The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1845-03-13


preston.
That the blessings of liberty which our
Constitution secures may be enjoyed alike
by minorties and majorities, the Executive
has been wisely invested with a qualified
veto upon the acts of the Legislature. 1t
is a negative power, and is conservative in
It's character. 1t arrests for the time has
ty, inconsiderate, or unconditional legsla-
ton; invites reconsideration, and trans
fers questions at issue between the Legs
lative and Executive departments to the
tribunal Of the people. Like all other pow
ers, it is subject to be abused When
jndlclousIy and properly exercised, the
Constitution itself may be saved from in
fraction, and the rights Of all preserved
and protected.
The ines,imable value of our federal
Union is felt and acknowledged by all. by
this system of united and contederated
States, our people are permitted, collect
lively and individually, to seek their own
happines in their own way; and the conse-
quences have been most suspicious, Since
the Union was formed the number OF States
has increased from thirteen to twenty-eght;
two of these have taken their position as
members of the conlederacy within the
last week. Our population has increased
from three to twenty millions. New COM
munties and states are seeking protection
under its ugis, and multitudes from the Old
World are llocking to our shores to partl-
cipate in its blessings. Beneath its benign
sway, peace and prosperity prevail. Freed
from the burdens and mserles Of war, our
trade and intercourse have extended throuh'
out the world. Mind, no longer tasked
in devising means to accomplish or resist
schemes of ambition, usurpatlon, or con-
quest, is devoting itself to mans true inter
ests, in developing his faculties and pow
ers, and the capacity ofnature to minister
to his enjoyments. Genius is free to an
nounce its inventions and discoveries and
the hand is free to accomplish whatever the
head cOnceives, not incompatible with the
rights of a fcllow-being. All distinctions
of birth or ofrank have been abolished
All citizens, whether native or adopted, are
placed upon terms Of precise equality
All are entitled to equal rights and equal
protection. No union exists between
church and state; and perfect freedom Of
opinion is guaranteed to all sects and
creeds.
These are some of the blessings secured
to our happy land by our federal Union
To perpetuate them, it is our sacred duty
to preserve it, Who shall assign limits &C
the achievements Of free minds and free
hands, under the protection Of this gIorl'
Gus Union? No treason to mankind since
the organization Of society, would be equal
in alrocity to that OF him who would lift
his hand to destroy ii. He would over
throw the nobest structure of human Wis
dom, which protects himself and fellow
man. lie would stop the progress of free
government, and involve his country eth
err in anarchy or despotism. He would
extinguish the fire of liberty which warns
and animates the hearts Of happy millions
and invites all the nations of the elrth &c
initiate cur example. If he say that error
and wrong are committed in the admins
tration oftho government, let him remem
Der that nothing human can be perfect
and that under no other system of gov
eminent revealed by Heaven or devised by
man, has reason been allowed so free and
broad scope to combat error Has the
swords Of despots proved to be safer or
surer instrument Of reform in government,
than enlightened reason! Does he expect
to find among the ruins of this Union a
happier abode for our swarming millions
than they now have under it! Every lover
of his county must shudder at the thought
of the possibility of its dissolution, and will
be ready 10 adopt the patriotic sentiment,
"Our federal iJnion-lt must be preserved. "
To preserve it, the compromises which a
lone enabled our fathers to form common
constitution for the government and pro
lection of so many States and distinct com
munities, of such diversified habits, inter
ests, aud domestic institutions, must be
sacredly and reigiousIy observed, Any
attempt to disturb or destroy these COM
promises, being terms Of the compact o
Union, can lead to none other than the
most ruinous and disastrous consequence
es
1t is a source of deep regret that, in
some sections Of our country, misguided
persons have occasionally INDUCED il
schemes and agitations, whose object L
the destruction of domestic institutions
existing in other standardization
which existed at the adoption of the con.
sttution, and were recognised and protect
ed by it. al must see that fit were pos
sible for them to be successful in attainin!
their object, the dissolution of the Union
and the consequent destruction of our hap
Ply form Of government, must speedily fol
low.
l am happy to believe that at every peri
cd of our existence as a nation, there hal
existed, and continues to exist, among TIT
great mass of our people, devotion to tht
Union Of the States, which will shield ant
protect il against the moral treason of an.
who would seriously contemplate its de
slruction. To secure continuance Of tina
devotion, the compromises Of the Const