Year: 1859

Fslloe Citizens Of the Senate and


House of Representatives:


Our deep aud heartfelt gratitude is due to that
Almighty Power which has bestowed upon us such
varied and numerous blessings throughout the past
year. The general health of the country has been
excellent; harvests have been unusually plenti
ful, and prosperity smiles throughout the land
Indeed, Notwithstanding our demerits, We have
much reason to believe IRON the past events in our
history, that we have etjoyed the special protec-
ton Of Divine Providence over since our origin as
nation. We have been exposed to msEy threaten
.ug aud alarming d6icu ties in our progress; but
on each successive occasion the impending cloud
las been dissipated at the moment it appeared
ready TO burst upon head, and the danger to
our institutions has passed away. May we ever be
under the Divine guidance and protection!


Whilst il is the duty Of the President "from time
10 time to give to Congr, s information OF the state
ofite zion, shall refer in detail to the recent
sad aud bloody occurrences at Harper's Ferry.
STILL it Is proper TO observe that these events, how
ever bad and cru,l in themselves derive their chief
importance from the apprehension that they but
symptoms Of an incurable disease in the public
mind, which may break out in still more dangerous
outrages and terminate at last in open war by
the North to abolish slavery in the South. Whilst,
for myself, entertain no such apprehension, they
ought to afford a solemn warning to us all to be-
ware of the approach Of danger. Our Union is a
stake of such inestmsbe value az to demand our
constant and watchfu vigilance for its preservation
la this view, let me impiore my countrymen, North
and South, to cultivate the ancient feelings of
tual forbearance and good will towards each other
and strive to sllay the demon spirit Of sectional
hatred and strife DOW alive in the land. This ad-
vice proceeds from the heart OF an old public func
tionsry, whose career commenced in the last gen.
Grafton, among the wise and conservative statesmen
of that day, now nearly all passed away, and whose


rst and dearest earthly wish is to leave his country
tranquil, prosperous, united and powerful


We ought TO reflect that in this age, and espe-
cally n this country, there is incessant fuX and
refux of public opinion Questions, which in their
day assumed a most threatening aspect, have now
nearly gone from the memory of men.


They are volcanoes burnt out and on the lava
and ashes and squslid scoriae of old eruptons grow
the peaceful olive, the cheering vine, and the sus-
tsining corn" Such, in my opinion, will prove to
be the fate OF the present sectional excitement,
should those who wisely seek to apply the remedy,
continue always to confne their efforts within the
pale OF the Constitution. II this course be pur-
sued, the existing agitation on the subject OF do
mestic slavery like everything human will have its
day and give place to other and less threatening
controversies. Public opinion in this country is
al-powerful and when il reaches dangerous excess
upon any question, the good sense OF the people
will furnish the corrective, and bring it back with
in safe imits Sti hasten this auspicious result
at the present crisis, We ought to remember, that
every rational creature must be presumed to under
stand the natural consequences of hi. teachings
Those who announce abstract doctrines subversive
of the Constitution and the Union, must not be
surprised should their heated psrtizans advance
step further, and attempt by violence to carry these
doctrines into practical effect. In this view of the
subject it ought never to be forgotten that, how
ever great may have been the political advantages
resulting from the Union to every portion of our
common country, these would all prove TO be as
nothing should the tim. ever arrive when they can
not be enjoyed without serious danger to the per-
sopal safety OF the people of fifteen members of
the confederacy. If the peace OF the domestic
freside throughout these States should ever be in
Taded--if the mothers of families within the ex-
tepsve region should be able to retire to rest
at eight without suffering dreadful apprehensions
OF whstpay be their own fats and that of their
children before the morning-it would be vain to
recount to such people the political benefits which
result to them from the Union. Self-preserVation
Is the first instinct of nature; and therefore any
state of society in which the sword is all the time
suspended over the heads of the people, must at
last become iutolerable. But indulge in no such
gloomy forebodings. On the contrary, firmly be-
Ieve that the events at Harpers Ferry, by causing
the people to pause and reflect upon the posi- le
peril to their cherished institutions, will be the
means, under Providence, of sIlaying the existing
excitement and preventing future outbreaks of
similar character. They will resolve that the con-
stitution aud the Union shall not be endangered by
rash counseIs, knowing that should "the silver
cord be oosed or the golden bowl be broken at the
fountain" human power could never reunite the
scattered and hostile fragments.


/ cordially congratulate you upon the Gnal act
tement by the Supreme Court of the United States
of the question of slavery in the Territories, which
had presented an aspect so truly formidable ut the
0f nv adm TIo
has been established of every citizen to take his
property Of any kind, including slaves, into the
common territories belonging equally to all the
States OF the Confederacy, aud to have it protect
ed there under the Federal Constitution. Neither
Congress Territorial Legislature nor any hu-
man power has any authority TO annuI or impair
;his vested right. The supreme Judicial tribunal
of the county, which is co-ordnate branch OF the
Government, has sanctioned and affirmed these
principles Of Constitutional law, manfestly Just
In themselves, and 90 well calculated to Promote
peace aud harmony among the States. Ii is q
striking proof of the sense of justice which is in
herenS n people, that the property in slaves has
Uever been disturbed to my kno "ledge, in auy OF
the Territories. Even throughout the late troubles
IN Kansas there has not Oeen any attempt, as l am
crediby Informed, to interfere, in single instance
With the right OF the master. Had any such at
tempt heen mad, the jud ciary would doubtless
have afforded adequate remedy. Should they
fail TO do this hereafter il will then be time enough
10 strengthen their hands by further legislation.
Had il been decided that either Congress or the
territorial Legislature possess the power annul
impair the right To property in slaves the evil
would be iutOlerahle. In the latter event. there
would be a struggle for majority of the members
of the legislature at each successive election and
the sacred rights Of property held under the Federal
Constitution would depend for the time being on
the result The agitation would thus be rendered
incessant while the territorial condition remained
and its baneful influence would keep alive danger
GUS excitement among the people of the several
States.


Thus has the status of Territory, during the in
termedate period from its first settlement until it
shall become a State, been irrevOcably fixed by the
fnal decision OF the Supreme Court. Fortunate
bas this been for the prosperity Of the Territories
as well as the tranquility of the States. Now EN-
igrants from the North, and the South, the East
and the West, will meet in the Territories a
common platform, having brought with them that
species of property best adapted in their own opin
ion, to promote their welfare. From natural causes
the slavery question will in each case soon vir.
tually settle ITSELF and before the territory is pre-
pared for admission a State into the Uuon this
decision one way the other, will have been FORE
cone conclusion. Meanwhile the settlement of
the Territory will proceed without serious interrup-
tion, and its progress and prosperity will not be
dangered retarded by violent political struggles


When in the progress Of events the inhabitants
of any Territory shall have reached the number re-
ouired TO form State, they will then proceed in
regular manner, and in the exercise Of the rights
CT popular sovereignty, to form constitution pre-
paratory to admission into the Union. After this
has been done, 20 employ the language of the Kan
sas and Nebraska act, they "shall be received into
the Union with without slavery their constitu-