Southern telegraph., 1838-12-15
Presidents Message.
Feliou-citisens Of t4e Seaats
AMI Ronse of Reprfsegtat,res:

1
congratulate YOU On the favorable cir
cumstaBces in the condition of our country
under which you reassemhle for the pes
iormance Of your official duties. Though
tho anticipations Of an abundant hagvcs
have not every where been realized, Yet
OH ihe whole, the abors of the hnsbandmar
are rewarded with a bountlful rsturn; indus
try prospers in its various channels of bust
ness and enterprise; general health again
prevails through our vast diversity OF eli
mate nothing threatens from abroad the
contnance OF external peace; nor has any
thing Mt home impaired the strength Of
those fraternal aud domestic ties which
constitute tie only guarantee TO the sue.
cess and permanency, Of our happy Union,
and which, formed in the hour OF peril, have
hitherto been honorably sustained through
every vicissnude Of our national affairs.
These blessings, which evnce the care and
beneiicence OF Providence, call for our de-
voui and ieryent gratitude
We have not less reason to be grateful
Tor other bounies bestowed by the same
muiiicent hand, and more exclusively our
own.
The present year closes the first half
century of our Federal institutions and our
sys'em-dtffering from all others in ack-
nowledged, practical, and unlimited opera
ton which 1t has for so long period given
to the sovereignty of the peope-has now
been folly tested by experience.
The constitution devised Nv orr Enref,-
theirs as tie framework and bond Of that
system, then untrIed, has become a settled
form OF government; not only preserving
and protecting the great principles upon
which 1t was founded, but wonderfully pro-
noting individual happiness and private in
teresls. Though subject to change and
entire renovation, whenever deemed In
| adequate to all these purposes, yet such
is the wisdom Of its construction, aud SO
stable has been the public sentiment, that il
remains unaltered, except in matters Of de-
tai comparatively unimportant. 1t has
proved amply sufficient for the various en-
ergencles incident to our condition as a ma
ton. A formidable foreign war; agitating
collisions between domestic and in some
respects rival sovereignies; temptations to
interfere in the intestine CONNEXIONS of
nelghborIng countries; the dangerous inHa-
ifGenceS that arise IN periods 81 excessive
prosperity; and the anti-repubican tenden-
cles OF associated weath-,hese, with other
trials not less formidable, have all been en-.
countered, and thus far successfully resist
cd.
1t was reserved for the American Union
70 test the advantages ot Il government en-
tIreiy dependant on the continual exercise
OF the popular viii; and our experience has
shown That II Is as benclicent IA practice as
l. Is just in theory. Each successive
change made IN our local institutions has
onrlbuled TO extend the right of suffrage,
has Increased the direct influence of the
mass oil the community, gwen greater free
dom to Individual eXerilon, and restricted,
more and more, the powers of Government;
Vel the intelligence, prudence and patriot
ism OF me people have kept pace with this
augmented responsibility. In no country
has education been SO widely diffused.-I
Domestic peace has no where 60 IarreIv
regned,. The close bonds of social inter
course have in no instance prevailed with
such harmony over IA space so vast. All
forms of religion have united, for the first
time, to ditiuse charity and piety; because.
for the first time in the history OF nations.
all have been nnlrammelied and totally |
free. The deepest recesses of the wilder
ness have been penetrated; Yet instead of
the rudeness in the social condition conse-
quent upon such adventures elsewhere. nu-
merous communities have sprung up, alrea-
dy unrValled in prosperity, general intelIi-
gence, internal tranquility, and the wisdom
Of their political institutions. The internal
the fruit Of individual enter
prise, fostered by the protection of the
States, has added new links to the confede-
ration, and fresh rewards to provident in
dustry. Doubtful questions Of domestic
policy have been quietly settled by mutual
forbearance; and agriculture, commerce.
and manufactures, minister TO each other
Taxation and public debt, the burdens that
bear SO heavily upon all other countries,
nave pressed with comparative lghtness
lpon US. Without one entangling alliance.
'ur friendship is priced by every nation
md the rights of our citizens are every
where respected, because they are known
o be guarded by a united, sensitive and
Vatchful people.
This review of the results of our institu-
ions, for half century, without exciting a
pirit of vain exultation, should serve TO inn
ress upon US the great principles from
Ehlch they have sprung; constant and d.
eet supervision by the people over every
ublic measure; strict forbearance OH the
art Of the government from exercising any
oubtful or disputed powers; and cautious
bsIinence from all interference with con-
..Ll L II L..