Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-01-05
Ole DOLLAR PER ANNUM INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE
TOWANDA
Thursday Morning, January 8, 1860.
Presidents Message.

llude is due to that Almighty Power which
has bestowed upon us such varied aud numer.
ons blessings through the past year. The
general health of the country has been excel
lent ; our harvestS have been unusually plen-
uiuI, aud prosperity smiles throughout the
land Indeed, notwithstanding our demeritS
We have much reason to believe from the past
events il our history, that we have enjoyed
the special protection of Divine Providence
ever since our origin as a nation. We have
Jctn exposed to many threatening aud alarm
iug difficulties in our progress but on each
successive occasion the impending cloud has
been diSSipated at the mrment it appeared
ready to burst upon our head, and the danger
to our institutions has passed away. May We
ever he under the divine guidance and protcc
lion
While it is the duty of the President from
lime 10 time To give TO Congress information
Of the state of the Union shall In. refer
in de;ai 10 the rfccut sad and bloody occur
fence at llarpcr'> Ferry. Still, tits proper to
observe that these events however bad and
cruel in themselves, derive their chief import
uucc from the apprehension that they are but
symptoms of an incurahle disease IN the public
ujn1, which may break out III still more dan
-trOuS ouirugeS, aud terminate at last in an
upcH war hv the North to abolish Slavery in
the South. While, tor myself, entertain no
>uch apprehension, they ought to afford
solemn warning to Us all To beware OF the mp
I:uICh of r'aU-Ur. Our Union is 4 stake of
such mcatluahie value as To demand on, CON
slant AMI wajchfuI vigilance for It's preserva-
ton. In this view, let me nplore nv country
mrn, North and South, tocu!tivatc the ancient
'"riimgs Of mutual fOrhearauce and good will
toward each other, and strive to allav the de-
mon spirit of sectional hatred aud strife now
alive ia the land This advice proceeds from
The heart of an old puhlic fuuctiouary HhOSe
service commenced iu the last gcucration
vmoug tie wise aud conservative statesmen of
that day, now nearly all passed aYay, aud
whose first and dearest earthly wish is To leave
a> country tranquil, prosperous, united, aud
powerful. -
We onght to reflect that in this age, and eS-
ltc!ai,y Ia this country there is an ince>>aht
lux aud rtilHX of public opIuioa Questions
which, IN thur day. assumed a most thrcateu-
w aspect, have tuw uearIy gone from the
mory of meH. They are volcanoes burnt
oat, and ou The lava and ashes, and Sq,iuld
Spr L of oh cruptiouS grow the peaceful
owe. the chet ring Vine, aud the >u tanning
corn Such, III my opinion, will wove to he
i.r fate ot the present sectional excitement,
,.ouid tho>e Who wisely SEEK To apply the
r~mrdv, continue alwaySto couliue their TurtS
within the Imir of The Constitution If this
cuHISc he pursued, The existing agitation on
tar subject of Domestic Slavery, Ike every
'ung human will have its day. aud give place
10 other and l,S> threatening controversies
pnldir Cuiu;on ia this country is all powerful.
aHl whcn y rCarlUS dln.crnuS excess uI,r,.
amy qarsfi"u. the good sense of tke peope
will furnish the corrective and bring it back
within safe limits. Sill. to hasten this ans
'c!uus result, at tie present crisis We ought
10 rcmrnlhrr that every rational creature must
DE- prCSrgn. Ia iHtrnd hr natural consequences
ut his own teachings Those Nho announce
abstract doctrines SubvcrSive of the Con$ttu-
ton and the Union, must not be surprised
should their heated par,san> advance one Stcp
further, and attempt by violence to carry these
doctrines Into practical effect
In this view of the subject. it. ought never
- Oc forgotten that, however great NAV have
"yen the political advantage resulting from the
/ uiou to every portion of our common conn
try. these would all prove TO he rs nothing
should the time ever arrive when they cannot
ae enjoyed without serious danger 10 tie per
,0ual safety of the people Of fifteen members
Of the Confederacy /: the peace of the do
nestle freSide throughout these States >honld
ever be iuvGded-if the mothers OF families
within this extensive region should not be able
TO retire to rest at night without suffering
dreadful apprehensons Of what may be their
own fate and that of their children before the
morning-it would be vain TO recount to such
people the political benefits which result to
h, SatF Il,
first instinct Of nature aud 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 in
dulge in no such gloomy forebodingS On the
contrary, firmly believe 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 ex-
element, and preventing future outbreaks OF
similar character They will resolve that
the Constitution aud the Union shall not be
endangered by rash cOnnselS. knowing that,
should " the silver cord be loosed. or the gold
en- bowl be broken at the fountain, hu-
man power could never reuuile the scattered
aud hostile fragments,
cordially congratulate you upon The final
settlement by the Supreme Court of the United
States of the question Of Slavery in the Ter
'itcries which had presented an aspect so
truly formidable at the commencement Of my
administration. The right has been establish
cd OF every eitizeGto take his property Of any
kind, including slaves, into she common Ter
ritOries belonging equally TO all the States of
the Coniederacy, aud TO have it protected
there under the Federal Constitution Neither
Congress nor Territorial Legislature, nor
any human power has any authority TO aDnul
Or impair this vested right. The supreme ju-