The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1841-03-25

i SacreQneSS anu Oeauty OF the NOMmOn.
wealth, and gaze at the statues Of the
elder Brutus and of the Curtii and Decii;
and the people assembled in the forum,
not as in the days Of Camillus and the
Scipios, to cast their free votes for an
nual magistrates, Or pass upon the acts of
the Senate, but to receive from the hands
of the leaders of the respective parties
their share Of the spoils, and to shout for
one or the other, as those collected in
Gaul or Egypt and the lesser Asia would
furnish the larger dividend. The spirit
Of liberty had fed, and avoiding the a.
bodies of civilized man had sought pro-
lection in the wilds of Scythia, or Sean
dinavia. And so under the operation of
the same causes and influences it will fv
from our Capitol and our Forums. A
calamity so awful, not only to our coun.
try. but 10 the world mnst be deprecated
by every patriot, and every tendency
to stale of things likely to produce it,
Immediately checked Such tendency
has existed-does exist. Always the
friend Of my countrymen, never the fiat
terer, it becomes my duty to say to them,
from this high place to which their par
TALLY has exalted me, that there exists
in the land spirit hostile to their best in
terests-hostile to liberty itself. 1t is a
spirit contracted in its views-selfsh in
its objects. Il looks to the aggrandize-
ment of a few, even to the destruction Of
the interest of the whole. The entire
remedy is with the people. Something,
however may be effected by the means
which they have placed in my hands. 1t
is union that we want, not of a party for
the sake of that party. but union of the
whole country, for the sake of the whole
country. For4the defence of its interests
and its honor against foreign aggression
for the defence Of those principles for
which our ancestors so gloriously con-
tended. As far as it depends upon me.
it shall be accomplished. All the in
fuence that possess shall be exerted to
prevent the formation at least of an Elk
ecutive party in the halls of the legisla-
tive body. wish for the support of
no member of that body to any measure
of mine that does not satisfy his iodg-
ment and his sense of duty to those from
whom he holds his appointment. Nor
any confidence in advance from the peo-
pie but that asked for by Mr. jefferson,
ito give 6rmness and effect 10 the legal
administration of their AFFAIRS
deem the present occasion sufficiently
important and solemn to justify me in ex-
pressing to my fellow-citizens profound
reverence for the Christian religion, and
thorough conviction that sound morals,
religious liberty, and just sense Of rel-
gfous responsibility are essentially con-
nected with all true and lasting happi-
ness. And to that good Being who has
blessed us by the gifts of civil and reli-
gious freedom-who watched over, and
prospered the labors of our fathers, and
has hitherto preserved to us institutions
far exceeding in excellence those of any
other people, let US unite in fervently
commencing every interest of our beloved
country in all future time. Oath admin
istered.
Fellow-Citizens:-Being fully invested
with that high Office to which the partial
ity of my countrymen has called me,
now take an affeclionate leave of you.-
You will bear with you to your homes
the remembrance of the pledge have this
day given to discharge all the high duties
Iof my exalted station according to the
best of my ability; and | shall enter upon
their performance with entire confidence
in the support of a just and generous
people. 5s
WASHINGTON, March 4, 1871.