Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1844-12-06
Presidents Message.
To the Senate and House of

gratitude to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for
the benefits and blessings which our country, I'M
der 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 or to derange the
harmony of our political system. The great moral
spectacle has been exhibited of nation, apploxi-
mating in number to 2000O,000 of people, having
performed the high and important function of elect
ing their Chief Magistrate for the term of four
years, without the commission of any acta Of vio-
ence, or the manifestation of spirit of insubordi-
nation to the laws. The great and inestimabIe
right of suffrage, has been exercised by all who
were invested with it, under the laws of the differ
ent Staes IN a 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 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 credtable to them. Vast
multitudes have assembled, from time to time at
various places, for the purpose of canvassing the
merits and pretensions of those who were present.
ed for their suffrages; but no armed soldiery has
been necessary 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 exceptions, every where pos,
huence far more powerful than hosts of armed men.
We cannot dwell upon this picture without recog-
nizlng in it that deep and devoted attachment on
the part of the People, to the institutions under
which we live, which proclaims :heir perpetuity.-
The great objection which has always prevailed
against the election, by the People, of their Chief
Executive officer, has been the apprehension of tu
muts and disorders, which might involve in ruin
the entire Government. A security sganst this is
-, Cot Iofo~ I,I L,,A;
the additional fact that, we live under a confedera
cy embracing already twenty-six States no one o.
which has power to control the election The pOpu-f
lar vote in each State is taken at the time appointed
by the laws, and such vote is announced by its
Electoral College, without reference to the decision
of the other States. The right of suffrage and the
mode of conducting the election is regulated by the
laws of each State; and the election is distinctly
federatve In all its prominent features. Thus it is
that, unlike what mis- ht be the results under
consolidated system, riotous proceedings, should
they prevail could only affect the elections in sim
gle States, without disturbing, to any dangerous
extent, the tranquility of Others The great expe-
riment of political confederacy--eacn member OF
which supreme-as to all matters appGrtaining to
its local interests and its internal peace and hapi
ness,-while Sy voluntary compact with others
it COnides to the united power of ALL the protection
of its citizens, in matters not domestc-has beer
so far crowned with complete success The worIC
has witnessed its rapid growth in wealth and pop
ulation; and, under the guide and direction of
perintending Providence, the Developments of thu
past may be regarded but as the shadowing forth 0
the mighty future. In the bright prospects of tina
future we shall find, as patriots and phanthropists
the highest inducements to cultivate and cherish
love of union, and to frown down every measure
or effort which may be made to ALLEVIATE the States
the People of the States, in sentiment and feel
ing, from each other. rigid and close adherence
to the terms of political compact, and, above all
a sacred observance of the guarantees of the Con
stituton, will preserve union on a foundation whic
cannot be shaken; while personal liberty is place
beyond hazard OF jeopardy. The guarantee of rel
gious freedom, of the freedom of the press, of tn
liberty of speech, of the trial by jury, of the habe
as corpus and of the domestic institutions of eac
of the States-lsaving the private citizen In the fu
exercise of the high and enrolling attributes of hi
nature, and to each State the privilege, which ca
only be iudiciousIy excrted by ITSELF of consultin
the means best calculated to advance It's own haI
piness;-these are the great and important guarrar
tees Of the Constitution, which the lovers of ibe
ty must cherish, and the advocates of union mu
ever cultivate. Preserving these, and avoiding a
interpretations by forced construction, under tn
guise of an imagined expediency, upon the Const
tuition, the influence of our political system is de-
tined TO be as actively and as benefcialy felt O
the distant shores of the Pacific, it is now O
those of the Atlantic Ocean. The only formidab
impediments in the way of its successful expansiC
(time and space) so far in the progress of mod
tcation, by the improvements OF the age as to re
der no longer speculative the ability of Represe
tatives from that remote region to come up to tt
Capitol, so that their constituents shall particpa
in all the benefits of Federal legislation. Thus
is that in the progress of time, the inestmabe pr
Ciples of civil liberty will be enjoyed by millio
yet unborn, and the great benefits of our system
Government be extended to distant and uni
habited regions. In view of the vast widerne
vet to be reclaimed, we may well invite the Low
Of freedom, of every land to take up his abode
mong us, and assist US in the great work of q
vGncing the standard of civilization, and giving
wider spread to the arts and refinements of cul
Aated life Our prayers should evermore be off
ed up to the Father of the Universe for his w
dom to direct us in the path of our duty,
to enable us to consummate these high purposes
One of the strongest objections which has be
urged against confederacies, by writers on Cover
ment, is, the liability of the members to be tamp
ed with by foreign Governments, or the People
foreign States either in their local affairs or in su
as affected the peace of others, or endangered
safety of the whole Confederacy. We cannot no
to be entirely exempt from such attempts Oh c
peace and safety. The United States are beco
ing too important in population and resources I
to attract the observation of other nations
therefore, may, in the progress OF time, occur Il
opinions entirely abstract in the States in viii
they may prevail, and in no degree affecting tn
domestic institutions, may be artfully, but secret
encouraged with view to undermine the Uni
Such opinions may become the foundation of
litical parties, until at last, the conflict of opini
producing an alienation of friendly feeling amo
the People of the different States, may involve
one general destruction the happy institutions I'M