Litchfield enquirer., 1853-03-10

it's imposed upOn them by the conSIilutiOa of
 inc United States.
 The great scheme of Our constitutional lib>
 erty rests upon proper distribution of pnw~ | er between the State and federal authorities {; Il and Oxperience has shown. that the harmuny | and happiness of 0uT people must depend ups | on jusI discrimination between the separate | rights and responsibilities of the States, and you. common rights and obligations Under the general government. And here in my Opin>
 ion, ate the considerations which shruld form
 the true basis oI future concord in regard to | the question, which have most seriously dis Iurbed prblic tranquility. If the Federal gov-
 ernment will cOn6ne itself to the exercise of
 DOW rS clearly granted by the CnnsIitCtion, It
 can hardly happen that it's action upon any I question should endanger the institutions of the States, Or interfere with theIr right to
 manage matters strictly domestic accor ding
 to the will of their own people.
 In expressing my views upon an important subject, which has recently agitated the na~ l ton to almost a fearful degree. am moved by no other impulse than most earnest de~ sire for the perpetuIiy of the Union, which has
 made us what We are--showering upon ue
 blessings, and conIerring a power and irflu. l ence. which our fathers could hardly have ans
 tlcIpa'e1, even with th ir m at ssnguine
 h0Hes directed to a far>of future. The sens IIme0ts l now announce were not unknown be~
 fore the expr ession ot the voice which called
 me here. My own position upon this subject
 was clear, Onequivocal, upon the record ns | my words and my acts, aad it is only recu-red
 to at this time because silence might perhaps
 be miscensttu+d. With the Union my best
 and dearest earthly hopes are entwined - Without 1t what are we individually or c lA
 leciivelys What becomes of the nobles'
 field ever opened for tae advancaueni Of our
 race, in religion. in government, in the ar's. and in all that digniies and adorns mankind
 From that radient cOnsiellatIon which both
 tliumines our own way aRd points out to struggling nations theh course, let but sins gle star be lost. and if there be not utter dark.
 ness, the lusire of the whole is dimmed. Do
 my countrymeR need any assurance that such a catastrophe is not to Overtake them whil. | possess lhe power to stay it7 It is with me an earnest and vital belief that as the Uninn has been the sources under Providence, of our prosperity to this time. SO it is the snresi pledge Of continuance ot iLe blessings we have enjoyed, and which We are sacredly bound to transmit 10 our children The field of caim and free discussion in our country ia open, and will always be SO, but il never has beeL and never can be iraversed for good in spirit of ssctiOnalism and uncharit Ableness.
 The founders of ihe republic dealt with things as they were presented to them, in al spirit of self>sacri6cing patriotism. and as time has proved. with comprehensive wis- dom which it will be always safe for US to consult. Every measure tending 10 strengths en the fraternal feelings of all the members oi our Union, has had ny heartfelt approba> ton. To every theory of s"cieiy or gov> ernment whether the effspring of feverish ambition or of morbid enthusiasm calcu ed to dissolve the bonds of law and affection which rnte us. shall interpose ready and stern resistance. l believe that invounia ary se'vi;ude as it exists in different states of this confederacy is recognized by the cons siilutiOn. I believe that II stands like any | other adm tied right and that the States | dies to enforce the constitutional provisions.
 hold that the laws of 1880 commonly called the cnmps omise msasures' are s,ricts lv C institutional and to be unhesItatingly car~ ried into effect. believe that the c0nsfitu, ted authorities of thla republic are bound to | 'ef ard the rights of the Snuth in this respect, as they would view any other legal and con- -titutional right, and that the laws to enforce them should be T, spected and obeyed, not with reluctance encouraged by abstI act opinions as to their propriety in different | state of society. but cheertully, and aceordiDg ] to the decisions of the tribunal 10 which their l exposition belongs. Such have beeu, and are l my convictions, and upon them shall act - 1 teIvently hope that the question is at rest, and that nO sectional, or ambitious. or ianatr l cal excitement may again threaten the dura. ] hllity of our institutions, or obscure the light of our prosperity. 1
 But let mt the foundation of our hope rest upon mans wisdom. It will n1t be sufficient | that sectional preiudices fni no place l.. the | public deliberations. It will not be sufficient | hat the rash counsels of human passion are rejected It must be felt that there is no national security bat in the nations humble. acknow Iedg-d depends nee upon God and his 'verruiing providence.
 We have been carried in safety through perilous crisis. WIse counsels. those which gave us the constitution, prevailed to uphold 1t. Let the period be remembered as an ad and not as an encouragement. in any section of the Union. to make expert, ments where experiments are fraught with such fearful hazard Let it be impre sed ups on all hearts. that beautiful as our fabric is, no earthly power or wisdom could re>unite its broken fragments.
 Standing as l dn almTst withiR view of the green slopea of Monticello. and, as it were. within reach of the tomb of Washington, V Ith all the cherished memories of the past gathering around me, like sO many eloquent voices ot extortion from Heaven I can express ." better hope for my country. than the kiud Providence which smiled upon our Fathers. nay enable their children to preserve the blessings they may have inherited
 FRANKLIN PIERCE.
 Washington: March 4 1853.