New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-12-12

| fealty and attachment to the Union, shall BIO
| disposed, so far as my own action is concerned,
| to follow the lights Of the Constitution as ex-
pounded and illustrated by those whose opinions
| and expositions constitute the standard OF my
political faith in regard to the powers Of the
Federal Government 1t is, l trust, not neces-
| sary to say, that no grandeur Of enterprise,
| and no present urgent inducement promising
popular favor will lead me to disregard those
| lights, or to depart from that path which expe-
rience has proved to be safe, and which is now
radient with the glow of prosperity and legiti-
mate constitutional progress. We can afford to
wait, but we cannot afford to overlook the ark
of our security.
1t is no part of my purpose to give prominence
to any subject. which may properly be regard
ed 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
| inducement for the exercise of active intelli-
gence the past can never be without useful les
| sons of admonition and instruction If its dan
/ gers serve not as beacons, they will evidently
| fail to fulfill the object of wise design. When
| the grave shall have closed over all, who are
now endeavoring to meet the obligations of duty,
/ the year 1850 will be required to as period
| filed with anxious apprehension. A successful
war had just terminated. Peace brought with
| it vast augmentation of territory. Disturbing
questions arose, bearing upon the domestic in
l stltut0nS In one portion Oh tne OOnIeueracy, ana
involving the constitutional rights of the States.
But, notwithstanding the differences of opinion
and sentiment which then existed in relation to
details and specific provisions, the acquiescence
Of distinguished citizens, whose devotion to the
Union can never be doubted, has given renewed
vgor to our institutions, and restored sense of
| repose and security to the public mind through
out the confederacy. That this repose is to suf
fer no shock during my official term, if have
power to avert it, those who placed me here may
be assured. The wisdom of men, who knew what
| independence cost-who had put all at stake
upon the issue of the revolutionary struggle
disposed of the subject to which l refer, in the
only way consistent with the union of these
States, and with the march of power and pros
perity, which has made us what We are 1t is
| significant fact, that from the adoption of the
Constitution until the officers and soldiers of the
Revolution had passed to their graves, or,
through the infrmities of age and wounds, had
ceased to participate actively in public affairs,
there WAS not merely quiet acquiescence in,
but o prompt vindication of the constitutional
rights of the States The reserved powers we're
scrupulously respected. No statesman put forth
| the narrow views Of causuists to justify in
reference and agitation, but the spirit Of the
compact was regarded sacred in the eye
Of honor, and indispensable for the great ex-
pertinent of civil liberty, which, environed
by inherent difficulties, was yet borne for
ward in apparent weakness by power su-
psrior to all obstacles There is no condemna-
| ton, which the voice Of freedom will not pro-
nounce upon us, should we prove fathless to this
great trust. While men inhabting different
parts Of this vast continent no more be ex-
pected to hold the same opinions, or entertain
the same sentiments, than every variety of eli
mate or soil can be expected to furnish the same
agricultural products, they can unite in a COM
mon object and sustain common principles essen
faatf e h. al
liant men Of the North and the South could
stand together during the struggle of the Revo-
luton; they could stand together in the more
| trying period which succeeded the clangor of
arms, As their united vslor was adequate to
all trials of the camp and dangers of the field,
so their united wisdom proved equal to the task
of founding, upon deep and broad basis, insti-
| buttons which it has been our privilege to enjoy,
and will ever be our most sacred duty to sus-
tain. 1t is but a feeble expression of faith
strong and universal to say that their sons,
whose blood mingled so often upon the same
field, during the war of 1872, and who have
more recently borne in triumph the flag of the
country upon foreign soil, will never permit
alienation of feeling to weaken the power of
their united efforts nor internal dissentions to
paralyze the great arm of freedom, uplifted for
the yindication of self government
have thus briefly presented such suggestions
- seem to me especially worthy of your consid-
GRAFTON. In providing for the present, you can
hardly fail to avail yourselves of the light
which the experience Of the past casts upon the
future.
The growth of our population has now brought
US, in the destined career of our national history,
to point at which it will behoove US to expand
our vision over the vast prospective.
The successive dscennisl the census since
the adoption Of the Constitution have revealed law Of
steady progressive Development which may DO stated in
general terms, duplication every quarter century
Carried forward from the point already reached only
short period Of time applicable to the existenc. Of
nation, this law Of progress IL unchecked will bring
rs almost incredible results. A large allowance for
diminished proportional effect Of emigration would not
materially reduce the estimate while the increased
average duration Of human life known to have already
resulted from the scientific and hygenc
OF the past fifty years will tend to keep through
next fifty psrhaps hundred the rate Of growth
which has thus been revealed 10 past progress
to the inusnce OF these causes may be added the influx
Of lsboring Eastern Asia to the Pacific side
OF our possessions together with the probable accession
hemisphere which, within the period question will feel
with yearly increasing force the natural attraction
vast powerful aud prosperous confederation of self
governing Republics and will seek the privilege Of being
admitted within its safe and happy bosom, transferring
with thsmseves by 4 healthy peaceful process Of in
corporation spacious regions Of virgin and exuberant
soil which destined to with the fast growing
and disappearing millions Of race,
These considerations fully to justify the presunp.
oa that the law population above stated will coptne
to act with unfinished effect through least the next
hafesntury and that thousands sf persons who have
already arrived at maturity and exercising the
rights Of freemea will clore their eyes on tho spectacle of
more than hundred millions of population embraced
within the majestic proportisns Of the American Union
IL is not merely independent topic of spec
that present these views to your consideration They
have important practical bearings upon all the duties
we called upon to perform Heretofore our system
OF government has worked what may be termed a
immature SCALE in comparison with the developmen t
which 1t must thus within future so near Ut
hand as scarcely to be beyond the present of the existing
generation.
evident confederation so vast and so varied both
10 numbers and in territorial extent in habits and 10 in
strctes fidelity to the principles of the Constitution as
Understood by those who have adhered the most re-,
srstsd construction Of the powers granted by the people
and the States Interpreted and applied according to
THOSE principles the great compact adapts itself with
heahy ease and freedom to uRlirnted extension of
that benign system of federatvs self government of
which 1t is our glorious, and trust, immortal Smarter
Let us, then with redoubsd vigilance be on our guard
against yielding to the temptation of the exercise of
doubtful powers under the pressure of the motives
conceded temporary advantage and apparent tsmpora
| ~ expediency.
The minimum Of Federal Government, compatible with
the msnenance OF national unity and efficient action In
eur relations with the rest of the world should afford the
the general clauses Of the Cons uon spirit OF strict
aeersncs to the sovereign rights and dignity of every
state rather than disposition subordinate the States
into provincial relation to the central authority should
characterize all our exercise of the respect powers
temporarily vested In trust from the generous con-
ndsncs of our constituents
In ike mansr, msnfestly indispensable condition
Of the perpstuaton Of the Union and OF tho realization
OF that magnificent national future advesd to- does the