Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-12-07


public may be bound together byinseparable ties
OF common interest as well as of common fealty
and attachment to the Union, shall be disposed
so Tar as my own action is concerned, to folloS
tne nghts OF the Constitution, as expounded and
illustrated by those, whose opinions and EXPOSE
lions constitute the standard of my political faith
IN regard to the powers of the federal govern
ment. 1t is, tiust, not necessary 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 experience has proved to be safe,
and which is now radiant with the glow Of pros
perity and legitimate constitutional progress
We can afford to wait, but we cannot afford to
overlook the ark of om security.
1t is no part of my purpose to give prominence
to any subject, which may properly be regarded
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 in
ducement Tor the exercise CT active Intelligence,
the past can never be without useful lessons OF
admonition and instruction If its dangers serve
not as beacons they will evidently fail to fulfil
the object OF a wise design. When the grave
shall have closed overall, who are now endeayor-
ing to meet the obligations of duty, the year 1850
will be REQUIRED to period filled with anxious
apprehension. A successful war had lust terpi-
mated Peace brought with it vast aupmenta~
ton OF territory. Disturbing questions arose,
bearing up IN the dome institutions of one
portion of the confederacy, and involving the
constitutional rights of the States But NOT
withstanding differences of opinion and senti-
ment, which then existed in relation to "details
and specific provisions, the acquescence of dis
tngulshed citizens, whose devotion to the Union
can never be doubted has given renewed vigor TO
our institutions and restored a sense of repose
and security to the public mind throughout the
contederacy That this repose is to suffer no
shock during my official term, if have power TO
avert it, those who placed me here NAV be assur
ed. The wisdom of men, who knew what indie
pendence cost-who had put all at stake upon the
issue OF the revolutionary struggle,--disposed of
the SUBJECT TO which refer, in the only way con-
slstent with the union OF these States, and with
the march of power and prosperity which has
made us what we 1t is fsignifcant fact
that from the adoption of the Constitution. until
the officers and soldiers of the revolution had
passed to their graves, or, through the nfrmities
OF age and wounds, had ceased to participate ac-
lively in public affairs, there was not merely
quiet aequlescence in, butt prompt vindication
of, the constitutional rights of the States The
reserved powers were scrupulousy respected
No statesman put forth the narrow views of cas-
uists to justify interference and agitation but the
spirit of the compact was regarded as sacred in
the eye of honor, and indispensable for the great
experiment of civil liberty, which, environed by
inherent difficulties, was yet borne forward in
apparent weakness by power superior to all OBJ
staeles. There is no condemnation which the
voice of freedom will not pronounce upon us,
should we prove faithless to this great trust
While men lnhabiting different parts of this vast
continent, can no more be expected to hold the
same opinlons,or entertain the same sentiments:
than every variety of climate or soil can be ex-
peeted to furnish the same agricultural products
they can unite in common object and sustain
common principles essential to the maintenance
of that object. The gallant men of the South
and the North could stand during the struggle of
the Revolution; they could stand together in the
more trying period which succeeded the cangorof
arms. AS their united vaor was adequate to all
the trials OF the camp and dangers of the field
SO their united wisdom proved equal to the great
er task OF founding, upon a deep and broad basis
institutions, which it has been our privilege to
enjoy, and will ever be our most sacred duty to
sustain. 1t is but the feeble expression of faith
strong and universal, to say that their sons hose
blood nIngled so often upon the same field dur
ing thu war of 1912, and who have more recently
borne in triumph the flag of our country upon a
foreign soil, viii never permit alienation of feel
ing to weaken the power of their united efforts,
nor internal dissentions to paralyze the great arm
OF freedom, uplifted for the vindication of self
government
have thus briefly presented such suggestions
as seem to me especially worthy of your consd-
Grafton In providing for the present, YOU can
hasaly fail tosayal 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 national history,
to point OF which it well behooves us to expand
our vision over the vast prospective.
The successive decennia returns of the CEN
Gus since tho adoption of the constitution have
revealed a law Of steady progressive develop
ment which may be stated, in general terms, as
duplication every quarter century, Carried
forwards from the point already reached, for only
a short period of time as applicable TO the exis-
tence Of nation, this law Of progress, if un-
checked will bring US to almost Incredible results
A large allowance for diminished proportions
effect of emigration would not very materially
reduce the estimate, while the increased average
duration of human life, known to have already
resulted from the scientific and hygienic improve.
ments Of the past fifty years, will tend to keep
up through the next fifty, or perhaps hundred, the
same ratio Of growth which has been thus re-
vealed in our past progress; and to the influence of
these causes may be added the influx Of laborng
masses from eastern Asia 10 the Pacific side Of
our possessions, together with the probable Access
sion OF the populations already existing in other
parts Of cur hemisphere, which, within the Pc
Rod in question, will iee, with yearly increasing
force, the natural attraction of SO vast powerful,
aud prosperous confederation of self governing
republics, and will seek the privilege of being
admitted within its safe and happy bosom, trans
ferrng with themselves, bya peaceful and healthy
process Of incorporation, spacious regions of viz
gin and exuberanl soil, which are destined to
swarm with the fast-growng and disappearing
millions Of our race.
Il is evident that confederation so vast and so
varied both 10 numbers and in extent, in habit and
in interests, could only be kept in national cohc-
sion by the strctest fidelity to the principles of
the constitution, as understood by those who have
adhered to the most restricted construction of the
powers granted by the people and the Stales ln-
ierpreted aud applied according to those princi-
Piles, the great compact adopts itself with healthy
ease and Freedom to an unlimited extension ofthat
benign system of federatiye self-government, of
which ii is our glorious and trust immortal char
ter Let US, then, with redoubed vigilance, be
on our guard against yielding to the temptation of
the exercise of doubtful powers, even under the
pressure of the motives Of conceded temporary adj
vantage and apparent temporary expediency
The minimum Of the federal government, com
patibIe with the maintenance of national unity
and efficient action in relations with the rest
4 Il Il l. 1