Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1853-12-15

will close their eyes on the spectacle of more
than one hundred millions Of population en-
braced within the majestic proportions of the
American Union 1t is not merely as an IN
teresting topic of speculation that present
these views for your consideration. They
have important practical bearings upon all
the political duties VIC are called upon to per-
form. Heretofore, our system Of government
has worked on what may be termed minia-,
turc scale, in comparison with the develop
ment, which it must thus assume, within a
future so near at hand, as scarcely to be be-
yond the present of the existing generation.
1t is evident that confederation so vast
and so varied, both in numbers and territorial
extent, in habits and in interests, could only
be kept in national cohesion by the strlctest
fidelity to the princip pies of the constitution,
as understood by those who have adhered to
! the most restricted construction of the powers
granted by the people and the states. In
terprcted and applied according to those
principles, the great compact adapts itself
with ease and freedom TO an unlimited eXtcn-
sion of that benign system of federatlve self
government, of which it is our glorious and,
trust immortal charter. Let us, then,
with redoubed vigilance, be on our guard
against yielding to the temptation of the ex-
ercise of doubtful powers, even under the
pressure of the motives of conceded tempo
rary advantage and apparent temporary ex-
pedIency.
The minimum of federal government, COM
patbe with the maintenance of national uni
-, Il al,
the rest of the world should afford the rule
and measure of construction of our powers
under the general clauses of the constitution.
A spirit of strict Difference to the sovereign
rights and dignity of every state, rather than
disposition to subordinate the states into
provincial relation to the central authority,
should characterize all our exercise of the
respective powers temporarily vested in us as
a sacred trust from the generous confidence
of our constituents.
In like manner, as manllestly indspen-
sable condition Of the perpetuation Of the
: Union, and Of the realization of that magnii-
cent national future adverted to, does the
duty become yearly stronger and clearer up
on us, as citizens of the several states, to
cultivate a fratcrnal and afectionate spirit,
language and conduct, in regard to other
states, and in relation to the varied interests,
institutions, and habits of sentiment and
opinion, which may respectively character
ize them. Mutual tOrbearance, respect, and
non-inelierence in our personal action as
citizens, and an enlarged exercise of the
lie dealings of state with state, whether in
legislation or in the execution of laws, are
the means to pcrpetuate that confidence and
fraternity, the decay of which mere politi-
cal unlon on so vast a scale, could not long
survive.
In still another point of view, is an impor-
tant practical duty suggested by this consid-
GRAFTON Of the magnitude of dimensions, to
which our political system, with its cores
pondlng machinery Of government, is so rap
idly expanding. " it'll increased vigilance
does it require Us to cultivate the cardinal
virtues of public trugality and official integ-
rity and purity, Public affairs ought to be so
conducted that settled conviction shall per-
wade the entire Union, that nothing short of
the highest tone and standard of public mo-
rallty marks every part of the administration
) and legislation of the general government
Thus will the federal system, whatever eX
pansIon time and progress may give it, con-
tinue more and more deeply rooted in the
love and confidence Of the people.
That wise economy, which is as far re-
moved from parsimony as from corrupt and
corruptng extravaganza that single regard
for the public good, which will trown upon
all attempts to approach the treasury with in
sldIous projects of private interest cIoaked
under public preteNs, that sound fiscal ad-
mlnlStration, which, in the legislative depart
mcnt, guards against the dangerous tempta-
tons incident to overlooking revenue, and
IN the executive, maintains an unsleeping
watchtulness against the tendency Of all ma
tlonal expenditure to extravaganza, while
they are admitted elementary political duties,
may, trust, be deemed as properly advelted
to and urged, in view Of the more impressive
sense of that necessity, which is directly sug-
gesed by the considerations now presented.
Since the adjournment of congress, the
Vice President Of the United States has pass
ed from the scenes of earth, without having
entered upon the duties of the station, to
which he had been called by the voice of his
countrymen. Having occupied, almost con-
tlnuously, for more than thirty ycars,a seat in
one or the other of the houses of congress,
and having, by his singular purity and wis
dom, secured unbounded confidence and uni
versa respect, his failing health was watched
by the nation with painful solicitude. His
loss to the country, under all the circumstan-
ces, has been justly regarded as rreporabe
In compliance with the act of congress of.
March ., 1853, the oath of Office was admin
istered to him on the 9th of that month, at
Ariadne estate near Matdnzas, in the island
of Cuba; but his strength gradually declined,
and was hardly sufficient to enable him to re-
turn to his home in Alabama, where, on the
eighteenth day of April, in the most calm and
peaceful way, his long and eminently useful
career was terminated
Entertaining unlimited confidence in your