Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-03-09

' v. ""'iolldl WRONG vi uiSpohoI' IL Is
not yeur privilege, as nation to speak of q dis
tant past. The striking incidents Of your history
replete with instruction, and furnishing abundant
grounds Tor hopeful confidence. arc cowprsed.in a
period comparatively brief. But if your past is
limited, yor future is boandIess It's obligations
lhreng the unexplored pathway OF advancement,
and viii be lllnitess as duration. Hence, a sound
and comprehensive policy should embrace. net
less tue distant future, than the urgent present.
The great cb;ccts of our pursuit as a people.
are best to be attained by peace, and are entirely
consistent with the tranquility and interests of the
rest Of mankind With the noighbcring nations
upon our continent, we should cultivate kindly
and fraternal relations. We can desire nothing
Ill regard to them 50 much. as to see them consol-
idate their strength, and pursue the path Of pros
perlty and happiness. If, in the course Of their
growth, we should open new channels of trade,
and create additional facilities for friendly inter
course, the benefits realized will be equal and mu-
| iual. OF the complicated European systems Of
national pqIlcy we have heretofore been indepen-
dent. From their wars, their tumnlts and, ankle
ties. we have been, happily, almost entirely en-
empt. Whilst these are confined 10 the nations
which gave them existence, and within their le-
gitinate jurisdiction, they cannot effect us, except
us they appeal to our symPathes in tire cause of
| human freedom and pniycgsal advancement. But
the vast Interests OF commerce are common to all
mankind, and the advantages OF trade and iDterna-
| tional intercourse must always present a noble
| field for the moral influence OF great people.
| With these views firmly and honestly carried
out.we have right to expect, and shalt under
all circumstances require, prompt reciprocity
| The rights which belong to us as 4 nation, are
not alone 10 be regarded, but those which pertain
to every citizen in his individual capacity, al
! home and abroad, must be sacredly maintained
So long as he can discern every star in lis place
upon that ensign, without wealth to purchas for
| him preernent or title to secure fer him place.
it will be his privilege, and must he his acknowl-
edged right, TO stand unabaShed even in the pres
ence OF princes, with proud consciousness that
he is himself che of q nqtiop of SoyCreigns. and
that he cannot, in legitimate pursuit, wander so
| far from home, that the agent, whom he shall
leave behind in the place which now occupy g.
viii not see that no rude hand Of power or tyran-
nical passion is laid upon him with impunity.-
He must realize, that upon every sea- and on eve
ny soil, where our enterprise may rightfully seek
| the protection of our flag, American citizenship is
an inviolable panopIy for the security Of American
rights And. in this conneXion. it can hardly be
necessary To re-affim a principle which should
now be regarded as Fundamental The rights,
security, and repose of this Coniederacy reject the
idea of interference or colonization On this side Of
the ocean, by any foreign, power, beyond present
! Jurisdiction, as utterly inadnisSible.
| The opportunities Of observation, furnished by
my brief experience as soldier, confirmed in my
own mind the opinion, entertained and acted upon
by others ffom the formation of the government,
| that the Maintenance Of large standing armies in
our country would be not only dangerous, but I'M
necessary They also illustrated the importance,
might well say the absolute necessity, Of the
military science and practical skill furnished. in
such an eminent degree, by TIE institution, which
| has made your army what it is, under the disci-
pline and instruction Of officers not more dstin-
glished for their solid attainments, gallanry, and
hdovoton to the public service than for unGbtrasive
bearing and high moral tone. The army, as or
ganizcd, must be the nucleus, around which, in
every time Of need the strength Of your military
power, the sure bulwarli Of your detonce,-a ma
tional militia,-nay berea!ily formed into a well
disciplined and efficient organization. And the
skill and self devotion Of the navy assure you that
! you may take the performance Of the past as
pledge for the future, and may confidently expect
that the flag, which has waved lis uniarnished
folds over every sea, will still tl1at in undmEsh-
ed honor. But these, like many other subjects,
will be appropriately brought, at future time, to
the attention of the coordinate branches Of the
government, to which shall always louk with
profound respect and with trustful confidence that
they will accord to me the aid and support, which
shall so much need, and which their experience
and wisdom will readily suggest.
In the administration of domestic affairs, you
expect adevoted integrity in the public service, and
s. I'll j
50 marked as never justly to be questioned. Ifths
reasonable expectation be not realized, frankly
confess that one Of your leading hopes is doomed
to disappointment, and that my efforts, in very
important particular 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 confer no prerogative,
nor mporunate desire-iir prelerment any claim,
the public interest mperatiyely demands that they
be considered with sole reference 10 the duties to
be performed. Good citizens may well claim the
projection of good laws and the benign influence
of good governments; but claim for Office is what
the people of a republic should never recognize.-
No reasonable man of anyparywill expect the adj
min s'ration to be regardless of its responsibility,
and Of the obvious elements Of success, as to retain
persons. known to be under the influence Of polit
cal hostility and partisan prejudice. in positions,
which will require, not only severe labor, but cor
dial cooperation. Having no implied engage
inents to ratify, no rewarcs TO bcsow, no resent
ments to remember, and no personal wishes TO con-
sult. in selections for official station. shall fulfil
this difficult and delicate trust, admitting no mo-
tive as worthy either of my character or position,
which does not contemplate an efficient discharge
of duty and the best interest Of my country.
acknowledge my Obligations TO the masses Of my
c,unrymen. and to them alone. Higher objects
than personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT gave direction and
enerov TO their exertons in the late canvass, and
they Shall not be disappointed. They require at
nv hands diligence. integrity, and capacity. wher-
ever there are duties to be performed Without
these qualities in their public servants, more strn
oent laws, for the prevention Or punishment Of
irand negligence and speculation, will be van.-
With them, they will lie unnecessary.
But these are not the only points, to which you
look for yigilant watchfulness. The dangers Of a
concentration of all power in the general govern
ment of confedegacy so vast as ours, are too OBJ
vous to be disregarded. You have right, there
fore, to expect your agents, III every department,
to regard strictly the limits imposed upon them
bv the Constitution Of the United States. The
great scheme of our constitutional liberty rests up
on proper distribution of power between the
State and Federal authorities and experience has
shown, thatthe harmony and happiness ofour peo-
pie must depend upon a just discrimination be-
tween the separate rights and responsibilities OF
the States, and yotf common rights and oblIga-
tons under the general government. And here,
in my opinion are the considerations. which
should folm the true basis of future concord in re-
card to the questions which have most seriously
disturbed public tranquility. If the Federal gov
eminent Will conihe' itself to the exercise ofpow-
ers clearly granted by the Constitution, it can
hardly happen that its action upon any question
should endanger the institutions OF the States, or