Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-12-27
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
To the Senate and House of


| To the Senate and House of
Representatives. Of the United States.
We have continued canse for expressing
our gratitude to the Supreme Ruler of tie
Universe for the benefits and blessings
which our country, under his kind provi-
dence, has enjoyed during the past year.
Notwithstanding the exciting scenes ihro'
which we have passed. nothing has occur
red TO disturb the general peace, or 10 de-
range the harmony Of our political sys.
tenn. The great moral spectacle has been
exhibited of nation, approxima,ing in
number to twenty millions Of people, ilay-
ing performed The high and important
function of eleciing their Chief Magistrate
for the term of four years, without the
commission Of any acts Of violence, or the
manifestation of spirit of INSTRUMENTATION
TO the laws. The great and ines,imable
right Of suffrage has been exercised by all
who were invested with it, under the laws
of the different States, in spirit dictated
alone by desire, in the selection of the
agent to advance the interests Of the coun !.
try and to place beyond jeopardy the in-
stitutions under which it is our happiness
TO 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 to them. Vast null
tiludes have assembled, from time to time,
at various places, for the purpose of cam
wasting the merits and pretensions of those
who were presented for their suffrages
but no armed soldiery has been necessary
to restrain 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 excep-
lions, everywhere possesses the American
mind and controls with an influence far
more powerful than hosts Of armed men.
We cannot dwell upon this picture with
out recognizing in it that deep and devo-
ted attachment on the part of the people
TO the institutions under which we live,
which proclaims their perpetuity. The
great objection which has always prevail
ed against the election by the people of
their Chief Executive officer, has been the
apprehension of tumul!s and disorders,
which might involve in ruin the entire
Government. A security against this is
found not only in the fact before alluded
to, but in the additional fact that we live
under confederacy embracing already
twenty-six States, no one of which has
power to control the election. The pop
ular vote in each State is taken at the time.
appointed by the laws. and such vote is
announced by the Electoral College with.
out reference TO the decision of the other
States. The right Of suffrage, and the
mode of conducting the election, is regula'
ted by the laws Of each State; and the cleo
ton is distinctly feeeraiive in all its proIn
inent features. Thus it is that, unlike
what might be the results under consol-
idated system, riotous proceedings, should
they prevail, could only affect the elec-
tons in single States, wissot 35I.a!urhi2s2>.
to any dangerous extent, the tranquility Of
others.
The great experiment Of a political con-
federacy, each member of which is SUI
preme as to all matters appertaining 10 its
local interests and its internal peace and
happiness, while, by voluntary COM
pact with others, it con6des to the united
power of all the protection of its citizens
in matters not domestic, has been SO far
crowned with complete success. The
world has witnessed its rapid growth in
wealth and population; and, under the
guide and direction of experimenting
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
patriots and philanthropists, the highest
inducements to cultivate and cherish a
love Of union, and to frown 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 political compact, and above
all, sacred observance of the guarantees
of the Constitution. will preserve union
on foundation which cannot be shaken !;
while personal liberty is placed beyond
hazard or jeopardy. The guaranty Of re-
ligious freedom, of the freedom of the
press, of the liberty Of speech, Of the trial
by Jury, Of the habeas corpus, and of the
domestic institutions of each of the States
Leaving the private citizen in the full
exercise of the high and cnnobling as.ri-
butes of his nature, and to each State the
privilege which can only be judiciousiy
exerteG by itself, Of consulting the means
best calculated to advance its own happi>
ness these are the great and important
guarantees Of the Constitution, which the
lovers Of liberty must cherish. and the adj
vocates of union must ever cultivate. Pre-
! serving these, and avoiding all interpola>