The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-02-15
MESSAGE Of THE PRESIDENT.
SeRate dna House of

Representatives Of the United States !:
deem it my duty TO submit to Congress a
series OF resolutions adopted by the Legislature
| of Virginia on the 10Th instant, having in view
a peaceful settlement of the existing questions
which now threaten this mon They were
delivered to me on Thursday, the Oath instant,
by Ex-president Tyler, who has left his dignI6ed
and honored retirement in the hope thai he may
render sf}t1le service 10 ms cs'4,,trv 10 this fe
These resolutIoEs, S, ii will be perceived. ex-
tend an invitation to all such States, whether
| slaveholding or non-sayeholding, as are willing
to unite with each other IN an earnest effort to
adjust the present unhappy difficulties in the
| SPIltNn which the constitution was originally
| formed, and consistently with its principles, so
as 10 afford the people of the slaveholding States
adequate guarantees for the security of the
| rights, to appoint commissioner TO meet on the
fourth day of February next, in the city of
! Washington, similar commissioners appointed
by Virginia, TO consider, and If practicable,
agree upon some sort OF adjustment.
! | confess hail this movement on the part of
| Virginia with great satisfaction. From the
| past history of that ancient and renowned COM
monweath, we have the fullest assurance that
what she has undertaken she will accomplish,
If 1t can be done by able, enlightened and per-
sever ugIeforts. 1t is highlyIgratitylng TO know
that other patriotic States have appointed CON-
mlsslonprS TO meet those OF Virginia 10 council.
When assembled, they will constitute bod
entitled IN an eminent degree to the confidence
ofthe country.
The Federal Assembly of Virginia have also
resolved, 'fhat EX-President 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 John
Robertson is hereby appointed BY like vote a
commissioner TO the State of South Carolina and
all other seeding States that have seeded. or
shall secede, with instructions to respectfully
request the President OF the United States, and
the authorities of such States to agree TO abstain
pending the proceedings contemplated bv the
action OF this General Assembly, from any and
all acts calculated TO produce collision of arms
between the States and the government OF the
United States"
However strong may be my desire to enter
INTO such an agreement, am convinced that
do not possess the power. Congress, and Con-
gress alone, under the war-makng power, can
exercise the discretion OF agreeing to abstain
q
collision OF arms between this and anv other
government. It would therefore be usurpa-
ton for he Executive to attempt to restrain
their hands by an agreement in regard to mat
ters over which he has 10 constitutional con-
troll.
If he were thus TO act they might pass laws
which he would be forced to obey, though in
conflict with his agreement.
Under existing circumstances my present
actual power is confined within narrow limits.
1t is my duty at all times to defend and pro-
tect the federal property within the seeding
States, so far as this may be practicable, and
especially to employ the constitutional means
to protect the property of the United States,
and to preserve the public peace of this the seat
OF the federal government. If The seeding
States abstain from any and all acts calculated
to produce collision of arms, then the danger
SO much TO be deprecated will no longer exist.
Defence and not aggression has been the policy
OF the administration from the beginning.
But whilst | can enter into no engagement