, 1844-12-21
By I. ADAMS.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the Senate and House of

blessings which our country, under his kind Providence,
has enjoyed during the pas, year. notwithstanding the ex-
citing scenes through which we have passed, nothing has
occurred 10 disturb the general peace, or to derange The har-
mony Of our political system. The great moral spectacle
has been exhibited Of a nation, approxtmating in number &c
2l,0oO,O 600 Of people, having performed the high and i'm
portant function OF elecung their Chief Magistrate for the
term Of four years, without the commission Of any acts Of
violence, orthe manifestation of a spirit of insubordinetion
10 the lswp. The great and ines Unable right Of suffrage.
has been exercised by all who were invested with il, Under
the laws of he different States, in a spirit dictated alone by
q desire, in The selection OF the agent, 10 advance tFe inter
ests of the country, and 10 place beyond jeopardy the insti-
buttons under which it is our happinesst 10 live.
That the deepest interest has been manifested by all our
countrymen in the result of The election, is not less true,
than highly creditable 10 them. Vast muliitudes have as
seanNAed, from time TO time, at vorious places, for the pur-
m Of canya ssirg the merits and pretensioDs OF those who
werN aweseute / i5r their sufrages; bat no armed soldiery
Ia, m necessary 10 restrain, within proper limits, the
Dopulsr zeal, or 10 prevent violent outbreaks. A principle
much more controlling was found in the love of order and
obedience TO the laws, which, with mere individual excep-
lions, every where possesses the American mind, and con-
rS, with an influence far more powariulthan hosts of arm
ed men. We cauno, dwell upln this picture without re-
cognizing in il that deep and devoted attachment on the part
of The people, TO the institutions uader which we live,
which proelaims their perpetuiiy. Inc great objection
which ha. always prevailed against the election, by the Peo-
,le. Of their chief Executive officer, has been the appre-
hensiou of tumalts and disorders, which might involve IN
ruin the entire government.
A security against this, is found not only in tbs fact be-
fore alluded 10, but in the additional fact that, we live TN
der a ~confederscy embracing already twenty-slx States; no
one Of which has power 10 control the election. Inc pop
,lar yste 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 decision Of the other States. The
right of suffrage, and the node of conducting the election Is
regulated by The laws of each State; and the election Is dis
iinctly federative in all its prominent features. Thus II Is
that IL nike what might be the results under 4 cohsoiiualeo
system. riotous proceedings, should they prevail, could on
" effect the election in single States, without disturbing,
10 any dangerou. extent, the tranquility of others. The
great experiment Of political confederacy-each MEMBER Oh
which, is supreme-as 10 all matters appertaining to Its To-
cal interests. and its Internal peace and happiness,-whlle
by a voluntary compact with others 1t coniides to the unit
ed power of all, the protection OF its citizens IN matters no,
donestic-has been SO far crowned with complete success.
The world has witnessed its rapid growth in wealth aid
populations; and under the guide and protection Of a supers
intending providence, the developments OF the past may be
regarded but as the shadowing forth OF the mighty future.
In the bright prospects of that future, we shall find, as pa
triots and philanthropists, the highest inducements TO cuhi-
vate and cherish a love of union, and 10 frown down every
\ measure or effort which may he made TO ALLEVIATE the States
\ or the people of the States. in sentiment and feeling, from
each other. A rigid and close adherence 10 the terms OF
our political compact, and, above all, 4 sacred Observance
, OF the guarantees of the constitution, will preserve union
| ons seaAdaion which cannot be shaken; while personal lib
ety is placed beyond hazard or jeopardy.
The guaranty of religious freedom, OF the freedom OF
the prkss, Of the liberty of speech, of the trial by jury, of
the habea' carpu., and of the domestic institutions Of each
Of the Ssates-leaving the private citizen In The full e1er-
else Of re high and ennobing attributes OF his nature, and
TO eac 3.ate The privilege which, can only be judiciously
eIertcu by itself Of consulting the means best calculated to
advancr IFS own happiness these are the great and inpor-
tanf guarantees of the constitution. which the lovers OF lib
erty mns.cherish and the advocates OF union must ever Gull
tvate. Pre- CRYING these, and avoiding all interpretations
BY forced instruction, under the guise Of an imagined e1-
pediency. upon the constitution, the influence of orr po-
liical sy iem is destined to be as actively and as beneficial
ly felt o,Ghe distant shores of the Pacific, as it is now on
\ those of the Atlantic Ocean. The OILY fornldable inpedi-
nents ii the way of its successful expansion (ime ard
space Are SO far in the progress Of modification, by the
. e Il aDo n G IN render no LONGER aDcCUH-
tive tie ability OF Representatives. from that remote region
10 come I'm TO the Capitol, SO that their constituents shall
uarticipate in all the benefits of Federal legislation.
T ms il is. that in the progress OF time, the inestimabie
PR iples Of civil liberty will be enjoyed by millions vel
nm. N and the great benefits of our system OF govern
neE he extended to now distant and uninhabited regions
In vi W of the vast wilderness yet tc be reclaimed, we may
we'll wife the lover of freedom, of every land, 10 take up
5sandard of civilization, and giving a wider spread tt
4 arts and re6nemsnts Of cultivated life. Our prayers
Il ,uld evermore be offered up TO the Father OF the UNI
verse fo, his wisdom to direct us in the path OF our duty
n As to enable us TO oonsumaie these high purposes.
: On. NJ the strongest objections which has been urged a
.ainst oonfederacies, by writers on government, Is. ~ I'D
bilitv of the members to be tempered with by ioreiSh gov
ernmeats, or the people offoreign States eiIhe. IN III" ~
o,I ,g,;rs ~ in such as affected the peace OF others, or en-
danoered the safety Of the whole confederacy. we can
NOT hon. "a he entirely exempt from such attempts on on
&c. ..fa,v The United States are becoming too I'm
|f nort.nt IN nonnlation and resources not to altfact the ooser
yation Of other nations. II therefore may, In the progress
An ~ time q that opinions entirely abstract In the o'a,e
IN which ,boy NAV prevail, in no degree afiec'ing 'her 10
nestle institutions, may be artfully but seCrety encouraseu
7 viii . r;.., IN undermine the Union. Such opinions ma
hsoo,. d. cau,d,,ion of political parties, until al last TIT
oona;., &c .a;.;on ~nroducinc an alienation Of friendly feel
-. r. .ao,ie of the different States, may involv'