M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1861-01-17

hut the one which has seemed to me
70 be. contemplated by Oonstitu.
ton itself, is, perhaps, as faultless as
any that could be devised. 1t accords
with tile principles d natural Justice,
The obligations OF good neigIhjrhend,
and the comfy Of raions, while, at
the sans time, it respects the sovRr.
eignty OF the State, and secures the
citizen his just measures Of protection.
Such are the considerations that de.
termined my action in regard to the
acquisitions referred to. Had | bsen
clothed with the legal anthority, |
would have promptly surrendered the
accused parties But my sense Of
duty, fortified by the long established
practice OF this Department, did not
permit me 10 treat them as malciactors
for the purposes Of extradition. |
therefore decline tc surrender them.
You assemble at a period of fextra.
ordinary interest TO tie Country
Fo eighty years tl,e people ofths
several States OF the corlederacy have
lived in peace with each other, Fra.
t,rnal lies have bound them together,
aud fratrrua offices have been mntu.
ally discharged to their mutual pros
Pcrity and happiness. During this
period the nations progress has been
uninterrupted. Thegreat purposes OF
its formation have been in steady pro-
cess Of contamination. The wise pol.
icy by which for the most part, it
has been governed, in cherishing nur
resources and cultivating peace with
all the world, has elevated our char.
Scter abroad and confirmed our pros.
perity at hom.. From u people lee.
UIe In numbers and resources at the
beginning, we have become one OF the
leading powers Of the world In agri
culture, manufactures, commerce., and
navigation, in all the ns4lul arts, we
are arc in the front rank ur nations,
while the influences of our civil lnstitn-
tions, founded ON the consent vi the
people aud recognizing the equality
Of all men before the law, and their in.
alielable rights to life, liberty and the
pursuit OF happiness, is moderaiing
the despOtism of other governments
and arousing the oppressed nationali.
ties Of the world to the assertion Oi
their rights. At home the Republic
has given to it's citiz. an extent OF
prosperity AMI happiness not erj,yyd
Uy ANY ether people, while abroa the
title it cnnters Of American cit zan is a
nobler crydUntlal than was that ui Ru
man citizen when the CeIa ruled
But great, prosperous, and powerful
as is the Republic, at peace with ali
nations, and tIie deservcn object Of un.
iversaI admiration, 1t 10 nuw threaten,
I'd with imnnnent peiils from inter,
nal dSsensionS. The public tran.
guilty is seriously disturbed. Tn,
patriotism OF the Country is Justly
alarmed: The unity ol the Severn.
ment is dvneI. Doctrines subver
Sive VI its existence arc bodily adyo
Gated and made the blss 0, State ac
ton. Under the prytend d right oi 4
State to Sucede rom the Conicieracy
at its pleasure, inT peace or war, con.
stitutiunaI' liberty is ithperileL, revp
luton is meditatel and treason is JUS.
tiiel, "
We may well pause TO inquire, why
these dlscontcnts, these hostile dem,
onstrations against the Federal GOV.
ernln5nt. -
Ambitious men in Republics whc
find their aims thwarted by the regu.
lar and peaceful workings OF govern.
mcnt, always seek Iretrxts to disturb
It's easy Hprosr,ss, however prosperous
Parry, sectional, personal preiudieeS
the .rowlh uf diyerpities in local in,
stitiJiQus, bahjte aud pursuits. arr
sc'zcd uron by such .meu tn create
nOLiIii,gs between the various classes
let aC,nniry, strongly uni cd Dy com
M IL lp,pro-ts. but whose union gives
tom a grandeur too imposins to b,
3ra>pcd hy malcuntrnts whl, withou
tuerii 70 ryach the highest AUTHORITY
itIagr'at Commonwealth. would re
duce II 10 asmvnls 80 becune mas
ters in part. Snch eonspralou
never disclose. the secret motives y
their discomfort, but iahricate preten
ces for dissatisfaction among the mas
ses they would move, BY appeals t,
their PRIDE, their JEALOUSY, their envy
quickened by a narrow. nnslaking
Yet honest patriotism lQr Ih. lucaIIl,
OF its birth, which from peculilrity il
domestic institutions. has iong b.,
vantage gr und rf superior polticd
influence once held III the CJntelera
| cy. The vas; dlspropOr'ionat, incrcas
OF pol tIcal power .ol tho Ire1 s ate
over that OF the slave States, especial
| ly OF those where the wealth Il w
an industry and species o;agrlcu
lure which expels the white racs. AN
accumuaies another fatal to all pre-
,rr,.Sa hos nrauI,.I a t,r..t,nu,l .rapn.s 4