Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-05-11
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Executive Chamber,

Executive Chamber, ,
HARRISBURG, April 30, 1851. 5
To The SeaGtc and House Of representa-
fiues Of the Commonwealth Of PcanSW-
Uia,0
GENTLEMEN The present unparalleled
exigoncy in the affairs of our country, has
induced me to call you together at this
time. With an actual and armed rebell-
ion in some of the States of the Union,
momcntous questions have been thrust up
on US, which call for your deiberation and
that you should devise means by legisla.
ton for the maintenance of the authority
of the General Government, the honor and
dignity of our State, the protection of our
citizens, and the carly establishment of
peace and order throughout the land.
On the day of my induction to the Ex-
ecutive Office, took occasion to utter the
following sentiment;
"No one who knows the history of Penn.
sylvania, and understands the opinion and
feelings of her people, can justly charge
US With hostility to our brethren of other
States. We regard them as friends and
fellow countrymen, in whose welfare we
feel kindred interest; and we recognize,
in their broadest extent, all our Constitu-
tional obligations to them. These we are
ready and willing to observe generously
and fraternally, in their letter aud spirit,
with answering fidelity.
"Ours is National Government, 1t
has within sphere of its action all the
attributes of sovereignty, and among these
are the right and duty of self preservation.
1t is based upon compact to which all
the people of the United States are par.
ties. 1t is the result of mutual concessions
which were made for the purpose of secur-
ing reciprocal benefits. 1t acts directly
on the people, and they owe it personal
allegiance. No part of the people, nc
State or combination of States, can volun
tarily secede from the Union, nor absolvt
;; themselves from their obligations to it,
To permit State to withdraw at pleasure
from the Union, without the consent of tn,
rest, is to.confess that our Government il
a failure, Pennsylvania can never acqui
! esee in such conspiracy, or assent to {
doctrine which involves the destruction o
: a Government. If the Government is t.
exist, all the requirements of the Consti
tuition must be obeyed and it must hay,
power adequate to the enforcement of thu
supreme law of the land in every State
i 1t is the first duty of the National author
itics to stay the progress of anarchy ant
enforce the laws, and Pennsylvania, witt
united people, will give them an honest
faithful and active support. The peopl
! mean to preserve the integrity of the Ma
tional Union at every hazard
{ 1t would scarcely have been anticipated
at that time, that we should so soon be cal
led upon for the practical application c
these truths, in connection with their sup
port and defence, by the strong arm G
a military power.
The unexampled promptness and enthu
:. siasm with which Pennsylvania and tn
n other loyal States have responded to tn
call of the President, and the entire unan
ily with which our people demand that th
integrity of the Government shall be pre-
served, illustrate the duty of the sever'
States and the National Governments wit
a distinctne,a that cannot be disregardct