Year: 1860

1 -
to that Almighty Power which has be-
slowed upon Us such varled and numerous
blessings throughout the past year. The
general health of the country has been ex


celent; our harvests have been unusually
plentiful, and prosperity smiles throughout
| the land. Indeed, Notwithstanding our
demerits we have as much reason to be


lieve from the past events in our history
that we have enjoyed the special protection
| of Divine Providence ever since our origin
as nation. We have been exposed to
many theatening and alarming difficulties
in our progress; but on each successive
occasion the impending cloud has been dis
81 pated at the moment it appeared ready
to burst upon our Lead, and the danger to
our institutions has passed away. Nav
we ever be under the Divine guidance and
protection


Whilst it is the daty of the President
from time to time to give to Congress in


formation of the state of the Cnion," !
shall not refer in detail to the recent sal
and bloody occurrences at Harper's Ferry
| Still, it is proper to observe that these
events, however bad and cruel in them
selves, derive their chief importance from
the apprehension that they are but symp-'
toms of an incurable disease in the public
mind, which may break out in still more
| dangerous outrages and terminate at last
in an open war by the North to abolish
Slavery in the South. Whilst, for myself
| entertain no such apprehension, they
ought to afford solemn warning to US all
to beware fthe approach of danger. Our
Union is stake of such inestimable value
as 20 demand our constant and watchful
vigilance for its preservation. In this view
let me implore my countrymen. North and
South, to cultivate the ancient feelings Of
mutual forbearance and good will towards
each other, and strive to allay the demon
spirit Of sectional hatred and strife now
alive in the land This advice proceeds
from the heart Of an old public functiona
ry whose services commenced in the last
generation, among the wise and conserva-
tive statesmen Of that day, now nearly all
passed away, and whose first and dearest
earthly wish is to leave his country tran
quill, prosperous, united and powerful.


We ought to ref11g, That in this age.
and especially in this country, there is an
incessant flux and rellux of public opinion.
Questions which in their day assumed
most threatening aspect, have now nearly
gone from the memory of men. They are
VOLCANOES burnt out, and on the lava and
ashes and sQuaIid scoriae of old eruptions
grow the peaceful olive, the cheering vine
and the sustaining 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, con
tinue always to confine their efforts within
the pale of the Constitution. IF this
course be pursued, the exciting agitation
on the subject of domestic slavery, like
everything human, will have its dav, and
give place toother and less threatening con-
troversies Public opinion in this country
is all-powerful, and when it reaches dan
cerous excess upon any question, the good
sense of the people will furnish the correc-
tive and bring it back within safe limits.
Still TO hasten this auspicous result, at
the nresent crisis. we ought to remember
that every rational creature must be pre-
sumed to intend the natural consequences
of his own teachings Those who announce
abstract doctrines subversive to the Con-
stitution and the Union. must not be sur
nrised should their heated partisans ad-
vance one step further, and attempt by VI
| olence TO carry these doctrines into prac-
tical effect. Tn this view Of the subject 1t
ought never to be forgotten that, however
great NAV have been the political advan
taces resulting from the Union to every
norton Of our common country, these
would all prove as nothing should the
time ever arrive when they cannot be en-
loved without serious danger TO the per
sonal safety of the people Of fifteen mem
bers Of the confedpracv. If the peace o.
the domestic fresides throughout these
States should ever lie invaded--if the
mothers Of families within this extensive
repion should not he able to retire to rest
at night without suffering dreadful appre
tensions of what may be Their own fate
and that of their children before the morn
ino-it would be in vain to recount tt
such a people the political benefits which
result to them from the Union. Self pre-
sarvation is the first instinct Of nature


and therefore anv state Of society in which


the sword is all the time suspended owe


the heads of the people, must at last be


come intolerable. But l indulge in M
such gloomy forebodines. On the con


trary. I firmly believe that the events a


Harper's Ferry. BY causing the people Il


pause and reflect upon the possible peril Il


their cherished institutions. will be tht


means. under Providence. Of a!lav;ng III


existing excitement, and preventing fntnr


outbreaks Of similar character. The
will resolve that the Constitution and tn
. Union shall not he endangered bv ras


counsels, knowing that should "the silve


cord be loosed, or the golden bowl b
. broken at the fountain,' huma
power could never re-unite the scattere


and hostile fragments.


I cordially congratulate you upon tn
final settlement by the Supreme Court {
the United States Of the question of slave
re in the Territories. which had presente