The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-03-09

lubtTtStb vi my COunliy. 4 uOhnOWi
edge my obligations to the masses of
my countrymen, and to them alone.
Higher objects tban personal aggrand.
izement gave direction and energy to
their exertions in the late canvass, and
they shall not be disappointed.-They
require at my hands diligence, integrity,
and capacity, wherever there are duties
to be performed. Without these quail
ties in their public servants, more strin-
gent laws. for the prevention or punish
ment of fraud, negligence and pecula
ton, will be vain. With them, they
will be unnecessary.
But these are not the only points, to
which you look for yigilant watchfulness.
The dangers Of q concentration of all
power in the general government of a
%confederacy so vast as ours. are too obvi-
Gus to be disregarded. You have a
right, therefore, to expect your agents,
in every department, to regard strictly
the limits imposed upon them by the
Constitution of the United States. The
great scheme of our constitutional lib
erty rests upon a proper distribution of
power between the State and Federal
authorities and experience has shown.
that the harmony and happiness of our
people must depend upon a just discrim-
nation between the separate rights and
responsibilities of the States. and your
common rights and obligations under
the general government. And here, in
my opinion. are the considerations,
which should form the true basis of fu-
ture concord in regard to the questions.
which have most seriously disturbed
public tranquility. IF the Federal gov
ernment will cou6nc itself to the exer.
else of powers clearly granted by the
Constitution, it can hardly happen that
its actions upon any question should en-
danger the institutions of the States, or
interfere with their rights to manage
matters strictly domestic according to
the will of their own people.
In expressing briefly my views upon
al important subject, which has recent
~ agitatcd the nation to almost a fear
full degree, l am moved by no other I'M
pulse than a most earnest desire for the
perpctuation of that Union, which has
made us what we arc,-showering upon
us blessings, and comforting a power and
influence, which our fathers could hard
ly have anticipated, even with their
most sanguine hopes directed to q far
off future. The sentiments 7 now an
nounce were not unknown before the OK
preston of the voice which called me
here. My own position upon this sub
ject was clear and uncquivocal, upon
the record ofmy words and my acts, and
1t is only required to at this time be
cause silence might, perhaps, be miscon'
strued. With the Union, my best and
dearest earthly hopes are entwined
Without it, what are we, individually oil
collectively What becomes of the no
blest field ever opened for the advance
mcnt of our race, in religion, in govern
ment. in the arts, and in all hat digni
fies and adorns mankind From that
radiant constellation, which both illu
mines our own way and points out tt
struggling nations their course, let but a
single star be lost, and, if there be moi
utter darkness, the lustre of the whole
is dimmed. Do my co%untrymen need
any assurance that such a catastrophe is
not to overtake them, while | possess
the power to stay it2 1t is with me ar
earnest and vital belief, that as the L.
MON has been the source, under Provi
dence, of our prosperity to this time, SC
it is the surcst pledge of a continuance
of the blessings We have enjoyed, and
which we are sacredly bound to trans
nit undiminished to our children TIL,
field of calm and free discussion in oui
country is open, and will always be so
but it never has been and never can b,
traycrscd for good in a spirit of section
alism and uucharitableness.
The founders of the Republic deal
with things as they were presented t,
them, in a spirit of self.sacrifcing pat
riotism, and, as time has proved, with
comprehensive wisdom, which it will al
ways be safe for us to consult. Ever,
measure tending to strengthen the fra
terual feelings Of all the members of GU
Union has had my heartfelt approba
tien. To every theory of society o
government, whether the offspring of fc
verish ambition or of the morbid enthu
siasm, calculated to dissolve the bond
of law and affection which unite us
| shall interpose a ready and stern re
s~istance. believe hat involuntary ser
vitude, as it exists in different States o
this c~onfederacy, is recognized by tn
Constitution. l believe it stands lik,
/ any other admitted right, and that III
States where it exists, are entitled l.
efficient remedies to enforce the consti
tutional provisions l hold that tn
laws of 1850, commonly called the ICON
promise measures" are strictly ~constitu
tional, and to be unhesitatingly carriel
, into effect. / believe hat the constitu
ted authorities of this Republic ar
| bound to regard the rights of the Sout
, in this respect, as they would view an
, other legal and constitutional right, an
: that the laws TO enforce them should b
Q respected and obeyed, not with a relu'
f tance encouraged by abstract opinion
! as to their propriety in a different stat
. of society, but cheerfully, and accOrdin
4 to the decisions of the tribunal to whic
| their exposition belongs. Such hay
been, and are, my convictions, and upo
them l shall act. I~fervently hope tha
, the question is at rest, and that no Sc
' t%ional, or ambitious, or fanatical excit,
I ment may again threaten the durabilit
0 of u institutions, or obscure the ligl
!. of our prosperity.
But let not the foundation Of OF