, 1841-03-20

their management, and the form in wb;oS .
is rendered is left to his own discretion ~
sense of propriety. 1t may be obsers.sa
however, that organised associations Of ~
zens, requiring compliance with their v;,s"+
too much resemble the recommendations,
Athens to her alIies-supported by an az.
and powerful fleet. 1t was, indeed. ~ ,Sa
ambition of the leading states of Greecs ~
control the domestic concerns Of the o,h.,~"
that the destruction of that celebra,ed ~.
federacy, and subsequently Of all its mr.
bers, is mainly to be attributed. And +, :.
owing TO the absence of that spirit tha, n.
Helvetic confederacy has for so manv vs.r.
been preserved. Never has there been ssaa
IN the Institutions of the separate member,
of any confederacy more elements Of d;,'
cord. In the principles and forms of ON.
eminent and religion, as well as in the eli.
cumstances Of the several cantons, so mari.
ed a dIscrepance was observable, as to prom.
Use any thing but harmony in their inter.
course, or permanency in their alliances; and
yet, for ages neither has been interrupted
Content with the positive benefits which
their union produced, with the independents.
and safety from foreign aggression which il
secured. these sagacious people respected
the institutions Of each other. however r..
pugnant to their own principles and preiud.
ces.
Our contederacy, fellow citizens, can ouly
be preserved by the same forbearance. Our
citizens must be content with the exercise
of the powers with which the Constitution
clothes them. The attempt of those of one
| Ssasat 10 a~-,-xt A. -
another, can only result in feelings Of dis.
trust and jealousy, the certain harbingers Of
dlSunlon, violence, civil war, and the uIu.
mate destruction Of our free Institutions
Our Confederacy is perfectly illustrated by
the terms and principles governing a com.
mon co-partnership. There is a fund of
power TO be exercised under the direction of
the joint councils of the allied members, but
that which has been reserved by the individ.
uaI members is intangible by the common
government, or the individual member com.
posing it. To attempt it finds no sup
port IN the principles of our Constitution.
II should be our constant and earnest en-.
deavor mutually 10 cultivate a spirit of con.
cord and harmony among the various parts
OF our Coniederacy. Experience has abun-
dainty taught US, that the agitation. by citi.
zens ot one part of the Union. of a subject
not cOnfided 10 the General Government, but
exclusively under the guardianship of the
local authorities. is productive of no oiher
consequences than bitterness. alienation. dis.
cord and injury to the very cause which is
intended to be advanced. If all the great
Interests which appertain to our country,
that unlon-cordial. confdlng. fraternal IN.
Ion-iS by far the most important, since
II Is the only true and sure guaranty of all
others.
la Consequence Of the embarrassed state
"i business and the currency. some of the
States may meet with difficulty in their f.
nanclrl concerns. However deeply we nav
reg'et any thing %imprudent or excessive. in
the engagements INTO which States have
entered for purposes Of their OWL, 1t does not
us 10 disParage the State Govern
nor 10 discourage them from making
proper efforts for their own relief.
On The contrary, IT is our duty 10 encour-
age them. the extent of our constitutional
authority, 10 apply their best means. and
cheeriuliv TO make all necessary sacrifices,
aud 10 submit TO all necessary burdens, 10
lulhl iLeIr engagements and maintain their
for the character and credit of sew
eral States from a part of the character and
credit OF the whole country. The resources
the country are abundant; the enterprise
activity of our people proverbial; and
we may well hope that wise legislation and
administration, by the respective
Governments. each acting within its own
will restore former prosperity.
Unpleasant and even dangerous as COLI
lions may sometimes be between the consti-
uted authorities or the citizens Of our country,
n relation TO the lines which separate their
respective jurisdictions, the results can be of
10 vital injury TO our Institutions, if that
lrdent patriotism, that devoted attachment
o liberty, that spirit of moderation and for
for which our countrymen were
distinguished, continue to be cherished.
this continues 10 be the ruling passion of
'ur souls, The weaker feelings of the mista-
Ten enthusiast will be corrected, the utopi.
IN dreams of the scheming politician dissipa-
ed, and the complicated ~in,rigues of the
.lemagogue rendered harmless. The spirit
If liberty is the sovereign balm for every in
ury which our institutions may receive
IN the contrary, no care that can be used in