Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-12-23

for the attainment OF winch the
Federal GovernmentYwas Instituted nave
not been lost sight OF. Entrusted only |
with certain limited powers, cautiously IS
enumerated, distinctly speclhed, and de-
fiIed with precision and elearness which
would seem 10 defy DEMONSTRATION It has
been nv constant aim 10 confiEe myself
within The limits so clearly marked out,
and so. carefully guarded. Having al
ways been of opinion that the best preserE-
alive of the unionof the States IS 10 be
found in total abstinence from the exer-
else of ali doubtful powers on the pant OF
the Federal Government. rather than IL
attempts to assume them by loose con-
slruction, of the constitution, or an ingen-
| ious pervel sion of its words, | have en-
deavored 10 avoid recommending any
measure which l had reason 10 appre
bend would, IN the opinion even Of con-
sderaUle minority Of my felloW-citizens.
! be regarded as tren on the rights OF
the States, or the provisions Of the hallow-
ed instrument of our Union Viewing
the aggregate powers of The Federal Gov
eminent as a voluntary concession of the
y,
, should be exercised as Wefesat the time
intended 10 be given.
have been strengthened too in the pro-
/ priety of this course, by the conviction
: That all efforts 10 60 beyond this tend only
to produce dissatisfaction and distrHst, 10
excite iealousies, and provoke resistance.
/ Instead of adding strength to the federal
{ government even when successful they
must ever prove source OF Incufabie
e weakness. by alternating portion OF those
e whose adhesion is indispensable TO the
! great aggregate of united strength, and
whose voluntary attachment is in my es.
e llmalion, far more e<sentlt ii TO the eftlcIen-
i cV of government, strong in the best o.
# all possible stfength-that confidence anG
% attachment of all those who make up it:
d constituent elements =l
5 Thus believing, il has been my purpose
i to SECURE TO the whole People, and tc
# every member of the Confeder1ey, by
.e1 general, salutary. anu equal Iaws+alone
" which it was the end and aim OF the Con
5 sitution to establish, and The impartial IN
J. huence of which is, in my judgement, IN
@ dispensable TO their preservation. L can
nj not bring myself To believe that the lastln:
l. happiness Of the People, the prosperity Q
NJ the States, or the psrmanency of thel
l. Union, can be maintained by giving pre-
ID erence or priority to any class of citizen:
he ia the distrbui ion of benefits, or by III
- adoption of measures which enrich on
,o portion of the Uuion at the expense {
- Of another; nor can see, in the interfer
: e,.;.e oflhe Federal Government with tn
- local legislation and reserved rights
= the State, remedy for present, Or sect
~ r;,v anains, future dangers.
80 The first, and assured1tty not tie leas
~ important step towards relieving tic tonI
os ltryfrom condition into who h it had bee
he plunged by excuses in trade, bankIn!
re- and credus of all kinds, was to place tt
mr. business transactions of the GoVernmel
he itself on solid basis; giving and recelT
,nt inc in all cases value for value, and nett
he er countenancing nor encouraging
others that defusive system o, credits fro
the which il has been so difficult to es"aP
es. and which has left nothing behind it b
are the wrecks that mark lis fatal career.
wv That the fnancia! affairs of the Cover
an. ment are now, and have been during &
has whole period of these wide-spreadit
the difficulties, conducted with a strict al
& invariabIe regard to this great fundame
er- tai principle, and that By the assumptIt
M and maintenance of the stand thus TAX
adj on the very threshold of the approaehr
ion crisis, more than by any Other cause
,Iic causes whatever, The community at lar
the has been shielded from the incalculat
and evils Of a general and indefinite suspense
cen Of specie payments, and a consequent a
ex- inhalation, for the whole period it mig
on have lasted, of just and invariable sta
,Ilr dard of value. will, it is believed, at Il
pm period, scarcely be questioned.
ub- A steady adherence, OH the part of t
ere. Government, to The policy which
v aE,produced such salutary results, aided
,ex- judici0us State legislation, and, what
cas- not less important, by the industry, emit
OBJ prise, perseverance, and economy of
tat American People, cannot fail to raise I
by whole country, at an early period, to
zen state of soiid and enduring prosperity,
sort subject 10 be again ovefthrown by
ion suspension Of banks or the explosion oil
nect bloated credit spsteec. Il is for the Peo
een oHa tueti II - W w IVY ," nc
emf er or not the permanent welfare OF
dis. country (which all good citizens eqaa
81 desire, however widely they may differ
lied to the means of its accomplishment sh
III be in this way secured or whether
management OF the pecuniary concerns
iary the Governnent-and,b by consequence
ex- great extern, those Of individuals also
a ia shall be carried back TO CONDITION
un- things which fostered those contract,
sary and expansions Of lhe currency. and tn