Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-01-16
THE NATIONAL CRISIS.
MESA GE OF THE PRESI-
DENT

Al the opening of your present session
called your attention TO the dangers /
which threatened the existence Of the
Union. expressed my opinion freely |
the original causes OF these
dangers, and recommended such meas. !
uros as ] believe would have the effect OF
the country and saving 1t ,
from the peril in which il had been need> |
lessly and most unfortunately involved. |
Those opinions and recommendation !
do not propose now to repeat. Ny own
convictions upon the whole subject remain
uuch .nged. The fact that a great calam-
ity was impending over the nation was
even nj that time acknowledged by every
citizen. 1t had already made
itself felt throughout the length and
breadth Of the land.
The necessary consequences OF the
alarm thus produced were most depIora-
BILE. The imports fell offwth rap.dlty new.
er known before, except IN time of war, in
the history of our foreign commerce. The
treasury was unexpectedly left without
.he means which il had reasonably count
ed upon to meet its public engagements,
trade was paralyzed, manufactures were
storpe6, the best public securities sud-
denly sunk in the market, every species
of property deprecated more or less. and
thousands ofpoor men, who depended on
their daily labor for their daily bread,
we're turned ont Unemployment. deep
Is regret that am not able to giIe you
any information upon the state of the
Union which is more satisfactory than
what was then obliged to communicate.
On the contrary, matters are still worse at
the present than they were. When Con-
gress met strong hope pervadei the
whole public mind that some amicable
adjustment OF the subject would be speed
lily made 10y the representatives Of the
States and of the people, which might re-
store peace to the conflicting sections Of
the country.
That hope has been diminished by eve
ry hour of delay, and as the prospect of
blooIless settlement fades away, the pub
lie distress becomes more ana more aggra-
vated. AS an evidence of this, it is only'
necessary to say that the treasury notes
authorized by the act oS the 18th Of De-
cember last, we're advertised according to
law, ard that no responsible bidder offer
cd to take any considerable sum at par,
at lower rate of interest than l2 per
cent. From thoe facts it appears that in
a government organized like ours, domes-
tic strife, or even a well.grounded fear o.
civil hostilities, is more destructive to our
public and private interests than the most
formidable foreign war.
In my annual message expressed the
conviction which have long deliberately
held, and which recent reflection has on
| ~ tended to deepen and confirm, that no
State ha. the right, by it's own act, to Sc
cedc from the Union or throw off its Fed.
era' obligations at pleasure. also decla-
red my opinion to be, that even If that
right existed, and should be exercised by
any State of the Confederacy, the Execu-
tive Department Of this Government had
no authority under the Constitution to
recognize its validity by acknowledging
tho independence of such State. This
left me no alternative, as the Chief Exec
Iutiye officer, under the Constitution o.
tho United States, but to collect the pub,
lie revenue and protect the public prop
erty, as far as this might be practicable
under the existing laws. This is still my
purpose. Ny province is to execute, no.
to make, the laws. II belongs TO Congress
exclusively to repeal, modify or enlare,
their provisions to meet exigences as the,
occur. possess no dispensing power.
certainly had no right 70 make an aggres
sive war upcr any State. and | am per
rectly satisfied that the Constitution ha
wisely withheld that power even from Con
gress.
But the right and the duty 10 use tn.
military force defensively against those
who resist the Federal officers in the exc
cution of their legal functions, and
against those who assail the property o
the Federal Government, is clear ant
undeniahle. But the dangerous ana hos
tile attitude Of States towards each Other
has already far transcended and cast into
the shade the ordinary Executive dalie.
already provided for by law, and has sg,
sumed such vast and alarming propor.
tions as to place the subject entirely above
and beyond the Executive control. The
fact cannot be disguised that we are in
the midst Of great revolution. In al
its various bearings, therefore, commend
the question TO Congress, as the ONLY hu.
man tribunal under Providence possess
ing the power TO meet the existing emer.
BeDCy. 10 tnetll eHCiuSlVely belongs tnC
power to declare war Or authorize the en-
lployment Of the military force in all cases
contemplated by the Consultation, ans
they alone possess the power to remoy,
the grievances which might lead to war
and to secure peace and union TO this dis
, tracted country. On them, and on then
alone, rests the res possibility.
The Union is a sacred trust left hy on
revolutionary fathers to their descendants
and never did any other people inherit s
rich legacy. 1t has randered us prospe
, rous in peace and triumphant IN wal. -
The national flag has hoated with glor
over every sea. Under its shadow Amer
lean citizens have found protection an,
respect in all lands beneath the sun. !
, we descend 10 considerations of purel
material interest, when, in the history O
all time, has a confederocy been boun
: together with such strong ties of mutun
interest? Each portion ofit is depend
= ent on all, and oil upon each portion, fo
prosperity and domestic security. A fire
trade throughout the whole supplies III