Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-02-22


mediately to your interest. Here every portion of
our country finds the most commanding motives for
carefully guarding and preserving the union OF the
whole.
The North, in an unrestrained intercourse with
the South, protected by the equal laws of common
government finds in the productions of the latter,
great additional resources of maratme and COM
mercial enterprise, and precious materials of man
ufacturing industry. The South, in the same inter-
course, beneftng by the agency of the North sees
its agriculture grow, and its commerce expand
Turning partly into its own channels the seamen of
the North, it finds its particular navigation invigo-
rated--and while it contributes in different ways,
to nourish and increase the general mass of the ma
tiona navigation, it looks forward to the protection
of maritime strength, to which itself is unequally
adapted.
The East, in like intercourse with the Vest, al
ready finds, and III the progressive Improvement of
interiour communications by land and water, will
more and more find valuable vent for the commo-
dities which it brings from abroad or manufactures
at home. The Hest derives from the East supplies
requisite to its growth and comfort-and what is,
perhaps, of still greater consequence, it must of ne
cessity owe the secure enjoyment of indispensable
outlets for its productions, TO the weight inlu-
ence, and the future maritime strength of the At
antick side of the Union, directed by an ndissolu-
Bile community of interest as one nation. ANY 9th
er tenure by which the Vest can hold this essential
strength, or from an aposate and unnatural connex
ION with any foreign power, must be intrinsically
precarious.
While then every part of our country thus feels
an immediate and particular interest in union, all
the parts combined cannot fail TO find in the united
mass of means and efforts, greater strength, greater
resource, proportonably greater security from ex-
ternal danger-a less frequent interruption of their
peace by foreign nations, and what is of inestima
bic value, they must derive from union exemp-
ton from those bros and wars between themselves,
which SO frequently afflict neighbourng countries
not tied together by the same government; which
their own rvalships alone would be sufficient to pro-
duce, but which opposite foreign alliances, attach
ments and intrgues would stimulate and embitter
Hence likewise, they will avoid the necessity of
those overgrown military establishments, which,
under any form OF government, are inauspicious to
liberty, and which are to be regarded as particular
y hostile to republican liberty. In this sense it is
that your Union ought to be considered as the main
prop of your liberty, and that the love of the one
ought to endear to you the preservation of the 9TH
err
These considerations speak persuasive language
to every rejecting and virtuous mind and exhibit
the continuance of the Union as a primary object
Of patrlotick desire. Is there doubt whether a
common government can embrace so large sphere !;
Let experience solve it. To listen to mere specu-
laton in such a case were criminal We are au-
GiollLSu W liOpc organization OF the
WHOLE with the auxiliary agency of governments for
the respective Subdivisions will afford a happy is
sue to the experiment. 1t is well worth fair and
full experiment With such powerful and obvious
motives to Union, affecting all parts of our country,
while experience shall not have demonstrated its
impracticabty there will always be reason to dis
trust the patriotism of those, who, in any quarter,
may endeavour to weaken its bands.
| In contemplating the causes which may disturb
our Union, it occurs as matter ofserious concern,
that any gTound should have been furnished for
characterizng PARTIES, by geographical dscrimina-
tons, Northern and Southern .4antic and Western,
whence designing men may endeavour to excite q
belief, that there is real difference of local inter-
ests and views. One of the expedients of purity to
acquire influence, within particular districts, is to
misrepresent the opinions and aims of other dis
tricts. You cannot shield yourselves too much a.
gainst the jealousies and heart burnings which
spring from these misrepresentation they tend to
render alien to each other those who ought to be
bound together by fraternal affection. The nhabi-
tants of our western country have lately had USE
full lesson on this head: they have seen in the ne
gotiation by the Executive, and in the unanimous
ratification by the Senate, of the treaty with Spain
and in the universal satisfaction at that event
throughout the United States, decisive proof how
unfounded were the suspicious propagatedj among
them, of policy in the general government and in
the Atantick states unriendly to their interests in
to the formation of two treaties that with Grea
Britain and that with Spain which secure 10 then
every thing they could desire, in respect to for
eign relations towards confirming their prosperity
Will it not be their wisdom to rely for the preser
walton of these advantages on the Union, by which
f they were procured? Will they not henceforth BE-
deaf to those advisers, if such there are who would
sever them from their brethren, and connect then
with aliens?
To the efficacy and permanency of your Union
a government for the whole is indispensable. NJ
alliances, however strict between the parts can be
an adequate substitute. They must inevitably ex
perence the infractions and interruptions which al
alliances, in all times, have experienced Sensible
of this momentous truth, you have improved upoI
your first essay, by the adoption of Constitution
of Government, better calculated than your forme
for an intimate Union, and for the eficacous man
agement of your common concerns. This govern
ment, the offspring of our own choice, uninfiuencet
and unawed, adopted upon full investigation an(
r mature elaboration, completely free in its princi
Iples, in the distribution of its powers uniting
rity with energy, and containing within itself pro
vision for its own amendment, has just claim II
your confidence and your support. Respect for it
authority, compliance with its laws, acquescence il
its measures, are duties enjoned by the fundamen
i tai maxims of true liberty. The basis of our pc
r tical systems is, the right of the people to maxi
and to alter their constitution of government Blu
;
changed by an explicit and authentick act of tn
Y whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon all Tn
very idea of the power and the right Of the peopl
to establish government, presupposes the duty O
every individual to obey the established government
s All distractions to the execution of the laws, al
4 combinations and associations, under whatever pau
sible character, with the real design to direct con
troll, counteract the regular deliberaton an
action Of the constituted authorities destructiv
of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tenden
d cy. They serve to organize faction, TO give it a
artificial and extraordinary force, to put in the plac
Of the delegated will of the nation, the will of
s party often small but artful and enterprisng mi
i nority of the community; and, according TO the al
8 ternate triumpbs Of different parties, to make tn
It publick administration the mirror of the l-con
i certed and homogeneous projects of faction rathe
It than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans
N digested by common councils, and modified by mu
: tual interests.
l., However combinations or associations of the a