The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-01-12
ANUARY II.
The Presidents 1Eessage.

we stated last week, that we could not
possibly publish the Presidents Message
without excluding much better matter, but
we promised to give our readers, in lieu
thereof, an abstract of its most important
points. We proceed, therefore, to fulfil
that promise.
The President begins by expressing
gratitude to the Almighty, for the numer-
Gus blessings bestowed upon US during the
past year, including excellent health,
plentiful harvests, and general prosperity.
He then passes on to the occurrences at
Harper's Ferry and says:
These events, however bad and cruel in
themselves, derive their chief Importance
from the apprehension that they are but svmp
toms of an incurable disease in the public mind
which may break out in still more dangerous
outrages, and terminate at last in an open war
by the North to abolish Slavery in the South.
While for myself, | entertain no such appre
hension, they ought to afford solemn warn
ing TO US all to beware of the approach of
danger Our Union IS a stake of such ines
unable value as to demand our constant and
watchtul vigilance for its preservation In
thls view, let me implOre my countrymen
North and South, to cultivate the ancient feel
ings of mutual forbearance and good will to-
ward each other, and strive to allav the demon
spirit OF sectional hatred and strife now alive
in the land. This advice proceeds from the
heart of an old public functionary whose SER
vice commenced in the last generation. amono
the wise and conservative statesmen of that
day, now nearly all passed away and whose
hrst and dearest earthly wish is to leave his
country tranquil, prosperous, united, and
powerful"
After briefly disposing of the Harper's
Ferry affair, the President goes on to con-
gratulate Congress upon the "inar' set
tlement, by Nthe Supreme Court of the
United States, of the question of Slavery
IN the Territories. On this subject he
says:
.".Ihe right has been established of every
citlZen TO take his property of any kind in
cluding slaves, into the common Territories
belonglng equally to all the States of the
Confederacy, and to have it protected there
under the Federal Constitution Neither
Congress, nor Territorial Legislature. nor
any human power has any authority TO annul
or impair this vested right. x
Had 1t been decided that either Congress or
the Territorial Legislature possess the mower
to annul or impair the right to property in
slaves, the evil would be iutolerabie"
The President says he has employed all
lawful means at his command to execute
the law against the African Slave Trade,
lie has not discovered that any slaves have
been imported into the United States. ex-
cept the cargo by the Wanderer, number
ing between three and four hundred. The
offenders have been prosecuted; '.but not
with as much success as their crimes de-
served"
= considerable portion of the MESSAGE
Is devoted to an argument against the re-
vlval of the Slave Trade, which the Pres |
ident condemns for reasons both of hu-
manity and expediency.
The ratification of the Chinese treaty,
and the visit of Minister Ward to Pekin |
are next referred to with satisfaction
Our relations with Paraguay, France.
hussla, and all continental Europe, except
Spain, are also of the most friendly charac-
ter. The latter refuses to pay the Cuban
claims OF our citizens, amounting to SI2S.- !
6355i, though their Justice has been re-
cognlzed by the Spanish Government
The President recommends an annronri-
alton by Congress to pay the Spanish |
Government for the Amistad negroes and |
says that "the failure to discharge this /
obligation has been employed by the Cab |
met OF Madrid as reason against tba
settlement of our claims
The San Juan difficulty with Gro,+
Britain is dwelt upon at length. The /
President is of opinion that the mission Of .
Gen. Scott has prevented collision be-
tween the forces of the two countries, and /
that the difficulty may now be amicablv .
adjusted.
Mexico is next referred to. and the in
juries sustained in that distracted repub-
lie, by American citizens, are urged by
the President as reasons for the passage of
law authorizing him to employ "a sufi-
cient military force to enter Mexico. for
the purpose of obtaining indemnity for
the past, and security for the future. -
He suggests that, if this authority should
be granted him, a force ofvolunteers could
easily be raised, sufficient to enable the
Government Of President Juarez, now in