The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-10-21
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Feliou Ciii:ens Of The Senate and
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House Of Representatives.
It affords me much pleasure again to NEE, you
in these halls of legislation, TO deliberate upon The
welfare Of the people of this state, and 10 make
such provisions for their Improvement AS your wis
dom may devise. Since we last assembled here,
ouI whole country has been in Il & enjoyment Of
NIL the blessings which bounlllui Providence
could besow, and the year has been distinguished
by several events which can hardly fail to add to
the general prosperity and happiness.
In split Of mutual concession and forbcarance,
the Governments of the United States and Great
Britain have, by treaty, succeeded in removing
those causes Of discord ind animosily between the
two countries. which had become so alarming aud
in laying the Foundation for II wise and | trust,
hsng peace. The negotiation Of this treaty CON
Quoted, as il has heen, with view to the good o.
man rather than for the qualification ohis passions,
IN an honor TO ,h4 age and to tile nations engaged
in ii.
The great interest Of our beloved country have
nlso been rescued from the destruction which SEEM
ed impending over them by the wise snd mngnani
nous efforts Of Congress to secure Tariff ofdu-
ties adequate to protect them When We look
back upon the strife of elements from which have
proceedYl the blessings Of peace and protection TO
donicA industry, the two greatest interests, per-
haps; which it Is the duty Of the NATIONAL govern
mcnt to guard, we find ABUNDANT cause for gratitude
towards the Disposcr Of the hearts of men,
fvfavc now every reason 10 hope that the pros.
ysfty Of the country will begin again 10 revive NOR
cah Ave be in immediate danger Of repeating those
experiments upon it, the fruits of which have al
ready been 81 bitter. Experience, 50 dearly pur-
chased, canno. have failed 10 teach us wisdom and
prudence for the future The trials of adversely,
and especially those which arc self inflicted. have
their uses for nations not less than for individuals
We have only TO look back upon VIVA, we have
suffered, and upon what We might have enjoyed,
TO learn the extent Of our blindness and folly
But we should greatly err, in our review Of the
past, were we to inpu,e all the blome TO our rn-
lers. 1t was ourselves, individually, who were
first ut fault We had become too insensibe Of
the ineslimable advantages Of self government, and
Of The unccasing wa,cilunGss and activity which
such government, always demands of those wlo
would enjoy it. We have perhaps yet to learn
how eminen,ly, above all other nations, wc are
blessed in our form Of government bul we certainly
ought TO have discovered, by thi, time, thai
whether we are well or i'll governed, must depend
wholly on ourselves. If we have intelligence,
activity, and energy enough 10 place and keep in
power honest and able rulers, political self govern
ment is undoubtedly the best form which we have
any knowledge; but if we have not the qualities, it
j. probably the worst. Self government arms US,
for our protection. with the right of suffrage and
with the power Of enligh,ening and improving our
feow-mcn These have been given ~, not 10 be
thrown aside, or neglected at our pleasure, but To
be preserved and cherished, M the choicest rights
Of freemen, and to be diligently aud persevernrly
used on all OCCASIONS. The desines of our bclpv.
ed country ARE, in some degree, in the hands of
each one of u.s. and not only the destin:es of our
avn country, but those Of the human race On
onr shores liberty has nrInrled her standard If
she find sons here worthy TO bear H. il will not
only continue to wave over our own lIerds, but il
will stand rs n signal TO other nations. Let us mo-,
then be unmindfu of our high responsibilities: bu,
Jet us place our duties TO our county and her in.
stutions next after those to religion and our Ma
her.
In lookiSg back upon the events of the pas,
year, ne lind reason to be grateful not only that
we have escaped the dangers Of foreign, but the
horrors Of civil war. Incredible as it NAV appear,
in nm aga and csuntry like ours, but few months
have elapsed. since, almost in our own neyhbor-
hood, cons have been armed against fathers and
brothers against brothers, and trains Of artillery
have been poih,ed with deadly intent. while acci.
dent alone has prevented The Lighting Of the match
which might have delused our whole country in
blood. shudder In think iha, the spirit Of p1rty
has, so soon and with 50 little cause, involved US
in n scene like this. The danger we have but lus,
escaped IS the greatest and most appalling with
which we have been threatened since we became n
nation. II was neilher imaginary, nor uncertain
in magnitude u attempted TO conceal the odious
features Of rebellion, and assume the more ailrac-
tive form of jnsrhble revolution. In this disguise
/, appeared to;and enlisted the sympahes orthose.
who had originally no concern with it, and il was