Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-01-05
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Fsuop oit;se.s Of the Senate,


Fslzop Oftizes Of the Senate,
and House Of heprese7aaa1'ees'
opr deem and heartfelt gratitude is due tc
that Alm;rhtv Power which has bestowed upon
ma sucb va1ied and numerous blessings through
ont the mast wear. The general health of the
country has been excellent; our harvests have
heep unusually plentiful, and prosperity smiles
throughout the land. Indeed. not Withstand
ing our demerits, we have much reason to be-
lieye from past events in our history, that we
have epioyed the special protection of Divins
Providence ever since orr origin as a nation
We have been exposed to many threatening and
alarming difficulties in our progress; but on
each successive occasion the impending cloud
has been dissipated at the moment it appeared
ready to burst upon our head. and the danger to
our instit,,tiops has passed away May we ever
be under The Divine guidance and projection.
Whilst it is the duty of the President "from
time 10 time to give to Congress information OF
.be STATE of the Union" shall not refer in de-
tail to the recent sad and bloody occurrences at
Harper's Ferry. Still it is proper TO observe
that these events, however bad and cruel in
themselves. derive their chief importance from
the apprcbension that they are but symptoms oI
and incurable disease in the public mind, which
NAV break ont in still more dangerous outrages
and terminate at last in an open war by the
North to abolish slavery in the Ssuth. Whilst,
for myself, i entertain no such apprehension they
oupbt to afford solemn warning to us all to be-
ware ofthe approach of danger. Our Union is
a stake of such inestimable value rs TO demand
our constant and watchful vigilance for its pres
eryatioa. In this view, let me iinplore my
couptrymen, North and South, to cultivate the
ancient feeling Of mutual forbearanee and good
will towards each other. and strive to allay the
demon spirit of sectional hatred and strife now
alive in the land. This advice proceeds from
the heart of an old public fupctionary whose ser
vices commenced in the last generation. among
the wise and conservative statesmen ofthat day,
now nearly all passed away, and whose first and
dearest earthly wish is to leave his country tran
quill, prosperous, united and powerful.
We ought to reflect that in this age, and
especially in this country. there Is an Incessant
fiux and refiux of public opinion. Questions
which in their day assumed most threatening
aspect. have now nearly gone from the memory
of men. They are "voleanoes bnrnt out, and on
the lava and ashes and squalid seoriR of old
eruptions grow the peaceful olive, the cheering
vine, and the sustaining corn" Such, in my
opinion, will prove to be the fate of the present
sectional excitement, should those who wisely
seek to apply the remedy, continue always to
confne their efforts within the pale Of the Con-
stitution. If this course be pursued, the exist
ing agitation on the subject of domestic slavery,
like everything human, will have its day and
give place to other and less threatening contro-
yersies. Public opinion in this country is all
powerful and when it reaches dangerous ex-
cess upon any question, the good sense of the
people will furnish the corrective i'd bring it
back within safe limits Still, to hasten the
suspicious result at the present crisis, we ought
to remember that every rational creature must
be presumed to intend the natural consequences
of his own teachings. Those who announce ab-
stract doctrines subyersive of the Constitution
and the Union must not be surprised should
their heated partizans advance one step further,
and attempt by violence ro carry these doctrines
into practical effect In this view of the subject
IT ought never to be forgotten that, however
great may have been the political advantages
resulting from the Union to every portion of our
common country, these VIII al prove , 70 De as
f. sa eu;oved I w;tboat serious danger TO the
person personal safety of the people of fifteen mem
bers of the eoafederaey. 1.-THE peace of the do,
mest,c nreside tn!eugnoul lnese saa.9; snostu
ever .s Ge rsg;on sbonld not be- able to
retire to rest at night without suffering dreadful
apprehensions of what may be their own fate
and that OF Their children before morn,Igaa ,ha
;ta,l mJGla Je hsns,S I which respt to them from the
Union. Self preservation is the first instinct of
nature; and therefore any state of society in
which the sword IS All .ne ame over
tnlerahIe to,I rI ! Bnt mt indulge in no such gloomy
forebodings. On the contrary. 1 firmly believe
that the events at HarPer's Ferry, by, causing
the people % pause ana renee upon .ne I, he
the a,e @ meaps - e under ProTdeuse Of aaying the
existing excitement and preventing tnture out
breaks Of a similar eharhcter They will re,
solve tha Inc h
that ua ~ should stbe silver cord be ioosed or the
golden bowl be broken at the fountain, human
power could never rreunite the scattered and hos
tile fragments; a..
= 'o..'at 'In - - T.. &c
.ina1 SELF Hen. " 'ue ouso pa.;ou ~ sIoro
'ne oa,'eo o's'e' =. :ns ques..on S .n.on.ad - ~
~ IN 'erri.ories' im wnlou hSu p0Iea .ho aan, 80
aspect SO 'raiy lof.l.uaOis l:..a.;an - @ M gho
mencemene Oh my aoWin.s.. a.on' -ns
righ. mas oeen eSlaollsnea ol esess eis,Isn
70 take MS properly u any A1ru' .ne:u
aing saves in'u 'ne cTniuoc e.. .oso,lso .ss
belonging equai,y % ali .ne 0..'.s =, .no
ana 70 haVe.' plo'ec'eG M4s :iele
unaer tne leoerai cons.l,1eio!. Me.sner : 81
Nensress nol .e'i..oa ION 1 sn.har;.n ST. ~, -
any human power mas any 4es.s E "
annui OF lmpai, .nis Nes'ee ign, .n'
judicial .riouIa' VI sne ..a .oun.,y'
"n'eh Is a co-oroina.e oian'n u .us 81
ernmeh.' mas sanc'ioncu anu 1"l' "'0o