Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-12-21
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
To the Senate and House Of

| Representatives OF me Onttcd StdteG
| We have continued cause for expressing our
gratitude 10 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 occurred to disturb the general peace, or to
derange the harmony OF our political system.
The great moral spectacle has been exhibited OF
a nation, approximating in number to 90 600, 900
Of people, having performed the high and import.
ant function Of eecting their Chief Magistrate
for the term Of four years, without the commits
sion OF any acts OF violence or the manifestation
Of spirit Of INSTRUMENTATION to the lews. The
great and inesmable right OF suffrage, has been
exercised by all who were invested with it, IN.
der the laws OF the different States, in a spirit
dictated alone by desire, in the selection Of the
the agent 10 advance the interests Of the country,
and TO place beyond jeopardy the institutions w
der which it is our happiness 10 live.
| That the deepest interest has been manifested
by all our countrymen in the result OF the cleo.
ton, is not less true, than highly creditabe 10
| them. Vast multtudes have assembled, from
time to time, at various Places for the purpose OF
canvassing the merits and pretensions OF those
who were presented for their suffrsges; but no
armed soldery has been necessary to restrain,
within proper limits the popular zeal, or to pre-
vent violent outbreaks. A principle much more
controlling was found in the love OF order and
obedience to the laws, which, with mere individ
ua exceptions, every where possesses the Amer.
lean mind, and controls with an influence far
more powerful than hosts Of armed men. We
cannot dwell upon this picture without recogni.
zing in il that deep end devoted attachment on
the part OF the people, to the institutions under
which We live, which procams their perpetuty.
The great objection which has always prevailed
against the elections, by the People, OF their Chief
Executive officer, has been the apprehension
Of tumuts end disorders, which might involve in
ruin the entire Government.
security against this is found not only in the
fact before alluded to, but in the additional fact
that, we live under confeteracy embracing al
ready twenty six States; no one Of which 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 Elec
toral 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 dis
tinctly federatve in all its prominent features
Thus it is that, unlike what nigh, be the results
under consolidated SYSTEM riotous proceedings,
should they prevail, could only affect the cleo.
lions in single States without disturbing, TO any
dangerous extent, the tranquility OF others. The
great experiment OF political confederscy-
each member OF which is supreme-as to all mat.
tiers appertanng to its local interests, and its in
ternal peace and happiness, --while by volurta.
ry compact with others, it con6des TO the united
power OF all, the protection Of its citizens in mat.
tiers 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 de
velopments Of the past may be regarded but q!
the shadowing forth OF the mighty future. lr
the right prospects Of that future, we shall find
as patriots and phlanthropists, the highest in
ducements TO cultivate and cherish love OIL
union, and to frown down every measure or ef
fort which may be made to ALLEVIATE the States o
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 TIL
Constitution, will preserve the union on founda
ZION which cannot be shaken; while personal LID
erty is placed beyond hazard or jeopardy.
The guaranty OF religious freedom, Of the free
dom Of the press, of the liberty Of speech, OF tn
trial by jury, OF the habeas corpus and Of tn
domestic institutions Of each Of the States--leav
ing the private citizen in the full exercise OF tn
high and ennobling attributes Of bis nature, an
to each Stale the privilege which, can only b
judiciously exegted by itself, Of consulting tn
means best calculated to advance ils own happi
ness; these are the great and important guaran
ties Of the Conslitul on, which the lovers OF lib
I erty must cherish and the advocates Of unto
? must ever cultivate Preserving these, and avoid
ing all nterpoauons by forced construction, IN
der the guise Of an imagined expediency. upon tn
constitution, the influence Of our political syster
is destined TO be as actively and as beneficial
felt on the distant shores Of the Pacific, as it i
now on those of the Atlantic Ocean. The onl
formidable impedments in the way Of its success
full expansion U'me and space) are so far in III
f progress Of modification, by the improvement
q OF the age, as 10 render no longer speculative III
. ability OF Representatives from that remote regio
i TO come up to the Capitol, so that their cor
d stituents shall participate in all the benefits
T. Federal legislation.
Thus it is, that in the progress OF time, the il
eslimable principles OF civil liberty will be Ell
joyed by millions yet unborn, and the great BEN
. fits OF our system Of Government be extended
( now distant and uninhabited regions. In vie
i OF the vast wilderness yet to be reclaimed, v
/. may well invite the lover OF freedom, OF ever
land 10 take up his abode among US, and asst!
us in the work OF advancing the standard OF ci'
liza,ion, and giving wider spread TO the or
= and refnemenls OF cultivated life. Our praye
should eveTmore be offered Up 10 the Father
the Universe for his wisdom 10 direct US in Il
path OF our duty, so as 10 enable US TO consun
= mate these high purposes.