Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-01-04
Journal ana @tatesaam,
Friday Morning, January 4 1851.
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
Fsllop citiseas Of The Senate

Tue hiaifs OF the state, as are Legitimate sub
jeets for your investigation, and to suggest
such measures as in my judgment demand
your consideration.
But, in the meantime, must congratulate
you and our fellow citizens generally, upou
the unexampled prosperity Of our own State
and the country at large for the past two
years. Never perhaps, in the annals of its
history have the many inestimable blessings
OF the benihcent Providence been more abnn
dainty layished upon us. The soil has Weld
ed TO the husbandmen rich reward for their
labor filling their granaries with It's various
products, which found a ready market at The
most liberal prices, and all other industrial
pursuits have prospered in corresponding
degree, each and all being so intimately COM
nected and interviewer with each other in
their great and essential interests and opera
TONS that the one advances or retrogrades in
the same ratio with the other
But how deplorable is the fact, that whilst
We were thus buoyantly drifting along on the
tide OF prosperity, surrounded by peace and
plenty the lowering clouds Of purely politi-
cal panic have suddenly overshadowed our
happy condition and all our hopes Of BRIGHT
and joyous future, fearfully threatening the
destruction Of the fountain from whence all
those blessings flow
II IS not my purpose now to comment at any
considerable length upon the causes which led
TO this unfortunate reverse OF the condition of
the country, or to attempt for moment a de-
scription OF the lamentable and heart-rendiRq
consequences they must inevitably entail up
on thousands many of whom are already sur
fering from the evils for which they are in no
wise responsible. No human foresight or i'm
aginaiion can see or depict the terrible calami-
W which is likely to befall the country. If the
spirit OF hostility existing between the North
and the South, and the raging elements of dis
nnioni are not speedily stayed by that same
4 spirit OF wisdom and patriotism which animat-
our ioreiathers in the achievement of our
3 ioertes, we shall become unworthy of our
( Tres and unable to boast longer of our great
spube as the work of their hands.
N2it is with deep anxiety and unfeipned sor-
row that sense of duty constrans me to
make reference to existing troubles in the
federal relations Of the several States of the
Union hut hold it to be the duty of each
and every citizen of the republic, to look pub
lie dangers boldly in the face, and and not
seek to avoid issues which have become the
more fearful because they have not been time
~ met, wheni perhaps, they would have been
much more manageable than now. II is well
known to you all at this time, that the govern
ment under which our confederation has ex-
panded from thirteen to thirty-three States.
and an aggregate population Of three millions
only to nation of thirty millions is in the
height of its prosperity and success threatened
with Interruptions which, in effect, will lead TO
revolution destructive to every national inter
est OF our people, and sickening to the homes
OF all men who saw in our form of government
proof Of the worlds advancement and the suc-
cess of the grand experiment for the self-eoy-
eminent Of mankind
One State of the confederacy has already de-
clared herself out of the Union and absolved
from all allegiance to it, Whether her sister
Southern States will follow, depends upon fu
ture developments which remain to be seen.
The impulses Of brotherhood and good will
Whlch led our foreiathers TO seek " to establish
more perfect union seem to have died
away and have been succeeded by desire on
the one part to escape from a connection re-
garded not only rs no longer sympathetic or
friendly, but an abiding cause of danger both
socially and politically and on the other to in
slst upon the existence of political tie not
IRON motives Of affection, hut from a cold sense
ofpecunary advantage or more commercial
and political calculation, coupled with a con-
seriousness OF powerand adesiro to indulge in It.
Already portion of our fears are realized.
The State of South Carolina. by a convention
OF her people in their primary capacity. has
announced herself no longer Il member Of our
national eonfederacy, and has issued TO the
world declaration of the causes which have
led her to the conviction that her peace and
safety cannot be entrusted to II government ID
mnistered by a party whose policy is hostile
to both.
Nor is the work of disintegratiou of our he
loved ana glorious coniederacy to cease with
the retirement of one State; but the signs are
too apparent that five and probably seven if
not more OF the Southern States will decide
upon similar action during the present winter
deem il unnecessary for me at this time to
review the various arguments to which differ
ent and antagonistic constructions Of the con-
sulution have given rise; but permit me to
express my most unieigned sorrow and regret
at their occurrence and my ardent desire and
hope that the patriotism, wisdom, and calm
intelligence Of the people may discover some
method ofrestoring all the component parts of
our shattered coniederacy into the bonds OF
brotherhood and good will.
That there is a large body of men in all por-
tions OF this coniederacy vino value this union
OF the States as a sound relic of the wisdom
ana patriotism OF our revolutionary sires, and
who earnestly deprecate every sentiment oract
which tends in the slightest degree to initiate
in any way against its integrity, whose earnest
and soul-ielt aspirations are for its perpetuity
| and progress towards the objects for which il
kgas created, we may not doubt and the more
30 because in our little State such is now and
ever has been the only sentiment held by and
FknOwn TO our people,
True as the people Of Delaware has been to
the Union and the Constitution, which is the
letter and spirit Of its existence, and clinging
as they still do to their iaith in the s.;n,,nenss
value of the national union IN tbcir coiion,;y'.
and individual happiness . tbc, canned h,,t c,al
conscious that the people and fbe Government
of some of the Stntes have either for,,ot,a, ~.
wilmlly violate their constitutional o6iigs,ioDs
and fraternal duties toward eacb and eyer oe
the co-equd soyereignities thai comnose ,bs
Unite. States. WV
There has been re,narto,,i Ia. aud o.,,n.,..t,..
admission of The trntb ,c tboso s,,aI,,
an address lately unfinished ne nr ,,,,ani a., ,i
Deonle ~ Wassadt,,,a,,s 80 .''' pe"i 70 Tue