The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-30
MESSAGE or THE PRESIDENT.


The following Message from President Bu-
chanan was sent into Congress on Monday
10 the Senate and House Of Representatives. Of
the United States
| deem il my duty to submit to Congress a
series of resolutions adopted by the Legis
lature of Virginia on the 10Th inst, having in
view peaceful settlement of the exis ting
questions which now threaten this Union
They We're delivered to me on Thursday, the
oath inst, by EX-President Tyler, who has
left his dgnified and honored retirement in
the hope that he may render some service TO
his country in this its hour of need.
These resolutions, 1t viii be perceived, eX-
tend an in vitation to all such States, whether
slaveholding or non -slayeholding, as are will
ing to unite with each other in earnest
effort to adjust the present unhappy Difficult
ties in the spirit in which the Constitution
was originally formed and consis tently with
its principles, so as TO afford the people of the
slaVeholdng States adequate guarantees for
the security of their rights, to appoint Com
missioners to meet on the 4th day of February
next, in the city of Washington, similar Com
| missioners appointed by Virginia 10 consider,
and If practicable, agree upon some sort OF ad-
iustment.
/ l confess hail this movement on the part
! of Virginia with great satisfaction. FROM the
| past history of this ancient and renowned
! commonwealth, we have the fullest asSur-
ance that what she has undertaken she Will
! accom- pish If. it can be done by able, enllght-
| eneti and perseyerins efforts. 1t is highly
! gratifying 10 know that other patriotic States
/ have appoin ted Commissioners to meet those
| of Virginia, i'll council. When assembled
they Will cons titnte a body entitled, In an emi-
! nent degree 10 the confidence of the country
! The Federal Assembly of Virginia have also
resolved, That x-Presdent Tyler is hereby
appointed by the Concurrent vote OF eacn
| branch of the General Assembly, Il COlnmIS-
| sioner to The President of the United States,
| and Judge John Robertson is hereby ap-
pointed, by like vote, a Commissioner to me
! State of South Carolina and all other seced-
| ing States that have seeded, or shall seceue,
| Will
| President of the United States and the author
! tiles OF such States 10 agree to abstain, pend
| ing the proceedings contemplated by the ac-
ton of this General Assembly, from any and
| all acts calculated TO produce Il colllslon oil
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
| Congress clone, under the war-making pow
er, can exercise the discretion OF agreeing to
abstain from any and all acts calculated to
produce a collision of arms between tins and
any other Government II would therefore
be 4 usurpation for the Executive 10 attempt
to restrain their hands by an agreement III re-
gard TO matters over which he has no consti'
| tutiOnal control.
If he were thus to act they might pass laws
which he would be forced to obey, though Ill
conflict with his agreement.
| Under existing circumstances, my present
| actual power is confined within narrow Inn
| it's 1t is my duty at all times to defend ant
| protect the L feleral properly WitHLh the sc
ceding States, so far this may be practlca
BILE and especially to employ the constitu
, tional means to protect the property OF tn
United States, and to preserve the pabll
| peace of this the seat of the Federal Govern
5 ment Ii the seeding States abstain iron
any and all acts calculated to produce Il col
| lision of arms, then the danger so much 10 b.
l deprecated will no longer exist. Defence ant
L not aggression has been the policy OF the Ad
D minis tration from the beginning.
But whilst can enter into no engagement
such as that proposed, l cordially coInmen'
= to Congress, with much confidence that 1t WI
J meet their appreciation, to abstain from pass
= ing any law calculated TO produce collision
= of arms pending the proceedings contemplate
a | by the action of the General Assembly OF Viz
s ginia / am one of those who will never de
spair of the Republic. l yet cherish the be
= lief that the American people will perpetual
n the union OF the States on some terms just an
j honorable for all sections of the country
Il trust that the mediation OF Virginia ma
= be the des tined means, under ProFldence, {
- accomplishing this ines stimabe benefit.
# Glorious as are the memories of her past his
o tory such an achievement, both i'll relation
e her own fame and the welfare of the Whol
t country, would surpass them all:
II JAMES BUCHANAN.
4 Washington City, Jan IS, 1851.