Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-12-12
MESSAGE
VI The PRESIDENT OF THE U. i
10 the Senate and House CT
Reps. Of The United States:

"Sfss iof tne " II c fts and blessings VIII c
oar country under his divine Providence, has
enloyed during the past year Nntwitbstan-
a'hg the exciting scenes through winch we
nave passed. nothing las occurred TO disturb
the general peace, or 10 derange the harno
ny OF oar political system. The great moral
spectacle has been exhibited ola natter, sd.
proximating in number To $4,000. 900 of peo.
PIE, having performed the kig', and impor-
fant function Of electng their Cheif Magistrate
Tor the term of four years. without the con-
MISSION OF airy acts Of violence. or the mani
fessat:cn Of spirit Of INSTRUMENTATION TO the
laws. The great and iue~timabe right oil
suffrage has been excl cised by all who were
invested with il under the laws CT the differ.
ent States, in spirit dictated alone by de
sire, IN the selection Of the agent, to advance
size Interests of the country, and 10 place be.
rond jeopardy the institutions under which
It IS our happiness 10 Eve. That the deepest
interest has been manifested !iy all our coun.
trymen in the result of the election, is not
less true, than highly creditable to them
Vast mulsiindes have assembled. from time TO
time. at various places, for the purpose of
canvassing the merits and pretcnsions of those
who were presented for their suffrages: but
no armed soldicry has been necessary to re-
strain. within proper limits. the popular zeal,
or to prevent violent outbreaks. A principle
much more controlling was found in The love
OF order and obedience to the laws, which,
with mere individual exceptions, every where
possesses the American mind, and controls
with an influence far mere powerful than
hosts OF armed men. We cannot dwell upon
THIS picture without recognising in it that
deep and devoted attachment on the part of
The People, 10 the institutions under which
"a itS-n yT.I., ~, Al,
great objection which has always prevailed,
against The election, BY the People, Of their
Chief Executive officer. has been the appre-
Iension of tumults and disorders which might
involve in ruin the entire Government. A
security against this. is found not only in the
tact before alluded TO, but in the additional
tact that We live under confederacy en.bra.
cling already twenty six States: no one of
whiclfhas'power to control the election. -
The popular vote in each State is taken at
the time appointed by the laws, and snch vote
is announced by its Electoral College, with
cat reference to the decision Of the other
States. The Right of Suffrage, and the
mode OF conducting the election, is regulated
by The laws ofeach State; and the election
Is distinctly Federative in all its prominent
features. Thus il is that, unlike what might
be the results under a consolidated system,
riotous proceedings, should they prevail.
could only affect the elections IN single
States. without disturbing, to any dangerous
extent, the tranquility Of Others The great
experiment of political Confederacv-each
member Of which is supreme-as to all mat.
tiers appertaining to its local interests. and
its internal peace and happiness-while by
voluntary compact with others, it confdes to
the united power ofall. the protection ofits
citizens, IN matters not domestic-has been
so far crowned with complete success. The
world has witnessed its rapid growth in wealtl,
and populations and under the guide and d-
rec'ion of experimenting Providence, the
developments oft the past NAV be regarded
but as the shadowing forth of the mighty flu
ture. In the bright prospects of that future.
we shall find, as patriots and philanthroDists
the highest Inducements 10 cultivate and
cherish love ofun;on. and to frowD down
every measure or effort which may be made
TO ALLEVIATE the States, Or the people of the
States, in sentiment and feeling, from each
other. A rigid and close adherence to the
terms OF our past compact, and above all,
sacred observance Of the guarantees of the
Constitution, will preserve union on a founla-
ton which cannot be shaken; while personal
liberty is placed beyond hazard or jeopardy.
The guarantee of religious freedom. of the
freedom ofthe press, Of the liberty of speech.
Of the trial by jury, of the habeas corpus and
ofthe domestic institutions of each Of the
states--leaving the private citizen in the
fall exercise of the high and enrolling attrib
utes of his nature, and to each State the
privilege, which can only be judicouslv ex.
erted by Itself, Of consulting the means cal.
culated to advance its own happiness;-shesc
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
all interpoiations by forced construction, un
der the guse OF imagined expediency, up
on the Constitution, the influence of our DO.
Etical system is destined TO be as actively and
as benefciatly felt on the distant shores Of the
Pacific. as it 10 now on those of the Atlantic
Ocean. The only formidable impediments in
the way offs successful expans on thine and
sPsce) are SO tar in the progress of mod;fca-
ton, by the improvements of the age as to
render no longer speculative the abilit, of
Representatives from that remote region to
come up TO the Capitol, SO that their constit.
uents shall participate in all the benefits of
Federal legislation Thus it is that in the
progress Of time. the inestmabie principles of
civil liberty vii, be enjoyed by millions vet
unborn, and the greet benefits of our sys.em
of Government he extended 10 now i slant
and un'nhahited regions. In view Of the vast
wilderness yet tn be reclaimed. we NAV well
invite the lover Of freedom, OF every land, to
take up his abode among US. and assist us in
the great work Of advancing the standard Of
civilization. and giving wider spread to the
arts and retincments Of cultivated Life. Our
prayers should fsermore be offered up to the
Esther of the uiliY ersc for lis wisdom to d.
rect us in the path Of onr duty. 50 as to ena-
bic US to consummate these high purposes.
Oae Of the strongest objections which has
been urge d sgainst eonfederacies, hr writer's
on Government if. the liability OF the mem
hers to be fanlPcsej with b. foreign Govern
Tsen's or TIE people Of foreign States. either
III .helF local affairs or IN such as Affected the
peace of others. or endangered the safety OF
the whole Con,ctleracy. We cannot hope to
be entirely exempt from su, h ATTEMPTS on our
peace and safety. The United State are be
coming too important III population and re
sources not to aftsact the observation of other
nations L, therefore, may, III the progress Of
time, occur, that opinions entirely abstract in