The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FellOW-CiiiZeBs of the Senate aud House
of Representatives:

vi htpItStHtdthcS:
Throughout the year since our last meet
ing, the country has been eminently pros
porous ia all lis material interests The
general health has been excellent, our
harvests have been abundant ard plenty
smiles throughout the land. Our commerce
and manufactures have been prosecuted
with energy and Industry and have yielded
fair and ample returns In Short no nation
IN the Tide OF time has ever presented
spectacle OF greater material prosperity
than we have done Until within very re-
cent period.
Why is il, then, that discomfort now so
extensively prevails, aud the Union of the
States, which is the source of all these
blessings, is threatened With destruction
The loug-conlinned and inlemperate inter
ference of the Northern people with the
question of slavery in the Southern States
has at letgih produced It's na.nral effects
The different sectious OF the Union are now
arrayed against each oher, and the time
has arrived, so much dreaded by The Father
of his Country; when hostile geographical
parties have been formed have long
foreseen ard often forewaEaed my country
men OF The now impending danger This
does not proceed so ely from the claim on
The part OF Congress or the territorial leais
lt4}Hls 10 exclude slavery from the Terri
to delea, the eseentr6dP tr6dPEIS s. OF different States
law All or any oI sfrv~v vvIis isa;siittiiYs ;ittiiY save
teen endured by the Soulh withol II danger
10 the Uuion, Gas others have been in the
hope that time and reflection might apply
The remecy- The immediate peril arises
not SO much from these causes as from the
fact that the IuceSsant aud violent agitation
OF the slavery question throughout the
North Tor the last quarter of century has
n ro.ln "a.
the slaves, aud inspired them with vague
notions ct freedom. Hence a sense of sc
cnr'ty no longer exists around the family
altar. This feeling of peace at home has
gwen place 10 aPPreheasInaS OF servile IN
Eurrec.Inn. Many matron throughout the
South retires al night in dread OF what May
beisll her-elf aud her children before the
morning
Should this apprehension of domestic
danger, whether real or imaginary, extend
snd intensity Itself until il shall pervade The
masses of the Southern people, then DIS
siHion viii become inevitable. Seif-pres-
eryalioH is the first law of nature, and has
teen implanted in the heart OF man by his
Creator for the wISest purpose: and no
political nnion, however iraughI with bless
jngs and benefits in all other respects, can
teag continue If the necessary consequences
BE 10 render the homes and the firesides OF
flearly haf the parties 10 it habItually and
.hopeesssy insecure Sooner or later the
bonds OF spek Union mnst be severed
IL is my conTIction that this fatal period mas
not yet arrived: aud my prayer 10 God IS
that He would preserve the CoDstIiutIou
and the Union throughout all generations
But lei Us take warHing ir time and re
move the cause ot danger. Il cannot be
denied that, tor five and twenty years, the
sgilliion at The North against slavery IN the
South has been Ibcessant. In 1885 pictorial
hand bills, aud infiammaiory appeals, were
circulated extensively throughout the South,
of character 10 excite the passions OF the
slaves; and, in the language OF General
Jackson, 'to stimulate them 10 insurreciion,
and produce all the horrors OF servile war
This agitation has ever since been con-
tInued by the pnblic press, by the proceed
ings of State and county conventions, and
by aboliil"n sermons aud lectures. The
time of Congress has been occupied in
violent speeches on this never ending SUBJ
lect and appeals in pamphlet and other
forms, endorsed by distinguished names
have been sent sorth from this central point,
and spread broadcast over The Union.
How easy would il be for the American
people 10 settle the slavery question Tor
ever, and 10 restore peace and harmony 10
this distracted country.
They, and they alone, can do il. All
that is necessary TO accom- PIish the object,
and all FOR which the slave States have ever
coutended, is 10 be let alone, and permitted
10 manage their domestic Institutions in
their own way. AS sovereign States. they,
and they alone, are responsible before God
and the world for the slavery existing
among them. For this, the people OF the
North are not more responsible, and have
no more right 10 Interfere, tliaa with SINH
lar institutions in Russia or in Brazil.
Upon their good sense and patriotic for
bearaBce ! coufsss . still greatly rely.
Wiihou: their aid, il Is beyond the power
of anv President, no malles what may be
yhis ogn political prociIvities, to restore
peace ard harmony among the S:ases.-
Wisely limied and restrained as his power,
.undsr our Constitution and laws, he alone
can accomplish but iiilIe, for good or for
evil. on such momenlous question.
And ibis brings me 10 observe that The
election OF any one of our fellow citizens 10
The Office Of Presidenl does not oi itself
aHonl Just cause Tor dissolyins the Union.
This is more especially true If his election
has been effected By a mere plurality, and
not d majority, OF The people, and has re-
suited IRON transient aud temporary causes,
'Nh.th may probably never again occur. In
order 70 justify resort to revolutionary
resistance, the Federal Government must
be guilty OF a deliberate, pal pable and
DANGEROUS exercise of powers not granted
By the Constitution. The lasesPressdeniiai
election, however, has been held in strict
How, thsn. can The result justify revolu
r,on 10 destroy This very Cons tuition
Reason, justice, regard iof the CoDstilu-
sos, An re4 411ro fh4> <r = shall = III TOR es-m0