Year: 1860

Our deep and heartfelt gratitude is
due that Almighty Power which has
bestowed upon US such varied and nu.
merous blessings throughout the past
year. The general health ofthe coun-
try has been excellent; our harvests
have been unusually plentiful, and
prosperity smiles throughout the
land. Indeed, Notwithstanding our
demerits, we have much rea-
son to believe from the past
events in our history, that we
have enjoyed the special protection Of
Divine Providence ever since our
origin as a nation. We have been
exposed to many threatening 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, and the danger
to our institutions has passed away
May we ever be under the Divine
guidance and protectian


Whilst it is the duty Of the Presi.
dent "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 ap-
prehension that they are but symptoms
Of an incurable disease in the public
mind, which may break out in still
more dangerous outrages aud termi-
nate at last in an open war by the
North to abolish slavery in the South.
Whilst, for myself, | entertain such
apprehension, they ought to afford o
solemn warning to us all to beware of
the approach OF danger. Our Union
is stake OF such iuestimabe value
as to demand our constant and watch.
fnl vigilance for its preservation. In
this view, let me implore my country
men, North and South, to cultivate the
ancient feelings of mutual forbearance
and good will toward each other, and
strive to aIlsy the donlon spirit ofsec-
tional hatred and strife now alive in
the land. This advice proceeds from
the heart of an old public tunctjonary,
whose services commenced in the last
generation, among the wise and con.
servative statesmen Of that day, now
nearly all passed away, and whose first
and dearest earthly wish is to leave
his country tranquil, prosperous, uni
ted and powerful.


We ought to reflect that in this age,
and especially in this country, til ere
is an incessant fux and reAux of pub.
lie opinion. Questions which in their
day assumed a most threatening as
pect, have now nearly gone from the
memory of men. They are "volca,
noes burnt out, and on the lava and
ashes and squalid scorie ofold erup.
tons 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 ex-
citement should those who wisely seek
to apply the remedy, continue always
to cunfue 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 its day and
give place to other and less threaten
ing controversies. Public opinion in
this country is all powerful, and 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 anspicious result, at the
present crisis, we ought to remember
that every rational creature must be
presumed to intend the natural consc.
quences of his own teachings.


Those who announce abstract doc
trines subversive of the Constitution
and the Union, must not be surprised
should their heated partsans advance
one step further, and attempt by vio-
lence to carry these doctrines into
practical effect. In this view of the
subject it ought never to be forgotten
that, however great may have been
the political advantages resulting from
the Union to every portion ofonr com.
mon country, these would all prove to
be as nothing should the time ever ar
rive when they cannot be enjoyed
without serious danger to the personal
safety Of the people Of fifteen members
Of tho Confederacy. Ii the peace ol
the domestic fireside throughout these
States should ever be lnvaded-if the
mother OF families within this exteh.
sive region should not be able to retire
to rest at night without suffering
dreadful apprehensions of what may
be their own fate and that oftheir chill
dren before the morning--it would bt
vain to recount to such people the
political benefits which result to them
from the Union. Selfpreservation ID
the first instinct of nature: and, there