Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-01-11
THE MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT.

To The Sendis and House Of Retressniqifp,s;
At the opening Of your present session rallied your at
tenton to the dangers which threatened the existence Of
the Union expressed my opinion freely concerning tie
original eau'es OF these dangers and recommended such
measures US believed would have the effect Of ttanouz
lug the county and saving II from the peril In which II
bad been needlessly and most unfortunately Involved
Those opinions aud recommendations do not propose now
TO repeat. My convictions upon the whole subieet
remain unchanged. The fact thai a great calamity VA
impending over the nation at that time ncknow-
Legged ny every Intelligent citizen u had already made
itself felt throughout the length and breadth othe land
Necessary consequences OF the alarm thus produced
Were most denoIabe The imports fell of with rapidly
never known bslore except In time Of war the history
ofonr foreign commerce.
The Treasury Unexpectedly left without the means
Ml,h II hAd reasonably counted upon to meet It's
public engagenents trade paraysed, manufactures
were stopped the best public securtes suddenly sunk
the markets every species Of properly DEPRECATED more r
Less and thousands OF poor who depended on their
daily labor for their daily bread were turned ami
ment deeply regret that am not able 10 give van snv
information upon the state ufhe Union which more
factory than what was then Oh ICED 10 eommnnrsta u
thstontrary mates are still at the fins than
they then were When Congress met strong hone
me whole pubic mind that some amieAble ad ustmen u
tbs subject would he speedily made by the
Of the States and ofthe people which might restore
between the conflicting sections Of the country That
the prospect ola boodless settee des away III nnhs
distress becomes more and more aggravated. f'
As evidence Of this Il is only necessary n .a that
the treasury notes authorized by the act d lTth Dsea
Der last advertised according to law and mai no
responsible bidder offered to take any considerable nm Al
par at lower rate Of interest than twelve per cent Poo
thess fAets 1t appears that in Government orvaniSad
IKE ours d9meste strife or even welgrounded fear Of
civil h0stiites, Is destructive 10 our pube ana
private interests than the most formidable foreign war
IN my annual message expressed the conviction which
have long deliberately held and which recent Iefecon
has only tended deepen and confirm that no state ms
me right BY its own act to seeede IRON the Union or
throw oil Its Federal obligations at pleasure. also e.
elArol my opinion to be that II that right existed
aud should DO exercised by any State Of the Coniedeaey
the Executive Department OF this Government had 10
authority under the Constitution recognize It's validity
by acknowledging the Independence Of such State. This
lett me no alternative the chief executive officer under
ths Constitution Of the United States hut to collect tho
public revonue and protect the public property 50 far AZ
hs might be practicable under the existing laws This
Is SUI my purpose My province Is to execute, not to