Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-12-02
The New Year.

The New Year.
Old Time has made another round,
and brought us to the starting line tor
another heat in the race circle OF life
This is a stand point from which each
iudiyidua! should cast a retrospective
and prospective view upon his existence
1t is a beittng period for rcilecilon-to
resolve to correct the errors OF the past,
and to stand firmly by the right for the
future.
New Years day is recognized through
out Christendom as gala day, upon
which old and young join hands in
friendly grasp, and bid each other be OF
good cheer and make merry. lime
once past never returns, bat time TO
cone il within the control Of man for
good or for evil. On this day, 1t is
meet that those living in christian
land, ana acknowledging the influence
OF christian charity, should blot out from
the tablet of memory all traces Of ha-
tired and il-will towards their fellow
men. Let an ejaculation Of ga happy
new year. come from the heart, and not
Gv". thu lips only In this spirit, we
tender orr congratulations to our read
crs, one and all; wishing that the store
houses of plenty and happiness may be
widely opened that all may enter and
partake-that hopes may be realized,
and evil forebodlngs may prove to be but
chimeras having no existence except IN
imagination-tha when we shall have
made another revolution in the course
of our pilgrimage upon this temporary
abode, we may have the sweet assurance
within ourselves, that this latter circle
has marked at least portion Of life
well spent.
The Presidents Message.
This long looked for State paper was
delivered o-our patrons in an extra
sheet, on the forenoon of Friday. 1t has
been eagerly read by our subscribers,
and we haze no doubt each one of them
has, ere this, formed an opinion as to the
merits or dement's Of the principles pro-
mulgated, and the suggestions made in
it. On the leading questions of public
policy, Mr.. Buchanan assumes no new
ground He consistently reitcrates his
former opinions on the issues which were
before the country u year ago. The
Message is plain, concise and practical
reflection of the policy of his Admins
tration.
On the subect of the Harper's Ferry
enaeute, the President takes a calm and
rational view of the consequences of such
aggressions of one section of the Confed-
eracy upon the constitutional rights Of
another. AS the Message did not ap-
pear in our regular issue, We will give
the substance oft in this article.
HARPER's FERRY.
Whilst it is the duty of the President
"from time to time to give to Congress
Information of the state Of the Union"
shall not refer in detail to the recent
sad and bloody occurrences at Harper's
Ferry. Still, it is proper to observe
that these events, however bad and cru
ell in themselves, derive their chief i'm
portancc from the apprehensions that
they are but symptoms OF an incurable
disease in the public mind, which may
break out in still moro dangerous outra-
ges, and terminate at last in an open war
by the North to abolish slavery in the
South. Whilst, for myself, entertain
no such apprehension, they ought to at
ford solemn warning to us all to be-
ware OF the approach Of danger. Our
Union Is stake of such inestmabe val
ne as to demand our constant and watch
full vigilance for its preservation. In this
view, let me implore my countrymeu.
North and South, to cultivate tive ancient
feeling of mutual forbearance and good
will towards each other, and strive to
allay the demon spirit of sectional ha-
tired and strife now alive in the land
This advice proceeds from the heart of
an old public functionary whose services
commenced in the last generation,
among the wise and conservative states
men Of that day, now nearly all passed
away, and whose first and dearest earth