Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-12-14
NI e S S A c. II.
FELIow-CIrIzENs OF TIE SENATE
AND House. OF REPRESENTATIVES,


which you reasscmblc for the performance OF
your official duties. Though the anticputons !
of an abundant harvest have not every where /
been realized, yet, on the whole, the labors o !
lhe husbandmen are rewarded with b0uniiul
return, industry prcsrers in lis various channels |
OF business and enterprise, general health again |
prevails through our vast diversity of climate, !
nothing threatens from abroad the continuance
OF external peace, nor has any thing at home
impaired the strength of those fraterna and
domestic tics which constitute the only guaranty |
TO the success and permancncy OF our happy /,
Union and which, formed in the hour of peril, |
have hitherto been honoraby sustained through |,
every vcissuude in our national affairs. These !
blessings, which cvince the and bcnllcence
Of Providence, call for our dcvout and fcrvent /
gratitude.
We have not less reason to be grateful for
other bountics bestowed by the SAME munfcent
hand, and more exclusively our own.
The present year closes the first half century
or our federal institutions; and our system
differing from all others in the acknowledged,
practical, and unlimited operation which it has
for so long period given to the sovereignty of
the people-lias now been fully tested by cx.
Perience.
The Constitution devised by our for fathers as
the frame work and bond Of that system, then
untried, has become a settled form of govern
ment; not only preserving and protecting the
great principles upon which il was founded, but
wonder uy promoting individual happiness and
private interests. Though subject to change
and entire revocation, whenever deemed made.
guate to all those purposes, yet such is the Wis
dom Of its construction, and stable has been
the public sentiment that it remains unacred,
except in matters of detail, comparatively unm
portant. 1t has proved amply sufficient for the
various emergencies incident TO our condition
nation. A formidable foreign war; agilating
e collisions between domestic and, in some re-
specis, rival sovcreigntes; temptations to inter-
fere in the intestine connections of ne ghborlng
countries; the dangerous influences that :rise
in periods OF excessive prosperity; and the anti
republican tendencies Of associated wealth
these, with other trials not less formidable, have
all been encountered, ard thus far successfully
resisted.
1t was reserved for the American Union TO
test tho advantages Of 4 Government entirely
dope ndent on the continual exercise of the pop
ular wilt and our experience has shown that it
il as bcnefcent in practice as it is just in theory.
Each successive change made in our local III
atilutions has contributed to oX'end the right of
suffrage, has increased the direct Influence Of
the mass OF the community, given greater Tree.
dom TO individual eXeron, and restricted more
and more the powers OF Government: yet the
intelligence, prudence and patriotism OF the peo-
pie have KEEP. pace with this augmented respon-
sibility. La no country has education been SO
widely diilused. Domestic peace has no where
80 largely regned. The close bonds of social
Intercourse have in no instance prevai'e ed with
such harmony over space SO vast. All forms
Of religion have united for the first time, TO dit
fuse charity and piety, because, for the first time
in the history of nations, all have been totally
untrammelled and absolutely free. The deepcs
recesses of the wilderness have been pcnetra
ted ; yet, instead of the rudeness in the SO 3la
condition consequent upon snch adventures else
where, numerous communities have sprung up
already unrvalled in prosperity general in,elli
sence, internal tranquility, and the wisdom o
their political institutions. Internal improve
ment, the fruit Of individual enterprise, fos,ere,
by the protccto of the States, has added new
links to the contedo ration, and fresh rewards t
provideni industry. Doubtful questions of dc
mestic policy have been quietly settled by mu
tual forbearance and agriculture, commerc
and manufactures, minister to each other
Taxation and public debt, the burdens whic
bear so heavily upon al! other countries, hav
pressed with comparative lighness upon us
Without one entangiing alliance, our triendshi
is priced by every nation; and The rights of OF
citizens are every where respected, becaus
they are known to be guarded by a united, sci
sitive, and watchlul people,
To this practical operation OF our institution
so evident and successful, we owe that increase
attachment to them which is among the mo
CHCbiiHS " p'l"i"i e''''hSh'' "a
will prove their best security, in time TO com
against foreign or domestic assault.
This review of the results of our institution
for half u century, without exciting a spirit
vain exutHtion, should serve to impress upon
the great principles from which they have sprun
constant and direct supervision by the pcol
over every public measure ; strict iorbearan
on the part of the government from eXerc's
any doubtful or disputed powers and n cautio
abstinence from all Interference with conccr
which properly belong, and are best left, TO Sta
regulations and individual enterprise.
Full information OF the state of our fore
affairs having been recently. on different oct
sons submitted to Congress. ] deem it necessG
now to bring 10 your notice only such events
have subsequently occurred, or are OF such
porance as to require particular attention,
The most amicabc disposition continues to
exhibited by all the nations with whom the q
eminent and citizens OF the United States hi
an habitual intercourse AT the date of my
annual message, Mexico was the only mai
which could no, be included in so gratifying
reference 10 our foreign relations.
am happy to be now able to inform you t
nm advance has been made towards the adj
ment of our difficulties with that Republic,
tho restoration OF tho customary good feel
between the two nations. This important cha
has been effected by concatory NEGOTIATE
that have resulted in the conclusion of ire
between the two Governments, which, when
tilted, will refer 10 the arbitrament of frier