Year: 1860




society in which the sword is all the time
supended over the heads of the people,
must at last become intolerabIe. But
indulge in no such gloomy forebodings.
On the contrary, / firmly believe that
the events at Harper's Ferry, by causing
the people to pause and reflect upon the
possible peril to their cherished institu-
tions, will be the means, under Provi-
dence, of allaying the existing excitement
aud preventing future outbreaks of a
similar character. They will resolSe
that the Constitution and the Union shall
not be endangered by rash counsels,
knowing that, should " the silver cord
be lcosed or the golden bowl be broken


at the fonntain," human
power could never reunite the scattered
and hostile fragments.


cordially congratulate you upon the
final settlement by the Supreme Court of
the United States of the question of sla-
very in the Territories, which had pre-
sented an aspect so truly formidable at
the commencement of my administration.
The right has been established of every
citizen to take his property of any kind,
including slaves, into the common Terri
tories belonging equally to all the States
oftbe confoderacy, AMI to have it protect
ed there under the federal constitution
Neither Congress nor a Territorial Leg
islature nor any human power has any
authority to annul or impair this vested
right. The supreme judicial tribunal of
the country, which is a coordinate branch
of the government, has sanctioned and
affirmed these principles of constitutional
law, so manifestly just in themselves, and
so well calculated to promote peace and
harmony among the States.


1t is a striking proof of the sense of
justice which is inherent in our people,
that the property in slaves has never
been disturbed, to my knowledge, in any
of the Territories. Even throughout the
late troubles in Kansas, there has not
been any attempt, as am credibly in
formed, to interfere in single instance
with the right Of the master. Had any
such attempt been made, the judiciary
would doubtless have afforded an adequate
remedy. Should they fail to do this
hereafter, it will then be time enough tc
strengthen their hands by further legisla.
ton. Had it been decided that either
Congress or the Territorial Legislature
possess the power to annul or impair the
right to property in slaves, the evil would
be intoIerable. In the latter event, there
would be a struggle for majority of the
members of the Legislature at each sue
cessive election, and the sacred rights O
property held under the Federal Consti
tuition would depend for the time being
on the result. The agitation would thu,
be rendered incessant whilst the Terrific
rial condition remained, and its banefu
influence would keep alive dangerou.
excitement among the people of the seve
raj States.


Thus has the status of territory, du
ring the intermediate period from its frs
settlement until it shall become a State
been irrevocably fixed by the final de
cision Of the Supreme Court. Fortunat,
has been this for the prosperity of tn,
Territories, as well as the tranquility o
the States. Now, emigrants from th


North and the Soath, the East and th,


West, will meet in the Territories on
common platform, having brought witt
them that species Of property best adapt
ed, in their own opinion, to promote thei
welfare. From natural causes the slave
ry question will in each case soon virtu
ally settle itself; and before the Territor
is prepared for admission as a State int


the Union, this decision, one way or tn
other, will have been foregone conclu
sion. Meanwhile the settlement of tn
new Territory will proceed without seri
, Gus interruption, and its progress an
prosperity will not be endangered or re
tarded by violent political struggles.
When, in the progress of events, th
: inhabitants of any Territory shall hav
reached the number requisite to form
State, they will then proceed, in a regula
manner, and in the exercise of the right
Of popular sovereignty, to form a const
: tuition preparatory to admission into tn
J Union. After this has been done, to en-
ploy the language of the Kansas an
Nebraska act, they shall be receive
into the Union with or without slaver-
S as their constitution may prescribe at tn
D time of their admission" This soun
t principle has happily been recognised,
: some form or other, by an almost unan
e nous vote Of both Houses of the last COZ