Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-03-17

selves, all doubt upon this great point has
ceased, while q saIuGtv experience VIII
prevent contrary opinion from inviting
aggression from abroad.
Certain danger was 'urctold from the ex-
tension of our territory, the multiplication
Of States, and the increase OF population.
Our system was supposed to be adapted on.
" to boundaries comparatively narrow
These have been widcued beyond con &C.
lures the members of our confcdcracy are
already doubled; and the numbers of our
people are incredibly augmented The al
LEGGED causes Of danger have long surpas
scd anticipation, but none of the consc>
quenccs have followed. The power and
influence of the republic have risen to
height obvious TO al. mankind respect Tor
the authority was not more apparent at lis
ancient, than il is al its present limits new
aud incxhausiable sources Of general pros
pcrlty have been opened the effects OF
distance have been avcrtcd by the lnven-
tive genius Of our people, developed and
fos'cred by the spirit Of our institutions;
and the enlarged variety and amount OF in
tcrcsts, productions, and pursuits, have
strengthened the chain Of mutual Deepen
dcnCe, and formed circle Of mutual bene-
fits, too apparent ever to be overlooked.
In justly balancing the powers OF the
| Federal and State authorities nearly insur
moun'able arose at the outset, and subse
quenl collisions were deemed inevitable, -
| Amid these, it was scarcely believed possl-
bic that scheme of government, 80 com
pick in construction, could remain uninju
red. From time TO time embarrasslnents
have certainly occurred; but how ust is
the confidence Of future safety impaired by
the knowlcdged that each in succession
has been happily removed. Overlooking
partial aud temporary evils as lnscparabIc
from the practical operation of all human
institutions, and looking only to the gener.
al result, every patriot has reason to be
satisfied. While the federal government
has successfully performed its appropriate
functions in relation to foreign affairs, and
concerns, evidently national, that of every
State has remarkably improved in protec
tiny developing local interests and indlvdu
al welfare; and if he vibrations of author.
i'y have occasionally tended too much to
wards one or other, 1t is unquesilonably
certain that the ultimate operation of the
entire system has been to strengthen all
the existing institutions, and to elevate our
whole country in prosperity and renown.
The last, perhaps the greatest, of the
promncn, sources Of dlscord and d'e"otcI
supposed TO lurH in our political condition,
was he institution Of domestic slavery
Our foreeothers were deeply Impressed with
the decucy Of this subject, and they trea>
ted it with forb rarance so evidently wise,
| that in spite of ever sinister forebodng, /,
never, until the present period, disturbed
the tranquility Of our common county
Such a result is sufficient evidence of the
Justice and patriotism Of their course; it is
evident not to be mist aiken, that an udhc
renee to il can prevent al embarrassment
from this, as well as from every other an
ticpaled cause Of difficulty or dangef.-
Have not recent events made it obvious to
the slightest ref ,cton, that the leas, devil
alton from the spirit of forbearance Is inlu.
rous to every interest, that Of humanity
included'
Amidst the violence Of excited passions,
this generous and fralerna feeling has been
sometimes disrcgarded, and, standing as |
now do before my countrymen in this high
place Of honor and of trust, | cannot re-
frain from anXlously INVOKING my fellow
clr zens never to be deaf to It's dlcta,es.--
Percciving before my election, the deep in,
tcrcst this subject was beginning to excite,
believed it a solemn duty fully to make
known my sentiments in regard TO it, and
now, when every motive for misreprescn'a
ton had passed away, trust that they will
be candidy weighed and understood. AT
least, they will be my standard Of conduct
IN the path before me. then declared
that if the desire of those of my country
, men who were favorable to my election
was gratifed, IL must 90 into the Presl.
; dental Chair the iutleXlblc and uncom.
r promising opponent Of every attempt, or
he part Of Congress, to abolish slavery il
} / he District of Columbia, against the wish
es of the slavcholding States and aIsC
Y with determination equally decided, t.
i resist the slightest interference with 1t il
! the States where it exists" ! submitted
{ also TO my fellow citizens, with fulness ant
frunkness, the reasons which led me t
this determination.
G The result aurhorises me to believe tina
t they have been approved, and are coniide'
y, in. by ma GRITTY of the people of the Uni
ted States, including those whom they mos
immediately affect, 1t now only remal I'M
. to add that no bill conflicting with thcs,
views can ever have my CONSTITUTIONS
Y sanction. These opinions have been adoD
ted in the firm believe tina, they are in &C
5 cordance with the spirit ;hat ac'uated TIT
o veuerated fathers Of the republic, and tina
5 succeeding experience has proved them t
!, be humane, patriotic, eXpcdlcnt, honorable
= and just. If the agitation Of This subjcc
v. was intended to reach the stability of GU
k institutions, enough has occurred to SHOW
t that it has signaly failed, and that in this
VI as in every other instance, the apprehcn
It sons of the tmid and the hopes of tn
!. wicked for The destruction Of our Govern
Il ho Il Il