The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1825-12-08

4
tativcs, ofhis Nation which can tend to exalt and
adorn his and their Country.
The Constitution under which you are as
sembled is charter Of limited powers; af-
ter full and solemn deliberation upon all or
any of the objects, which, urged by all ire
sistible sense ofmy own duty, have recon-
mcnded to your attention, should you come
to the conclusion, that, however desirable in |
themselves, the enactment of laws for effect
ing them, would transcend the powers COM
mitted to you by that venerable instrument |
which we are all bound to support; let no
consideration induce you to assume the e2ser-
cise Of powers not granted to you by the peo-
Pile. But il the power to exercise exclusive |
legislation in all cases whatsoever over the |
District of Columbia; if the power to lay and |
collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises,
to pay the debts, and provide for the COM
mon defence and general welfare of the u
nited States: if the power to regulate COM
merce with foreign nations and among the
several States, and with the Indian tribes
to fix the standard of weights and measures:
to establish post Offices and post roads: to
! declare war: to raise and support armies:t to
provide and maintain navy: to dispose of
and make all needfnl rules and regulations
respecting the territory or other property
belonging to the United States; and to make
Ill laws which shall be necessary and prop
cr for carrying these powers into executions:
4 IF these powers and others enumerated in
the Constitution may be etfectually brought
into action by laws promoting the improve
ment of Agriculture Commerce and Manu-
factures, the cultivation and encouragement
of the Mechanic and Of the elegant arts the
advancement of Literature, and the progress
of the sciences, ornamental and profound, to
C1 han, ,fs<
of the People themselves, would be to hide
in the earth the talent committed to our
charge-would be treachery to the most sa
. cred Of trusts.
The spirit Of improvement is abroad upon
the earth. 1t stimulates the heart, and
sharpens the faculties, not of our fellow citi-
zens alone, but of the nations of Europe, and
of their rulers. While dwelling with pleas
: ing satisfaction upon the superior excellence
of our political institutions, let US not be un-
! mindful that Liberty is Power; that the ma
tion blessed with the largest portion of liber
ty, must, in proportion to its numbers, be the
most powerful nation upon earth and that
t the tenure of power by man, is, in the NOR
$ al purpose of his Creator, upon condition
8 that it shall be exercised to ends OF benin
3 cence, to improve the condition OF himself
n and his fellow men, While foreign nations
: less blessed with that freedom which is pow
i cr, than ourselves, are advancing with gi-
: gantic strides in the career of public inn
u provement, were we to slumber in Incidence
: or fold up our arms and proclaim to the
world that we are palsied, by the will OF oui
: constituents, would it not be TO cast away the
j. bounties of Providence, and doom ourselves
!. to perpetual inferiority9 In the course o.
!, the year now drawing to its close, we have
!, behed, under the auspices, and at the ex-
il pensc of one State of this Union, new Uni
|. vcrsity unfolding its portals to the sons o.
4 Science, and holding up the torch OF human
II Improvement to eyes that seek the light
. We have seen, uater the pcrsevering and
!, enlightened enterprise of a;other state, the
i waters of our western lakes mingled with
s those of t.c ocean. If undertakings like
II these have been accomplished in the COM
a pass of few years, by the authority OF sin
J gle members of our Confederation, can we
~ the Representative authorities of the whole
Union, fall behind our fellow-servants in the
d exercise of the trust committed to us for the
9 benefit of our common sovereign, by the ac-
l. complishment of works important to the
7 whole. and to which neither the authoiit.
!, !, nor the resources of any one State can be
y adequate?
y Finally, fellow citizens shall await viii
:. cheering hope, aud faithful cooperation, The
,s result of your deliberations; assured that
!. without encroaching upon the powers rcscrv
n ed to the authorities of the respective State:
n or TO the People, you will, with due sense
m Of your obligation to your country, and OF the
ID high responsibilities weighing upon your
n selves, give efficacy to the means committed
lie to you for the common good. And may He
S, who searches the hearts of the children O.
is men prosper your exertions to secure the
a. blessings of peace, and promote the highes
rs welfare of our country.
:, JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
Of Washington, Dec. 6, 1925.