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


of our people have removed far from us the
slightest approximations of foreign power,
they have not yet induced us, in single
instance 10 forget what is right. Our
commerce has been extended 10 tho reno.
test nat ions, the value, and even nature, Of
our productions has been greatly changed ;
wide difference has arisen in the relative
wealth aud resources OF every portion Of
our country yet the spirit OF mutual re
gard and of faithful adherence to existing
compacls has continued to prevail in our
councils, and never long been absent from
our conduct, We have learned by cXpc.
riencc n fruitful lesson that an explicit
and undertaking adherence 10 the princi-
pies ON which we set out, can carry Us
proSpcrously EDWARDS through all the con-
tlcts of circumstances, and the vicssitudcs
insopera6l' from tho lapse of years.
The success hat has thus ATTENDED our
grca, experiment, is, IN itself, a sufficient
cause for gratitude, on account of the hap.
plncss it has actually conferred, and the
example it ha, unanswcrabIy given. But
to me-, my fellow citizens, looking forward
to the far distant future, with ardent
prayers and confding hopes, this retrospect
presents grounds for still deeper delight.
1t lmprcsses on my MIND firm belief that
tho perpctuitv Of our institutions depends
upon ourselves; that. if we maintain the
principles on which they were established,
they are destined to confer their benefits on
countless generations yet TO come: and
mat America viii present TO every friend
OF mankind the cheering proof, tina, popu-
lar government, wisely formed, is wanting
m 40 element Of endurance or strength -
Fifty years ago It's rapid failure was pre-
dctcd. Latent and uncomfortable causes
Of dissolution were supposed TO exist, even
by the wise and good; and not only did
unfricndIy or speculative theorists anllci.
pave for us The fate Of past republics, but
the fears Of many an honest patriot over
balanced lis sanguine hopes. Look back
on these forebodlugs, not honestly, bot
rcluc antly made, and see how, in every in
stance. they have completely failed
IA imperfect experience, during the
struggles Of the revolution, was supposed
to warrant a belief that the people would
not bear the taxation requisite 20 discharge
an immense pnblc debt already incurred,
and 20 detray the necessary expenses of the
Government. The cost of two wars has
been paid, not only without murmer, but
wit uncQual aacrty. No one is row left
to doubt that every burden will be cheer
fully borne hat may be necessary to sns-
tain our civil institutions, or guard our hon
ar or our welfare. Indeed, all experience
las shown that the willingness Of the people
to contribute to these ends in cases OF
emergency, has uniformly ou,run the con-
filcnce of the representatives.
In the ca,Iy stages Of the new Govern
mcul, when all icI, the imposing influence,
"a they recognized the uneQuaIcd services
of the frs PRESIDENT it was common sen
tlmeu,. that the great weight OF his char
ac,er could alone bind the discordant mn
tcrtals If our government together, and
save us from the violence OF contendIn.
fctonS, Since his death, nearly forty
years are gone. Party evaporation has
been often carried to its highest point; the
virtue and the iorltude of the people have
sometimes been greatly tried; yet our sys.
ten. purified and enhanced IN value by all
1t has encountered, still preserves lis spirit
Of free and fearless discussion, blended with
unimpalrcd fraternal feeling.
The capacity Of the people for solf"gov'
ernmcn,. and their Willingness, from hlgf
sense Of duty, and without those c%hbI'
tons Of cocrcive power so generally en-
ployed in other countries to submit to al
nccdrul restraints and exaclions Of the mu
nicipal law have also been favoraby eXcm
plfed in the history OF the Amcrica'
States. Occasionally, it Is true the ardo
Of public sentiment. ou'runnng the regnla
progress Of the judicial tribunals, or seeking
| to reach cases not denounced as crlmlna
BY he existing law, has displayed itself il
a manner calculated to give pain tn TIT
| friends of free government, and to encour
are the hopes of those who wish for It
| overthrow. These occurrences, hpWevc
| have been far less frequent IN our count'.
than in any other of equal popu'atlon o.
the Globe; and with the djtlnslon Of intel
ljpence, it NAV well be hoped that the
will constantly diminish in frequency an
violence. The generous patriotism an
sound common sense, of the great mass G
our fellow citizens, will ossurely, in time
produce this result: for as every assump
lion Of Illegal power not only wounds tn
majesty of the law, but furnishes n pre,e X
for abridging the Liberties of The people
the latter have the most direct and perIna
uenl interest in preserving the great land
marks of social order, and maintaining, o
all occasions, the lnvloIabiy of those con
sluu,ional and legal provisions which the
themselves have made.
In supposed unflness Of our institution
for those hostile emergencies, which n
country can always avoid, their friend
found fruitful source Of apprehension
their enemies of hope. While they fore
saw less promp'ness of action than in Coy
ernments differently formed, they overloo
the far more important consideration, tha
with US war could never be the result
individual or irresponsible will but mos
! be a measure Of redress for Injuries SUI