Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-12-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
To The Senate and House of


Representatives. of The United States:
We hive continued cause for expressing our
gratitude to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe
for the benefits and blessings which our country,
under His kind Providence, has enjoyed during the
past year. Notwithstanding the exciting scenes
through which we have passed, nothing has occur
red to disturb the general peace, to derange the
harmony of our political system. The great moral
spectacle has has been exhibited Of nation, approx
lnatIn5 IN numbers to 20 millions OF people, having
performed the high and important function of cleo
ting their Chief Magistrate for the term of four
years, without the commission of any acts of vlo-
lence, or the manifestation of spirit Of insubordi-
nation to the, laws The great and inestimabe
right of suffrage has been exercised by all who
invested with it, under the laws of the differ
ent States, in spirit 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 which it is our happiness to live
That the deepest interest has been manifested by
al our countrymen in the result of the election is
no less true, than highly creditable to them. Vast
multltudes have assembled, from time to time, at
various places, for the purpose of canvassng the
merits and pretensions of those who were present
ed for their suifrage5 but no armed soldiery has
been necessary to restrain within proper limits the
popular zeal, or to prevent violent guthrie ks A
principle much more controlling was found in the
love of order aud obedience to the laws which, with
mere individual 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 recognizing
III it that deep and devoted attachment on the part
Of the people, TO the Institutions under which we
live, which proclaims their perpetulty. Tie great
objection which has always prevailed against the
election, by the people, of their Chief Executive
ofhcer has been the apprehension of tumuts and
disorders, which might involve in ruin the entire
| Government security against this is found moi
only in the flct before alluded tn, but ia the add
| tonal fact that we live under confeleracy EN-
! bracing already twentY-six States no one OF whicl
| has power to control the election. The popular
vote in each State is taken at the time appointed
! by the laws, and such vote is announced by the
Electoral College, without reference to the decis
ion Of the other States The right Of suffrage, an.
the mode Of con lucting the election, is regulate,
! by the laws OF each State and the eectiun Is dis
tincty iederatlve IN all its prominent teitu. es.-
Thus ii Is that unlike what might be the result.
under consolidated system, rlotous proceedings
should they prevail could only affect the elections
in single States without disturbing, to any danger
Gus extent the tranquility of others. The grea
experiment of a political coniederacy mem
Der of which is supreme as to all matters apper
tanning to Its local interests and its internal peace
and happiness by voluntary compact witt
others, 1t conhdes to the united power of all, tn
protection of its citizens, in matters not domestic
has been so far crowned with complete success
The world has witnessed its rapid growth in weat
and populations and, under the guide and dlrectio
F, of a experimenting Providence, the development
+ of the past may be regarded the shadowln
forth of the mighty future In the bright prospect
of that future, we shall find, patriots and phan
thropists, the highest inducements to cultivate an
] cherish u love of union, and to frown down ever
. measure or effort which may be made to alienat
. the States, or the people Of the States in sentmer