ereJ withshingles, und needed renewal, should
be replaced with slate or metal. Qu visiting
the institution, my attention was called totho
subject by the inspectors. The necessity for
the change was so apparent and urgent, that
I advised them not to hesitate in having the
old, delipidated and 1 dangerous wooden roofs
of such portions of building as roqired- ren
ewal, replaced with sorao substantial lire proof
material. This has'accordingly been done,
and I respectfully roooihmend that’ a small
appropriation bo granted to .defray the ex
pense incurred.
:-I oUmmdiid tumour'consideration the report
of the Stale Librarian, whose attention to the
interests of tho Library under his care, do
scr.vos tho warmest commendation. Tho sys
tem of .exchanges, with the ditferont States of
tho Union, and with foreign governments,
commenced and prosecuted under his auspices,
has resulted iu great advantages to tho Libra
ry,-and deserves the continued countenance
of the Legislature. The increase of tho Libra
ry, gta comparatively small expense to tho
State, has been such, that it now needs en
larged accommodations for tho safe-keeping of
(he volumes, and, if the increase continues,
will soon require a separate building for its
exclusive use.
. Tho reports of the State Treasurer, the Au
ditor General, tho Surveyor General, tho Ad
jutant General, and the Attorney General,
will inform you, iu. detail, of the operations
of the government, as presented by those sev
eral departments, fur the last fiscal year! They
are entitled to the attentive consideration of
the Legislature.
. • Soon after my inauguration, upon the re
commendation of my predecessor in office, a
dwelling house was purchased in this city for
the residence .'of the Governor of the Common
wealth. Tho purchase included several arti
cles,of heavy furniture, then in the building,
and a small.appropriation would complete the
necessary furnishing of the house, so as to
make it a tit and convenient residence for the
incoming .Executive, 1 cheerfully recommend
the immediate passage of a bill making a suit
able appropriation for this purpose.
extraordinary and alarming condition
of our national affairs demands your imme
diate attention. On the twentieth of Decem
ber last, tho. convention ,of South' Carolina,
organized under the authority of tho Legisla
ture of, that State, by a unanimous vole, de
clared “ that the union now subsisting between
South Carolina ami tho other Stales, under
the name of tho United States of America, is
hereby dissolvedand the action already ta
ken in severalothoy southern States, indicates,
'■most clearly,’ their intention to follow this ex
ample.
On behalf of the advocates of secession, it
is claimed, that this Union is merely a com
pact between tho several States composing it,
and that .any . one of the States, which may
feel aggrieved, may, at its pleasure, declare
that it will no longer be a' party to the com
pact. This doctrine is clearly erroneous;'The
constitution ,of the United States is something
more, than a mere compact, or agreement, be
tween the several States. As applied to na
tions, a compact is but a treaty, which may be
abrogated at the will of cither party ; respon
sible to tho other party for its bad faith in ro
-fiisin'g to keep its engagements, but entirely
: irresponsible to any superior tribunal. A
'government,;on tho. other hand,"whether cre
ated, by consent, or by conquest, when clothed
.with legislative, judicial and .executive pow .
era,, is necessarily iu its'nature sovereign-;
-and from this sovereignty Hows its right to
enforce its laws and decrees by civil process,
and, in ah .emergency; by its military and na
val power. The government owes .protection -
to the people, ami they, in turn', owe it their (
allegiance. Its laws cannot be violated by >
its citizens, without accountability to the tri- (
biiuals created to enforce its decrees and to 1
punish offenders. Organized resistance to it, 1
is rnbcUlon. If successful, it may be purged i
of crime by revolution. . IE unsuccessful, the ,
Via persons,engaged iu the rebellion, may. bo 1 -
execute! as traitors. The government of the
United Suites, witblu.tho limits assigned to it,
.-is as potential in sovereignty, as any other
■government in the civilized world.' The Con
; stitution, anp laws made in pursuance thereof,
are expressly declared to be the supreme law
of. the land. Under the Constitution, the gen
eral government has the power to raise and
/support armies, to create and maintain a navy,
and to provide lor calling forth tho militia to
execute its laws,, suppress insurrection and re
. pel invasion. . Appropriate statutes have been
enacted by Congress, to aid in the execution
of these important governmental powers.
The creation of the Federal Government,
.with the powers enumerated in tlio Constitu
tion, was the act of the people of tbo Unitod
States, and it is perfectly immaterial that the
people of the several States acted-separately
within the torritorial limits of each State.—
The form of their action is of no consequence,
in view of the fact that they create;) a Feder
al Government., .to which they surrendered cer
tain powers of sovereignty, and declared those
■powers, thus surrendered, to bo supreme, wlth
.out reserving to, the States, or people,,
■the right of secession, nullification or-other
resistance. It is, therefore, clear that there is
no constitutional right of secession. Secession
-is only, another form of nullification. Either,
when attempted to bo carried cut by force, is
•rebellion,and should be treated as such,by those
■whoso sworn duty it is to maintain tho supre
macy of the Constitution and laws of the-Uni
ted States.
It is certainly true,'that in oases of great
extremity, when the oppression of government
has become so intolerable that civil war is
preferable to longer submission, there remains
the revolutionary right of resistance; but
where the authority of the government is lim
ited by a written Constitution, and-each de
partment is held in cheek by the other de
•. pertinents, it will rarely, if ever, happen that
the citizen may not .bo adequately protected,
without resorting to the sitorod and inaliena
ble right,to resist and destroy a-government
which has been perverted to a tyranny.
But, while denying the right .of a State to
absolve its citizens from the allegiance which
■ they owe to the Federal Government, it .is ne
‘ vorthok'ss highly proper that we should care
fully anil candidly examine tho roasons which
are advanced by those who have evinced a dc
. termination to destroy the Union of these Am
ierican States, and if it shall appear that any
j Of ■the citruses of complaint are well founded,
-.they should he unhesitatingly removed, and,
as far as possible, reparation made for the
past, and security given for the future; for it
is not to be toloratod, that a government crea
ted by tho- people, and maintained for their
benefit, should do .injustice to any portion of
its citizens.
After assorting her right to withdraw from
the Union, South Carolina, through, her con
r.cntion, among other reasons, declares that
she is justified in exorcising, at this time, that
right, because several of tho States have for
years not only refused to fulfil their constitu
tional obligations, but have enacted laws oith
;,er nullifying tho Constitution, or rendering
.useless tho acts of Congress relative to the sur
render of fugitive slaves—that they have por
■ I*' o open establishment of societies, to
Li* U r° 1 ? 10 P oaotl °f other States; that tho poo-
FnM „ non -! l< \ v ehol«Ung. States have aided
in the escape of slaves from their masters, and
. hate mm toil to servile insurrection those that
remain—and have aim,mneed their determi
nation -to exclude tho South from tho common
-territory of the Union. As the llopreaouta
■ tivea of tho people of Pennsylvania, it becomes I
•your solemn duty to examine those serious
, Charges, made by the authority of a sovereign
. State. ■ - ”
Pennsylvania isinoludod in the list of States
that are charged with having- rufused compli
■ ance with that mandate of the Constitution, of
• the United States,-which declares “ that no
■person held to service-or labor in one State,
; under the laws thereof, escaping into another,
...shall, in consequence of any law or regulation
'therein, be discharged from such service or
ilabor, but shall be delivered up, on claim of
•the /p&rty .to whom.such service or labor may
bo duo.” So far from admitting tho truth of
this charge, I unhesitatingly aver, that,, upon
a careful examination, it will ho foiind that
■the legislative and judicial action of Pennsyl
vania, whether as a,colony, as a member,of
tho .old confederation, or under tho existing
Constitution of the United States, has been al
most' invariably-influenced by a proper appre
ciation'of her own obligations, and by a high
regard for tho rights, the feelings and the in
terests' of her sister States.
As early as 1705, tho provincial authorities
of Pennsylvania, after reciting in the pream
ble, that “the importation of Indian slaves
from Carolina, or other places, hath been ob
served to give tho Indians of this province
some umbrage for suspicion and dissatisfac
tion,” passed an act against the importation
of Indian slaves from any other province,’or
colony, in America, but at tho same time de
clared, “ that no such Indian slave, as deser
ting his master’s service elsewhere, shall fly
into this province, shall bo understood or con
strued to bo comprehended within, this act.”
And when, in 1780, more than eight years be
fore the Constitution of tho United States wont
into operation, Pennsylvania- passed her law
for the gradual abolition of slavery, mindful
of the rights of her confederates, she declared
that “ this act,, or, anything in it contained,
shall not give"any relief or shelter to any ab
sconding or runaway negro or mulatto slave,
or servant, who has absented himsolf, or shall
absent himsolf, from his or her owner, master
or mistress, residing in any other State or
country, but such owner, master or mistress,
shall have like right and aid to demand, claigi
and take away his slave, or servant, as ho
might have had iu case this act had not been
made.” A provision much more unequivocal
in its phraseology, and direct in its commands,
than those found, on the same subject, iu the
Constitution of tho Union. Tho act, by its
terms, was made inapplicable to domestic
slaves attending upon delegates in Congress
from tho other,American States, and those
held by persons while passing through this
State, or sojourning therein fora period not
longer than six months.
In 1788 it was made a high penal offence
for any person, by force, .violence or fraud, to
take out of this State, any negro or. mulatto,
with the intention of keeping or selling the
said negro or mulatto ns a slave, for a term of
years. Soon after the passage of this act, the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania decided that
it: did not apply to tho forcible removal of a
slave, by the owner or his agent, but that its
object was to punish the forcible or fraudulent
abduction from the State of free negroes, with
the intention of keeping or selling them as
■ slaves. Thus, at that early day, giving judi-'
cial sanction to the doctrine, that a. master
had the right to take his slaves wherever- he
could find them.
Tho first act of Congress providing for the
rendition of fugitives from justice or labor,
was passed in 1793, and originated from the'
refusal of the Governor of Virginia to surren
der and deliver up, on the requisition, of the
Governor of Pennsylvania, three persons who
had been indicted in Pennsylvania for kid
napping a negro, and carrying him into Vir
ginia. , And when it was found that this Con
gressional statute did not afford a simple,
speedy and efficient remedy for the recovery
of fugitives from labor, the Legislature of
Pennsylvania, at the request of tho adjoining
State of Maryland,' in 1820, .passed her-act
“to give effect to the. provisions of the Consti
tution of the United. States relative to fugitives
frpni labor, for tho protection of free people
of color, and to prevent; kidnapping/' This
excellent and well considered law met all the
existing emergencies. .It required the judg
es, justices Of the .peace and aldermen, of the
State, upon the-oath of the claimant, to issue
their warrant for. the arrest of any fugitive
from labor escaping into this State /directing,
however, that,such warrants should he made
returnable, by whomsoever issued, before a
judge of the proper county, It required shey-
Jffs and constables to execute such warrants'.
It authorized iho commitment, of' the fugitive
to the county jail/aud otherwise made provis
ions to secure its effective execution, and at
the same time to. prevent its nbiiso.
This law continued quietly in operation un
til the decision of the Supreme Court of tho
United States, made in 1842, in the - case of
Pyigg ta. The Commonwealth of Pennsylva
nia. The history of this case may be briefly
stated; Edward Prigg was indicted in-the
court of oyer and terminer of York county, for
kidnapding a-colored person, named Margaret
Morgan. . Upon , the trial it appeared that she
was held-as a slave in the State of Maryland,
and that she escaped into the State of Penn
sylvania in the year 1832—that in 1837, Ed
ward Prigg was appointed, by the owner of
the slave, to seize and arrest her ns a fugitive
from labor. In pursuance of this authority,
and under a warrant issued by_a.justice of the
ponce, Prigg caused the negro woman to tie
arrested, and without having obtained any
warrant of removal, he delivered her to her.
owner in the State of Maryland Those facts
were,found.by a.special verdict, and by tho
agreement of counsel, a judgment was entered
against Prigg. From this judgment a writ
of error was taken to the Supremo Court of
the State, where, a pro fonhu judgment of af
firmance was again, by agreement! entered,
and tho case removed to tho Supremo Court of
the United Slates..
It will liooljseived that thocjuestion, wheth
er Edward Prig" was really guilty of the crime
of kidnapping, under the Pennsylvania stat
ute of 1826, was never actually passed upon,
either by tho court or .jury, in tho county of
York, or by the Supremo Court of the State.
The jury merely found tho facts, and the ac
tion of both courts was but a matter of form.
In the argument and determination of the
case, in the Supremo Court' of tho United
States, it appears to have been taken for gran
ted, that our act of 1820 made it a criminal
offence, for a master to- take his slave out of
this State, without a warrant of removal; and,
upon this construction, the act was declared
unconstitutional and void. This, I submit,
was a clear misapprehension of the purport
and meaning of our legislation. The first sec
tion of the act of 1826, under which the in
dictment against Prigg was framed, was al
most literally copied from the seventh section
of tho aot.of 1788, to which a construction had
already been given by tho highest judicial tri
bunal of the State of Pennsylvania, where it
was.hold to have no application whatever to
the removal of a slave by tho master , or his
agent, with or without a warrant. Such was
the undoubted law of the State under the stat
ute of 1788, and in re-enaeting that statute, in
the aet of 1826, with an increased penalty, it
Is manifest that tho intention and object of tho
Legislature was to protect free persons of col
or; and to punish those who, by fraud, force
or violence, wore guilty of kidnapping, and
holding or soiling free men ns rdaves. This
tho State had a clear right to do; and nothing
but a misconstruction of her act, could have
induced tho declaration that it was forbidden
by the Constitution of the United States. It
is perfectly clear, that Edward Prigg had com
mitted no crime in removing Margaret Mor
gan from -the State of Pennsylvania to tho
State of Maryland, and delivering her up to
her owner; and it is equally clear, that no at
tempt was made, by tho statute of Pennsylva
nia, to declare his act a crime. Ho should
have boou discharged, not because the act of
tho State was unconstitutional, but because
he had not transgressed its commands.
The Supreme Court of the United States not
only pronounced tho particular section of the
j act of 1826, then before them, unconstitution
al a majority of tho court held that tho
virl’p r ac . t , v "'d, because the power to pro
was vested r f ' ro ‘ a hibor,
was vested exclusively m Confess and the
-several States wore, therefore, ineompoUnt to -
pass statutes either in aid of, or to binder dc"
tY t l ' ,PV cvont ’ ‘ ,e delivery of sueb fugitives.
That this was the extent of the decisbm, a 3
.delivered by Judge Story, not only appears
from the opinions of the majority, but also l
from tho dissenting opinions delivered by tho
minority.-of thp-court.. By this unfortunate
decision, it wits authoritatively proclaimed
that Pennsylvania, in enacting her liberal
statute of 1826> pinking it tho duty Of her
own officers to aid in arresting and delivering
up fugitives from' labor, had mistaken her
constitutional obligation, and' that_ her act
was in Violation of, rather thafir obedience to,
tho Constitution of the Unitoif States, Under
such circumstances, it was the t manifest duty
of the State to repeal her law thus,declared un
constitutional. This was done by the act of
18-17; and if that act had contained' nothing
more than a repeal of tho law of 182 G, and tho
re-enactment of the law against kidnapping,
it could not have been subject to any just com
plaint. But tho third section of the act ot
1817, prohibits, under heavy penalties, our
judges and magistrates from acting underany
act of Congress, or otherwise-tokiug jurisdic
tion of tho case of n fugitive from labor; |ind,
tho fourth section punishes with lino and im
prisonment, the tumultuous and riotous arrest
of a fugitive Slave, by any person or persons,
under any pretence of authority whatever, .so
as to create a breach of tho public peace. Tho
sixth section, denying the iiso of the county
jails for tho detention of fugitive slaves, was
repealed in 1852, and need only he referred to
ns showing tho general spirit of the act. The
seventh section repealed the provisions of the
act of 1780, which authorized persons passing
through our State to take their slaves with
them, and gave to sojourners tho right to bring
their slaves into the State, and retain them
here for any period not exceeding six mouths.
Tho provisions of the third and fourth sec
tions of tho act of 1847, seem to have been
predicated upon tho language of the Supreme
Court in Prigg’scaso.- It is there admitted
that tho several States may prohibit their own
magistrates, and other officers, from exorcising
an authority conferred by an act of Congress;
and that while an owner of a slave, underand
in virtue of the Constitution of the United
States, is clothed with power, in every. State
of the Union, to seize and recapture his slave,
: he must, nevertheless, do so without using any
; illegal violence, or committing a broach of the
peace. It is evident that the framer of the
act of 1847,. had closely studied the case of
- Prigg vs. The Commonwealth of Pennsylva
nia, and had kept his law Strictly within its
i letter. In many respects, the. act is a oodifl
cation of tho principles enunciated by the
- court; and more fault mayjuatly bo found with
: its temper than its want of constitutionality.
If fugitive slaves wore still claimed under
the act of Congress of 1793, tho denial to the
: master of the aid of State judges and magis
trates, might bo a source of groat inconve
nience to him ; but the complete and perfect
’ remedy now provided by the act of Congress
of 1850, renders him entirely.indepondent of
State officers. And the punishment of arrests
without warrant, by a master in the exercise
of his constitutional right of recaption, but
made in a violent, tumultous and unroasnnfi
' bio manner, amounting to a breach of the
peace, is but recognizing, by statute, what was
before the common law. Those sections were
re-enacted in the revised penal code of Penn
sylvania, at the last session of the Legislature,
and are still the law of the State; but they are
not now of any practical importance, and as
their retention on qur statute, book,is calcula
ted to create the impression that the people of
this State are unfavorable to the execution of
the fugitive slave law, and the discharge of
their confederate duties, and with-tho view of
removing this subject Of reproach, I earnestly
recommend their unconditional repeal.',
While a majority of tho judges of the Su
preme Court of tho United States, in the Prigg
case, hold, that a State had no constitutional
right to provide by legislation for delivering
up fugitives from labor, a minority wore then
of the opinion that State laws,, consistent
with,.and in aid of, the constitutional injunc
tion,'wore valid and proper. . And this minor
ity opinion is now the'judgment of the pres
ent court, as recently indicated in a case which
arose in the State of Illinois. There is, there
fore. nothing to prevent tho revival.of the ,act
of 1826,-and its restoration to the place - in oaf
code to which, by itsmorif»,itis so justly en
titled. This would leave to the option of the
claimant; whether he would seek:his remedy?
• under State or National laws. Ijte had tliirf
right before the repeal of our act of 1826, and,
in my opinion, no good reason can be assigned,
for refusing to place him again in tho same
position.
I would also recommend that the consent of
tho State bo given, that tho master, while so
journing in our State, for a limited period, or
passing through it, may bemccompanied by
his slave,, without losing his" right to his ser
vice. Whileusnch legislation is due to the
comity which should ever exist between tho
different States of this Union, it would un
doubtedly tend greatly to restore that peace
and harmony, which arc now so unwisely im
periled. By it Pennsylvania would concede
no principle—we would simply be falling back
upon our ancient policy, adopted at a time
when our people wore themselves struggling
for their rights.wnd never departed from, un
til, by a misconception oi its meaning, one of
our most important statutes was declared un
constitutional. From 1780, to 1847, a period
of sixty-seven years, Pennsylvania, herself a
free State, permitted the citizens of other
States to sojourn within her limits, with their
slaves, for any period* not exceeding six
months, and to pass through the State, in tra
veling from one State to another, free from
all molestation. Was she injured, or was the
cause of human freedom rotarted, by the friend
ly grant of this privilege ? This question can
not bo truthfully answered in'tlio.affirmative;
but. it may be safely averred, that by chang
ing pur policy, in this respect, wo have in some
degree, at least, alienated from ns the feelings
of fraterhal kindness, which bound together,
so closely, tho sisterhood of States. Lot us,
then, renew this pledge of amity and friend
ship, and once more extend a kindly welcome
to the citizens of our common country, wheth
er visiting us bn business or pleasure, notwith
standing they may be accompanied by those
who, under the Constitution and tho laws, are
held tp service and labor.
Tlio Territories of the United States belong
to the General Government, and in those ter
ritories the people of the several States un
questionably have equal rights. They wore
acquired by means or the common expenditure
of blood and treasure. ' By the Federal Con
stitution power is given to Congress 11 indis
pose of and make all needful rules and regu
lations respecting the territory and other pro
perty belonging to the United States.”—
Whether under this, or any oilier power con
ferred by the Constitution, Congress can pro
hibit or protect slavery in the territories, has
been seriously questioned. But, if the power
to legislate upon this delicate and important
subject were clearly vested in Congress, in my
judgment it ought not to be exercised. To
declare that slavery shall not exist in the Tor-t
ritoribs, is calculated to exclude from-their 1
occupancy the citizens of the southern or
slavoholding States ; while, to make it a legal
institution in all the territories of the United
States, by Congressional enactment, and to
provide for its oontinuaneo during their en
tire Territorial existence, would be equally in
jurious to the people of the free States. The
principle adopted in the Compromise meas
ures of 1850, for disposing of the question of
slavery in Now Mexico and Utah, and reiter
ated in tho Kansas and Nebraska bills of
1854, of non-intervention by Congress with
slavery in tho States and in tho Territories, is
tho true rule. It is the duty of Congress,
when a sufficient number of hardy and adven
turous pioneers find their way into our distant
Territories, to furnish them a shield of, pro
tection and a form of government; but to the
people themselves belongs the right to regu
late their own domestic institutions in_ their
own way, subject only to tho Constitution of
tho United States.
While these views have been long entertain
ed by me, and while I am sincerely of the
onihlon that their general adoption, and faith
ful enforcement, would have preserved, and
j may yet restore, peace and harmony to all
I ooc ticrao of our country, I amr nevertheless not
so wedded to them as to reject, unceremoni
ously, all other propositions tor tlio settlement
pf the vexed'questions which tiow throaten'to
Sunder thobonds which for three quarters of
a century have iiiade up one people. - Forty
years ago, out fathers settled ah angry pon
troyorsoy growing out of a similar question,
by dividing the Territories purchased from
France, and providing that slavery, or invol
untary servitude^,should, not exist noHh of a
certain lino; and.the whole country acquiesced
in that compromise. In 1854, that restriction
upon slavery was removed; and the people qf
all the Territories were left free to decide the
question for themselves. Now the sectional
issue is again presented, by the dominant par
ty in. the North, claiming tkat slhvory cannot
legally go into the Territories,' even if sanc
tioned-by Gopgross, or the Territorial Legis
lature ;■ and that it is the right and the duty
of Congress to prohibit its existence. While
the doctrine which obtains with a majority of
the. people inimoat of the southern States, is,
that,under tlh) ‘Constitution, the Territories
are all open to slavery; that neither Congress
nor the; Territorial Legislature can lawfully'
prohibit its eiisteiice, and that it is the duty
of Congress to provide for it all needful pro
tection. , May .wo not wisely follow the exam
ple of pur fathers, by re-enacting tho old com-
E remise line of 1820, and extending it to the
oundary of California? Not by the means
of legislation of doubtful constitutionality, but
by an amendment to the Constitution itself,
and thus permanently fix the condition of the
Territories, so that those who desire to occupy
them, may find a homo, at their discretion,
either wherjLalavory is tolerated, or where it
is prohibited.' ■ If tho adoption of such an
amendment Would peacefully settle the diffi
culties-which now surround us, I am satisfied
that it would; ho sanctioned by the people of
Pennsylvania.' At all events, they should'
have an .opportunity to accept or reject it, if
made ns a peace offering, I would, therefore,
recommend the General Assembly to instruct
and request-our Scnators and Representatives
in Congress, to support a proposition for such
an amendment of the Constitution, to be sub
mitted for ratification or rejection, to a conven
tion of delegates, elected directly by tho peo
ple of the State.
In the event of the failure of Congress spee
dily. to. propose this, or a similar amendment,
to tlio Constitution, tho citizens of Pennsylva
nia should have'an opportunity, by the appli
cation of some peaceable remedy, to prevent
tho dismemberment of this Union. This can
only he done by calling a convention of dele
gates, to be elected by the people, with a view
solely to the consideration of what measures
should betaken to fiioet the present fearful
exigencies. If Congress should propose no
remedy, let it emanate from .the source of all
authority, the people themselves.
Every attempt, upon the part of individu
als, or of organized societies, to lead the peo
ple away from their allegiance to the govern
ment, to induce them to violate any of tho
provisions of. the Constitution, or to incite in
surrections in any of the States of this Union,
ought to bo prohibited'by law, as'crimes of a
treasonable nature. It is of the’first impor
tance to tho perpetuity of this groat Union,
that the hearts of the people, and the action of
their constituted authorities, should be in.mii
son, in giving a faithful support to tho Consti
tution of the United States. The people of
Pennsylvania are devoted totheUnion. They
will follow its stars and its stripes through
every peril. But, before assuming the high
responsibilities, now dimly forcshadowcd. it is
their solemn duty to remove every just cause
of complaint against.themselves, so that they
may stand before High Heaven, and the civil
ized world, without fear and without reproach,
ready to devote their lives and their fortunes
to the support of the bent form of government
that has ever been devised by the wisdom of
man.
In-.accordance with the provisions of the
Constitution of the State* I shall soon resign
{lie office of Chief Executive of Pennsylvania,
with which the people have entrusted me, to
-him .whom they haw chosen, ns my successor,
X shall carry tyith mo into the walks Of pri
vate lifojthe consciousness of leafing honestly
dutwpjlhat hajre devolved op.
me dilrmg the term of my office, to the best
of iny ability;,and 'shall evoy cherish the war
mest affection for, and the deepest interest in,"
the future welfare of our .beloved Common
wealth npd our glorious Republic. The sha
dow of a-dark cloud, docs indeed rest upon us;
but my hopes and my affections still cling to
our Union, and my. prapor shall he that He
who orders the destinies of nations, when He
shall have chastened us for our sins, and hum
bled us before Him, will restore us again in
mercy, and hind us together in stronger and
morehallowed bonds of fraternity, to remain
unbroken through all future time.
WM. F. PACKER.
Executive Department, -1
Harrisburg, January 2,1861. J
Excitement .at Beading.
The Alleged Murderer of Miss Adaline Bavor
Discovered,
Readiag, Doc. 28'. —It. -will bo remomberod
that tyro years ago—or somewhere about Oe
tober^lSaS —a most brutal murder was com
mitted in the vicinity of Mohrsville, Pa. Tho
vjctim Was a young, handsome woman, of
about eighteen years old—and although the
authorities of Berks county instituted the
most searching scrutiny into the affair, they
failed to fix the crime upon any one—several
persons were arrested at the time, but'such
was the mystery hanging over the murder
that no clue could bo obtained to point out the
perpetrator of the deed. Among other per
sons arrested at tho time, was a man named
Heilner, residing in Schuylkill county, and
though suspicious circumstances pointed to
him as the guilty person, yet the authorities
did not deem them of such importance as
to hold him for trial.
But it is now ascertained by the dying con
fession of an accomplice, that Heilner was
the murderer of Miss Bavor. He was accor
dingly arrested yesterday, and confined in the
Pottsvillo prison, to await tho authorities of
Berks county. Wo did not learn tho name of
tho person who confessed the crime, but wo
learn that he died in Schuylkill county yes
terday, add shortly before his death revealed
tho fact that he and Heilner were tho perpe
trators of the horrid murder of,Miss Bavor.
The old adage that “ murder will out,” is
again verified. This murder was shrouded in
mastery—and tho discovery of tho criminal
will be a relief to persons who wore looked
upon with suspicion.
Secession State Conventions. —South
Carolina, having opened the ball of secession,
■wo reproduce, for the information of our rea
ders, the cotton States, in tho order in which
they are expected to follow, if they secede at
all. Conventions will bo hold—
In Florida, January 3.
In Alabama, January 7.
In Mississippi, January 7.
In Texas, January 8.
In Georgia, January 9.
In Louisiana, January 23.
A special session of the Legislatures each
of Virginia and Tennessee, called in refer
ence to a State Convention, will meet on tho
7th inst. jTho Legislature of North Carolina
is now in session, and, according to recent
reports, was engaged upon measures for arm
ing the' State. Arkansas,' it is said, is also
taking tho preliminary stops looking to seces
sion. So w'o go. :
Failures and Suspensions. —The list in the
Boston Commercial Bulletin, of Saturday,
gives two failures in Boston, eight in Now
York, thirteen in Now Orleans, two in Balti
more, and' thirteen in other places, making a
total of thirty-eight during the week.
Col.! Alexander M’Cliiro says ho was not
a candidate for United States Senator. Sour
apples, eh?
AMERICAN VOLUNTEER.
JOHN B, BRATTON, Editor ft Proprietor.
CARLISLE, PA., JAN, 10,1861.
“Onr Union, One and iniepatable !'*
COUNTY MEETING.
Tho people of Cumberland county, who, in
tho present national crisis, favor compromise
and conciliation, and are willing to accede to
somo plan of adjustment, such ns that propos
ed by the Hon. J. J. Crittenden and his com
patriots in Congress, are requested to meet in.
tho Court House, on MONDAY EVENING
NEXT, January 14, to give expression to their
views.
It is time the voice of the people should bo
heard, for they arc the rulers. .
■ Signed by
A. S. Sener,
... Thomas Coni.vn,
William Spaiir,
J. Armstrong,
~ and 148 others.
Lecture. —Dr. J. Haynes will deliver a lec
ture in tho room of tho Gymnastic Association
(third story of Rbeem’s Hall,) on Thursday,
evening, for the benefit of tho Association.—
The Dr. is an interesting and experienced
public speaker, and wo hope to see this, his
last lecture, well attended.
Troops for the South. —On Monday morn
ing last, a company of sixty-four D. S. Troops,
under command of Lieutenant R. Jones, of
tho Mounted Rifles, loft the Carlisle Garrison,
and took the cars for the South, but the par
ticular place was not made known. All the
available force at our Garrison, (some 250
men,) has been ordered to hold themselves in
readiness to march at a moment’s notice.
Qmtnastic'- Association.— The follotylng
gentlemen were elected officers of tho Associ
ation at its last meeting—President, John
Hays, Esq.; Vice President, S. V. Ruby, Esq.;
Treasurer, A. Zug ; Secretary, Jehu D. Adair;
Executive Committee, L. M. Myers, John
Ilumrich.
Salutes op Honor to Anderson.— On Fri
day evening last a number of young men of
our town fired a salute of thirty-three guns in
honor of Maj. Anderson, the gallant comman
der of Fort Sumpter.
Fair op the Union Fire Company. —The
Fair of the Union Fire Company, which was
held in Rheem’s Hall, during the Holidays,
was, we are happy to learn, a complete suc
cess. During its continuance, it Was visited
nightly by hundreds of our citizens, all of
whom expressed the greatest satisfaction with
the rich display of fancy goods, confectionary.
&0,, the greater part of which was disposed of
at good prices. The Hall was beautifully de
corated, the Carlisle Brass Band was in at
tendance, and good order was preserved. ,
From the report of the committee, it ap
pears that the Company has realized, the very
handsome sura of ,?50G 94, oyer and above all
expenses. ’ This liberality ori the part of our
citizens, evinces a just appreciation of the
services of the “ Union,” and will doubtless
stimulate its members to renewed exert ous in
the cause of philantrophy.
A’ .Parade.— The Sumner Rifles, Capt.
Kuhn, paraded on Tuesday, as a mark of re
spect for the Bth of January- Tho company
marched Well, and presented a very fine ap
pearance. : 1 .
i@y‘- Rev. H: Baker, Pastor of tho Lutheran
Church in Lewistown, has resigned his charge
and accoprted a call from tho Lutheran Church,
at Newville.
Snow. —At the time of going to press (Wed
nesday noon,) snow was falling fast.
Our readers may remember a good di
alogue published by uasome time since; which
referred incidentally to that good, staunch,
old journal for fhe Farm, Garden and House
hold. The publisher’s card now' appears in
our advertising columns, and wo recommend
all our renders, whether residing, in country
or village, to respond to his invitation to try
the Agriculturist for a year. We feel quite
sure that the dollar it costs will be a good in
vestment. When you write for it, please say
that it was upon pur recommendation, and we
will guarantee you good satisfaction.' We
have received tho first number of tho twenti
eth volume of the Agriculturist, which indi
cates a valuable treat to. all who subscribe for
this volume.
Be Cabefue.— The “ good times" promised
on the event of Lincoln's election having ta
ken place, hundreds and thousands have been
thrown out of employment in tho cities and
larger towns, without money and without
food, and as a natural consequence many of
them have been taken to the country to
keep from starving the best way they can,
and we already notice that tho country papers
are filling, up with notices of robberies, house
breaking and miscellaneous thieving opera
tions. Judging from tho numbers visiting
our town, the county must bo full of them,
and wo would advise our citizens to be very
careful, and see that their stables and dwel
lings are well secured. Hard times and want
fill a country with crime.
Hon. Henry D- Foster.-— This gentleman
received the votes of the Democratic members
of Assembly, for U. States Senator. A de
served compliment.
Besolotion of Thanks,
At a meeting of the Union Fire Company
Fair Committee, on the evening of tho 3d of
January, it was unanimously
Resolved, That the thunks of the Committee
bo returned, on behalf of tho Company, to the
ladies and fjontlo.mon of Carlisle, for their
munificent contributions to our, late I’air; to
the merchants, who furnished us a variety of
goods on commission; to tho Carlisle Brass
Band, and Harris’ and Taylor’s Troupe, for
thoir excellent music; to the sales ladies, who
bo generously dovotod thoir time for our bon
efit; to Mrs. John Humer, Mrs. John Turner,
Mrs L F. Lyno, Mias E. Martin, Miss A.
Sanderson, M'rs. M., Masonhoimor, Miss J.
Weiblv, Miss A. Spottswood, and Miss A.
Wetzel, for their laborious and very success
ful exertions as managers, and to the citizens
of Carlisle and vicinity for their patronage;
assuring them that thoir efforts on our behalf
will bo the cause of rendering us still more
successful in “ our aim to be useful.”
Statement op Cashier op Fair.
Receipts, $BOl 46
Expenses, 294 52
Nett proceeds, $506 94
JOHN MARTIN, Chairman.
TUB PRESIDENT AND HIS. RGVILEBS.
The political opponents of President Bu
chanan appear to yip with each other in the,
abuse they heap upon his- venerable head.--
Those ch’ioken-h'earted wretches naveia great
deal of wise advice to offer to the President)
and because he chosos to pursue his own course
on the subject of our domestic difficulties, he
is subjected to the coarse; abuse of irresponsi
ble scribblers. What has Mr. Buchanan done
that these fanatical cravens should thus abuse
him? . Ho has used his utmost efforts to pre
vent the effusion of blood. Will any decent
American citizen censure him for this? lie
has taxed his powers and exercised all his
influence to bring about a peaceable and hon
orable settlement of our domestic difficulties.
Oan any map with a heart in his bosom blame
him ? Ho sustained the gallant Anderson,
when that officer “took the responsibility"
and moved from Fort Moultrie £o Fort Sump
ter. In this the President was right. He re
fused to recognize the Commissioners of South
Carolina, and sent them homo with a flea in
their oars. Here again the President was
right. . Ho has appointed a new Collector for
the port at Charleston, who is to collect the
revenues on board a. man-of-war. Right
again. Ho has said that the forts, arsenals
and other property that have boon captured
by the secessionists must be restored to the
Government, and that he will take them by
force if they are not given up peaceably. In
this the President is certainly right. The ar
my and navy have been notified to be in rea
diness to move at n moment’s warning. A
wise precaution.
Wo ask our renders to scan the President's
motives and to note his wise and conservative
but yet firm course, and wo think they will
agree with us that he has discharged his whole
duty, and that those who abuse him are both
dishonest and mischevious. But, say some of
the President’s rovilers, “ why don't he send
down the army and navy to Charleston; and
put down the Secessionists?" Oh, dear!—
Bold talk, that, for men to use who are seve
ral thousand miles from the place where the
fighting would take place. How many Re- 1
publican leaders will volunteer to go to the
. South just now to “ put down the Secession
ists ?” This is child’s talk, and those who use
it are about as discreet as they are bravo. If
Mr. Buchanan can prevent a collision—if he
can prevent the shedding of blood—every good
man and every patriot will thank him from
tho bottom of his heart. What a beautiful
condition our country would be in to-day, had
the President heeded the advice of the poor
fools who demanded tho army and navy to be
sent into South Carolina. The President has
acted wisely and well—he has not committed
a single error in this business—and, be the
end what it may, all good men will applaud
and sustain the President for his wisdom and
prudonco.
Wo can't imagine why it is that the Repub
licans are so very anxious for Mr. Buchanan
to send the army to the South. If it becomes
necessary, our word for it the President will
send the army to the very spot it is needed :
but, in God’s name lot us put off war if we
can. Let all efforts at conciliation fail before
we commence cutting each others throats.-
Our Republican friends don’t appear to appre
ciate the horrors of a civil war. , Do they -be
lieve that to, slaughter the men of the South
and sack Southern cities, would end the war?
If they do, they are mistaken. If we have
civil war, we will have fighting in every State
of the, Union.' Mark that 1 Ant), as oor na
tional troubles have been brought upon us by
the Republican party, we think it will bo for
tunate for that party ip, particular, if war can
be prevented, i "Wo hope it may be prevented
—we hope Lincoln may be inaugurated with
out disturbance—but this will not bo the case
should the President’s wise counsels be set at
defiance.
GOT. PACKER’S MESS.TftB.
Wo publish to-day Gov. Packer's last an
nual message, and call attention to it with
pride and pleasure. It is an admirable State
paper, and the suggestions contained in it de
serve the serious attention of the people, and
the members of the State Legislature in par
ticular, We deem it unnecessary to speak of
the message at length, for wo feel satisfied it
will bo carefully perused by all who take an in
terest in the welfare of the Commonwealth.
Gov. Packer has made a faithful public of
fice, and he retires from office with the confi
dence and respect of all.
U. S. Senator.— On Tuesday, the Legisla
ture of this State elected Edoar. A. Cowan,
of Westmoreland county, U. States Senator,
for six years from the 4th of March next. Mr.
Cowan succeeds Mr. Bigler, is a man of very
ordinary abilities, and a decided Black Be
publican in politics. His only competitor was
Wilmot, whose highest vote in the Republican
caucus was 38. Cowan had 58. We are glad
the traitor Wilmot is again laid upon the
shelf; he is one of the very worst men in our.
State, and it would have been a stigma upon'
our whole people bad ho been elected to a scat
in the United States Senate; Eyoa the Re
publican members of Assembly could not bo
forced into tho support of this demagogue;
Tbs President Sustained by the House.
In tho House of Representatives, (at Wash
ington,) oh the 7th, Mr. Adrian offered the
following resolution, which, after it had been
discussed for some time, was adopted—yeas
124, nays 56, viz ; ’■ • •
Resolved, That we fully approve of the hold
and patriotic not of Major Anderson, in with
drawing from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumpter,
and the determination of tho President to
maintain that fearless officer in his present
condition—and wo will support tho President
in all constitutional measures to enforce tho
laws and preserve the Union.
This is a good omen.
Collector at Charleston. —William Mc-
Intyre, Esq. of York, Pa., has been appoint
ed, by tho President, Collector of,Customs at
tho Port of Charleston, in place of Mr. Cplooek
(Secessionist) resigned. The now Collector
will be supported in the discharge of his du
ties by n vessel of war.
Old Clothes foe Kansas. —Tho St. Joseph
Journal learns that a day or two since, as tho
hands on tho railroad wore unloading a car, a
barrel, marked old clothes, tumbled to pieces,
and instead of vests, pants, &0., out rolled
cartridges, very much ,to the astonishment of
all. The barreli was sent out by the Emigrant
Aid Society.
Oov. Carlin’s ippulnlments.
The Harrisburg of Mondav
it is informed that Got?; Curtin has made th '
fpllo'wlfag appointments;
.Secretary of Stato—Eu Suren,of U n i 0 ■
county. ’ ■ ;
, Deputy Secretary— Geoboe W. Hamm,'*,).
of Philadelphia. ,
Attorney General— Samuel A. PonvuKcr
of Butler county, ‘
Whiskey Inspector—' William Buiun. of
Mifflin" county. ’«
Physician of the Port of Philadelphia—
Clark, of Philadelphia.
Messenger to tho Governor— Sam'l.
of Centre county. , ; ■■ 1
Adjutant General— James S. Ntour, of
Pittsburgh.
.Western. Flour Inspedtorr-TnoMAS Counts
of Pittsburgh. 1
Sealer of Weight sand Measures J, jj
Owens, of Pittsburgh. ; ■ •••■
: The Great Government Fraud,— Further
revelations of facts connected with the recent
fraud on the Government, shows that Messrs'
Russell, Majors ■& Co.’s contract has two
years to rim yet. The allodged acceptances'
of the Secretary of War are said to consist of
mere memoranda, stating that so much money
would be duo on the execution of certain set-,
vice Under the contract for the transportafimf
of army supplies, which Mr. Russell had from’
time to time used as collateral security in bor
rowing money. Such memoranda or cerlifK
cates have heretofore been given by other de.
partmonts under like circumstances.
Mr. Bailey, in his letter of confession to the
Secretary of ibo Interior/ says that do' officer
of the Government had liny complicity or the
slightest knowledge of tho fact of his having
abstracted tho bonds, and that it was confined
to the persons directly implicated and herein
fore named.
the bondsmen for Bailey surrendered him,
and bo is now in jail. As to tho hail
required of Russell, 1 it having beenngreed la
take §200,000 ■ outside of the jurisdiction of
the Court, Senator Green and Represento/irar
Woodson and Barrett, all of Missouri, have
gone his security for this amount. Thera,
maining 3300,000 is being made op by t\l<
izens of Washington,
Removal of the C'AnTAi,,— The people of
■Washington may do wellto recollect that the
“Republicans” bare always threatened to to-'
move the : capital to some Northern State/
Wo see the idea suggested again in .the Ciii-'
oiminti Gazette. Wo have no doubt that the 1
Lineoldites would be very glad to got the seal'
of government in a free negro' State, and will
do it just as soon as', they are able to nocom-'
plisb tlio task.
State TtiEASUiiF.a.— lloii.Henrv D. Mooki,
Republican, of Philadelphia,; has been oleolsf
State Treasurer, for the uuexpirod term of
Hon. Eli Slifeb, resigned.
The Great Temperance Lectuiieh,— John
B.,Gough, the sensation temperance lecturer/
states that he is not a rich roan, as many sup*
pose. His taxes, all told, only amount to'
§52,. Ho also'hinted that when he comment!-'
ed lecturing, an agreement.was made between
himself and wife, that ..one-tenth of all his ee*'
hings should bo give'ri' to charitable purphs.
(T7* It is said that'll girl in England *«
struck dumb by the firing of a cannon. Since
then a number of married men have invited
the artillery to comer and discharge their, pie;
ecs on their premises. :
"JOT Col, John G. Fremont «w»y be oofisiiS
ered the richest-man living, i With thoxecent
improvements, the monthly products of kit
mines are near §lOO,OOO. Mr. Fremont it’
expected in New York this week.
Fioh Wnshißglon- Tmilbry'.
Indian Massacre of Oregon Emigrants — Moth'
ers Eating the Dead Bodies of their
Husbands and Children, •>
Fort-Walla Walla, )
Washington Ter.,-Nov. 8, I 860. ):
The command of Capt. Dent, United Slates'
Army, has just reiaehed this point horn thef
scone of the late Indian massacre, near Fort'
Boise, bringing with him twelve men, womcif'
and children who have been rescued from this
massacre, which has been one of the saddest
that has over occurred on the emigrant roiiteV
These wretched creatures were found al
most naked, and eating.the dead bodies of
those that bad been buried ten days. They
numbered forty-four souls, out of which tvrc;v
ty-nino wore massacred and - fifteen saves,
They had moved from Wisconsin up to Fort
Hull, where they received an escort of dra
goons, who guarded .them to hoar Salmoa
Falls, on Snake river, when, dragoons
turning back, they were left alone for tbrer
hundred miles, when they expected to react
Walla Wolla, W. T. Near Fort Boise the)
wore attacked by from 150 to 200 Snake'ln
diana. They fought for two days, when, find
ing their men falling, they abandoned every
thing, and fled for their lives. Th° ““V"*
they saw by the smoke that the train had beea
destroyed. They moved on for several inilee
on foot, 'the mothers, many of them, carrying
their infants at their breasts, until theyesm?
to a small creek lined with berries, where they
had remained five weeks,, until the troop*
found them. - Two, men had made tbeir e?
cape and gave the information,, upon which
Colonel Wright ordered out troops to tWvt rr
lief. , ,
The troops moved rapidly, and when they
came up with the emigrants it is said that tn*
heart of every soldier was moved at the sad
dest spectacle that humanity ever witnoseM.
The poor people, men, women and children,
bowed themselves on the sand desert where
they wore found, and offered up a solemn and
fervent prayer to God at their almost miracu
lous escape, and with one feeling the eoldiere
swore vengeance against the savages wM
have reduced this band of emigrants to thu
condition.
But the most horrid sight was yet to w
witnessed. They wore without food or oi
thing, and had made shelters for_ thomaolti
out of willows and grass, and the infants tni
had been left, after their mothers had bee
massacred, were eaten most ravenously, »
I one lady ate two of her own children that
tdied of starvation, and afterwards dug up
own husband, and the troops found his n
roasting upon the fire, when th®y roa l
them. They said it was not until starva |
drove them to it that they could allow . n I
selves to bo thus reduced to live upon I
flesh, and that, too, in a putrid sto-t?- I
women had been ravished by the heft* I
ages, and their naked dead bodies her ■
marks of horrible brutality. . ■
A body of troops had been sent o ■
this post, ns it was supposed, to bring §
protect any emigrants that might b . , u( t, 1
road, hut tho troops returned here in ■
without bringing m any emigrants. ■
only trust that the Government » J ■
warning from this, and initiate snob i®lr ■
to prevent its recurrence. H