Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-03-29


impaired fraternal feeling.
The capacity of the people for self. government,
and their willingness, from high sense of duty,
and without those exhibitions Of coercive power
SO generally employed in other countries to SUBJ
init to all needful restraints and exactons of the
municipal law, have also been favorably exempli-
fed in the history of the American States. Oc-
casionaly, it is true, tho ardor of public senti-
ment, outrunning the regular progress of the judi
cal tribunals, or seeking 10 reach cases not de-
nounced es criminal by the existing law, has dis
played itsefln manner calculated to give pain to
the friends of free government, & to encourage the
hopes of those who wish for its overthrow. These
occurrences, however, have been flr less frequent
in our country than in any other Of equal popula-
ton on the globe; and with the diffusion Of intel.
ligence, it may we'll be hoped that they will con.
stantly diminish in frequency and violence. The
generous patriotism and sound common sense of
the great mass of our fellow citizens, will assur
eddy, in time. produce the result for as every as.
sumption of illegal power not only wounds the
majesty of the law, but furnishes u pretcxt for
abridging the liberties of the people, the latter
have the most direct and permanent interest in
preserving the great landmarks Of social order,
and maintaining, on all occasions theinviolability
Of those constitutional and legal provisions which
they themselves have made.
In supposed unftness of our institutions for
those hostile emergencies, which no country can
always avoid their friends found fruitful source
of apprehension, their enemies of hope. While
they foresaw less promptness of action than in
Governments differently formed, they overlooked
the tar more important consideration, that with
us war could never DO the result of individual or
irresponsible will, but must be measure of re-
dress for injuries sustained, voluntarily resorted
to BY those who would consequently feel an indi-
vidual interest in the contest, and whose energy
would be commensurate with the difficulties to be
encountered. Actual events have proved their
error; the last war, far from mpairing, gave new
confidence to our Government and amid recent
apprehensions OF similar conflict, we saw that
the energies of our country would not be want
ing III ample season TO vindicate it's rights. We
may not possess, as we should not desire to pos
sess, the extended and ever ready military Or
CARNATIONS OF other nations we may occasion
ally suffer in the outset for the want of it but
among ourselves, all doubt upon This great point
has ceased. while salutary experience will pre-
vent contrary opinion from inviting aggrcssions
from abroad.
Certain danger was foretold from the extension
OF our territory, the multiplication Of States,
and the increase Of population. Our system was
supposed to be adapted only to boundaries com.
paratively narrow. These have been widened
beyond conjecture the members of our confe-
deracy are already doubled and the numbers of
our people are incredibly augmented. The ille-
gal causes Of danger have long surpassed antici-
patton, but none of the consequences have fol-
lowed. Tho power and influence Of the Repub-
lie have risen 20 height obvious TO all mankind
respect for its authority was not more apparent
at its ancient, than it is at its present limits
new and inexhaustible sources of general pros
perity have been opened the effects of distance
have been averted by tho inventive genius Of our
people, developed and fostered by tho spirit of our
institutions; and the enlarged variety and amount
OF interests, productions, and pursuits, have
strengthened the chain of mutual dependence,
and formed a circle Of mutual benefits, too ap.
parent ever to be overlooked.
In justly balancing the powers Of the Federal
and State authorities, difficulties nearly insur-
mountable arose at the onset, and subsequent COL
lisions were deemed inevitable. Amid these, it
was scarcely believed possible that scheme of
government, so complex in construction, could
remain uninjured. From time to time embarrass-
ments have certainly occurred; but how just is
the confidence Of future safety impaired by the
knowledge that each in succession has been
happily removed. Overlooking partial and tenn
porary evils as inseparable from the practical
operation of all human institutions, and looking
only to the general result, every patriot has rea-
son to be satisfied. While the Federal Govern
ment has successfully performed its appropriate
functions in relation to foreign affairs, and con-
Germs evidently national, that of every State has
remarkably improved in protecting and develop
ing local interests and individual welfare and if
the vibrations of authority have occasionally
tended too much towards one or the other it is
questionably 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 promin-
ent sources of discord and disaster supposed to
Turk in our political condition, was the institu.
ton of domestic slavery. Our forefathers were
deeply impressed with the deicacy of this SUBJ
ject, and they treated it with forbcarance so
evidently wise, that, in spite of every sinister
foreboding, it never, until the present period, dis
turbed the tranquility of our common country.
Such result is sufficient evidence of the Justice
and the patriotism of their course it is evidence
not to be mistaken, than an adherence TO it can
prevent all embarrassment from this, as well as
from every other anticipated cause of difficulty
or danger. Have not recent events made it OBJ
vious to the slightest reflection, that the least de-
Walton from this spirit of forbearance is injurious
to every interest, that of humanity included
Amidst the violence of excited passions, this &c.
nervous and fratcrnal feeling has been sometimes
disregarded and, standing as I now do before
my countrymen, in this high place of honor and
of trust, cannot refrain from anxiously invok-
ing my fellow citizens to be deaf to its die
tates. Perceiving, before my election, the deep
interest 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 misrepresentation has passed away, !
trust that they will be candidly weighed and un.
derstood. At least they will be my standard OF
conduct in the path before me. / then declared
Al e %
who were favorable to my election was gratifed
" / must 90 into tho Presidential chair the in
flexible and incorporating opponent of every
attempt, on the part of Congress, to abolish
slavery in the District of Columbia, against the
wishes of tho slavcholding States and also with
determination equally decided to resist the
slightest interference with it in the States where
it exists" submitted also to my folow-citzens
with fullness and franknoss, the reasons which
led me to this determination. The result autho.
rizes mo to believe that they have been approved
and are confded in, by q majority of the people
of the United States, including those whom they
most Immediately affect 1t now only remains
to add, that no bill conflicting with these views
can ever receive my constitutional sanction
These opinions have been adopted in the firm be
lief that thoy are in accordance with the spirit
that actuated the vcnerated fathers of the Re.
public, and that succeeding experience has prov.
ed them TO DO humane, patriotic, expedicnt, hon.
orable, and just. If tho agitation of this subject
was intended to reach the stability Of our institu
tons, enough has occurred TO show that it has
sgnally failed and that in this, as in every other
instance, the apprehcnsions of the tinnid and the
hopes of the wicked for the destruction Of our
government, are again destined to be disappoint
ed. Here and there, indeed, scenes ofdangerous
excitement have occurred; terrifying instances
of local violence have boon witnessed; and a
reckless diarcgard of the conseauences of thair