The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-12

District or Ain1anIa.
Before entering upon the engrossing duties of The
session OF Congress, which has just opened, wish
| TO execute purpose which was formed long since
and to which stil adhere-lhat is To decline re-
election TO the House Of Representatives Some Of
my friends were made acquainted with this purpose
more than twevemonth ago; but, as continue
10 receive letters from gentlemen residing in differ
ent parts Of the district urging TO consent TO be
| a candidate once more, think il best 10 announce
my determination to retire in public and formal
manner.
At the expiration of my present term shall have
been your service for six uccessive years
While have fully appreciated the honor of repre-
senting you in the Congress of the United States
have at all times been sensible of the great duties
which the trust devolved upon me. have enooun-
tered opposition, and my course has been freely
canvassed; but believe that have enjoyed large
| share OF your confidence / have endeavored
throughout my public life to do my duty faithful
ly. have been, at every step of my progress, ami
mated by the hope of advancing your interests, and
Of contributing somewhat to the prosperity and the
glory of the whole country. This consciousness is
above all price. shall cherish il through life 1t
would sustain me even in the face Of your frowns,
and under the burden of your censure. have,
however. the high satisfaction of believing that my
course meets the appreciation of "a very large ma
Jority OF those who have repeatedly chosen me to
| represent them.
| he period through which the country has
passed since entered Congress is justly regarded
as one of the most eventful in our history. Within
| that time Texas has been annexed to the United
! States we have carried on and brought to q close
| brilliant war; have acquired from Mexico, by
| treaty, vast possessions, which have seated our
power and our institutions the Pacific, that
| we now stretch an undsputed Empire terri
tory bounded by the two great oceans of the world
we have Just passed through storm which swept
| the country with unprecedented fury, and which
has tried the strength of our political system. The
stately fabric still stands, and is, hope, destined
to stand when the history of the struggle through
which we have come will be referred 70 only as an
illustration of the power of Confederate Republic
| to exist in the midst of great popular commo-
| tions. The great questions of the time seem now
to be settled; the receding waves and the bright
ening horizon promise season of repose. We are
1T peace with all the world, and we have at the
head OF the Government an Administration which
announces for its guidance principles just SO
wise, and may say noble, that we may hope to
escape collision with foreign Powers. while the
rights and the honor of our country are vigorously
! maintained and indicated The Administration,
too is pledged to the support of the adjustment of
domestic troubles which Congress 30 lately effect
ed after the longest and most important session it
ever held
Having borne my part in these important events,
| feel that may retire from the place 10 which
you have repeatedly elevated me without exposing
myself to the charge of indifference to your inter-
ests or disposition to shrink from any response
bility which ought to encounter.
The events which have transpircd within the
last tWelye months, far from imparing the
strength of our political system have really served
TO demonstrate it. There is to day growing con-
Constitution must be adhered to in its pristine
spirit, and that while it il adhered to, the republic
will endure. storm which sweeps the ocean and
drives the vessel before its fury, makes the mari
ncr look more closely to his means of safety;
and political coayuIson which threatens to
overthrow the Government brings about re-
currence to the great elementary principles upon
which the fabric rests. States spread over con
tlnen; with every variety of soil and climate with
diverse Interests, rapidly advancing in wealth.
power, and population. and held together by
Geneal Government of great but limited powers
must feel that their harmonious progress can be
secured only by faithful adherence to the Consti
tuition. Some who witness Unprecedented
growth express the apprehension that our territory
/: becoming too widely extended 10 be embraced
within single Government. i do not for a mo
ment share this apprehension. The great political
fabric under which which we live is new and com
pick, and as believe, capable Of great enlarge
ment Nothing in ancient modern times can
furnish a resemblance 10 it. Il does not consist of
single State, like some Of the ancient repub lcs
nor Is IT an empire like the Roman, concentrating
ITS strength in a single central seat of power and
spreading its arms and its iu5Otutons by conquest
over remote regions. Our growth is natural and
spontaneous; 1t is the result of the inherent
energy OF our people, and il does not enleeb!e
I-Eeneral Government by bringing new States
under it's Jurisdiction. The roman empire sent
It's eagles in the hands OF the Roman colder from
the African deEert TO Northern Germany, and from
the Euphrates to the Atlantic Ocean. The prin-
GJrle, uDon which this empire was extended was
possessions at liberty 10 assert their independence
and they threw oil yoke which the feeble hand OF
a degenerate race could no longer bind upon their
necks. But our progress is the sPread OF great
family, all bearing with them the law, the tradi-
tons, the sympathies, and the religion Of those
from whom they have removed. Our system of
Government too, blends the advantages of a local
jurisdiction with the authority of a federal power.
Montesquieu, of the most philosophical politi-
cal writers which any age has produced, says that
ga CosFEDkRATE REPUBLIC has all the internal adj
vantages of republican together with the exter-
al ..fa hal Az Ma
Government Is composed OF small republics IL en-
Joys the internal happiness Of each; and with re-
speCt 10 its external SITUATION II &c possessed, by
means of the association, Of all the advantages Of
largs monarches" Our Government, then, being
a Confederate Republic, will enable US 10 spread
our population and our institutions over entire
domain. We must bear in mind, too, that modern
civilization has wrought great changes IN the rea-
tons which nations bear TO each other. The means
Of INSTRUMENTATION are 50 improved ~ modern
sconce, that those parts Of the world which have
been accustomed 10 consider the most remote from
each other, are brought into neghborhood. Steam
and the magnetic telegraph enable us 10 circulate
ideas throughout our wide .spread limits with
pidity that osercomes time and distance; what Is
uttered written at the scat of the Federal Co
vernmcnt lie addressed directly TO the great body
of The American people; they observe the move
ments OF the Government, and pass upon our
measures as If they were present at the the cap
ital. The action OF the Government is felt imnIe
diately at the most remote points, and impression
is made as directly upon the great mind of the ma
ton, lifts widely scattered population gath
cred into single community. The progress OF
business in the halle Of Congress is known in New
Orleans, Cipoinnati, and Boston coon as it is
known in Washington Even the most remote
parts Of our country are not really more distant
/ from each other than the most widely separated
| points Of the old thirteen States were when single
| Government established for them. These
means Of INSTRUMENTATION must be increased;
| they must be taxed as lightly possible; postage
must be reduced, railroads must be multiplied. anA
1
| the Pacific coast must be h.ougbt nearer to ma bv
the early construction of OF those great high
ways OF commerce apd oftrayel. The scheme Gre
taliaton lately projected Of discriminating against
tho products ofother States must be abandoned and
| our whole legislation the legislation of Congress
and the legislation OF the States, must be guided by
comprehensive, national, and patriotic spirit. These
States must regard each other as kindred States;
the CONSTITUTIONS must be recognised in all OF them
as the supreme law; and the acts of Congress
passed in accordance with its provisions. must be
obeycd; and we must fix In our minds and
in our hearts the idea that, a. VIC have had a
common orr gin, I'VE must have common destiny.
IL the past has witnessed struggles, let the fu
ture exhibit our triumphs Let the great standard
~, a..