Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1860-12-14
:. The PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

WepuOlLS4SN oar present issue that portion
Of the Presidents Message which lclntes to our
Federal Relations, and which in the present
crisis will be found peculiarly interesting.-
Like everything which comes from the pen of
Dir. buchanan, it tx All able production, distin-
guished by clearness uud precision Of state.
ment, and thorough mniliarity with the
principles and details Of the questions discuss
cd : but n desire to harrnonise opyosin, doc
trnes and reconcile conflicting interests seems
to have led the President into inc onsistenccs
which are very apparent, and which have
been fully exposed in the public journals of
the country. The President denies to Stntu
the Constitutionul right to sccede, and yet
affirms that the Geueral Government has
no right TO coercs q seeding State. The
propositions seem to DO entirely incompatible.
II secession be y violation Of Constitutional
right. rebellion against constituted authority
nnd bercv"lnti"nnry resistance. then tho general
Government must necessarily possess tho power
to protect itself against these infrinrr,ncuts uf
its Constitutional rights--thr rrmc.iy must lr
coneurrcn, with the right. Secession is either
a Constitutional "r Revolutionary right To
hold that the right il Revolutionary, and Mt
the same tims TO deny tn tho Govcrnmrnt the
right to qucll rebellion ia II contradiction in
tcrms-an Rhsurdiiy. Tho President ul,"ws
clearly that the Constitution has vested ~ tho
General Government u" power To r"crr 80
cediug State aud beside. that its exercise
would change the essential character "f this
Government. and he ut war with tho whole
spirit and intent Of the Cnnsti;uti"n--th con-.
clusiou is therefore Irresistible ,l,al this is not
II consolidated Government, hut n compact be-
tween sovereign powers, with the reserved
right in each State to determine its infractions,
and the mode and measure Of redress.
The Message sets forth in striking point Of
view the dark catalogue Of our wrongs-con-
cedes that the most pnipable violations Of Con-
stitutional duty have been committed by the
acts Of different State Legislatures to defeat
the fugitive slave law-and admits that the in
jured States having exhausted all peaceful and
constitutional means to obtain relrcss, would
be justified in resistance to the Government
of the Union. The peaceful remedy suggested
is an explanatory mendment Of the Constitu-
tion, which should settle its construction on
three points-lst. The right of slavery in the
States; I'd. The duty Of Congress to protect it
in the Territories; Sd. A recognition of the
right of the master to his fugitive sav. But
suppose that these concessions were made,
would they satisfy the Southl Would they
give any increased security TO the institution
Would they put II stop TO that ceaseless agita-
ton of the slavery question, which according
to the statement Of the Message ITSELF has in
srred the slave himself with vague notions of
freedom. and excited the worst fears Of servilc
nsurrections 1t is preposterous to expect that
any such parchment stipuations, would weigh
feather with the masses, or stay the onward
progress of aboltionism. Emancipation is the
great end of the Republican party, and the
openly .avowed policy of its leaders. All con.
cessons to slavery are mere temporary expe-'
dients to effect the final doom Of slavery. Our
State has realized the greatness of tho peril,
long ago, and has only awaited the co-opera.
tion of her sister States and now that cu.ope-
ration is at hand. she is prepared to take the
only step, which is consistent with her honor
and interest. The whole South awaits her
action. in the full confidence that she will act
promptly. 1t is this confidence which is
giving strength to the secession movement, and
which must finally unite the Cotton States in
Southern Confederacy.
Entertaining the views which the President
has expressed in the Message that the General
Government has mo- light to use force against
q seeding Stale, it would seem that a collision
with his administration is not very probable.
II would naturally occur from an attempt OH
his part to enforce the collection of the Rev
enue or to increase the strength of the Federal
Fortfications, but this We suppose he will by
all means avoid. The question of their ces-
sion will be referred to Congress, md upon its
action will depend the question of peace and
war. Mr.. Hale and others have threatened
coercion, but this is supposed to be mere blus.
ter to test the feeling of Southern members
Senator Davis and other we'll informed States.
men, do not apprehend civil war.