The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-02-06
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.
TO "a. Senate oad

To ~ SENATE 0ad
H,ase VI Represeatat.res u he Dated Siate'.
/ deem It my duty 10 submit 70 Congress
series u resolutions adopted by the Lcgis-
Ia,ure or Virginia on tie 18th instant, hay-
Ing IN view a peaceful settlement d the er
citing question which now threatens the In
ion. They we're delivered tome on Thursday.
the oath instant, BY TX President Tyler,
who has left his lignifed aud hnnured re
tirement in the hope that he may render SER
vice 10 his country in this is hour 81 peril.
These resolutions, il will be preceiyed, eX-
tended an invitation to all such States, whe.
Their sa,eholdlng or uon-slaseholjing, as
are willing 10 unite with Virginia in an eat
nest effort 10 ADJUST the present unhappy
controversies in the spirit IN which the Ccn.
stituiion was originally formed and cpnsisi
emily with its principles, 50 As to atJri 10
the people Of the Slaseholding State, ade.
quate guarantees for the security VI their
rights, 10 appoint commissioners, TO meet.
on the 4th Of February next n The city Of
Washington, similar COMM ssloners appoint.
ed BY Virginia, 10 consider AMI if practica-
bic agree upon some Suitable adjustment.
confess hail this movement on tie part
d Virginia with great satisfaction. From
lie past history N this ancient anil renown-
Ell Commonwealth We have the fullest assn.
rance iha; what she has undertaken she will
accomplish, il il can be done b. able. enlish-
tened, and perseyering efforts. Il i high.
" gratifying 10 know that other patrintic
States have appointed and are appointing
commissioners to meet those 81 Virginia in
council. whea assembled they will con
s,itate body entitled IN an eminent degree
TO the confidence Of the country.
The General Assembly Of Virginia lave
also resolved " that Ex President Jo.,a TYLER
is hereby appointed, By the concurrent vote
Of each branch Of the General Assembly,
Commissioner To The President Of the United
States, and Judge Jsbn Robertson is hereby
appointed by 4 like vote a Commissioner
TO The State Of south Carolina and the other
States that have seeded or shall .ecede,
With instructions respectfully TO request the
President u tie United States and the an
tl,orities " such States TO agree 10 abstain.
pending the proceedings contemplated By
any and all acts calculated % produce col
lision d arm. between the States and the
Government u tie United States"
However strong may be nv desire 70 enter
into such an arrangement, ! ana convinced
that DO not possess the power. Congress.
and Congress alone, Under the wal. making
power, can exercise the discretion Of agree.
ing 10 abstain . from any aud all acts calcu.
lated 10 produce collision Of arms" between
this and any other Government. Il would
therefore, be usurpation for the Executive
70 attempt TO restrain their hands BY an agree-
ment in regard 70 matters over which he
has no constitutional control. II he were
thus 10 act, they might pass laws which he
should be bound to obey, though 10 conflict
with his agreement.
Under existing circumstances, my present
actual power il confined within narrow limits.
Il Is my duty At all times 20 defend and pro-
tect tie public property within the seeding
States, 70 far - this may Be practicable, and
especially 10 employ All constitutional means
10 protect the property Of the United States
and preserve the public peace at this the
seat 81 the Federal Government. n the
seceding States abstain 81 from any and al
acts calculated 10 produce q collision Of
arms" then the danger so much 10 be de.
preeated will no longer exist. Defence, and
| not aggression, has been the policy Of the
Administration from the beginning.
But, whilst can enter into no such agree.
ment as that proposed. I cordially commend
to Congress, with much confidence that II
will meet their appreciation, TO abstain from
passing any law calculated 70 produce col.
lision Of arms pending the proceeding con.
templat BY tie action u the General As.
sembIy Of Virginia. am one Of those who
will never despair Of lhe Repnblic. yet
cherish she belief that the Amerisan psspIe