, 1853-04-30

UCdl skill luIllrU'u III sdCD an eminent Qp
gree by tn institution which has made
vour army what il is. undrr The discipline
and instruction o. officers not more dislin~
Sui-hcd for thsir snlil a:'ainmenls, gallant
ry, and devotion to the public service than
for unobtrusivo hearing aud hsh moral ton
The army, rs organized, must b. th nucleus
around which in every time OF med the
'trength Of you7 military power. the sure
bulwark o. your offence "A natioual militia
may be readily formed into a well dis
ciplincd and ctlicirnt organization. And
the skill and self devotion of the navy as
sures you that you may take the perfOrin-
ance of the past as 4 pledge for the future,
and may confidently Expect that the flag
which has waved it, untarni>hcd folds over
every sra will still noat in undiminishcd
honor. But these, like many other sub.
jecis, will be appropriately bought at a lu-
ture time 10 the attention Of The coordinate
branches Of the government 10 which |
shall always look with profound respect, and
with trustful confidence that they will ac-
cord 10 me the aid and support which
shall so much need, and which their expc-
rience and wisdom will readily suggest.
In the administration of domestic affairs,
you expect devoted integrity in the public
service, and and on observance Of rigid
economy in all departments, so marked as
never justly 10 be questioned. IF This rsa-
sonable expectation be not realized, | frank
ly confess that one of your leading hopes is
doomed to disappointment and that my ef-
forts in a very important particular, must
result in a humiliatiug failure. Offices can
be properly regarded only in tho light Of
aids for the accomplishment of these OBJ
jecls and as occupancy can confer no pre-
rogitIves, nor importunate desire for pre-
ierment any claim, the public interest i'm
peratively demands that they be considered
with sole reference to the duties 10 be per-
formed. Good citizens may well claim the
protection of good laws, and the benign in
huence Of a good government but claim
for Office is what the people of Republic
should never recognize. No reasonable man
of any party will expect the Administration
to be 50 regardless Of its responsibility, and
Of the obvious elements Of success, as TO re-
tain persons known 10 be under the lnau-
ence of political hostility and partizan pre-
judice, in positions which will require, not
only severe labor, but cordial cooperation.
Having no implied -engagemPnis to raiify,-
no rewards 10 bestow, no resentmenis to re-
member, and no personal wishes to consult,
in selections for official station, shall ful-
fl this difficult and delicate trust admitting
no motive as worthy either of my character
or position, which does not contemplate an
efficient discharge Of duty and the best in
terests Of my country. ] acknowledge my
Obligations 10 the masses Of my countrymen,
and 10 them alone. Higher objects than
personal aggrandizement 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 10 be-
performed. Without these qualities in their
public servants, more stringent laws, for the
prevention or punishment of fraud, negli-
gence and peculalion, will be vain. With
them, they will be necessary.
But these are not the only points 10
which you look for visilant walOhfulness. -
The dangers Of a concentration Of all pow
er 10 The General Government of conftd-
cracy so vast as ours, are too obvious to be
disregarded. You have right, therefore,
10 expect your agents, IN every department,
to regard strictly the limits imposed npon
tbom by the Constitution OF the United
States The great scheme of our consitu-
tional liberty rests upon a proper distribu-
ton of the power between the State and
Federal authorities; and experience has
shown that the harmony and happiness Of
our people must depend upon just discri
mination between the separate rights and
responsibilities Of the States, and your COM
mon rights and OF legations under the gene
raj Government. And hero, in my opin-
ion, are the considerations which should
form thc true basis of future concord in re-
gard 10 the questions which have most Sc
riously disturbed public tranquility. II the
Federal Government will con6ne isself to
the exercise of powers clearly granted by
the constitution, It can hardly happen that
is. s.aclon upon any question should endan-
ger The institutions of the States, CT inter
frre with their ight to manage matters
stictly domestic according to lhs will Of
their owa people. .''
In expressing briefly my views npon an
important suhjrct, which has recently agi-
iated the natinn to almost fearful degree,
am moved by no other impulse than most
earnest desire for the perpetuaIion of TINT
Union which has made us what We are
showering upon us blessings, and confer
ring power and influence which our fa-
Tiers could hardly have anticipated, even
with their most sanSuine hopes directed to
a far off future. The sentiments now an
nounce were not unknown before the ex-
preston Of the voice which called me here.
Nv own position upon this subject was
clear and untquiyocal, upon the record Of
NV words and my acts, aud it is only recur-
49,, baa.nea eslaur. .,,,,rhl