Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-01-18
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


The telegraph gave but brief and
unsatisfactory abstract of the message
transmitted to Congress on Wednesday
and we therefore publish it entire;
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tiUsS.
At the opening of your present session
| called your attention to the dangers
which threatened the existence of the
Union. expressed my opinion freely
concerning the original causes Of these
dangers, and recommended such meas
ures as / believed would have the effect
of tranquilizing the country, saving il
from the peril in which it had been need
lessly and most unfortunately thrown.
These opinions and recommendation:
| do not propose now to repeat. My
own convictions upon the whole subject
remain unchanged. The fact that g
great calamity was impending over the
nation was even at that time acknowl
edged by every intelligent citizen. Il
had already made itself felt throughout
the length and breadth of the land. The
necessary consequences of the alarm
thus produced were most deplorable
The imports fell off with a rapidity nev.
err known before, except in time of war
in the history Of our foreign commerce
The Treasury was Unexpectedly left
without means, which it had REASONABLY
counted upon to meet its public engage.
ments. Trade was paralyzed, manufac.
lures were stopped, the best public secu-
rites suddenly sunk in the market, every
species of property deprecated more or
less, and thousands of poor men, who
depended upon their daily labor for their
daily bread, were turned out Of employ
ment.
deeply regret that am not able to
give you any information upon the state
of the Union, which is more satisfactory
than what was then obliged to commu-
nicate. On the contrary, matters are
still worse at present than they then
we're. When Congress met, strong
hope pervaded the whole public mind that
some amieable adjustment of the subject
would be speedily made by the represen-
tatiyes of the states, which might restore
peace between the conflicting sections Of
the country. That hope has been dimin-
ished by every hour Of delay, and as the
prospect Of a bloodless settlement fades
away, the public distress becomes more
aggravated. As an evidence CT this, il
is only necessary to say the treasury
notes authorized by the act of the 9TH
of December last, were advertised accor-
ding to law, and that no responsible bid
der offered to take any considerable sum
at par at lower rate of interest than
twelve per cent. From these facts it
appears that in a government, organized
like ours, domestic strife, or well
grounded fear of civil hostilities, is more
destructive of our public and private
interests than the most formidable foreisa
war.
In my annual message l expressed
the conviction, which | have long DELHI
erately held, and which recent reflection
Las only tended to deepen aud confirm,
that no state has the right by its own act
to secede from the Union, or throw off
Federal obligations at pleasure. also
declare my opinion to be that even if that
right existed, and should be exercised by
any state Of the Confederacy, the Ex-
ecutive Department of this Government
has no authority, under the Constitution,
10 recognize its validity, by acknowledge
ing the independence of such State.
This left me no alternative, as the chief
executive officer under the Constitution
IF the United States, but to collect the
public revenues ana protect the public
SO far as this might be prac-
.icable under existing laws. This is
still my purpose. Ny province is to
execute, not to make tile laws. 1t be-
ongs to Congress exclusively to repeal,
modify or enlarge their provisions to
meet exigencies as they may occur. l
possess no dispensing power l certainly
lad no right to make aggressive war up
IN any state, and l am perfectly satisfied
hat the Constitution has wisely withheld
hat power, even from Congress.
But the right and the duty to use mil
tary force defensively against those who
esist the Federal officers in the execu-
ion of their legal functions, and against
hose who assail the property of the Fed
raj Government is clear and undeniabe.
}ut the dangerous and hostile attitude of
be States toward each other has already
ar transcribed and cast into the shade
ne ordinary Executive duties already
rovided for by law, and has assumed