Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-03-12

what it is, under the discipline aud in
struction Of officers not more distin.
puished for their solid attainments,
gallan,ry, and devotion to the public
service, than to an unobtrusive bear.
ing and high moral tone. The army,
as organized. must be the nucleus a.
round which, in every time OF need,
the strength of your military power
the sure ,balwark of your defence,
National Militia, may be readily form
ed into well disciplined aud efficient
organization; aud the skill and self
devotion Of the navy assure you that
you may take the performance of the
past as a pledge for the future. and
may confidently expect that the flag
which has waved its untarnished folds
over every sea will still float in undi'
minished honor
But these, like many other subjects,
will be appropriately brought at fu.
,ure time, before the coordinate
branches of the government, to which
| | shall always look with profound re.
spect aud with trustful confidence. that
they will accord to me the aid aud
support which ! shall SO much need,
and which their experience aud wis
dom will readily suggest.
In the administration Of domestic
affairs you expect a devoted integrity
in the public service, and All observ-
ance Of rigid economy in all depart
ments, so marked as never justly to
be questioned. lfthis reasonable ex-
peciation be not realized, l frankly
confess that one of your leading hopes
is doomed to disappointment, aud that
my efforts in very important partic-
ular must result in a humiliating fail.
ure. Offices can be properly regard.
ed only in the light of aids for the ac-
complishment Of these objects; aud,
as occupancy can confer no preroga.
tive, nor importunate desire for pre-
ferment any claim, the public interest
imperatively demands that they be
considered aciM sole reference to the
dates to be perto,med. Good citizens
may we'll claim the protection of good
laws, and the benign influence Of good
government-but claim for Office is
what the people of a republic should
never recognize. No reasonable man,
of any party, will expect the admin
istration to be so regardless Of its re.
sponsibility and Of the obvious ele'
meuts Of success. as to retain persons
known to be under the influence Of
political hostility and partizan preju.
dice, in positions which will require
not only severe labor but cordial CO.
operation.
Having no implied engagements ID
ratify, no rewards to bestow, no re-
sentiment to remember, no personal
wishes to consult, in selectiocs for Of
, fetal s,ation-l shall fulfil this diff
cult and delicate trust, admitting nc
motive as worthy either Of my char
acter or position. which does not con
template an efficient discharge Of duty
and the best interests - Of fl ny Se9ps5,S
to them alone. Higher objects thar
personal aggrandisement gave direc
lion and energy to their exer,ions i,
the last canvass, and they shall not be
disappointed. They require at my
hands diligence, integrity, and capaci
ty, wherever there are duties to be
performed. Without these qualities
in their public servants, more stringent
laws for the prevention or punishment,
of fraud, negligence aud speculation
will be in vain. With them they will
be unnecessary.
But these are not the only points to
which you look for vigilant watchfal.
ness. The dangers of a concentration
of all power in the General Govern
.ment Of confederacy SO vast as ours,
are too obvious to be disregarded.-
You have right. therefore, to expect
your agents, in every department, to
regard strictly the limits imposed up
on them by the constitution Of the
United States. Tho great scheme Of
our constitutional liberty rests upon
a proper distribution Of honor, be-
tween the State and Federal authori.
ties and experience has shown us
that the harmony and happiness -four
people, must depend upon a just dis
elimination between the separate
rights and responsibilities Of the
States, and your common rights and
obligations under the general govern
ment-and herein, in my opinion. are
the considerations which should form
the true basis Of future concord, in re.
gardt to the questions Which have most
seriously disturbed public tranquility.
If the Federal Government will con.
fine itself to the exercise Of powers
clearly granted by the Constitution.
it can hardly happen that its action
upon a question should endanger the
institutions Of the States, or interfere
with their right to manage matters.
strictly domestic, according to the will
of their own people.
In axnressing. briefly. nv views nm.