Year: 1861

Providence with profuse liberality. Our tenn
perate climate productive soil, and inexhaus-
S5ie mineral wealth, have stimulated the in.
duStry of cur people and improved the skill
OF mechanics. To develop, enlarge and pro
tect the Interests which grow out of our nat
ural advantages, have become cardinal prin.
ciples of political economy in Pennsylvania,
and the opinion every where prevails among
our people that development, progress and
wealth depend on educated and requited Ia
bor; and that labor, and the interests sus-
tained by it. shonld be adequately protected
against foreign competition. The people of
Pennsylvania have always favored that poll
cy which aims to elevate and foster the in
dustry OF the country in the collection of
revenue for the support of the General Gov
ernment; and whenever they have had the
opportunity, in fair lection, they have vim
dicated that policy at the ballot box. When
their trade was prostrated and their industry
paralyzed by the Legislation of the General
Government, which favored adverse interests,
they waited patiently for the return of an
other opportunity to declare the public will
In constitutional manner. In the late elec.
ton OF President OF the United States, the
principle of protection was one of prominent
issues. With the proceedings of Congress
at its late session fresh in their memories a
large majority Of people Of Pennsylvania en-
rolled themselves in an organization, which,
In its declaration of principles, promised, if
SUCCESSFUL, to be faithful to their suffering in
terests and languishing industry. PrOtec-
ton to labor was one CT the great principles
of its platform it was inscribed on its BAN
ners; and throughout the canvass it was
leading text of the orators Of the successful
party.


This is propitious moment to declare that
while the people of Pennsylvania were not
Indifferent to other vital issues of the canvass,
they were demanding justice for themselves
in the recent election, and had no design to
Interfere with or abridge the rights of the
people of other States. The growth of our
State had been retarded by the abrogation of
the principle OF protection from the revenue
laws of the national government; BANKRUPT
cy had crushed the energies of many of our
most enterprising citizens; but no voice of
disloyalty or treason was heard, nor Fas an
arm raised to offer violence to the sacred
fabric of our national Union. Conscious of
their rights and their power, our people look
ed to the ballot box alone as the remedy for
existing evils.


In the present unhappy condition of the
country, it will be our duty to unite with the
people of the States which remain loyal to
the Union, in any just and honorable meas
nres of conciliation and fraternal kindness.
Let us invite them to join US In the fulflment
OF all our obligations under the federal Con-
stItution and laws. Then we can cordially
unite with them in claiming like obedience
from those States which have renounced their
allegiance. If the loyal States are Just and
moderate, without any sacrifice of right or
selfrespect the threatened danger may be
averted .


Ours is a National Government. It has
within the sphere of it's action all the attri-
butes of sovereignty, and among these are
the right and duty of self preservation. tits
based upon compact to which all the people
of the United States are parties. It is the re-
suit of mutual concessions, which were made
for the purpose of securing reciprocal .bene-
fits. 1t acts directly on the people, and they
owe personal allegiance. No part of the
people, no State nor combination of States,
can voluntarily secede from the Union, ror ab-
solve themselves from their obligations to it.
10 permit state to withdraw at pleasure
from the Union, without the consent of the
rest, Is to confess that our government is a
failure. Pennsylvania can never acquiesce
In such conspiracy, nor assent to doctrine
which involves the destruction Of the Govern
",
requirements of the Constitution must be
obeyed and it must have power adequate to
the enforcement of the supreme law of the
land in every State. 1t is the first duty of the
National authorities to stay the progress of
anarchy and enforce the laws, and Pennsyl-
vania with united people, will give them an
honest, faithful, and active support The
people mean to preserve the integrity of the
National Union at eyerV hazard.


The Constitution which was originally
framed to promote the welfare of thirteen
States and four millions of people, in less
than three quarters of a century has embraced
thirty three States and thirty millions of inhah-
itants. Our territory has been extended over
new climates, including people with new in
terests and wants, and the Government has
protected them all. Everything requisite to
the perpetaity of the Union and its expanding
power, would seem to have been foreseen and
provided for by the wisdom and sagacity of
the trainers of the Constitution.


1t is all we desire or hope for, and all that
our fellow countrymen who complain can
reasonably demand. Itprovides that amend
ments may be proposed by Congress and
whenever the necessity to amend shall occur
the people of Pennsylvania will give to the
amendments which Congress may propose,
the careful and deliberate consideration which
their Importance may demand. Change is
not always progress, and people whu have
lived so long, and enjoyed so much prosperi-
ty, who have so many sacred memories of the
past, and such rich legacies to transmit to the
future, should deliberate long and seriously
before they attempt to alter any of the fun
damental principles of the great charter OF
our liberties.


l'assume the duties of this high Office at
the most trying period of our national histo-
ry. The public mind is agitated by fears,
suspicious and jealousies Serious apprehen-
sions of the future pervade the people. A
preconcerted and organized effort has been
made to disturb the stebility Of Government,
dissolve the Union of the States; and mar the
symmetry and order of the noblest political
structure ever devised and enacted by human
wisdom. 1t shall be my earnest endeaVor to