Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-12-13

circumstances in the condition Of our
country, under which you reassembe
for the performance Of your official du-
ties. Though the anticipations OF all "a
bundant harvest have not every where
been realized, yet, on the whole. the las
bors Of the husbandman are rewarded
with a bountifulreturn; industry pros>
pers In its various channels Of business
prevails through cur vast diversity OF rh.
innate nothing threatens, from abroad,
the continuance of external peace nor
has any thing at home impaired the
strength OF those fra,ernal ard domestic
ties which constitute the only guar anty
TO the success aud permanently of our
happy Union. and ~ hich, lornled in the
hour of peril. have hitherto been hons
orably sustained through every vicissi>
tude in our national affairs. These bless
iDgs, which evince the care aud beneti.
cence OF Providence, call for our dcvout
and fervent gratitude.
We have not less reasonto be CRATE flu,
Tor other Dounties bestowed by tie same
.nuui6ceut hand. aud more exclusively
our own.
The present year closes the LIST half cen
tury oil our federal institutions and our
system. differing from all Others in the &C.
know lodged, practical, and unlimited o.
peration which it has for SO long a peri :.
cd given TO the sovereignty OF the PEG.
ple-has now been fully tested by ex-
perience.
The constitution devised by our fore
fathers as the frame work aud bond of
that S, stem, then untried, has become a
settled iorm OF government not only
preserving aud protecting the great prin-
ciples upon which it was founded, but
wonderfully promoting individual happi-
nessand private interests. Tho subject to
change and entire revocation, whenever
deemed inadequate to ali these purposes.
yet such is the wisdom OF It's construc-
ton, and so stable has been the public
sentiment, that ii remains unallered. ex.
cept in matters of detail, comparatively
uni important. 1t has proved amply sui
fici ell, fer the various emergencies Incl
dent 10 our condition as a nation. A
Formidable foreign war !; agitating cclli
sions between domestic, and in some
respects, rival sovereignties temptA.
tions to interfere in the intestine commo-
tious of neighboring countries; the dan
gerous influences that arise in periods Of
excessive prosperity /; aud the anti-re-
publican tendencies OF associated wealth
these. with other trials not less iormi
dable, have all been encountered, and
thus far successfully resisted.
Ii was reserved for the American u
mon to test the advantages Of Govern
ment entirely dependant on the con,in-
nal exercise of the popular will aud
our experience has shown that II is as bt>
neiiceht in practice as i, is Just 10 theory
Each successive change made in our To-
cal institutions has contributed to extend
the right oil suffage. has increased The
direct Influence OF the mass Of the com
munity, given greater freedom TO indi-
vidual exertion, and restricted, more and
more, the powers Of Government yet
the intelligence, prudence, and patriot
ism OF the people have kept pace with
this Augmented responsibility. In no
country has education been so widely
dIfiused. Domestic peace has now here
so largely reigned. The close bonds Of
social intercourse have in no Instance
prevailed with such harmony over a
space so vast. All forms ofreigion have
united, for the frs. time, 10 dlfuse char
'ty and piety, because, for the first ting
In The history of nations, all have been
totally untrammelled, and absolutely
Tree. The deepest rscesses Of the vii.
derness have been penetrated yet, iu-
stead OF the rudeness in the social con-
dltlon consequent upon such adventures
elsewhere, numerous communities have
sprung up, already unrivalled in prospe-
'lty. general intelligence internal tran
guilty. and the wisdom of their political
institutions. Internal Improvement, the
!roit OF Individual enterprise, fostered
by the protection Of The States, has add
ed new links TO the confederation. and
fresh rewards 10 provident industry -
Dorbtiul questions of domestic policy
have been quietly settled by mutual Tor
bearance and agriculture, commerce,
and manufactures, minister TO each o.
thcr. Taxation and public debt, the
burdens which bear so heavily upon all
other countries, have pressed with com.
parative lightness upon US. Without
one entangling alliance, our friendship
is priced by every nation and the rights
Of our citizens are every where respects
60, because they efe known to be guard.
ed by united, sensitive, and watchful
people.
10 this practical operation Of our in.
situations, so evident and successful, we
owe that increased attachment to them