New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
FsyOr- CaisenI cfthe Sesas
ard House Of Representdtipes.

,cptry has been eminently prosperous in all It's mate
rial ;nterss The general health has been excellent
our hayests have been abundant and plenty smiles
throughout the land. Our and manufactures
have been prosecuted with energy and industry, and
have Welded fair and ample returns. In short,
no nation in the tide Of time has presented spec
tace Of greater material prosperity than we have done
until within very receut period
WHY Is It, then, tina. discomfort now 90 extensively
prevails, and the Union Of the States, which 10 the
source Of all these blessings ia threatened with deHruc
ton The longeontinued and incorporate interior
ence Of the Northern people with the question of
Slavery in tho Southern States has at length produced
lie nssura effects, The different sections of the Union
are now arrayed agaipsa each other and the time has
srved 20 much dreaded by the Father ofs Country,
when hostile geographical parties have been formed
have long foressen and often forewarned my country
men Of the impending danger. This does not pro-
coed solely from the claims the part of Congress or
the territorial legislatures to exclrds Slavery from
the Territories, from the efforts of different States
TO defeat the execution of the Fugitive Slave lazy.
AL or any OF these evils might have been endured
by the South without danger 10 the Union las others
have been) In the hope that time and reflection might
apply the remedy The immediate peril arises not 80
much from these from the fact that the inces
SAINT and violent agitation Of the Slavery question
throughout the North for the last quarter Of century,
al
slaves ard inspired them with vague notions Of free
dom. Hence serse of security no longer exists
around the family altar. This feeling Of peace at
home has gyea place to aPprehensions OF servie IN
surrection. Many mstron throughout the South re-
tires at night in dread of what may befa herself and
her children before the morning. Should this appre-
henon Of domestic danger whether real or imaginary
extend and intensity itself until II shall psryade the
masses Of the Southern people, then Ssuion viii be.
come inevitable. Sefpreservation is the first law OF
nature and has been implanted in the heart Of by
his Creator for the wisest purpose; and political
uaion however fuught with blessings and benefits in
ali other respects, long continue, the necessary
be 70 render the homes and the resdes OF
nearly half the parties to it habtuaDy and bopeessiy
insecure. Sooner later the bonds Of such Union
must be severed 1t Is my conviction that this fatal
period has not vet arrived; and py prayer TO Gcd L.
that he would preserve the Constitution and the Union
ehroughout all generations.
But let us take warning in time, and remove the
cause of danger 1t cannot 10 denied that for five and
twenty year, the agitation at the North against Sa-
very the South has been incessant In 1885 p;cto-
rial handbils and naumatory appeals were circulated
extensively throughout the South, of character to
excite the passions Of the slaves; and in the language
Of Gen. Jackson, TO stimulate them TO insurreeon,
and produce all the horrors Of eervile war" This
agitation has since been continued by the pubic
press by the proceedings OF State and County Conyen-
tons, and by Abolition sermons and lectures. The
time Of Congress has beeG oceup in violent speeches
on this neveren6ing subject and appeals in pamphlet
and0her FORMS indorsed by distinguished names have
been sent forth from this central point, and spread
broadcast over the Union.
How easy would it be for the American people to
settle the Slavery question forever and TO restore
peace and harmony TO this distracted country.
They, and they alone, do It,. All that Is necessa
~ to accomplish tie object and all for whiehths Slave
States have contended is to be let alone and per-
mted TO manage their domestic institutions IN their
own way As sovereign States, they and they alone
responsible before God and the world for tie Siay
cry existing among them For this, tie people OF tho
North not responsible and have no more right
10 interfere than with similar institutions in Russia
or In Brazil Upon their good and patriotic for
bearanoe confess still greatly rely. Without their
aid it Is beyond the power Of any President matter
what may be his own political preclives, to restore
Pese and harmony among the States. Wisely limited
and restrained as Is his power, under Constitution
emo lawe ne alone can accomplish but little for good
o. for oril, on such mOmentous question.
And this brings me to observe that the election Of
any OF fellowctzens 10 the Office of President
does not Of iteef afford just fer dsolyng tie
Union This il especially true if Lis election has
been effected by a mere plurality, end not ma
je1iT ns the psole snd bias raSul'd from transient
again occur. La order TO justify resort to reyou-
tionary resistance, tie Federal Government must be
guilty Of deliberate palpable and dangerous
else OF powers not grated by the Constitution. The
late Presidential election, however has been held in
strict conformity with its express provisions How,
then can the result Justify revolution to destroy this
very Constitution Reason, justice, a regard for
The Constitution, all require that shall wait for
some overt and dangerous act the part OF the Pres
dent elect before resorting to such a remedy.
1t said however that the anecedents Of the Pres
tdeIt elect have been sufficient 10 Justify the fears of
the South that he will attempt 10 invade their eons
tutioDel rights But such approximations Of contin
gent danger in the future sufficient to Justify the ime
date destruction Of the nobest system Of government
ever devised by mortalsf From the very nature Of
his Office and its high responsibilities, he must neceesa-
rily be conservative. The ste duty of administering
the vast and complicated Concerns OF this Government
affords in itself gu2ianee that be will not attempt
any violation Of clear constitutional right. After al
be IL mere than the chief executive officer of the Gov
ernmeEt His province is not TO make, but to execute
the laws; and it is remarkable fact in history,
That Notwithstanding the repeated efforts Of the Anti
Slavery party Sng lie oct has passed Congress,
unless may possibly except the Missouri COmpro-
MISE impairing in the ghtest degree, the rights of
the South to their property in slaves Ans it may also
be observed judging FROM the present Indications that
no probability exists Of the passage of such act by
majority Of both Houses either in the present the
next Congress. Surely, underthe circumstances, we
ought to be restrained from present action by the pre-
cept OF Him who sYake never man spoke, that
sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" The day
Of eva may never come, unless we shall rashly bring
il upon Ourselves.
1t is alleged cause for immediate secession
that the Southern States denied equal rights with
the other States in tie common Territories But by
what authority are these denied Not by Congress,
which has never passed. and believe never will PASS
any act to exclude Slavery from these Territories and
certainly not by the Supreme Court, which has SOL
emily decided that slaves property, and, ike all
other property, their baye right 70 take them
into the common Territories and hold them there under
the protection of the Constitution.
50 far, then Congress il concerned the objection
is not to anything they already DONE but what
they may do hereafter. IL will surely be admitted that
this apprehension OF future danger ia good reason
for az Immediate dissolution Of the Union. 1t is true
that the Territorial legislature Of Kansas the I'D
Of February 1860 passed in great haste act, over
the veto of the Governor declaring that Slavery is
and shall be- forever prohibited In this Territory"
Such an act, however plainly violating the nights OF