American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-03-05

the legislative and executive departments 10
the tribunal of the people. Like all other pow
ers, it is subject to be abused. When ludcious-
" and properly exercised, the constitution it,
self may be saved from infracton, and the
rights ofall preserved and protected.
The inestmable value of our federal Union
is felt and acknowledged by all. BY this sys-
tenn of united and confederated States, our peo-
pie are permitted, collectively and individual
ly to seek their own happiness in their own
way; and the consequences have been most
ausplcious. Since the Union was formed, the
number of the States has increased from thir-
teen to twenty-eight two of these have taken
their position as members of the coniederacy
within the last week. Our population has in
creased from three to twenty millions. New
communities and States are seeking protection
under its Hgis, and multtudes from the Old
World are fioeking to our shores to participate
in its blessings. Beneath its benign sway
peace and prosperity prevail. Freed from the
burdens and miseres of war, our trade and in
tercourse have extended throughout the world.
Mind, no longer tasked in devising means TO ac-
conplsh or resist schemes of ambition, usur-
patton, or conquest, is devoting itself to man
true interests, in developing his faculties and
powers, and the capacity of nature to minister
to his enjoyments. Genius is free to announce
its inventions and discoveries; and the hand is
free to accomplish whatever the head conceives
not incompatible with the rights Of a fellow
being. All distinctions of birth or of rank 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 opln-
ion is guaranteed to all sects and creeds.
These are some of the blessings secured to
our happy land by our federal Union. To per-
petuate them, it is our sacred duty to preserve
it. Who shall assign limits to the achieve
ments of free minds and free hands, under the
protection of this glorious Union? No treason
to mankind, since the organization of society
would be equal in atrocity to that of him who
would lift his hand to destroy it. He would
overthrowthc nohlest structure of human wis
dom, which protects himself and his fellow
man. he would stop the progress OF free gov
ernment, and involve his country either in an
archy or despotism. He would extinguish the
fire Of liberty which warns and animates the
hearts of happy millions, and invites all the ma
tions of the earth to initiate our example. Ii
he say that error and wrong are committed in
the administration of the government, let him
remember that nothing human can be perfect;
| anu llldt OlLti SJstCli III
revealed by Heaven, or devised by man, has
reason been allowed so free and broad scope
to combat error. Has the sword of despots
proved to be a safer or surer instrument of re-
form in government than enlightened reason
Does he expect to find among the ruins of this
Union happier abode for our swarmlng mil
lions than they now have under it! Every
lover of his country must shudder at the thought
of the possibility of its dissolution and will be
! ready to adopt the patriotic sentiment 'Our fed
eral Union-it must be preserved" 10 pre-
serve it, The compromises which alone enabled
our fathers to form common constitution for
the government and protection OF so many
! States, and distinct communities, OF such di-
versifed habits, interests, and domestic institu-
tions, must be sacredly and religiously observed.
Any attempt to disturb or destroy these COM
promises, being terms Of the compact of Union,
can lead to none other than the most ruinous
and disastrous consequences.
1t is a source of deep regret that, in some
sections of our country, misguided persons
have occasionally INDUCED in schemes and agi-
tations, whose object is the destruction of do
nestle institutions existing in other sections
institutions which existed at the adoption OF
the constitution, and were recognized and
protected by it. All must see that if it
were possible for them to be successful in at
tanning their object, the dissolution of the
Union, and the consequent destruction of our
happy form of government must speedily fol-
low.
am happy to believe that at every period
of our existence as nation, there has existed,
and continues to exist, among the great mass
of our people, devotion to the Union OF the
States, which will shield and protect it against
the moral treason of any who would seriously
contemplate it's destruction. To secure con-
tnuance of that devotion, the compromises OF
the constitution must not only be preserved,
but sectional jeolousios and heart-burnngs
must be discountenanced; and all should re-
member that they are members OF the same
political family, having common destiny
To increase the attachment of our people to
the Union, our laws should be just. Any po-
Icy which shall tend to favor monopoles, or
the peculiar interests of sections or classes,
must operate to the prejudice of the interests
of their fellow-citzens, and should be avoided.
If the compromises of the constitution be pre-
served-if sectional jealouses and heartburn
ings be discountenapced-if our laws be just,
and the government be practically administer
ed strictly within the limits of power prescribed
to tive may discard all apprehensons for
the safety of the Union.
With these views of the nature, character,
and objects of the government, and the value
of the Union, shall steadily oppose the crea-
ton of those institutions and systems which, in
their nature, tend to pervert it from its legti-
mate purposes, and make it the instrument Of
sections, classes, and individuals. We need no
national banks, or other extraneous institutions
planted around the government to controul or
strengthen it in opposition to the will of its au-
thors. Experience has taught us how unne-
cessary they are as auxiliaries of the public au-
thoritcs, how impotent for good, and how
powerful for mischief
Ours was intended to be plain and frugal
government; and shall regard it to be my du-
ty to recommend to Congress, and, as far as
the executive is concerned, to enforce by all
the means within my power, the strictest econ
omy in the expenditure of the public money,