The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-01-03
II IL f.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
a. W tl!t-eHa q Ut ''t"-''S p'''' =

g., gt0 tlt,=eaS d NE 'oeh''S ""' A'N"SS y I
RePTsssataiirls;
c,r deep and heartfelt. gratitude Is due TO |
,ha- llmiIhly Power which has bestowed up /
',,7 II, such varied and numerous blessings
.br,u1hou. the pas. year. The general health /
- ibe r1lItry has been excellent, our mar
res,s have been unusually plentiful, ana pros
,,r;.v smiles throughout the land. in'ieed,
Ior ,ithsland.uz our dement's, "e have mnch
,,s.s11 70 believe from the past events III our
bi-t.,lv. taat We have enjoyed Tie speciai pro-
,erti.a OF Divine Provifence ever since our
o-;5,, ss 4 nation. We ha'c been exposed 70
many threatening and Alarming dhLcuiiles AZ
or,- proare~~, bat on each successive OCCASION
The impending cloud las been clsspatea al
Tie moment T. appeared ready to DUST upon
oar head, and th8 danger u our institutions
has passed away. May we ever De un'ef TIE
Divine guidance and protection.
as the duty of tho President from
time TO time 70 give TO Congress information
~ the state .! the Union, / shall not refer IN
i,etajl 70 the recent sad and bloody occurrence
:. E,-ne-'s Ferry. Still, it IS proper to OBJ
.srv, that these events, however bad anu
.,r.I in themselves. derive their chief impor-
-. frop, The apprehension that they are but
s,r,,tor,,, of az incurablc decease in the pao-
s,,1srouS outrerAs and terminate al least IN
-. - var lbs tho North 10 abolish slavery
e. The south. Whist, for myself, entertain
- srcb apprehensiJn, they ough: 70 afford
49,, ,rs[uica 70 u all 10 beware Of the ap-
,Do.rs q. dancer. Our Union Is STAKE or
~ ine,tiuaiyle vaiue as - demand our con-
-, srS ,ystchful vigilance for Its presorva-
. In ;ni, view, let RE imp,oTe my COM
.,,,c- North and South, TO cultivate the an
-, fapiiDrs OF rlutuat tOsbearance and good
- t,,ca-Is each other. and strive 10 sliay
-, .,,irit OF sectional h2t'od and strife
~ sii,, in The Land This advice proceeds
r., tho heart Of an Old public lnnctlohafy
,I,.e service commenced IL the last genera
.inr, aaonr the wise and conservative states
nan of tia. dag, now nearly all passed away,
al whose first and dearest earthly wish is 10
leave his country tranquil, prosperous, united,
and powerful.
w oraht To reflect that in this age, and
ssra.;al.y m this country, there IS an inces-
- fix aud relax Of public opinion. CUES
lions which in their day assumed a most
,braa.enjp1 aspect, have now nearly gone
,~o,, ,b, memory OF men. They are vol
c,,oss burnt out, and on the lava and ashes
ana saual.d SCORE Of old eruptions grow the
,.a,esfuI olive the cheering vine and the sus-
ia;o,ur corn" Such IN my opinion, Will prove
70 De the fate OF the present sectional excite-
mart should those who wisely seek to apply
G remedy, continue always 20 confine Their
eTcr.s within the pale Of the Constitution
It this c0urse be pursued, the existing a9ita-
tiOa on tbs subject OF domestic slavery, Ike
everything human, VIII h1ve It's day, ana
give place % ether and less Threatening con
tIoyer,ies. Public opinion in this country is
ali powerful, and when il reaches 4 dangerous
excess upon any question, the good sense OF
Sic people viii furnish the corrective, and
bfins il back within safe limits. Still, to has
ten th,s acspclUus result, at The p esent crisis
we ough. TO remember that every ratio: a.
creature mus. be presumed TO intend the
natural consequences OF his own teachings
Those WHO announce abstract doctrines sub
yer, ye Q! the Constitution and the Union
mus, not be surprised should their heated par
ti.aus advance one step further and a,ternp; by
violence 10 carry these doctrines into practical
etect.
In this view " the subject, il ought never tI
be forgotten that however great may have
been the political advantages resulting iron
the Union tn every portion Of our common
country, these would all prove 10 be As no
thing should tue time ever arrive when they
cannot be enjoyed without serious danger IL
the personal safety Of the people OF fifteen
members OF tho cOniedeIaCy. IL the peace
OF the domestic tireside throughout these
States should ever be inyaded-if the mothers
Of families within this extensive region should
lot be able 10 retire 10 res, a. night without
suffering dreadful appTehensOns OF what may
ne theic own lass anu that oi their children
before the mo.nins-it would be vain TO re-
count 10 such "A people the political benefits
which result - them from the Union. Self
preservation Is tho dist instinct of nature and
therefore any state OF society In which the
sword is al the time suspended over III,
heads OF the people, must st last become in
ioc-ablc. But indulge in no such gloomy
fOre50ln-s. On The contrary. | firmly be
levc ti..l tie events al harpers Ferry, by
causing people 10 pause aud reflect upon ta'
pOsS be evil % their cherished institutions
Will be tn means, under Providence, OF allay
!ag the exiting excitement and preventlu,
future outbreaks OF a similar character. Tie.
will resolve that the cons,ii u;ion and Cnio
shall not be endangered by rash counsels
knowing that, should 1.-The silver cord b
i,osane1 or the golden bowl be broken
Al the fountain human power could neye
r.unite the scattered and hostile asments
cordially coUgratuisie you upon The tirs
ed States OF the question of slavery ia tn
Territories. which hal presented AL aspect $
truly formidable al the commencement of m
administration, The RICH, has been estab
lished OF every citizen TO take his property 0
every kind, including slaves, into the commor
Territories belonging equally 20 all the State
vi the Contrderacy, and to have it protested
there under the Federal Constitution. Meth
e. Congress nor territorial legislature no
any human poaer has any authority TO aDnu
Or Impair This vested right. Tie supreme ia
dlciai tribunal Of the country, which is CO
ordinate branch or the Government, has sane
toned and ali med these principles of ccnsti
tGt,onai law 50 mlEiis>tly just III themselves
and 50 Vel calculated TO promote peace ant
harmony among The States. IL is strikin!
proof Of The sense OF justice which is iGheIep
IN our people that the property in slaves las
never been disturbed 10 NV knowledge II
any OF The territories. Even throughout the
late troubles III Kansas there has rot been any
at;emp,, ~ am cred'bly info med, 10 inter
fere, n single instance with the right OF The
master. Had any such at,enpt beer made
the judiciary would DOUBTLESS have afforded an
adequate nmedy. Should they fail to do this
hereafter. il wiil then be time enough &c
strengthen their hands by further legislation
Had 1t Teen decided that either Congress OF
the territorial legislature possess the power &c
snnui or impair the right toprUyerty in slaves
the evil would be intolerable. In the latter
event, there would be struggle for majority
OF the members Of the legislature az each sue
cessive cleo ion, and the sacred rights ofprop
erty held under the Federal Constitution
Woala depend -or the time being on the result
Ahe agitation would thus be rendered inces.
SAM whist the territorial condition ra,ualned,
shi lis oaIeial Influence would keep alive a
dangerous excitement among the people o.
ihe several States
Thus has the status OF Territory. during
ihe intermediate period from its first settle
Deni until itshall become a State been ire
yoc-bly fixed By the fina, decision Of the
supreme Court. Fortuna has this been
!oF the prosperity OF the Territories, as well
as the tranquility of the States. Now, emil
grants from the North and South. the East
and the West, will NEE: in the Territories on
common platform, having brought with
,nen that species of property bes, adapted.
IA their own opinion, TO promote their vel
rare. From natural causes the slavery cues.
uoi VII in each case soon virtually settle IL
sepS and aefoTe the Territory is prepared for
Omission as State into the Cu;on, this do
cision, one way or the other, will have been a
foregone conclusion. Meantime, tho settle
,nsnt OF the new Territory will p-oceed with