Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-12-13
VOL. 3.----N0. 8.

subjects Of Congress, its legislative all
thority, but here this authority ceases, an
every citizen who truly loves the Con
stitution, and desires the continuance Q
r its existence aid its blessing will reso
lutely and jointly resist any interference
in those domestic affairs which the Con
stitution has clearly and unequivocally lef
to the exclusive authority of the States
} and every such citizen will also depre
cate useless irritation among the seyera
members Of the Union, and all reproacl
and crimination tending TO ALLEVIATE on,
portion of the country from another. TIL,
beauty Of our system of government con
sists, and its safety and durability mus
consist, in avoiding mutual collisions ant
encroachments, and in the regular separ.
ate action of all, while each is revolving
in its own distinct orbit.
I The constitution has made it the duty O.
| the President to take care that the laws be
faithfully executed.
In a government like ours, in which al
laws are passed by majority of the rep
resentatives Of the people, and these rep
resentatives are chosen for such short pc
riods that any injurious or obnoxious law
can soon be repealed, it would appear I'M
likely that any great numbers should be
found ready to resist the execution Of the
law. But il must be borne in mind thai
our country is extensivc;-tha there may
be local interests or prejudices RENDERING
a law odous in one part which is not SO
in another; and that the thoughtless and
inconsiderate, misled by their passions or
their Imagination, may be induced madly
to resist such laws as they disapprove.
Such persons should recollect that with
out law, there can be no real practical lib
erty; that when law is trampled under
foot, tyranny rules whether it appears in
The form Of military despotism, or Of
popular violence. The law is the only
SIRE protection of the weak and the only
efficient restraint on the strong.
Whcn.impartially and faithfully admin
istered none are beneath its protection,
and none above its control.
You, gentlemen, and the country may be
assured that TO the utmost of my ability,
and the extent Of the powers vested in me,
/ shall at all times and in all places take
care that the laws be faithfully executed.
In the discharge Of this duty, solemnly
imposed on me by the constitution and my
oath of Office, shall shrink from no res
possibility, and shall endeayor 10 meet
events as they may arise with iirmness as
well with prudence and discretion.
| The appointing power is one Of the
most delicate with whichthe Executive is
invested. Iregard il as sacred trust to
be exercised with the sole view Of ad-
vancing the prosperity and happiness Of
the people. 1t shall be my effort to raise
the standard of official employment by
! selecting for places of importance indiyid-
uals fitted for pests to which they are as
signed by their known integrity, talents
and virtue. In so extensive a country,
with so great population, and where few
persons appointed TO Office can be known
to the appointing power, mistakes will
sometimes unayoidably happen and unfor-
tunate appointments be made not With
standing the greatest care. Insuch eases
the power of removal may be properly
exercised, and neglect of duty or malfeis-
ance in Office will no more be tolerated in
individuals appointed by myself than in
those appointed by others.
am happy in being able to say that nc
unfavorable change in our foreign rela-
tions has taken place since the message al
the opening Of the last session of Con-
lgress. We are at peace with all nations
and we enjoy in an eminent degree the
blessing OF that peace in prosperous anc
! growing commerce, and in all the forms
of amicablc national intercourse. The
unexampled growth Of the country-ths
fpresent amount Of its population, and il,
means Of self-protection assure for 1.-THE
! respect Of all nations, while it is trusted
that its character for justice and regare
to the rights Of other States will caus,
that respect to be readily and cheerfully
paid.
A convention was negotiated between
the United States and Great Britain il
/ April last for facilitating and protectin,
the construction Of ship canal between
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and iol
1 iother purposes. This instrument has beel
ratified by the contracting parties. TIL,
exchange of ratifica!ions has been dull,
made. Inaddition to the stipulations con
tanned in the convention, two other object,
remain to be accomplished between III,
contracting powers; first, the designation
and establishment of free port at eacl
end of the canal; second, an agreemen
4 fixing the distance from the shore within
which belligerent maratime operation
shall not be carried on. On these points
| there is little doubt, that the two power
/ will come to an understanding. The com
u pany, citizens Of the United States, whicl
{ has accepted fromthe State Of Nicaraueu
the privilege of constructing ship cana
) between the two oceans through terrific
!, ry Of that State, have made some progress
in their preliminary arrangements.
The treaty between the United State
and Great Britain, Of 10Th April las
above referred to, being now in operation
!. it is to be hoped that the guarantees it cor
fers will be sufficient to secure the CON