The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-03-16

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Acient orkanization. And ihs skill shd
seif.dssosjop 81 tie navy assurs you that
you may take Tho performances of the past
Sss i pledge ior the future, and may con-
ffdenily sxpect that the flag which hps
waved iss untarnished folds over every sea
will still float ID uhdiminished honor.--
But these. like many oiher subjects. will
be appropriately brought. at future time,
to the attention oftbe co-ordinate branches
'of the government. 10 which 4 shall always
look with profound respect and with trust.
iql confidence that they will accord TO the
The aid and support which shall so much
need and which their experience and wis
dom will readily suggest.
In the administration Of domestic al.
fairs, you expect a devoted integrity in the
public service, and an observance OF rig.
i'd economy in oil departments. SO marked
as never justly TO be questioned. II this
reasonable expectation be not realized, j
frankly confess that one Of your leading
hopes is doomed to disappointment, and
that my efforts, in very important partic-
ular, must result in humiliating failure.
Offices can be properly regarded only in
the light Of aids for the accomplishment
Of these objects; and as occupancy can
confer no prerogative. nor importunate de-
sire Tor preferment any claim, the public
interest imperitively demands thai they be
considered with sole reference 10 the du.
ties 10 be performed. Good citizens may
well claim the protection Of good laws
and the benign influence Of good govern.
ment; but the claim for office is what the
people Of Republic should never recog.
nize. No reasonable man, Of any party,
will expect the administration to be SO re-
gardless Of its responsibility, and Of the
obvious elements Of success, as to retain
persons, known 10 be under the influence
Of political hostility and partzan preju.
dice, in positions, which will require, not
only severe labor, but cordial cooperation.
Having no implied engagements to rat.
ify, no rewards 10 bestow, no resentments
to remember, and no personal wishes to
consult in selections for official station,
shall fulfil this difficult and delicate trust,
admitting iio motive as worthy either OF
my character or position. which does not
contemplate an efficient discharge of my
duty and the best interests Of my country.
I acknowledge my obligations to the
masses Of my countrymen, and to them a.
lone. Higher objects than personal ag.
grandizement gave direction and energy
to their exertions in the late canvass, and
they shall not be disappointed. They re.
quire at my hands diligence, integrity,
and capacity, wherever there are duties to
be performed, Without these qualities in
their public servantssmore stringent laws,
for the prevention or punishment of fraud,
negligence and peculation, will be vain.
With them, they will be unnecessary.
But these are not the only points, to
which you look for vigilant watchfulness.
The dangers of a concentration Of all pow
er in the general government Of a confed.
eracy so vast as ours, are too obvious 10 be
disregardcd. You nave right, therefore,
to expect your agents, in every department,
10 regard strictly the limits imposed upon
them by the Constitution Of the United
States. The great scheme Of our consiitu.
tional liberty rests upon a proper disiribu-
ton OF power between the State and fed.
eral authorities: and experience has shown,
that the harmony and happiness Of our
people must depend upon a just discrim.
inalion between the separate rights and re-
.sponsibilities OF the States, and your COM
mon rights and obligations under the gen.
eral government. Ard here, in my opin.
ion, are the considerations. which should
form the true basis ol future concord in re-.
gard to the questions, which have most Sc.
riously disturbed pubic tranquility. 1.-THE
federal government will conine itself 10
the exercise Of powers clearly granted by
the Constitution, it will hardly happen that
it's action upon any question should endan.
ger the institutions Of the States, or inter-
lere with their right TO manage matters
strictly domestic, according to the will Of
their own people. 4 a
In expressing briefly my views upon
an important subject, which has recent.
ly agitated the nation to almost fearful
degree, am moved by no other impulse
than a most earnest desire for the perpet-
ua.ion Of that Union, which has made US
what we are, showering upon us blessings,
and comforting power and influence.
which our fathers could hardly have antic.
ipated, even with their most sanguine hopes