The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-12-14

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properly be regarded as set at rest by
the deliberate judgment of the people.
But while the present is bright with
promise, and the future full of demand
and induccmcnt for the exercise of ac.
tive intelligence, the past can never be
without useful lessons Of admonltion
and instruction. lifts dangers serve
not as bcacons, t''@y will evidently
fail to fulfil the object Of a wise design.
When the grave shall have closed
over all, who arc now cndeavoring to
meet the obligations of duty, the year
80 will be required to as a period filled
with anxious apprehension. A sue
ccssful war had just terminated. Peace
brought with it vast augmentation oil
territory. Disturbing questions arose,
bearing upon the domestic institutions
of one portion of the coniederacy, and
involving the constitutional rights OF
the States. But, Notwithstanding DIFF
fcrerces of opinion and sentiment,
which then existed in relation to details
and specific provisions, the acquies
cence of distinguished citizens, whose
devotion to the Union can never be
doubted, has given renewed vigor to
our institutions, and restored a sense
of rcpose and security to the public
mind throughout the confedcracy.
That this rcposc is to suffer no shock
during my official term, if | have the
power to avert it. those who placed me
here may be assured. The wisdom Of
men, who knew what independence
cost,-who had pat all at stake uTon
the issue of the revolutionary struggle,
disposed of the subject to which |
refer, in the only way consistent with
the union of those States, and with the
march of power and prosperity which
has made us what we arc 1t is sin
gular fact, that from the adoption oil
the constitution until the officers and
soldiers of the revolution had passed
to their graves or, through the mfr
mites of age and wounds. had ceased
to participate actively in public affairs
there was not merely quiet acquics
ccnsc in, but prompt vindication Of
the constitutional rights of the States
The reserved powers were scrupulous
ly respected.
The gallant men of the south anr
the north that could stand together
during the struggle of the Revolution
could stand together in the moro
irving period which succeeded the
clangor of arms. AS their united val
or was adequate to all the trials o
the camp and dangers of the field, Sc
their united wisdom proved equal t.
the greater task of founding, upon ;
deep and broad basis, institutions
which it has been our privilege to en-
Joy, and will ever be our most sacre'
duty to sustain.
The growth of our population ha
now brought us, in the destined carec
of our national history, to a point a
which it well bchovcs us to expand on
vision over the vast prospective.
1t is but the feeble expression of
faith strong and universal, to say tina
their sons, whose blood mingled ofte,
upon the same field, during the war 0
1912, and who have more recent,
borne in triumph the flag of the coun
try upon foreign soil. will never PEI
init alienation of feeling to weaken tn
power of their united efforts, or inter
nal dissensions 10 paralyzc the grea
arm of freedom, upliftcd for the wind
cation Of sclf.govcrmncnt.
l have thus briefly presented sue
suggestions as seem to me especial
worthy of your consideration. In pr,
vidins for the present, You can hardl
fail to avail yourselves Of the ligh
which the experience Of tie past cast
upon the future.
The successive dcccnuial returns
the Census since the adoption of til
Constitution, have revealed a law
steady progressive development, whic
may be stated in general terms, as
duplication every quarter Of a ccntur,
Carried forward, from the point alrc;
dy reached, for only short period
time as applicable to the existence
nation, this law of progress, if III
checked, will bring us almost to incre'
IDLE results.
A large allowance for a diminishC
proportional effect of cmigra ton won
not very materially reduce the cs
mate, while the increased average d
ration of human life, known to ha
already resulted from the scientific al
hyginic improvements Of the rast fiji
years, will tend to keep up throu,
the next fifty, or perhaps hundred, t
same ratio Of growth, which has be
thus revealed in our past progress,
To the influence of these causes NAV
added the influx of laborng masses f.,
eastern Asia to the Pacific side of our poss
hions, together with the probable accession
the populations already existing in oil
parts of our hemisphere, which, within
period in question, will feel with yearly
crcasing force, the natural attraction of
vast, powerful, aud prosperous confedc
tjon Of scf-goveming republics and will ST
the privilege of being admitted within
safe and happy bosom, Transferring with the
selves, by IA peaceful and healthy process
Incorporation, spacious regions of yir
and exuberant soil, which are destined
swarm with the iast-growing[and last-sprci
ing millions of our race.
4 q. F..fN.