Year: 1860




due to that Almighty Power which ha.
bestowed upon us such varied and nu.
merous blessings throughout the past
year. The general health Of the country
has been excellent, our harvests have
been unusually plentiful, and prosperity
smiles throughout the land Indeed
notwithstanding our dement's, we have
much reason to believe from the past
events in our history, that we have en-.
joyed the special protection of Divine
Providence ever since our origin as ma.
ton, We have been exposed to many
threatening and alarming difficulties in
our progress; but on each successive oc-
casion the impending cloud has been dis
spated at the moment it appeared ready
20 burst upon our head, and the danger
To our institutions has passed away
May we ever be under the Divine guild
ance and protection.


AS it is the duty of the President
"from time to time to give to Congress
information Of the state of the Union, y
! shall not refer in detail to the recent
sad and bloody occurrence at Harper's
Ferry. Still, it is proper to observe that
these events, however bad and cruel in
themselves, derive their chief importance
from the apprehension that they are but
symptoms of an incurable decease in the
public mind, which may break out in still
more dangerous outrages and terminate
ut least in an open war by the North TO
abolish slavery in the South. Whilst,
for myself, entertain no such apprehen-
sion, they ought to afford solemn warn.
ing TO us all to beware OF the approach
of danger. Oar Union is stake of such
inestimablc value as to demand our con.
slant and watchful vigilance for its pres.
ervation. In this view, let me impIore
my countrymen, North and South, to cul.
tivate the ancient feelings of mutual for
bearance 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 function
ary whose service commenced in the last
generation, among the wise and conserv-
ative statesmen OF that day, now nearly
all passed away, and whose first ana dear
est earthly wish is TO leave his country
tranquil, prosperous, united and powerful.


We ou hit TO reflect that in this age,
and especially in this country, there is an
incessant hux and reflux of public opin-
ion. Questions which in their day as
sumed 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 Squalld
scorie Of old eruptions grow the peaceful
olive, the cheering vine aud the sustain
ing corn" Such is my opinion, will
provo to be the fate of the present Sec
tional excitement, should those who wise.
~ seek TO apply the remedy, continue
always 10 contine their efforts within the
pale of the Constitution. If this course
be pursued, the existing agitation on the
subject Of domestic slavery, like every
thing human, will have IT'S day, and give
place to other and less threatening con-
troversies. Public opinion in this coun-
try is all powerful, aud when it reaches a
dangerous excess upon any question, the
good sense of the people will furnish the
corrective, and bring it back within safe
limits. Still, TO hasten this auspioious
result, at the present crisis, we ought to
remember that every rational creature
must be presumed TO intend the natural
consequences of his own teachings
Those who announce abstract doctrines
subversive of the Constitution aud the
Union, must not be surprised should
their heated partisans advance one step
further and attempt by violence to carry
these doctrines into practical effect.


In this view of the subject, it ought
never 10 be forgotten that however great
may have been the political advantages
resulting from tho Union to every por.
tion of our common country, these would
all prove TO be rs nothing should the
time ever arrive when they cannot be en-.
ioyed without serious danger to the per.
sonal safety of the people Of fifteen mem
bsrs of the confederacy. If the peace
Of the domestic fireside throughout these
States should ever be invaded-if the
mothers Of families within this extensive
region should not be able TO retire t.
rest at night without suffering dreadful
apprehensions Of what may be their owl
fate and that of their children before the
morning--it would be vain to recount tC
such people the political benefits whcl
result to them from the Union. Self
preservation Is the first instinct Of nature
aud therefore any state of society il
which the sword is all the time suspend
ed over the heads of the people must al
last become intolerable. But indulge
in no such gloomy forebodings. On The
contrary, / firmly believe that the events
at Harper's Ferry, by causing people t.
pats, and reflect upon the possible cvi
TO their cherished institutions, will be th'
means, under Providence, of allaying tn,
existing excitement and preventing fu
ture outbreaks of similar character =
They will resolve that the constitution
and Union shall not be endangered b,
rash connscls, knowing that, should 9th
silver cord be looscned or the colder
bowl be broken ut the fountain,
human power could never -reunite tn
scattered and hostile fragments.


] cordially congratulate you upon th
final settlement by the Supreme Court Q
the United States of the question 9
slavery in The Territories, which had pre-