Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1860-12-06
PRESIDENTS MASSAGE.
fELLow.CirIzLSs oF rHE SENATE
AND HousE OF Rkpu,s.xr.rrvr,

the country has been eminentIy prosperous in
all its material interests The general health
has been excellent our EarveSts have been
abundant, and plenty smiles throughout the
iaud. Our Commerce snd manufactures have
been prosecuted with energy aud industry,
aRd have yielded fair aud ample returns. In
short, no nation in the tide OF time has ever
prose9ted a spectacle Of greater material prus-
perity than We have done until within a very
recent period.
Why Is It, then, that discomfort now so ex.
tensively prevails, and the Union of the States.
which Is the source Of all these blessings, is
threatened with destruction. The lony.con.
tiuued and incorporate intcrfereoce IL the
Northern people with the question Of slavery
m the Southern States has at length produced
rs natural effects. The different sessions Of
the Union are now arrayed sgainsi each other,
and the tune has arrived, 80 much dreaded by
the Father Of his Country, when hostile geo.
graphical parties have been formed have
long toreseen aud often forewarned my coun-
trymen Of the now impending danger. This
does not proceed solely from the claim on the
part of Congress or the territorial legislatures
90 exclude slavery frOm tho Territories. nor
from the efforts OF different States TO defeat
the execution Of the fugitive slave law. All
or any Of these evils might have been endur.
cd by the South without danger 10 the Union,
Gas others have been,) in the hope that time
and reflection might apply the remedy. Tho
immediate peril arises not 20 much frOu ihsse
causes a. from the fact that the incessant and
violent agitation Of the slavery question thru
out the North for the last quarter of century,
has at length produced it malign :=huenee on
the slaves and inspired them with vague no
tlons Of freedom. Hence n sense Of security
mo longer exists around the family altar
This feeling of peace at home has given place
to approximations Of servile insurreciion.-
Many a matrOn throughout the South retires
at night in dread u what may beiAll herself
and her children before the morning. Should
this apprehension Of domestic danger, whether
real or imaginary, extend aud intensity itself
until IT shall pervade the Masses Of the South
ern people, then disuniou will become inevi.
table. Self-preseration Is the frst law q
nature, and has been implanted in the heart
of man by his Creator for the wiscst purpose
and no political union, however fraaaht with
blessings and benefits in all other RESPECTS.
can long continue, If the necessary conse-
quence be to render the homes and drcsides
of nearly half the parties to il habituAlly and
bo=as Of such Union must be severed. IL
Is my conviction that this fatal period has not
yet arrived; and my prayer To God Is that He
would preserve the Constitution and the L Mon
throughout all generations
But let us take warning in time, aud 10.
move the cause Of danger. 1t cannot be do
MED that, for FIVE and twenty years, the agita.
ton at the North against slavery in the South
has been incessant. In 1885 pictorial hand
bills, aud inhammatory appeals, were eircula-
ted extensively throughout the South, Of a
character To excite the passions of the slaves;
and in the language Of General jackson, "to
stimulate them 10 insurreotion, and produce
all the horrors Of a servile war" This acita-
tion has ever since been continued by the pub
lac press, by the proceedings of State and
county conventions, and by abolition sermons
and lectures. The time of Congress has been
occupied in violent speeches on this never.
ending subject; and appeals in pamphlet aud
other forms, endorsed 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,
aud 20 restore peace and harmouy to this dis
tracted country.
They, and they alone, can do IT, All that
= necessary to accomplish the object. and all
for which the slave. States hare ever contend.
cd, is to be let alone, and permitted to man.
age their domestic institutions in their own
way. As sovereign States, they. and they
alone are responsible before God and the
world for the slavery existing among them.
For this, the people Of the North are not more
responsible, and have no more right to inter.
fcre, than with similar institutions in Russia
or Brazil Upon their good sense and "a
trIotic forbearance confess still greatly re-
~. Without their aid, il is beyond the power
of any President, no matter what may he his
own political proclivitics, to resiOrs Peace aud
harmony among the States Wisely limited
and restrained as is his poyer, under our Con
siltuiion and laws, he alone can accomplish
but little, for good or for evil, on such a mo-
inentous question.
And this brings me 10 observe that the cleo
ton 81 any one of our feliy1 citizens 20 the
once Of President does NO, Of itself afford
just cause for dissOlying the Union This il
more especially true II his election has been
effected by mere plurslity, and not a ma
J0niy, Of the people, and has resulted from
transient and temporary causes, which may
probably never again occur Ia order 10 Jus
thy resort q revolutionary resistance. the
Federal Government must he guilty of
deliberate, pslpablc, aud dangerous exercise"
q powers no; granted by the Constitution.
The late presidential election, however. has
been held in strict conformity with IL express
provisions. How tksn, css che result lastly
= revolution 10 destroy thi. very Coustitutioby
teasun. justice. = regard for the Constitution.
ali require that ne shall vait for some overt
and dangerous act "a the part ~ the President
elect before rcsortisg 10 such q rclnedy.
IL J. said hovevcF. that the anieccdepts Of
The President elect have been sufficient 10
justify the fears q the South that he viii A..
tempt ~ invade their constitutional rights
lint are such apprehensions Of esshpgeut
danger 20 the future sufficient - Justify The
immediate destruction " che sobcst system
~ government ever devised by rnorials -
tfum ihe vrry nisrc q hh ofre ard i,s
hi-h responsibilities BE- must necessarily b.
Conservative The stern dnfy e administer.
i1g the vast and complicated concern. N this
Goveramsui affords 10 itscif a guarantees that
Ne VII not attemrt any violstion n clear
constitutional right Aner 81. Ne i no moro
Than the chief executive ofecr Of ths Gov.
rrnneut liis province j. ~, - make. bat
% efeea,s che hEs and 10 isa remarkable