The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-01-18
VOLUME XII. NO. 8.
tCoaiuGcd from fourth page !


which it may sometimes givo rise Occa.
sionalty 1t must doubtless happen that an
offouder against tho local laws and the local
policy Of one State will escape punishment
by seeking refuge in another State. This
fortune, however, befalis all coterminous
States, and has not been found to entail
serious mischief. or TO disturb the harmony
of their peaceful rotations. Besides, IL is
Infinitely botter that an offender should
occasionally escape, than that State should
be Obliged to recognize and enforce tho laws
OF another jurisdiction inconsistent with hor
own policy, and contrary to the general
usages of mankind. Every rulo must be
moro or less imperfect. but the ono which
has seemed to me to DO contemplated by
the Constitution itself, is, perhaps. as fault.
less as any that could be devised. 1t accords
with tho principles of natural Justice, tho
obligations of good neghborhood. and tho
comfy of pations. while, at tho same timo.
it respects tho sovereignty of the State, and
secures the citizen his just measure of pro.
tection.
Such arc tho considerations that doter.
mined my action in regard to the rcquis-
tions referred to. Had boon clothed with
tho legal authority, would have promptly
surrendered tho accused parties. But my
lisbod practice of this Department did not
permit mo to treat thom as malofactors for
the purposes of extradition. therefore
declined to surrender them.
You 1sscmblo at period Of extraordinary
interest to tho Country. For eighty years
the people Of tho several States Of tho Con.
foderacy have lived in peace with each other.
Fratornal offices have boon mutually dis.
charged to their mutual prosperity aud
happiness. During this period Tho nations q
progress has boon uninterrupted. Tho
great purposes of its formation havo boon
in steady process of contamination. Tho
wise policy by which, for the most part, it
has boon governed, in cbershing our ro.
sources aud cultivating peace with all tho
world, has elevated our character abroad
and confirmed our prosperity at home.
From people foeble in numbers and ro.
sourcoi ut the beginning. wo hnvo become
one of the leading powers of tho world. Ia
agriculture, manufactures. commerce, aud
navigation, in all the useful arts, We arc in
tho front rank of nations, while tho innu-
enco of our civil institutions. founded on
the consent Of tho people. and recognizing
the equality of all mon before the law, and
thoir lnalicnable rights to life, liberty. and
the pursuit of happiness, is modorating the
ing the oppressed nationailties of the world
to tho assertion of their rights. At homo
the Republic has given to its citizens an ex
tent Of prosperity and happiness not enjoyed
by any other people, while abroad the title
it confers of American citizen is n nobler
credcntiaI than was that of Roman citizon
whom tho Cn3ars ruled.
But great, prosperous, and pnwerful as is
the Republic at peace with all nations, and
tho deserved object of universal admiration,
IL Is now threatened with immediate perils
from informal dissonsions. The public tran.
guilty is seriously disturbed. Tho patriot.
ism ot tho Country is Justly alarmed. The
unity of tho Government is denied. Doc.
triues subvorsivo of its existence are boldly
advocated and mado tho basis of State ac.
ton. Undor tho pretended right of i State
to sccede from tho Confedoracy at its ploas.
uro, in peace or war, constitutional liberty
is imporiled. revolution Is moditated. and
treason is justified.
We may we'll pause to inoure whv those
disconterts. theso hostile demonstrations
against the Fudoral Government
Ambitious mon in Republics who find
thoir aims thwarted by tho regular and
peaceful workings of government. ALWAYS
sock prctoxts to disturb its easy progress
howover prosperous. Party sectional. per.
sonal preiudoes, tho growth of diycrst;es
and local institutions, habits, and pursuits
are seized upon by such mon 10 create hostil
itics betwcon tho various classes of coun
try, strongly united by coumon interests
but whose union gives them grandeur tor
imposing TO be grasped by malcontents who
without merit TO reach the highest authority
In q great commonwealth, would reduce i,
to fragments to become masters 10 u part
Such conspirators mover disclose tho sccre
motives of thoir discomfort, but fabricat,
protonsos for dissatisfaction among th,
masses they would move, by appeals to thei
pride, their jealousy, their envy, Quickcnet
by narrow, installing, yot honest patriot
ism for tho locality of its birth, which, from
popularity in domestic institutions, has los
tho vantage ground of superior political in
fluenco onco held in the Confcderacy. Tn
vast disproportionato increase of politca
power of tho froo States over that of tn
slave States, especially of those where tn
wealth flows from an industry and specie
of agriculture which expels tho white race
and accumuatcs another fatal to oil pro
gross, has created q prepondoranco in tho
Northern, Western and Middle States
which has secured to them tho permancn
control of tho government.
During tho first forty eight vears of th
y