Year: 1860

slowed upon us such varied and numer


Gus blessings throughout the past year. -


The general health of the country ha,


been excellent; our harvests have becr


unusually plentiful, and prosperity smiles


throughout the land. Indeed, no.wilh


standing our dement's we have much rea
son to believe from the past events in ou


history, that we have enjoyed the specia


protection OF Divine Providence ever sine
our origin as a nation. We have beet
exposed to many threatening aud alarm
ing difficulties in our progress; but on eacl
successive occasion the impending cloul


has been dissipated at the moment


appeared ready to burst upou our head
and the danger 10 our institutions ma


passed away. May we ever be under


the Divine guidance and protection!


HARPER's FERRY MATTER.


Whilst it is the duty OF the Presiden


"from time 10 time TO give to Congress
Information Of the State Of the Union, .


| shall not refer in detail to the recent sal
and bloody occurrences al llarper's Ferry
Sull, 1t 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
tons OF an incurable disease in the pub.
lie mind, which may break out in still
more dangerous outrages and terminate
at last in an open war by the North tc
abolish slavery in the South. Whilst, for
myself, | entertain no such apprehension,
they ought to afford solemn warning to
US all to beware of the app oach OF danger.
Our Union is a stake OF such inestimable
value as to demand our constant and
watchful vigilance for its preservation =
In this view, let me implcre my country
men, North and South, TO cultivate the
ancient feeling of mutual forbearance and
good will towards each other, and strive
10 allay the demon spirit of sectional strife
now alive in the land. This advice pro-
ceeds from the heart of an old public
whose services commenced in
The last generation. among the wise and
statesmen Of that day, now
nearly all passed away, and whose first
and dearest earthly wish is to leave his
country tranquil, prosperous, united and
happy.


We ought to reflect that in this age. and
in this country, there is an in.
,essant flux and rehux Of public opinion.
Questions which in their day assumed a
most threatening aspect, have now nearly
gone forth from the memory of men,
They are "volcanoes burnt out, and on
he lava and ashes and squalid scorm of
Did erupians grow the peaceful olive, the
cheering vine, and the sustaining corn"
Such in my opinion will prove to be the
ate Of the present sectional excitement,
should those who wisely ovoh to apply tho
remedy, continue always to coufine their
.lorls within tho pale Of the Constitution
If this course be pursued, the existing
agitation on the subject of domestic Slav.
cry, like everything human. will have its
lay and give place 10 other and less
controversies. Public opin-
on in this country is aI-powerful, and
when it reaches n dangerous excess upon
my question, the good sense of the peo-
DIE will furnish the corrective and bring it
Jack within safe limits. Sill, 20 hasten
his auspiclous result, at the present crisis,
We ought to remember that every rational
,reature must be presumed to intend the
natural consequences Of his own teaching.
Those who announce abstract doctrines
ubversive to The Constitution and The
Union, must not be surprised should their
leated partisans advance one step further,
md attempt by violence to carry these
doctrines into effect. In this view OF The
ubject it ought now never to be forgot
Ell that. however great may have been
he political advantages resulting from the
Union TO every portion Of our common
country. these would all prove 10 be as
,otbing should the time ever arrive when
hey cannot be enjoyed without serious
langer to the personal safety OF fifteen
members Of the confederacy. Ifthe peace
" the domestic freside throughout these
States should ever be invaded-if the
Mothers Of families within this extensive
egion should not be able TO retire TO rest
It night without suffering dreadful appre.
tensions Of what may be their own fate
md that of their children before the morn.
ng-it would be vain to recount TO such
people the political benefits which re-
ult to them from the Union. Sell. pres
rvation is the first instinct Of nature; and
therefore, any state OF society in which the
word is all the time suspended over the
'eads of the people, must at last become
But l indulge in no such
,loomy forebodings. On The contrary, l
irmly believe that the events at Harper's
Ferry, by causing the people TO pause and
effect upon this possible peril Of their
hershed institutions, viii be the means,
nder Providence, Of Rllaying the existing !
xcitement and preventing future out.
reaks ofa similar character. They will
esolve that the Constitution and the Un-
On shall not be endangered by rash coun.
els, knowing that, "should the silver
ord be !oosed or the golden bowl be bro
en- n a: the Fountain" human power
ould never reunite the scattered and hos.
lie fragments.


SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES.


cordially congratulate you upon tho
nal settlement by tho Supreme Court of
no United States of tho question of slavery
! tho territories, which had presented an
spect so truly formidable at tho commence.
,ent of any administration. Tho right has
cen established of every citizen TO take
is property of any kind, including slaves,
Ito tho common territories belonging
qually to all tho States in the confederacy,
nd to havo 1t protected thoro under tho
'deral constitution. Neither Congress nor


Territorial Legislature nor any human
over has any authority to annul or impair
lia VaHIal ripht Tha aunranna indio;nl