Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-03-12

the wisdom and patriotic spi II OF concession
which Characterised all the councils of the ear
" Fathers One of the most Impressive evil
dences Of that wisdom is to be found in the
fact that the actual working Of our system has
dispeled a degree Of solicitude which, at the
outset, disturbed bold hearts and far-reaching
intellects
The apprehension Of dangers from extend
ed territory; multiplied States; accumulated
wealth and augmented population, has proved
to be unfounded. The stars upon your ban
ner have become nearly three fold their orig
ina number. Your densely populated pos (
session, skirt the shores of the two great
oceans, aud yet this vast increase OF people
and territory has only shown itself compatible
with the harmonious action of the States and
! Federal Government, in their respective con-
stitutonal guaranty of the strength and integ-
| rty of both. With an experience thus sug
gestiye and cheering, the policy of my Admin
is.raton will not be controlled by any timd
forebodng of evil from expansion. Indeed it
is nos to be disguised. that our attitude as n
Nation and our position on the globe render
the acquisition of certain possessions now with
out our Jurisdiction emuently necessary for
our protection, if not 10 the future essential to
the preservation OF the rights OF commerce
aud the peace Of the world. Should they be
obtained II vii; b1 through no grasping spirit,
but with view to obvious national interests
and secIrity, aRd in manner entirely consis.
tent with tue strctesL observance of national
faith. We haVo nothing in our history or po-
sitiou to invite aggression. We have every
thing to the cultivation of relations Of peace
and amity with all nations
intend that my Administration shall leave
no blot upon our fair record, and trust | may
safely give the assurance that no act within
the legitimate scope Of my constitutional con-
troll will be tolerated on the part Of any por-
ton of our citizens, which cannot challenge
ready justification before the tribunal Of the
civilized world.
An Administration would be unworthy Of
confidence at home or respect abroad. should
it cease to be influenced by the conviction that
no apparent advantage can be purchased at a
price SO dear as that Of national wrong or dis
honor.
1t is not your privilege as Nation to speak
Of distant past. The striking Incidents Of
your history, replete with instruction aud fur
; nshing abundant grounds for hopeful conf
dence. are comprised in period comparative
| ly brief But, il your past is limited, your fu-
. ture is boundess. Obligations throng tie un-
explored pathway of advancement, and will be
lmtless as the duration Of the sun and hence
some comprehensive policy should embrace,
no less, the distant future than the urgent
present. The great objects of our pursuit es
a people, are lest to be attained by peace, and
are entirely consistent with tranquility and the
interests of the rest of mankind.
With the ucighborng nations upon our CON
tinent we should cultivate kindly and frater-
, nal relations. We can desire nothing in re
gard 50 thar, 50 much as to see them consol-
date their strength and pursue the paths Of
prosperity and happiness. IT. in the course of
their growth, We should open new channels of
trade and create additional facilities for friend
Iy intercourse, the benefits realized will be
. equal and mutual. OF the complicated Eu
: ropean systems of national policy we have
heretofore been independent. From their
wars, their tumults and anxeies, we Fave
been happily almost entirely exempt While
! they are confined to the nations which gave
them existence, and within their separate ju.
rlsdlctlon, they cannot affect US except rs they
appeslsto cur sympathies in the cause Of hu-
man freedom and universal advancement -
But the vast interests of commerce are COM
mon to all mankind, and the advantages OF
trade and international intercourse must al
ways present a noble field for the moral inhu-
ence OF great people. With these views
J firmly aud earnestly carried out, we have u
: right to expect and shall under all circumstan-
t ces require prompt reciprocity. The rights
which belong to us as a nation are not alone
Il 4 L
every cjtzen in his individual capacity, al
S home and abroad, must be sacredly maintain
ed, so long as We can discern every star in its
5 place Upon that ensign.
, Without wealth to purchase for him prefer
ment or title to secure for him place, it vii! bt
e his privilege, and must be his acknowledged
j right to stand unabashed even in the presence
8 of princes with proud consciousness that h,
is one of nation Of sovereigns, and that he
a cannot in legitimate pursuits wander SO ia
f from home that the agents whom he shal
+ leave behind in the place which | now occupy
will not see that no rude hand of power or ty
e rannical persecution is laid upon him with i'm
: punity. lie must realize that upon every SCI
c and upon every soil where an enterprize ma,
l. respectfully seek The protection OF our flag
: American citizenship is an inviolable' 'panopl,
e for the security of American rights, and in thi
D conneclioH, it Can hardly be necessary to reaf
IS firm the principles, which should now be re
III garded as Fundamental The rights. securit,
d and repdse Of this Confederacy rejgct the ide
e of Interference or colonization on this side O
I, the ocean by any foreign powers beyond it
d present jurisdiction as utterly inadmi,sble
,lI Tne opportunities of observation inraisbe
r by my brief experience as a soldier. conGrme'
d in my own mind the opinion entertained an
e acted upon by others from the formation Q
: the Government, that the maintenance ofitrg
j standing armies in our country would be M
s. only dangerous but unnecessary. They ais
,e illustrate the importance. might vel! say lh
l. absolute necessity, of the military, civil an
i. practical skill furnished in such an eminent de
o gres by the institution which has made you
6, army what il is. Under the discipline and in
r, struction Of officers not mere distinguished fo
l.l a.