Year: 1860

ed upon Us sucn NdEteQ anu uutncIOus
blessings throughout the past year. The
general health Of the country has been ex-
cellent; our haryests have been unusually
plentiful. and prosperity smiles throughout
the land. Indeed, Notwithstanding our
demerIIs, we have much reason 10 believe
from the past events in our history. that
we have enjoyed the special protection of
Divine Providence ever since our origin az
a nation We have been exposed to many
and alarming difficulties in our
progress; but on each successive occasion
the impending cloud has been dissipated
at the moment it appeared ready to burst
upon our head, aud the danger to our insti-
tutions has passed away. May we ever be
under the divine guidance and protection !.


Whilst it is the duty Of the President
from time to time 10 give to Congress in
formation Of the state Of the Union" ]
shall not refer in detail to the recent sad
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,
L entertain no such apprehension, they
ought to afford a solemn warning To us all
TO beware OF the approach Of danger =
Our Union is stake OF such inestimable
value as TO demand our constant and watch
ful vigilance for its preservation In this
view let me implore my counirymen, North
and South, TO cultivate the ancient feel
Of nal xCt
towards each other, and strive to allay the
demon spirit of sectional hatred and strife
now alive in the land. Thi. advice pro-
ceeds from the heart Of an old public func-
tionary, wht sc career commenced in the
last generation. among the wise and con.
servative statesmen of that day, now near
iy all passed away. aud whose first and
dearest earthly wish is to leave his coun-
try tranquil. prosperous. united and pow
erful.


We ought to reflect that in this age, and
especially in this country, there is an in
cessant fux and rsfiux Of public opinion.
Questions which ip their day assumed n
most threatening aspect, have now nearly
gone from the memory OF men.


They are "volcanoes burnt out, and on
the lava and ashes and squalij scorise Of





cheering vine, and the sustaining corn. -
Such. in my opinion, will prove to be the
fate of the present sectional excitement
sborld those who wisely seek to apply the
remedy, continue always to confine their
efforts within the pale Of the Constitution
If this course be pursued, the existing agi
tation on the subject Of domestic slavery,
like everything human, will have its day
Il x1a. al
ing controversies. Public opinion in this
country is all powerful, aud When it reach
es dangerous excess upou any question.
the good sense of the people will furnish
the corrective. and bring it back within
safe limits. Sill, to hasten this auspi
cious 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 and the
Union, must not be surprised should their
heated partisans advance one step further,
and attempt by violence to carry these doc
trines into practical effect. In this view of
the subject it ought never to be forgotten
that. however great may have been the po-
htical advantages resulting from the Union
to every portion of our common country,
these would all prove to be as nothing,
should the time ever arrive when they can
not be enjoyed without serious danger to
the personal safety Of the people of fifteen
members of the confederscy If the peace
of the domestic freside throughout these
States should ever be invaded-if the mo-
thers of families within the extensive re-
gion should not be able to retire to rest at
night without suffering dreadful apprehen-
sions Of what may be their own fate and
that of their children before the morning
lit would be vain to recount to such a
people the political benefits which result
TO them from the Union. Selfpreservation
is the first instinct Of nature; aud there
fore any state of society in which the
sword is all the time suspended over the
heads of the people, must at last become
intolerable 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
refect upon the possible peril to their cher
ished institutions. will be the means, nu-
der Providence of allaying the existing
excitement aud preventing future outbreaks
OF similar character. They will resolve
that the constitution and the Union shall
not be endangered by rash couEsels, know
ing that should '.thc silver cord be loosed
or the golden bowl be broken at the foun
tain" human power could never reunit,
the scattered and hostile fragments.


cordially congratulate you upon the
final settlement by the Supreme Court o
the United States of the question OF sla
very in the Territories, which had presen
ted an aspect so truly formidable at th,
commencement of my administration. Tn,
right has been established of every ciiizer
to take his property Of any kind. inclu
ding slaves, into the common Territories
belonging equally to all the States of tn
Confederscy, and to have it protected Their
under the Federal Constitution. Neithe
Congress nor a territorial legislature no
any human power has any authority 10 al
nul or impair this vested right. The su
prene judicial tribunal of the country
which is a coordinate branch of the Gov
ernment, has sanctioned and affirmed thes
principles of constitutional law, so mani
testify Just in themselves, and so well cal
culaled to promote peace and harmon,
among the States. 1t is striking proc
Of the sense ofjustice which is inherent il
our people, that the property in slaves ha
never been disturbed, 10 my knowledge, Il
any of the Territories. Even throughou
the late troubles in Kansas there has no
been any attempt, as am credibly inform
ed, to interfere, in single instance. wit
the right Of the master. Had any such al
tempt been made, the judiciary woul
doubtless have afforded an adequate RENE
dy. Should they fail to do this hereaftsl
il will then be time enough 10 strengthe
their hsnds by further legislation. Hal /
been decided that either Congress of til
territorial legislature possesses the power
ennul or impair the right 10 property /.


slaves, the evil would be intolerable,
the latter event, there would bea strugg


for a majority Of the members OF the legi.


Iature at each successive election. and th
sacred rights Of property held under II


Federal Consultation would depend Il
the time being on the result. The agiti
tion would thus be rendered incessar


whilst the territorial condition remsine'
ana it's baneful influence would keep ally


dangesous excitemspt among the peop


ofthe several States.


"a Thus has the status Of Territory, durir
the intermediate period from it's first settl


ment until it shall become State, been


revoeably fixed by the fiDal decision OF /!


Supreme Court. Fortunate has this be'


for the tranquility ofthe States. Now, eI


igrants from tke North and the South, n


- l.