Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-12-18

the French armies to aid all citizens who might have
been or should be oppressed in the of liberty
Here was the false step which led to her subsequent
misortunes. She found herself involved in war
with all the rest of Europe. In less than ten years
her Government was changed from Republic to an
Empire and, finally, after shedding rivers of blood,
foreign powers restored her exced dynasty and ex-
hausted Europe sought peace and repose in the un-
questioned ascendency of monarchal principles Let
US learn wisdom from her example. Let us remember
that revolutions do net always establish freedom Our
own frees institutions not the offspring of our
Revolution. They existed before. They were planted
in the free characters of segovernmen under which
the English colonies grew up, and Revolution only
freed Us from the dominion of foreign power whose
government was ut variance with those institutions.
But European nations have had such training for
self-gevernment, and every effort to establish it by
bloody revolutions have been and must, without that
preparation, continue to be- failure. Liberty unreg-
ulated by law, dcgenerates into anarchy, which soon
becomes the most horrid of all dcspotisms. Our poll
Cy wisely to govern ourselves and thereby TO set such
example Of national justice, prosperity, andtrue
glory, shall teach all nations the blessings of self
government, and the unparalleled enterprise and sue
cess of a free people,
We live in an age of progress, and ours is emphat-
caly country Of progress. Within the last half
century the number of States in this Union has near
" doubled, the population has almost quadrupled and
our boundaries have been extended from the Missssip
p to the Pacific Our territory chequred over with
railroads, and furrowed with canals. The inventive
talent of country is excited to the highest PITCH
and the numerous applications for patents for valua-
BILE Improvements distinguish this age and this people
from all others The genius of one American has en-
abled commerce to against wind and tide,
and that of another has annihlated distance in the
transmission of intelligence. The whole country is
full of enterprise. Our schools are diffusng
intelligence among the people, and industry fast
accommodating the comforts and Injuries of life. This
is in part owing to peculiar position to fertile
soil, and comparatively sparce population; but much
of it is also owing to the popular institutions under
which we live, to the freedom which every an feels
to engage in any useful pursuit. according to his taste
and inclination and to the entire confidence that his
person and property will be protected by the laws
But whatever may be the cause of this unparalleled
growth in population, intelligence and wealth, one
thing is clear, that the Government must keep pace
with the progress of the people 1t must participate
in their spirit of enterprise, and while it exacts obed
TO the laws, and restraints all unauthorized inya-
sons of the rights of the neghborng States it should
foster and protect home industry and lend its power
full strength to the improvement of such means of in
accommodation as necessary to protect our in
ternal commerce and strengthen the ties which bind
us together as people.
1t is not strange, however much it NAV be regret
ted, that such eXuberance of enterprise should
cause some individuals to mistake change for progress
and the invasion of the rights of others for national
prowess and glory. The former are constantly agta-
w,
new and untried theories of human rights The lat
ter ready engage in any wild crusade against
aneghboring people, regardless of the Justice of the
enterprise, and without looking at the fatal conse-
quences to ourselves and to the cause of popular
eminent. Such expeditions however, are often slim
ulated by mercenary individuals, who expect to share
the plumber profit of the enterprise without expo
sing themselves to danger, and led on by some r-
responsible foreigner who abuses the hospitality our
Government by seducng the young and ignorant to
his scheme OF personal ambition or
under the false and deusve pretence of extending the
area of freedom. Those reprehensible aggressions
but retard the true progress of nation and tarnsh
its fair fame. They should therefore, receive the in
dignant frowns of every good citizen who sincerely
loves his country and takes pride in its prosperity and
honor.
Our Constitution, though not perfect, is doubtless
the best that ever formed. Therefore let every
proposition to change it be well weighed and if found
beneficial, cautiously adopted Every patriot will re-
oice to see its authority exerted to advance the
prosperity and honor of the nation whilst he will
watch with jealousy any attempt to mutate this char
acter OF our liberties, perver its powers acts of
aggression injustice Thus shall conservatism and
progress blend their harmonious action in preserving
the form and spirit of the Constitution and at the
same time carry forward the great improvements Of
the country with rapidity and energy which freemen
only can display.
In closing this, my last annual communication per-
NIT me, telow-citizens, to congratulate you on the
prosperous condition of beloved country ABROAD
rights are respected, and its high place in the family
nations cheerfully recognized. At home we enjoy an
amount of happiness, public and private which has
probably never fallen to the lot of any other people
Besides afording to citizens degree of pros
perity, of which SO large scale know of no 9th
er instance, our country is annually afording refuge
and home to multitudes altogether without example
from the Old World.
We owe these blessings under Heaven, to the hap
py Constitution and Government which were bequeath
ed to by fathers and which it is our sacred du
ty to transmit in all their integrity to children
We must all consider it great distinction of priv
lege to have been chosen by the people bear par
in the administration of such Government. Callet
by an unexpected dspensation to its highest
season of embarrassment and alarm, entered upoI
its arduous duties with extreme diffdence | claim
only to have discharged them the best of an humble
ability, with single eye to the public good and it il
with devout gratitude, in retiring from office, that
leave the country in state of peace and prosperity
WILLARD FILLMORE.
WASHINGTON, December 9Th, 1852.
Pierce and Scott at Home.