The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-12-10

stiiutional. or an encroachment on the
lust powers of other departments, or
with provisions hastily adopted, aud like
Iy to produce consequences injurious
aud unforeseen | should not shrink from
the duty of returning ii To YOU, with my
reasons, for your further consideration.
Beyond the due Performance of these
constitutional obligations, both my re-
spect for the legislature aud my sense
Of propricty will restrain me from any
attempt To cou,rol or influence your pro-
ceedngs. With you is tie power, the
honor, and the responsibility of the leg
islation Of the country.
The Government of the United States
is limited Government. 1t is confined
to the exercise Of powers expressly grant
ed, and such others as may be neccssa>
ry for carrying those powers into effect
and it is at all times an especial duty to
guard against any infringement on the
Just rights Of the United States. Over
the objects and subjects inlrusied to Con-
gress, It's legislative authority is supreme.
/ But here that authority ceases, and ev
er, citizen who loves the Constitution,
aud desires the continuance Of its exist
ence and its blessings, will resoluieIy and
firmly resist any interference in those do
nestle affairs, which the Constitution
has clearly and uneqUivocally left to the
exclusive authority of the States. And
every such citizen all also deprecale
useless irritation among the several
members of the Union, and all reproach
and elimination tending to alieuale one
portion Of the conuirv from another
The beauty Of our system of Govern
ment consists, and its safety aud dura-
biily must consist, in avoiding mutual
collisions and encroachments, and in the
regular separate action of all, while each
is revolving in its own distinct orbit.
The Constitution has made it the duty
of the President to take care that the
laws be faithfully executed. In "A Gcv>
ernment like ours, in which all laws are
passed by Il majority of the representa-
lives Of the people, aud these represen-
taiives are chosen fer such short periods
that any inludIcious or obnoxious law
can very soon be repealed, i, would APP
pear unlikely that any great numbers
should be found ready to resist the exc.
cuilon of the laws. But it must bt
borne in mind that The country is exten
>ive, that there may be local interests ol
prcludlces rendering a law odious in one
part, which is not So in another, and tha
the thouehilcss and inconsidcrate. mis-
led by their passions, or their imagina
tons, may be induced madly to resis
such laws as they disapproye. Sucl
persons should recolect that, withou
law, there can be no real practical lib
erty that, when law is trampled unde
, foot, tyranny rules, whether it appears i,
the form of military despoiism or q
popular violence The law is the onl,
sure protection Of the weak, and the onl,
; efficient restraint upon the strong
, When imparlially and faithfully admin
! isiered, none is beneath its protection
and none above lis control. You, gen
+ llemen, and the country may be assured
o that TO the utmost of my ability and T.
, the extent of the power vested in me,
shall at all times. and in all places, tax,
care that the laws be faithfully executed
- In the ,ischarge Of this duty, solemn
. impressed upon me by the Constitution
and 10y my oath Of Office. | shall shrinI
i from no responsibility, aud shall endeav
+ or to meet events a,theY may arise, wit
, Grmuess, as well as with prudence AM
discretion.
T. The appointing power is one of tn
most delicate with which the Excculv
: is invested regard it as a sacred trust
; to be exercised with the sole view Of ad
: vancing the prosperity and the happines
= Of the people. 1t shall be my effort l.
j elevate the standard of official employ
!, ment, by selecting for places of lmpor
c lance individuals gifted for tic posts Il
S which they are assigned, by their know
; integrity, talents, and virtues. In So ex
e tensive a country, with SO great a popn
! lalion, and where few persons appolnle'
i to office can be known To the appointing
il power mistakes will sometimes unavoid
= ably happen, and unfortunate appoint
o ments be made, notwithstanding lh
Il greatest care. In such cases, the pow
II er Of removal may be properly exercised
; and neglect Of duty or malleasance Il
II Office will be no rore tolerated in lndi
3, yiduals appointed by myself than in thos
d appointed by others.
d am happy in being able To say tina
y no unlavorable change in our foreign re
!, lalions has taken place since the mes
49,, ,, ,L,, ,,naniur nj the losl session q