Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-12-16
(Confmuc5 from he FIRST pages

without OSCllll lCSSOnS CT uulnOnlllOn anu III"
struction. If its dangers serve not as beaccnS,
they will evidently fail to fulfil the object Of u
wise design.
When the grave shall have closed over all,
who are now cndcavorng to meet Tho ohliga-
tons of duty, the year 1850 will be required
to as period filed with anxious apprehcn-
sion, i successful war has Just terminated.
Peace brought with it vast augmentation of
territory. Disturbing questions arose. bear
ing upon the domestic institutions of one
portion Of the conlcderacy, and involving the
constitutional rights of the States.
But notwithstanding differences of opinion
and sentiment, which then existed in relation
to details and specific provisions, the acquics'
cence ofdistinguishcd citizens whose devotion
to the Union eau never be doubted, has given
renewed vigor to our institutions, and rcstor-
cd Il sense of reposc and security to the pub
lie mind throughout the cOnicdcracy. That
this rcpose is to suffer no shock during my Of
fetal term, If | have power to avert it,
those who placed me here may be assured.
Tho wisdom of men, who knew what indie
pcndcnce 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 consistent with the union Of
these States, and with the march Of power
and prosperity which ha- made us what we
are.
1t is a significant fact, that from the adop-
ton of the constitution until the officers and
soldiers of the resolution had passed to their
graves, or, through the inirmitics of age and
wounds, had ceased to participate actively in
public affairs, there was not merely quiet
acquiesccnco in, but prompt vindication Of
the constitutional rights of the States.
The reserved powers were scrupulously res
rectcd. No statesman put forth the narrow
viowB of casuists to Justify interference ami
agitation, hut the spirit Of the compact was
regarded as sacred in the eye of honor, and
indispensable for the great experiment Of
civil liberty, which, cnyroncd byinhcrcnt DIFF
ticulties. was yet borne forward in apparent
weakness by a power superior to all Obstacles
There is no condemnation. (which the voice
Of freedom will not pronounce upon us, should
we prove fnithlcss to this great trust.
While men inhabting different parts of this
vast continent can no more he expected to
hold the same opinions, or entertain the same
sentiments, than every variety of climate OF
soil can be expected to furnish the same ag-
ricutural products, they can unite in COM
mon object and sustain common principles
essential to the maintenance OF that object.
The gallant men OF the south and the north
could stand together during the struggle Of
the Revolution they could stand together in
inc more lTNlDE DcIlOl WHICH SuCCccuCU inc
ClangOr Of 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
greater task Of founding, upon II deep and
Sroad basis, institutions, which it has been
our privilege to enjoy, and will ever be our
most sacred duty to sustain.
1t is but che feeble expression Of a faith
strong and universal to say their sons, whose
blood mingled so often upon the field, during
the war Of 1872, and who have more recently
borne iii triumph the flag Of the country up
on foreign soil, will never permit alicna-
ton Of fecllnS to weaken the power of their
united efforts. nor internal discussions to
paralyzc the great arm of freedom. uplitted for
the vindicaton Of self government.
| have thus briefly presented such sugges-
tons as seem to me especially worldly of your
consideration. In providing for the present,
you can hardly fail to avail yourselves Of the
light, which the experience of the past casts
upon tho future.
The growth of our population has now
brought us, in the destined career of our ma
tional history, to II point at which it we'll be-
hovcs Us to expand our vision over the vast
prospective,
The successive dcconnial returns of the cen
sus since the adoption of the constitution
iitNC lcNc"lcl Il ldH Ol Slcl'l progressive NC
yelOpmcnt, which may be stated, in general
term, as duplication every quartcr-centnry
Carried ior"ard from the point already
reached, for only short period of time us APP
plcahlc to the existence Of a nation, this law
OF progress, If unchecked, will bring us to al
most incredible results.
i large allowance for less proportional
effect OF emigration would not materially re-
duce the estimate. while the increased aver.
age duration Of human life, known to have
already resulted from the scientific and n.y.
gieric improvements of the past fifty years,
25;., tend to keep up through the next fifty
rperhaps hundred, the same ratio of growth
which has been thus revealed in our pas
progress and TO the influence of these cause
may be added the influx Of laboring masscs
iaom eastern Asia to the Pacific side Of on
possessions together with the probable ac
'cssion of the population already existing il
.1thcr parts Of our hemisphere, which, within
me P'i!'I III question: VIII leei' with yearly
!hcrF0sih@ force, the natural attractions o
SO VAST, powerful ana prosperous Il cOnledcra