Year: 1860

reached me yesterday. inclosing a
call for a public meeting in New
York city. headed


"IHe North md the Souh-Justicc


and Fraternity"


and inviting me to be present on the
occasion. As no time is specified, |
hasten to respond that the objects Of
the meeting have my most hearty ap-
proval. but have long since with
drawn from any participation in poll
tics beyond that of giving my vote
for those whom deem the best and
safest men TO govern the country
and have uniformly, since | was at
the head of the government, declined
all invitations to attend political meet
ings yet, in view of the present stor-
my aspect and threatening tendency
of public events, did | feel that my
presence at your meeting could, in
the least, tend to allay the growing
Jealousy between the North aud the
South, | should, at some personal in
convenience, accept your invitation,
and cordially join you in admonishing
the country. North and South, to mu-
tuai forbcarancc toward each other,
and to cease elimination and recrimi
nation on both sides,i and endeavor to
restore again that. fraternal feeling
and confidence which havel made US
n great and happy people.


But it seems to me that if my opin-
ions are of any Importance to my
countrymon. they now have them in
a much more responsible ami satis-
factory form. than | could givc,thcm
by participating in the proceedings
of any meeting. My sentiments on
this unfortunate question of slave
ry. and the constitutional rights of
the South in regard to it, have not
changed since they were made mani
fest to the whole country by the per-
formance of a painful duty in APPROX
ing and enforcing the Fugitive Slave
Law. What the Constitution gives
/ would coucede at every sacrifice. |
would not seek to enjoy its benefits
without sharing its burthens and its
responsibilities. / know of no other
rule of political tight or expediency.
Those were my sentiments then-they
are my sentiments now. | stand by
the Constitution of my country at er-
cry hazard, and am prepared to main
tain it at every sacrifice.


Here l might stop but since l
have yielded to the impulse to write,
I will not hesitate to express very
briefly. my views On one or two events
which have occurred since l retired
froun Office, and which, in all proba-
bility. have given rise to your meet
ing. This l cannot do inteligib!y
without a brief reference to some
events which occurred during MY ad-
ministration.


All must remember that in 1910
and in 1850 the country was severely
sgitated on this disturbing question of
Slavery. That contest grew out of
the acquisition of new territory from
Mexico, and a contest between the
North and the South as to whether
Slavery should be tolerated in any
part of the Territory. Mixed up with
this. was a claim on the part of the
slaveholdiug States, that the provis
ion of the Constitution for the rendi-
tion of fugitives from service should
be made available. as the law of 1888
OIL that subject, which depended chief
ly on State officers for its execution,
had become imperative, because State
officers were hot obliged to perform
that duty.


After severe struggle, which
threatened the integrity of the Union,
Congress finally passed laws settling
these questions and the Government
and the people for time seemed to
acquiesce in that compromise as fl
nal settlement of this exciting ques
tion and it is exceedingly to be re-
GREETED that mistaken ambition or the
hope of promoting party triumph
should have tempted any one to raise
this question again. But in an evil
hour this Pandora's box of Slavery
was again opened by what | conceive
to be an unjustifable attempt to force
Slavery into Kansas by repeal of
the Missouri Compromise, and the
Goods Of evils now swelling and threat
ening to overthrow the Constitution,
and sweep away the foundation of the
Government itself, and deluge this
land with fraternal blood. may all be
traced to this unfortunate act. What
ever might have been the motive, few
acts have ever been SO barren of good,
and so fruitful of evil.


The contest has cxasperated the
public mind. North and South. and
cngendered feelings of distrust, and, |
may say hate, that | fear it will take
years to wear away. The lamenta-
bic tragedy at Harper's Ferry is
clearly traceable TO this unfortunate
controversy about Slavery in Kansas.
and while the chief actor in this crim-
inal invasion has exhibited some traits
of character that challenge our adj
uration. yet his fanatical zeal seems