Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1838-12-13
WI ESSAGEo
Fello,o citizens Of tie Senate,
and House of Rrpresentdtir

>
under which you reassemble for the pcrior-
nance of your official duties. Though the
anicpations of an abundant harvest nave
not every where been realized. yet, on the
whole, the labors of the husbandnan are
rewarded with bnuniilul return INDUS
try prospers in its various channels Of
business and enterprise !; general heallh
again prevails through our vast diversity II
climate nothing threatens, from abroad,
the continuance of external peace nor has
any thing at home impaired the strength oil
those fra,ernal and domestic ties which
constitute the only guaranty to the success
aud permanencyJof our happy Union, and
which. formed in the hour of peril, have
hitherto been honorably sustained through
every vicissjnde in our national affairs.
These blessings, which evince the care
and bene6cence of Providence. call for our
devout and fervani gratitude.
We have not less reason to be grateful
for other bouniies bestowed by the same
munihcent hand, and more exclusively our
own.
The present year closes the first hall
century Of our federal institutions ; ard
our system-dfferng from all others IN the
acknowledged, practical. and unlimited OPP
Grafton which it h's for long a period
given to the sovereignty of the people
has now been fully tested by experience.
The constitution devised by our toreiaih-
ers as the framework aud bond of that
System, then untrled, has become settled
form of government not only preserving
and protecting the great principles upon
which it was founded, but wonderfully pro-
noting individual happiness and private
interests. Though subject 10 change and
entire revocation, whenever deemed made
quate to all these purposes. yet such Is the
Wisdom of its construction, ana 50 staole
has been the public sentiment, that /; re-
mains unaltered, except IN matters oi &C.
tail, comparatively unimportant. II has
proved amply sufficient for the varipns en-
errences incident to our condition as a
nation. A formidable foreign war aslta-
ting collisions between domestic and, IN
some respects, rival sovereigntles tempt
,ations to interfere in the intestine comu,o-
tions of nei rhboring countries the danger
Gus inhue nces that arise IN periods OF ex-
cessiye prosperity aud the anti-repnblican
tendencies of associated wenllh--hese with
other trials not less formidable, have all
been enc ountercd, and thus far successfully
resisted.
It was reserved for the American Union
TO test the advantages of a government en-
tirev dependant on the continual exercise
of the popular will and our experience
has shown that it is az benehcent in pfac-
tice as 1t is just in theory. Each success
sive change made in our local institutions
has contributed to extend the right Of suf-
rage, has increased the direct influence of
The mass Of the community, given greater
freedom to individual eXerion, and resrlc
ted, more and more, the powers OF Gov
eminent yet the intelligence, prudence,
and patriotism of he people have kept
pace with this augmented responsibility.
In no country has education been so widely
dffnsed. Domestic peace has nowhere so
largely reigned The close bonds ofsocial
intercourse have in no instance prevailed
with such harmony over space SO vast.
All forms>of religion have united, for the
first time to diffuse charity and pety, be-
cause for the first time, in the history Of
nations, all have been totally untrammelcd
and absolutely free. The deepest rccesses
Of the wilderness have been penetrated
vet, instead of the rudeness in tine social
condition consequent upon such adventures
elsewhere, numerous communities nave
sprung up, already unrivalled in prosperity,
general intelligence, internal tranquility,
and the wisdom oftheir political institutions.
Internal Improvement, the fruit Of indive-
ual enterprise. fostered by the protection OF
the States, has added new links TO the con-
federation, and fresh rewards to provident
industry. Doubtful questions of domestic
policy have been quietly settled by mutual
forbearance aud agriculture, commerce,
and manufactures, minister to each other.
Taxation and public. debt, the burdens
which bear so heavily upon all other coun-
tries, have pressed with comparative hight
ness upon us. Without one entangling'
alliance, our friendship is priced by every
nation and the rights Of our citizens are
every where respected, because they are
known to be guarded by united, sensitive
and watchfnl people.
To this practical operation Of our institu
lions so evident and successful we owe
that increased attachment; to them which is
among the most cheering exhibitions of
popular sentiment and will proye their