past year. The
general health of the country has been ex.
csllsnt our harvests have been unusually
plentiful, and prosperity smiles Throughout,
the land Indeed, notwithstanding our
dement's, wc have much rsasot to believe
from the past events in orr, history, that
we have enjoyed the special protection oi
Divine Providence ever since our origin
as . nation. We have been exposed to
many threatening and alarming difficulties
in our progress; but on ies,h succe ssive
occasion the impending cloud has been
dissipated at the moment il tappeared ready
10 burst upon our head, and the danger
10 our institution has passed away. May
weever he under the divine guidance and
Whilst it is the duty of the President
"from time to time to give to Congress
Information Of the state of the Union"
shall not refer in detail to the recent sad
and bloody occurrences at Barper's Ferry.
Still, it is proper to observe that these
events, however bad and cruel in them
selves, derive their chief importance from
the apprehension that they are but symp-
toms OF an incurabls disease in the pu bIic
mind, which may break ont in still more
dangerous outr ,geS aud terminate al last
in an open war BY the North TO aBblish
slavery in the South. Whilst, for myself.
l entertain no such apprehension, they
ought to afford a solemn warning 10 rs all
to beware Of the approach OF danger. Our
| Union is a stake Of such ines,imable value
as to demand our constant and watchful
vigilance for its preservation. In tins
view, let the implore my countrymen,
North and South, to cultivate the ancient
feelings Of mutual forbearance and good
will towards each other, and strive 10 allay
the demon spirit OF sectional hatred and
strife now alive in the land. This advice
proceeds from the heart of an old public
fanctionary whose service commenced in
the last generation. among the wise and
Conservative statesman OF that day, now
nearly al passed away, and whose frst
and dearest wish is to leave his country
Tranquil, prosperous. united and powerful.
We ought 10 reflect that in this age,
and especially in this country. there is an
incessant Aux and rehux oi public opinion.
Questions which in their day assumed a
must threatening aspect, have now nearly
gone from the memory OF men. They
are 'vDleanoes burnt out, and ON the lava
aad ashes aud squalid scoriase Of old erup-
tlol.s grow the peaceful olive, The cheering
vine, and tie sustaining corn Sach, in
nv opinion, viii! prove to be the fate Of
the present sectional excitement, should
those who wisely seek to apply the remedy.
contlnue, always 10 conhne their cllorts
within The pale of the constitution. II
this course be pursued, the existing asita.
tion on the subject of domestic slavery,
like everything human, will have it's day
and give place TO other and less threaten
ing controversies. Public opinion in this
country is all powerful, and when it reach
es 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 this nuspicious
result, at the present crisis, we ought TO
remember that every rational creature mus.
be presumed 70 intend the natural conse-
quences of his own teachings. Those who
announce abstract doctrines subversve of
Constitution aud the Union, must nnt be
surprised should their heated par,isans nd.
vance one step further, and attempt by
tyiolence to carry those doctrines into prac
tical effect. In this view cf the subjecti.
ought never to be forgotten that, however
great NAV have been the political adyan-
tages resulting from the Unlon TO- every
portion Of our common country, these
would all prove to be nothing should the
time ever arrive when they cannot be en-
| joyed without serious danger 70 the per-
sonal snfety of the people Of fitteen' mem
bers Of the contederacy. 4ez aq@a
Ii the peace of the domestic 6reside
throughout these States should ever be in
vaded--if The mothers OF families within
this extensive region should not be able to
retire to rest at night without suhe"inp
dresdfui apprshsnsipns OF what NAV be
their own fate and that OF their children
before the morniug-it would re vain to
recount to such a people the political bens.
fits which result to them from the Union
misrepresentation is the frs. instinct of
nalure; aud therefore any state OF society
in which the sword is all the time suspend
ed over the heads Of the people. must at
last become intolerable. But indulge in
no such gloomy forsbodings. On tho con
trary. firmly believe that the events at
Harper Ferry, by causing the people TO
pause and reflect upon the possible peril
to their cherished institutions, will be the
means, under Providence, Of ailaying the
! existing excitement aud preventing future
outbreaks Of q similar character. They
will resolve that the Constitution and the
Union shall not be endangered BY rash
counsels, knowing that. should - the silver
cord he loosed or the golden bowl Be bro
ken \ at the fountain human pow
er could never reunite the scattered and
hostile fragments. s4,' "1 'sls
| cordially congratulate you upon the
final settlement BY the Supreme Court OF
the United States, 81 the qies,ion II slav-
cry in the Territories, which had presented
an aspect so truly formidable at the com
mencement Of mys sadminisira ration.i The
right has been established Of avery citizen
to take his property Of any kind, including
slaves, into the common Territories be-
I tFougibg equally to all the States Of the
eonfederacy, and to have itprott cted there
under the Federal Constitution. VI N either
Congress nor's territoriul b gislature nor
any human power has any authority to
annal Of impair this vested right. The
supreme Judicial tribunal Of the country,
which Is coordinate branch Of tho Gov
ternment, has sanctioned and affirmed these
principles of constitutional law, so mani
tfestly Just in themselves, and 80 we'll cal
fcuinted to promote peace and harmon :
among the States. Its q striking proof
4 Of ths sense OF justice which is inherent
il our people, that The property in slaves
- never BEEN Disturbed, to my knowl-
edge, in any Of the Territories. 81 Even
throughoat ths.las troubles in Kansas