Year: 1860

due to that Almighty Power which has
bestowed upon us such varied and nu-
merous blessings throughout the past
year. The general health of the coun
try has been excellent, our harvests
have been unusually plentiful, and pros
perity smiles throughout the land. In
deed, Notwithstanding our demerits, we
have much reason to believe from the
past events in our history, that We have
enjoyed the special protection of Di-
vine Providence ever since our origin
as nation. We have beenexposed to
many threatening and alarming diff
culties in our progress; but on each
successive occasion the impending
cloud has been dissipated at the mo-
ment it appeared ready to burst upon
our head, and the danger to our insti-
tutions has passed away. May we ever
be under the Divine guidance and pro-
lection.


While it is the duty of the President,
from time to time to give to Congress
information of the state of the Union,
/ 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
disease in the public mind, which may
break out in still more dangerous out
RACES, and terminate at last in an open
war by the North to abolish slavery in
the South. Whilst for myself, l enter
tain no such apprehension, they ought
to afford solemn warning to us all to
beware of the approach of danger.
Our Union is stake of such inestima-
bic value as to demand our constant
and watchful vigilance for its preserva-
ton. In this view, let me implore my
countrymen, North and South, to cul-
tivate the ancient feelings of mutual for
bearance and good will towards each
other, and strive to alloy the demon
spirit of sectional hatred and strife now
alive in the land. This advice proceeds
from the heart of an old public func-
tionary, whose service commenced in
the last generation, among the wise and
conservative statesman of that day,
now nearly all passed away, and whose
first and dearest earthly wish is to leave
his country tranquil, prosperous, united
and powerful.


We ought to reflect that in this age,
and especially in this country, there is
an incessant fux and refux of public
opinion. Questions which in their day
assumed most threatening aspect,
have now nearly gone from the memo
ry of men. They are VOLCANOES burst
out, ard on the lava and ashes and
sqnallid scoria 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 rem
edy continue always to confine their eff
forts within the pale of the Constitu-
ton. If this course be pursued, the
existing agitation on the subject of
domestic slavery, like everything hu-
man, will have its day, and give place
to other and less threatening contro-
vcrsies. Public opinion in this country
is all-powertul, and when it reaches a
dangerous excess upon any question,
the good sense of the people will fur
nish the corrective, and bring it back
within safe limits. Still, to hasten this
auspicious result, at the present crisis
we ought to remember that every ra-
tional creature must be presumed to in
tend 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 parti-
sans advance one step further, and at
tempt 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 political adj
vantages 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
cannot be enjoyed without serious dan
ger to the personal safety of the peo-
pie of fifteen members Of the confed-
crazy. If the peace of the domestic
fireside throught these States should
ever be iEvaded-if the mothers of
families within this extensive region
should not be 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 morning-it would be vain to re-


count to such people the political ben


ehts which result to them from the
| Union. Self-preservation is the frs,


instinct OF nature and therefore any


state OF society in which the sword is


all the time suspended over the heads


OF the people, must at last become In


tolerable. But / indulge in no such


gloomy forebodings. On the contrar,
/ firmly belieye. that the events al


Harper's Ferry, by causing people tc
pause and reflect upon the possible per
/ il to their cherished institutions. will bt


the means, under Providence, of allay
ing the existing excitement and pre-


venting future outbreaks of similar


character They will resolve that the


Constitution and the Union shall no


be endangered by rash counsels, know


ing that, should "the silver chord b.


loosened or the golden bowl be broker
i = at the Fountain" human pow
u or could naver raun;fa fbo eoatfaro,