Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1844-12-21
r z r n s :
rRrsIDENT,s MESSAGE.
n he Ssnstc and House Of
Rerssntatsres of the United States:

n Ns Ssnaie and House 9
Representatives. cfthe Uaited STATES:
~. have continued cause for expressing
our gratitude to the Supreme Ruler of the
Universe for the benefits and blessings
vb;ch our country, under his Kind provi-
dence, has enjoyed during the past year.
Notwithstanding the exciting through
which We have passed, nothing has occur
rsd to disturb the general peace, or to de-
rsase d harmony Of our political system.
ne erssG moral spectacle has been e hib-
isd fa ration, approxinasing in number
b tweuty millions Of people, having per-
erned tie high and important function Of
eleding their Chief Magistrate for the
tern Of four years, without the commission
Of any aets Il violence, or the manifestation
Of spirit Of insubordina:ion 10 the laws
The sreat and inesti,nable right Of suffrage
hasbeen sxerc,sed by all who were invest
Cd With i, under the laws Of the different
Staaes, IN . spirit dictated alone by desire,
the selection Of the agent, to advance the
Interests q the country, and to place be-
yond jeopardy the institutions under which
il S our happiness to live. That the deep
est interssf has been manifested BY all our
sountTnen in the result Of the election, is
~ less true than highly creditable to them.
va multitudes have assembled, from time
totine, Il various places, for the purpose Of
eanvassing the merits and pretensions Of
those who were presented for their suffra-
ge< but no armed soldiery has been neces-
sar to restrain within proper limits the
popular zeal, or TO prevent violent OUT
bresks. A principle much more control
mE Was found in the love Of order and ol,e-
6ence to the laws, which, with mere indi-
vdual exceptions, every where possesses
he American mind, aud controls with an
hauence far more powerful than hosts Of
Ened men. We cannot dwell upon this
picture without recognising in it that deep
and devoted attachment on the part Of the
People to the institutions under which we
live, which proclaims their perpetuity.-
The great objection which has always pre-
vilea against the election by the People
d tAeir Chief Executive officer. has been
the apprehension Of tumults and disorders,
which might involve in ruin the entire
osvesnnent. A security against this is
6sad not only in the fact before alluded to,
III in the additional fact that We live under
. eonfederacy embracing already twenty
N States, no one Of which has power to
esntrol the election. The popular vote in
sach Stste is taken at the time appointed
by the laws, and such vote is announced
By The Electoral College without reference
70 the decision Of the other States. The
right Of suffrage, and the mode Of conduct
ing the election, is regulated BY the laws os
each Stsfe; and the election is distinctly
tedesative in all its prominent features
Thas il is that, unlike what might be the
results under consolidated system, riot
eas proceedings, should they prevail, could
snly affect the electors in single States,
without disturbing, to any dangerous ex-
tenf, the tranquility Of others.
The great experiment Of political con-
tedsracy, each member Of which is supreme
= to all matters appersaining to its local
Interests and its internal peace and happi-
rss, while by voluntary compact with
ostsers II confides 10 the united power OF all
sae protection of its citi ems in matters net
oonestic, has been so far crowned with
complete success. The world has witness
ssd it, rapid growth in wealth and popnla-
tsa; and, under the guide and direction
ota experimenting Providence, the devel-
ssements Of the past may be regarded but
= the shadowing forth Of the mighty fl-
tare. In The bright prospects OF that flu
tnre we shall find, as patriots and philan-
thropists, the highest inducements to cul-
tivafe and cherish love OF union, and ia
fown down every measure or effort which
may be made to alienaie the States, or the
people of the States, in sentiment and feel
ing frum each other. A rigid and close
adherence to the terms Of our political COM
paet, and, shove all, sacred observance ol
de guarantees Of the Constitution, will pre-
serve union on foundation which cannot
b shaken; while personal liberty is placed
bsyond hazard or jeopardy. The guaran-
y of religious freedom, Of the freedom ol
- press, Of the liberty Of speech, Of the
nal by Jury, Of the habeas corpus, and o
ns dnnesiic institutions Of each Of the
Sstes- leaving the private citizen in the
tel exercise Of the high and ennobling At.
trbafes 1t his nature, and to each State the
privilege which can only be judiciously ex.
estsd By itself, Of consulting the means bes
e.ieshAed to advance its own happiness
9e4 re the great and important guaran'
~ of Tie Constitution, which the lovers
4 Liberty must cherish, and the advocates
apnion must ever cultivate. Preserving
.ese, and avoiding al interpretations b
eed censtrncsion, under the guise Of u
aginsd expediency, upon the Constitu'
~. tie induenes Of our political system
aeesined 70 b - actively and q benef'
e9Y - cn the distant shores Of the Pacif.
~ = now on those Of the Atlantic ocean
~ only formidable impediments in Ii,
~ E = successful expansion Cline an,
la6) ne % Ear il the progress Of mad
- b the inpsovsnents Of the aee
sArt.dH = laaUsr speculative ths s6il