New-York daily tribune., 1844-12-04
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
o THE srxArE Axp Hor.E OF

under his kind Providence, has enjoyed during
the past year. Notwithstanding the exciting
scenes through which He nave passed, nothing
has occurred To disturb the general peace, or to
dcrange the harmony Of our political system:
The great moral spectacle has been exhibited M o.
nation, app.oxiEating in numcer o2'l,ooV,oou
Of people, having performed the high and import
ant function Of electiug tae.. Chies hsgstrsteior
the term OF four years, without the commission OF
any acts OF violence or the manifestation oi
.oirit of insuhordibation 10 the laws The great
and inestimable right of suffrage, has Deen e1cr-
cised by all who were invested with 1t, under the
laws of the different Stats, in spin, dictated
alone by desire, in the selection OF the agent
to advance the interests of the country, and to
place beyond jeopardy the institutions under
shich it is our happiness to live.
That the deepes, interest has been manifested
by all our coun,rymen in the result OF the E'ec-
tion, is not less true, than highly crecitaole 10
them. Vast mutitudes have assembled, from
lime To time, at various places, Tor the purpose oI
canyassing the merits end pretensions OF those
who were presented for their sufffages; but no
armed soldierY has been necessary to RESTRAIN,
within proper limits, the popular zeal, or to pre-
vent violent outbreaks. A principle much more
controlling was found in the love OF order and
obedience to the laws, which, with mere indl-
y;dua! exceptions, every where possesses the
American mind, and controls with an influence
far more powerful than hosts of armed men.
We cannot dwell upon this picture without re-
corn;zng in it that deep and devoted attach
meht ON the part Of the People, 10 The lnstitu-
,ions under which we live, which proclams their
oerpe,uity. The great objection which has al
vsys prevailed against the election, by the feo-
ple. of their Chief Executive Officer, has been
the apprehension of tumul.s and disorders, which
mirht involve in ruin the entire Government. A
security against this s found not only in the fact
he fore alluded TO- but in the additional fact that,
We live un6er Confederecy embracing already
twenty.sx states no ore oil which has power to
contr1! the Election. The popular vote in each
State is taken at the time appointed by the laws,
md such vote Is announced by It's Electoral Col
lrge. without reference to the de- Of the
,ther States The Right of Suffrage, and the
mode of conducting the E ecton, Is regulated ny
he laws of each S,ae; and the election is dis
dnctiy federative in all its prominent textures
Tous it IS that unlike what might be the re-
u!,s uoder consolidated sys'em, notous pro
:ce dings, should they prevail, could only affect
ne elections in single States, without dis urbing
10 any dangerous extent, the tranquility oil 9th
e-s The great experiment of political con-
,ederacq-each member Of which is supreme
IS to all matters appertainiog 10 It's local nief-
eats, and its internal peace nnd happiness-wh,le
Nv voluntary compact with Others, It conhdes
70 the united power of all, the protection of lis
:iizens, in ma ters not domestIc-hus been so
lar C, owned with complete success. 1hc world
mas wine scd its rapid growth in wealth and
population and, under The guide and direction I'll
experimenting Providence. The Developments
# The past may be regarded bu, as The shadow
ing forth Of the mighty futu C. In the bright
prospects of that future we shall find, as patri-
,ts and philanthToplsts, the highest inducements
70 cultivate and cherish love OF union, and to
ifowa down every measure or effort which may
ne made 10 ALLEVIATE tho States, or the People Of
Ghc States, in sentiment and feeling, from each
other. A iigid and close adherence To the terms
If our political compact, and, above all, sacrtd
observance Of the guarantees Of the Constitu
son, will preserve union on u foundation which
cannot be shaken while personal liberty is placed
beyond hazard or Jeopardy.
The guarantee of religious freedom, OF the
ree dom of the press, of the Liberty of speech, OF
the trial by jury, of the haheas corpus, and OF the
domestic institutions OF each ofthc States, leaving
the private citizen in the full exercise of the high
and ennobling attributes Of his nature, ano TO
each State the privilege, which can only be judi
ciously e1erted by itself, of consulting the means
best calculated to advance it's own happiness !;
these are the great and important guarantees OF
the Constitution, which the lovers of liberty must
cherish, and The advocates OF union must ever
cultivate. Preserving these, and avoiding ail IN
terpolations by forced construction, under the
yuiss of an imagined expedcncy, upon the Con-
sttution, the influence of our political system is
destined to be as actively and as benhcially felt
on tho distant shores of the Pacific. IS 1t is now
on these of the Atlantic Ocean. The only for
midabIe impedirnents in the way of its success
full expansion (iime and space) are so far in the
progress of modification, BY the Improvements OF
the age, as to render no longer speculative the
ability of Representatives from that remote re.
pion t. come up to the Capitol SO that their con-
s,ituen,s shall participate il all the benefits oi
Federal legislation. Thus It is that, in the pTo-
eress of time the inestimablO principles Of civil
liberty will be enjoyed by millions yet unborn,
aud the great benefits of our system OF Govern
ment be extended to now distsn. and uninhabited
regions. In view of the vast wilderness yet 10
be reclaimed, we may well invite the lover Of
freedom, of every land, to take up his abode
among U.s. and assist us in the great work Of ad.
Vanclrg TIC stenudlu Oh ClVliZitlon, anu giving
wider spread 10 the arts ard re6nemens oi
cultivated lie. Oar prayers should evermore be
offered up to the Father of the Universe for hi:
wisdom TO direct US in the path of our duty, Sc
rs to enable us 10 co0summate these high rur
pores.
One of the strongest objections which has bean
urged against coniederacics, by writer's on Gov.
era,ueni, is, the iahility of the members to be
tempered with b. foreign Governments, or the
People of foreign States, either in their loca! af
fairs, o, ie suca as affected the peace Of others
or endangered the safety of the whole Confede
racy. We cannot hope to be entirely exempt
rom such attempts on our peace aud safety
Tee United States are becoming too impo tan'
in population snd resources not 10 attract the OBJ
servat;on OF other nations. 1t, therefore may, IL
tho progress OF time, occur that opinions entirely
abstract in the States IN which they may prevail
and in no degree affecting their domestic ins,itu
tons, may be artfully, but secretly. encouraged
with view to undermine the Unicn. Such
opinions may become the foundation Of politlcX
parties, until last, the conflict Of opinion, pro
ducinp au aljcna,ion of friendly feeling among
the People OF the different States, maY involveiI
one uener,; 6estruc ion the hsppy institutions