The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-03
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the Senate and House Of
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We have continued cause for expressing our gIa'
tiludc 10 the Supreme Ruler OF the Universe or the
benefits and blessings which our country, under MS
kind Providence, has enjoyed during the past year
Notw outstanding the exciting scenes through when
have passed nothing has occurred to disturb The
general peace, or 10 deraDge the harmony oil our
political system. The great moral spectacle has
been exhibited Of 'aion, spProIimaing IN number
TO 100000 coo Of people, having performed the high
and important function Of eleclng their Chief Mag's-
rate for the term Of four years, without the com
mission Of any acts Of violence the manifestation
of spirit OF INSTRUMENTATION To the laws The great
and nestimable right of suffrage, has been exercised
by all who were invested with il, under the laws oil
the different States, in spiIit dictated alone by
desire in the selection Of the agent, to advance the
interests Of the country and to place beyond Jeo-
pardy the institutions under which Il is our happiness
TO live. That tho deepest interest has been mani-
tested by oil our countrymen IN the result OF the
election Is less true, than highly credltable TO
them Vast multtudes have assembled, from time
to time at various places, for the purpose OF can
wasting the merits and preensions OF those who were
presented for their sutrages but no armed soldiery
has been necessary restrain, within proper limits
the popular ZEAL or TO prevent violent outbreaks.
principle much more controlling was found in The
love OF orJer and obedience 10 the laws, when, win
mere Individual exceptions, every where possesses
the American mind, and controls WIN an influence
far more powerful Than hosts OF armed men. we
cannot dwell upon this picture without recognising
10 it that deep and devoted attachment on the part oil
the People, to the institutions under when We I'VE,
which lrocaims their perpetuty The great ONCE
t,n which has always prevailed against inc eiection'
L. a. IF tha,r htaf EN officer
been the apprehension of lumulls and disorders,
which might invo ve 10 the entire Government.
A security sgsnst this, is found not only In the iacl
before alluded to- but in the additional fact that we
live under coniederacy embracing already twenty
six States; of which has power 10 control The
election The popular vote in each State is taken
1t the time appointed by The laws, and such vote is
announced by its Electoral College, without re1er-
ence to the decision Of the other States. HE
right Of suf age, and the mode OF conducting
the election, Is regulated by the laws OF each
State and the election IS distinctly iederative IN
all is prominent features Thus il IS that, unlike
what might be- the results under consolidated sys-
TEN, rotous proceedings should they prevail, could
only affect the elections 10 single States, without DIS
turbbg, to any dangerous extent the tranquility OF
others The great experiment OF political coniede-
racy--each member of which is supreme--as to all
matters apperanlng TO its local interests, and It's IN
ternal peace and happness,-while by voluntary
compact with others, it conhdes to the united power
OF ALL the protection Of is citizens, in matters not
dome stic-has been far crowned with complete
success The world has witnessed its rapid growth
in wealth and population and under the guide and
direction of a superintendlDg Providence, The deve-
lopmenls OF the past may be regarded but as the sha-
ing forth of the mighty future. In the bright
prospects of that future, shall hnd as patriots and
philsnhropiss, the highest Inducements to cultivate
and cherish love Of union, and 10 irown down eve
nv measure or effort which may be made TO ALLEVIATE
the States, or The People Of the States In sentiment
and feeling from each other. rigid and close ed
herence to the terms OF political compact, and,
above all, sacred observance OF the guarantees oil
the Constitution will preserve union on founda
ton which cannot be shaken while personal liberty
is placed beyond hazard or jeopardy The guarantee
OF religious freedom, OF the freedom oil the press, oil
the liberty of speech, Of the trial by jury, OF the
habeas corpus, and Of the domestic institutions OF
each of the Ststeseavng the private citizen in the
full exercise Of the high and ennobng attributes OF
his nature and to each Stale the privilege whSh eaS
the means best calculated to advance its happi
ness these the great and important guar antees
of the Constitution, which the lovers of liberty must
cherish and the advocates OF union must ever Guilt
vate. Preserving these, and avoiding all nterPola-
tons by forced construction, under the guise of an
imagined expedency upon the Constitution, the iDiu-
of political system destined TO be as ac-
lively and benehciay felt the distant shores Of
the Pacific, as IL is now on those OF the Atlantic
Ocean. The only formidable impediments in the way
of its successful expansion (time aud space) are SO
far in the progress OF modification, by the improve
mcnts of the age, to render longer speculative
the ability OF Representatives from that remote re-
xon to come up TO the Capitol, that their consttu-
ents shall participate in all the benefits Of Federal e
gslation. Thus II Is that, IN the progress OF time
the inesimabe principles of civil libey will be en-
joytd by millions unborn, and the great benefits of
our system of Government be extended To distant
anu rnnhs bied regions. In view of the will
dernsss yet TO be reclaimed, we may well invite the
hover Of freedom of every land, to take up his abode
Among US, and assist Us in the great work of advanc-
ing the standard OF civilization, and giving wider
spread to the arts and refoements Of cultivated life
Oar prayers should evermore be offered up to th,
Father Of the Universe for his wisdom to direct in
the path of our duty as to enable Us TO consum-
mate those high purposes
One OF the strongest objections which has been
urged against oonfederscies by writers Government
IT, he liability Of the members To be tempered with
by foreign Governments, or the People Of foreign
States either in heir local Affairs in such az
fec,ed the peace OF others, enda gered afety
OF he whole Confederacy. We cannot hope to be
entirely eIemp, from such attempts our peace and
safety The United States are becoming too imyor-
tant population and not to attract the ub.
servstion of other nations. It, therefore, may in the
progress a time that opinions entirely abstract
IN the States IN which they may prevail, and in no
degree affecting their domestic institutions may be
arfully, bot secretly encouraged with view to
dermine The Union. Such opinions may become the
foundation Of political parties until at last, the con-
Act Of OPINION pr docing IN alienation of fierd
feslng among the People Of he different States, may
involve In one general destruction the happy Dsttu
under which we live. Il should ever be borne
in mind that what is true in regard To individuals, is
equally A. IN regard TO States An intei frrence of
the sfsirs Of another, is the fruitful s,urce Of
family dsssn-ions and neighbour 'od spu,es and
the same cau,e afec ibe peace happiness aud pros
perty OF States. IL may be most devouy hoped that
th. cd sense OF tue American Pc, pie will ever be
really TO repe all such attempts should they be
made.
here h,s been no material change in our foreign |
relations Nnce my hat Annual Mes age to Conqrcss.
With all the Powers of Europe we continue on |
the INST friendly terms Inceed it affords me |
much satisfaction to state, that at no former pc.