Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1838-12-20
Presidents Message,
Felto'o Citizens Of the Senate,
a and House of ReUresentutiucs.

Il congratulate you on the favorable cir
cumstances in the condition of our county.
under which you reasselnble for the per-
formance OF your official duties. Thoue h
the anticipatiOns Of all abundant harvest
have not every where been realized, YET,
on tho whole the labors of the husband
man are rev warded with bountitul return;
industry prospers in its various channel>
of business aud enterprise; general health
again prevails through our vast dversi,,
ofclimate; nothing threatens, from abroad,
the continuance of external peace; nor has
any thing al home impaired the strength
Of those iraternal and domestic ties which
constitute the only guaranty To the success
and permanency OF our happy Union, aud
which, formed in the hour OF peril, have
hitherto been honorahly sustained through
every vicissitude in our national atiairs.-
These blessings, which e,ince the care
aud beneficience of Providence. call for our
devout aud ferveut gratitude.
We have not less reason 10 be grateful
for other bOunties bestowed by the same
municent hand, and more exclusively
our own.
- Thy p.ys-ys J... ~isss.t,v % ....s sssss -
tnry oil our Federal ins,i,utious; and our
sysiem---tl,iierins from all others in the
acknowledged, practical, uud unli nlted
operation -, hich it has tor SO long period
given to the sovereignty ot the people
-has now heeu fully tested Ivy experience.
The Constitution devised by our ioreia-
theirs as the framework and bond oi that
system, then Lutried, has become settled
form OF Governments; not only preserving
aud protecting the great principles upon
which il was founded, but wonderfully pro-
mo,ing individual and private lnierests.-
Though subject to change and entire rc>o'
cation, whenever deemed inadequate to
all these purposes, ye, such is tie wisdom
Of its construction, and so stable has been
the public sentiment, that It remains unai-
tered except in matters Of detail, cOmpara-
siveIy unimportant. IL has proved amply
sufficient for the various emergencies in-
>ident to our conuition as Il nation. A
formidable foreign war; asitatinS collisions
between domestic and, in some respects,
rival sovereiSnties; temptations 10 Interfere
in the intestine cOminOtiOns Of neis tIbor-
ing countries; the dangerous influences
that arise in periods OF ex 'essive prosDeri-
ty; and the anti-republican tendencies Of
associated wea th-these, with other trials
not less formidable, have all been encUun-
tered, and thus far successfully resisted.
1t was reserved iOr the American UnUn
10 test the advantages OF Govcrnimc I
entirely dependent ON the continual exer-
else Otthe popular vii; and our experience
has shown that il is as heneicient III prac
tice as il is Just III theory. Each success
sive change made in our local institutions
has contributed to extend the right 0i SUI
fraSe, has increased Inc direct influence OF
the mass Of The community, given greater
freedom to individual exerliOn, alni re-
stricicd, more aud more, the powers oi
government; yet the intelligence, pru-
dence, and patriotism OF the people have
kept pace with this augmented respOmsi-
0iiity. In no country has education been
80 widely ditfused. Domestic peace has
no where so largely reignrd. Tne close
bonds Ot social intercourse have in no in
stance prevailed with such harmony over
space so vast. All lorms Of religion have
united, for the first time, to dilIuse charii !
aud piety, because for the first time in the
history Of nations, all have been totally
untrammeiled, aud absolutely free. The
<leepesr recesses Of the wilderness nave
been penetrated: YET, instead of the rude
ness in the social condition consequent up
on such adventures elsewhere, numerous
communities have sprung ~, already un
rivalIed in prosperity, general intelligence
informal tranquility .and the wisdom of'hci
political institutions. Internal improve
meni, the fruit of Individual enterprise. .tos
tered bv the protection of the State; ha
added new links to tho confederation, ant
frosh rewards to provident Industry -
Doubtful questions ofdoneslic policy iiav
been quietly settled by mutual forbear
nnce; and agriculture, commerce, AM
,c,o minister eoch Othor -
Taxation and public debt. the burden
which bear SO heavily upon all other coun
tries, have pressed with comparative light
ness upon us. Without one entanglin
alliance, our friendship is priced by cvor,