THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1378, 26 February 1861, Page 3

THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The 36th Congress was opened on the 3rd December. The galleries were crowded. The diplomatic corps mustered in full force. The senators from South Carolina were not in their places. But the members from that Stats appeared in the House of representatives. On the 4th the Piesident's message was delivered to the Senate and the House, and nearly two hours were occupied in reading it. The following is a summary of it, and it will be seen that it is devoted to the great question of the day : — Fellow Citizens of Senate and House of Representatives — Throughout the year, and since our last meeting, the country has been eminently prosperous in all its material interests. The general health has been excellent. Our harvests have been abundant, and plenty smiles throughout the land. Our commerce and manufactures have been prosecuted with energy and industry, and have yieldedfair and ample return. In short no nation in the tide of time ever presented a shewing of greater material prosperity than we have done until within a recent period. Why is then that discontent now extensively prevails, and the union of the States which is the source of all these blessings, is threatened with destruction. The long continued and intemperate interferfence of the Northern people with the question of slavery in the Southern States has at length produced its natural effects'. The different sections of the Union are now arrayed against eaph other, and the time arrived so much dreaded by the father of the conntry, when hostile geographical parties have been formed. I have long foreseen and forewarned my country of the now pending danger, The incessant and violent | agitation of the Slavery question throughout i the North, during the last quarter of a century 1 , has at length introduced its malign influence on the slaves and inspired them with great notions of freedom, hence a sense of security no longer exists around the family altar. This' feeling of peace at home has given place to apprehensions of servile insurrections. Many a matron throughout the South retires at night in dread of what may befall herself and her children before morning. Should this apprehension of domestic danger, whether real or imaginary, extend and identify itself until it shall shall pervade the wishes of the Southern people their disunion Avill become inevitable. How easy would it be for the American people to settle the sla-

very question for ever, and restore peace and ■ Harmony to this distressed country. They, and i they only 1 , can do it. All that is necessary to' accomplish the object, and all for which the slaye States ever contended is to be ,let a lone and .permitted to manage their own domestic institutions in their own way. As sovereign States, they only are responsible before God and the world for slavery existing amongst them. For this the people of the North are not more responsible, and have no more right to interfere, than with similar institutions in J Russia or Brazil. Upon their good sense and patriotic forbearance, I confess I still greatly lely. Without their aid it 'is beyond the power of any President, no matter what may be his awn political views, to restore peace and harmony among them. Wisely limited and restrained as to Ms power under our constitution and laws, he alone can accomplish but little for good or for evil on such a momentous question. This brings me observe that the election of anyone of our fellow citizens to the office of President, does not of itself afford just cause for dissolving the Union. The election of a President of the United States in a constitutional maneer cannot of itself justify succession or revolution. The constitution does not contemplate the act of separation or disunion, and, therefore, there con be no legal and constitutional secession of any State from the Union. The Personal Liberty Acts of several of the Northern States are in direct conflict with the Constitution of the United States, and ought to be repealed. If continued upon the statute books of the Northern States after the public attention has been drawn to the subject by injured States, they will be justified in 1 evolution. The President has no power except to see that the laws are executed. For this purpose certain facilities are given him : he cannot maintain the judiciary in a State like South Carolina, where federal officers reign, but he has power over the collection of customs and over the public property of the United States located within the several States ; and to protect these the Government forces will act strictly on tb.3 defensive. Congress possesses no power to make war upon a State to compel such State to remain in the Union ; and if forca could be used for such purpose, a continuance of the Government in its spirit and unanimity could not thns be maintained to restore to tranquility and furnish to all the States, and guarantee the enjoying of all their rights as. contemplated under our system. Certain amendments to Federal Constitution are necessary, and may be proposed by Congress and ratified by the States, through the medium of a convention called on the application of the States. The message then turns to other subjects. The relations with all foreign powers, excepting Spain, are declared to be amicabie and satisfactory, some suggestions are made in reference to the purchase of Cuba. As the disputed title of San Juan is under negotiation of Great Britain, it is not deemed advisible to make auy allusion to that subject. The President remarks, the visit of the Prince of Wales, was an auspicious event, and says that its cousequence cannot fail to increase the kindred and kind feeling which he trusts may ever actuate the movements and people of both countries. The financial position is briefly discussed, and considerable 1 eductions are shown in the annual expenditure. The Message concludes with lengthy remarks about the necessity for modifications in the tariff, to meet the deficiencies of revenue. In the Senate, Mr. Willingham made a disunionist speech, for which lie was severely lebuked by the venerable senator Ciittenden, in the House of Representatives. After some smait discussion, instead of the Message being referred to a committee of the whole House, such parts of it as relate to the perilous condition of the country, were referred to a special committee, the motion 14G to 38. — -^ o

The New Zealand colonists now in the United Kingdom are about to form themselves into a committee to collect subscriptions on behalf of the unfoitunate settlers at Taianaki who have recently lost their propaity. A resolution to this effect was carried at the last meeting of the colonists at the New Zealand Colonists' j Booms in London. — Jfome News. The Bombay Government, in pursuance with insti uctions horn England, have chartered the Castilian, 10G4 tons, at £24 per head, and the Star Queen, 836 tons, at £19 10s. per head, for the conveyance of H M 's 57th Regiment fiom Bombay to New Zealand. The Stai Queen sailed on the 24th of November with Major H. Buller, Brevet-Major J. Hassard, Captain W. E. Blown, Captain J. R. Grimston, Lieutenants B. C. Bayntun, E G. Hasted, R. A. H. Cox, Ensigns A. M'Clintock, P. F. Claike, R E Biown, E. Miuray, Assistant Surgeon J. Davis, and 335 men of the 57th Regiment. The Castilian was expected to sail soon afterwards. Whilst acknowledging the promptitude with which the Bombay Government has carried out its instructions, we regiet to learn that great hardship was inflicted upon the officers and men of H M.'s 64th Regiment, who -were first placed under orders, which were countermanded, but not until they had disposed of iheir Indian kits and made preparations for the voyage to New Zealand. — Ibid.