Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-01-18
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The telegraph gave but brief and unsatisfactory alb
sraet Of the message transmitted to Congress We'd
hesaay, aud we therefore publish II entire
/ To The Senate and House Of Repre-, entatives:
a, 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 Of these dangers and recommended
such measures as believed would have the effect OF
uanqWli2ing the country, saving IL from the peril in
thrown
pose now to repeat My convictions upon the whole
subject remain unchanged. The fact that great calami-
~ was impending over the nation at that time
ecknowedged by every intelligent citizen. IL had al
ready made itself felt throughout the length and breadth
o lhe land The necessary consequences Of the alarm
mus produced were most deplorabo. The imports fell
on win rapidly never known before except IN time Of
war, IN The history Of our foreign commerce The
Treasury pcctedy len without means which
had reasonably counted upon to meet It's public engage
ments Trade WAS parayscd manufactures were stop
ped, the best public securities suddenly sunk down in
the market every species Of property deprecated
or less and thousands Of poor who depended upon
their daily labor for their daily bread turned out Of
employment
deeply regret that am not able to give you any in
formation upon the state " the Union which is
Satisfactory than what then obliged TO oommuni-
cafe On INC contrary matters are stu worse At present
than they then When Congress met strong hope
peryaded the whole public mind that aniou bic al.
lus'ment o the subject would be speedily made by the
representatives Of the States. which might peace
5ctween the conflicting sections of the country That
hope has been diminished BY every hour u delay, and
as the prospect Of bloodcss settlement fades awav,
the public distress becomes and more aggravated
As an evidence ~ this It Is onl, necessary say the
Treasury authorized by the act " the 17th II De.
cenbor last were advertised according to law, and that
responsible bidder offered 10 take any considerable
sum at par at lower rate Of interest Than twelve per
cent From these facts it appears that In Government,
ogamzed like ours, domestic strife, well ground
ed Tear OF civil hosites is more destructive OF
foreign war
In my Annual Message I expressed the conviction.
which have long deliberately held, and which recent
Election has only tended deepen and confirm that
state has the right BY IT'S own act to seccde from the Un
ION ~ throw of its Federal obligations at pleasure
also declared opinion to be that even II that right
ted and should be exercised by any State OF the Con-
tedeacy the Executive Department of this Government
has authority. under the Constitution, recognize
us validity by acknowledges the independence Of such
State. This le me no alternative as the chief execu.
tive officer under the Constitution Of the United States,
nut to collect the public revenues and protect the public
property So far this might be practicable under exist
ing laws This is still my purpose: My province Is TO
execute not to make the laws II belongs to Congrc
exclusively to repeal, modify enlarge their provision
/ 10 meet exigencies as they may occur. possess no
dispensing power certainly had no right to make
aggressive war upon any State aud perfectly salts
tied that the Constitution has wisely withheld that pow
But the tight and the duty to use military force de-
iensvely against those who resist the Federal officers in
the execution Of their legal functions and against those
who assail the property Of the Federal Government Is
clear and undcnabe. But the dangerous and hostile
attitude Of the States toward each other has already far
transcribed and into the shade the ordinary Exec
uuve duties already provided for by law, and ha a'sum-
ga sueh vast and alarming proportions as 70 place me
The fact be disguised that in the midst Of
great revolution. Therefore I recommend the CUES
ton 10 Congress the only human tribunal under Prov
ience possessing the power to meet the existing emer-
gency To them exclusively belongs the power to de-
clare war or TO authorize the employment Of military force
IN all cases contemplated by the Constitution, and they
alone possess the power 20 remove all the grievances
which might lead to and TO secure peace and union
to THIS distracted country On ihem, and on them alone,
rests the responsibility The Union is sacred trust
eft by revolutionary fathers for their descendants
and never did any other people inherit rich legacy
in The onal flag has foated in glory every
sea- and under its shadow American citizens have found
protection and respect in all lands beneath the II
We descend to considerations Of purely material interest
when in the history Of all time has confederacy been
bound together by such strong tics Of mutual interest
Each portion OF it is dependent mp all, and all upon
each portion, for prosperity and domestic security Free
trade throughout the whole supplies the wants Of
portion from the productions OF another, and scat'ers
wealth everywhere. The great planting and farming
STATS require the aid Of the commercial and navigating
oaNs 10 send then productions 70 domestic and foreign
markets, and furnish the naval power to render their
transportation secure against all hostile attacks
Should the Union perish in the midst OF the present
excitement we have already had sad fureiaste OF the
universal suffering which would result from It's dcsruc
lion The calamity would be in every portion Of
the Union, aud would quite great to the least,
in The Southern as in the Northern States.
Inc greatest aggrayaton of the ey and mat when
would place the most unay0rable light, both before
the world and posieTy, is, as am hrnl' convinced
that the secession movement has been chiefly based up
on misrepresentation at the South Of the sentiments of
the majority in several Of the Northern states Let the
question be answered from the political assemblies TO the
dress the serious grievances which the south have ue
ed But in Heavens name let the ia be made before
We plunge into armed conflict upon the mere assumption
that there Is no other alternative Time great con
servaiivo power. Let pause AZ the nonenous point
and afford The people both North aud South an oppor;
iunitv fir reflection Wouf that South Carolina had
been convinced If this truth before her precpae action
therefore appeal through You the people Of the eoun-
Try % declare in their might that the Union must aud
shall be preserve by al Constitutional means. most
earnestly recommend TINT you devote yourselves to tho
question how this can be accomplished in peace. Az
other questions when compared with this sink into in-
'ignheance The present is no tune Tor palliative
Prompt action il required delay in Congress to
rescribe or recommend distinct and pfa'uea' PROPOSE
ilpn inr cancellation may duNe Us I" point nom whcn
II will be almost impossible To recede common ground,
on which oonciiaon aud harmony may be Produced Is
The proposition compromise, by letting the North
have exclusive control Of the territory above certain
line. and give Southern institutions protection below
that line, ought to receive universal appreciation In it.
self II not be entirely satisfactory but when the
between both sides
and The destruction Of the Union it is an mpuation on
the patriotism OF Congress TO assert that its members
will hesitate moment. Even now the danger Is upon
us In several States which have not yet seeded the
orts arsenals and magazines Of the United states nave
becn sized. This by far the most serious step which
mas been taken since inc commencement OF me uouoes
Tbs public property has long been Left without garsons
aud troops for its protection because person doubted
its security under the flag n the country In any state OF
] the Union Besides our small army have scarcely been
sufficient guard frontiers against Indian IN
cursons The seizure Of this property from all appear
has been purely aggressive and not in resistance
% any attempt to a state States to remain in
the Union At the beginning Of these unhappy troubles,
determined that Of mine should increase the eN-
oement in either section of the country. II the pol IL
cal conflict TO end in civil war was my determined
purpose not 10 commence H. TO furnish an excuse lot
II by any act Of this Government.
My opinion remains unchanged that justice as well as
sound policy requires still 10 seek peaceful solution
Of the questions issue between the North and the
South Entertaining this conviction, RETAINED even
from sending refnforcements Major Anderson, who
handed the frts ~ Charleston harbor, until alb
soue necessity fnr doing should make itself appa-
rent lest il might be regarded menace Of military
coercion, and thus furnish provocauon at least
pretex for outbreak the part Of south Carolina
No necessity for these reinforeements seemed TO exist
assured by distinguished upright gentlemen OF South
Carolina that attack Major Anderson was intended
but that the contrary IL the desire Of the state
authorities much 1t my own 10 avoid the fatal
consequences which must eventually follow military
collision, And here deem 1t proper 10 submit tor your
information copies OF a communication dated 18th De
cember 1850, addressed to me by X w Barnwell, j. H.
Adams and James L. Orr, Commissioners OF south Car
ona, with the accompanying documents aud copies OF
my thereto. dated Dec 81. In further eNpaua-
ton u Major Andersons removal from Fort Moultie to
Fort Sumter II is proper 10 state that after my answer TO
the South Carolina Commissioners the War Department
received letter from that gallant officer, dated Dee ~
1850, the day after his movement nom when the iol
lowing Il extract
II will add. my opinion that many things convinced
me that the authorities Of the state designed 10 proceed
20 hostile act evidently referring the orders dated
Dec IL, II the late Secretary Of War) Under this i'm
preston could not hesitate that IL my solemn duty
/ 20 move my cammand from tort which could not
Nu a