Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1861-01-18
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


(Signea) .InBT. ANDERSON,
Msjor y. S.; Commanding
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
10 The !S>"at"1sd House Of Representatives.
Atthe opening Of Your present session cal
ed Your attention to the dangers which threat
'cned t':e existence Of the Union EXPRESSED
NY opinion freely concerning the original
causes OF these dangers. and reeommen led
snch measures as I-helieved wouldsShave .stp q
effect Of tranInlizing the conntry-sayineeit it
from the peril in which it had been ~needlessly
and most uh fortunately thrown
Those opinions and recommendations do
not propose how to repeat My own convic-
tions upon the whole subject remain unclaimed.
lhe iact that great calamity was impending
over the nation was, even at that time, ackpowI
edged by every intelligent citizen It hid al
really made itself felt throughout the length
a"I breadth Of the land. The necessary con.
scIu"uc"s Of The alarm thu. produced were
most depiorablc. Imports fell off with a rapid.
'y never known before, except in timeSof war.
III the history Of our foreign commerae- The
Treasury was unexpectedly left withoat means
which IT had reasonably counted upoh, to meet
me i.nt',e e"gagements,s Trade was paralyzed
securities suddenly sunk iu the market, every.
spsclGs o: property Deprecated more or ]. ca,
aHd thousands of poor men, who derendsd un-
o" their daily labor for thcif daily bread, we're
Wrhed out OF employment III
deeply regret that am not able to give
i!"y YOU my information upon the state of the
uni'n which! is more satisfactory than what
was then obliged to co1nmppigate. On the
contrary matters are sill. @#Erse, a. present
than thcythcn were. When Congress met a
strong hoPe peryaded the whole. I.ublic mind
that some, a'rieable :adjustmentsofsths subject
woult 6e sreed'iysmade ~ theTePfesentatiyes
OF the States " hi mi lit restore peace be-
tween theAeonhietihg sections or tie co:ntry.
That hope has been, diminished bY' every, hour
OF delay, and as the prospect of a bloodless set,
'iemeht fades away the eopub!c distress becomes
more and more aggravated. AS. dri evidence of
nots, s 1t an,Iar rs paly to saXs Treasury
cenlbes last were advertised accorlineIo law.
and'that no r.aponsiLle bidder offered to take
any considerable sum atapar at a lower. rate of
interest ti.an twelve. pereeut
From these facts ii appears that, in gov.
ernment organized like ours domestic strife, or
even well grounded fear Of civil hostiI;f;se
is more destructive of our public ands9priva, ,e
interests than The most formidable f3reiehrwai.,
IN my annual Message.I expressed the conyic:s
lion Which l. have long deliberately heidss.aand
which recent reflection has only tended to otdseuen
and confirm. that no State has a right, by i,s
own act,' to seceds from the Union. or tf,,ow
off its Federal obligations at pleasure. II .atS
declared my opinion 70 be that, exen IL that right
existed, ind should b.. exercised by o1vsStatS of
the Confedcracy. tlresExeculive heparfment Of
tn!s Government had 10 nuthor,ty under ihe
SSns'itution, to recognize s,s validity Ry ac-
<knew iedgingsahe indepe of such state.
tive :effceri1ndsT the @hsiitution of The Uni
ted States. but to collect the public rey ehi;Ss
nnda6 protect tie PUBLIC fopertb,rso far as t}is
might be practicable Under exisii5g laws. .s,
This is.stilI my purpose. My Prossinces .isS
execute, and not TO make the luw8ssIt bSf6n5Gs
,oHngress exclusively TO fepeal, to aE:odifYaor
they may octgE ~ possess no dispsasjSc power.
certa ill8. faa aaeIigkS SO msfe aatressiys
.har Tar sGsnags ,Ga SIsss nd ep g
power even ono5bhgress. But tldahficfr assSs
the duty to use military foreeA5s Rnsfy
cnadaf their ID tEal,funcsioSssS eS;ns 3.
ment, j. eless una undehiabIe.
Butthe dangrro9s sb,d hostile shi:nsS, 81 stae
States towards eucli sheI has aafcsa y far trans
ceudcd and cast iuifie shade lhesoY86arY. Exec.
utve duties already providsdsd fdE CSaSw, and
as si 10 puee he ises ysss ssa
yond Executive control. The fsot: caiH,not .be
disguised that we are in the miastItt. ~ &ate sc
revolution Ip nil its various 6eaiihts, sthsfe.
fore. tMGbmepd the question to ConeEess, an
the ly~hamaA .tribnnuf Under Pto1fdS6ee,
possessing AZ powes1o men aasGs xi.ling gemsr.
to declare war, or 10 autb 'flls enfJejnleat
of. military force III sl easeA. con ien,piatsa b.
the Constitutions, and stn4fN aIoAas 1i6$ssaus iES
power to remove grieynices Wffiee a. G$st lead
,oYY, and to secure peace and asfjen Us .Nas
disttss,ed country, On ohem. ands6n iHftH6
alone; rests theTesponsiJiliiy. -. e 80 :
Tile Union is q sacred trust. ieft by our
Revolutionary fathers .fof tlhi
and neVaH did an v,o{ hert ;sSEdRS y