Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-01-07


ers after full and solemn deliberation
upon all or any of the objects, which,
urged by an irresistible sense OF my own
duty, | have recommended to your at
lention, should you come to the conclu- :.
sion, that, however desirable in them,
selves, the enactment Of laws for effect
ing them, would transcend the pewerss
committed to you by that venerable in
slrument which we are ali bound to sup
port; let 30 consideration induce you to
assume the exercise of powers moi grant
ed to you by the People. But ifthe pow
er to exercise exclusive legislation, in all
cases whatsoever over the District OF Co.
lnmbia; if the power to lay and collect
taxes, duties, imposts, and excuses, TO
pay the debts and provide for the com
mon defence and general welfare OF the
United States; If the 1ower 10 regulate
commerce with foreign nations and
among the several states, and with the
Indian tribes; to FIX the standard of
weights and measures; 10 establish posi-.
Offices and post-roads; to declare war;
to raise and supper, armies: 10 provide
and maintain navy; 10 dispose OF and
make all needful rules and regulations,
respecting the territory or other proper
y belonging to the United States; and
to make all laws W hich shall be necessa-
~ and proper for carving these powers
into execution: If these powers and
others enumerated in the constitution,
may be effectually brought into action by
laws promoting the improvement OF
Agriculture, Commerce and Manufac-
lures; the cultivation and encouragement
oil the Mechanic, and OF the elegant arts,
the advancement of Literature, and the
progress of the Sciences, ornamental and
profound to refrain from exercising them
for the benefit of the People themselves,
would be to hide in the earth the talent
committed to our chsrge--would be
treachery TO the most sacred OF trusts,
The spirit OF improvement is abroad
upon The earth. 1t stimulates he heart,
and sharpens the faculties, not of our lel-
low-ctiZens alone, bu, oil The nations of
Europe, and of their rulers. While
dwelling with pleasing satisfaction upon
the superior excellence Of our political
Institutions, let us not be upmindtul that
liberty is power, that the nation blessed
with the largest portion OF liberty, must
in proportion to its numbers, be he mos
powerful nation Upon earth and that the
tenure of power by man, is, in the moral
purposes of his Creator, upon condition
that it shall be exercised 10 ends of be.
neticence, to improve the condition of
himself and his teIiow-men. While TO-
reign nations, less blessed with that free.
dom which is power, than ourselves, are
advancing with gigantic strides in the ca
reer OF public Improvement, we're we TO
slumber in indolence, or fold up our
arms and proclaim to the world that we
are palsied, by the will Of our constituents,
would it not DE 10 cast away the boun,ies
Of Providence, and doom ourselves TO
perpetual inferiority In the course OF
he year now drawing to its close, we have
bebeld, under the auspices. and at the
expense of one State of this Union, new
university unfolding lsporlals to the sons
of science, and holding up the torch of
human improvement to eyes that seek
the light. We have seen, under the per-
severing and enlightened enterprise OF
another State, the waters OF our western
Lakes mingled with those of the ocean.
II undertakings like these have been &C.
complished in the compass OF few years,
by the authority OF single members OF our
Confederation, can we, the Representa-
tive Authorities OF the whole Union, fall
behind our fellow servants ~ the exer-
else Of the trust committed TO us tor the
benefit of our common sovereign, by the
accomplishment, OF works important to
the whole, and to which neither he au-
thority nor the resources Of any one state
can be lequse
Finally, fellow-citizens, / shall avail,
with cheering hope, and faithful co-ope-
ration, the result of your deliberations
assured that, without encroaching upon
the powers reserved to the authorities oil
the respective States OF to the people,
you will, with due sense OF your obliga-
lions to your country, and osthe high re-
sponsibilities weighing upon yourselves
give efficacy to the means committed to
you for the common good And may He
who searches the hearts OF the children
of men prosper your exeuions to secure
the blessings of peace, and promote the
highest welfare of our country.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
pURA4XC NOTICE.