The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-10
VOL. VII.

IL
future than the urgent present.
The great objects of our pursuit no
pie are best 70 be attained by peace, and
interests OF the rest OF mankind With NJ
neighboring nations upon our Continent
should cultivate kindly and fraternal relss,
We-can desire nothing in regard TO tban
much a. to see them consolidate their str0nls
and pursue the paths Of prosperity and Sns
ness If in the course of their grox,h 'Pl'
should open new channels of trade ana -
additional facilities for friendly interconrSa a
benefits realized will be equal and mutnaI %
the complicated European systems Of nat,
polity we have heretofore been indenenSal
From their wars their tumults and osu
cites, we have been, happily, almost eDt.1i
exempt. Whilst these are confined 10 ,
tons which gave them existence. and ~.
their legitimate jurisdiction, they came. ~.
us except as they appeal to our sympatb;au
the cause of human freedom and unyersol
yancement But the vast interests of Come
are common to all mankind, and the ado.
ges of trade and international intaro6nr.o ar
always present noble field for the moral ~; !
Auence of great people
With these views firmly and honestly ~.
ried out, We have right to expect, and sban
under all circumstances require promnt w.:
prOcity. The rights which belong 10 ms a.
nation are not alone to be regarded, but tho.a
which pertain to every citizen in his individn.
capacity at home and abroad, must be sae,si
ly maintained. SO long as he can disco,
every star in its place upon that ensign with
out wealth to purchase for him prefermept q
title to secure for him place, it will be his n,;,
lege, and must be his acknowledged risbt n
stand unabashed, even in the presence of nrr
ces, with proud consciousness that he il him
self one of nation of sovereigns, and that h,
cannot in legitimate pursuit wander "a "a.
from home, that the agent whom he shall lsar.
behind in the place which | now occupy will
not see that no rude hand of power or tyranui. |
cal passion is laid upon him with mpuniity. He
must realize that upon every sea and on eyerv
soil where our enterprise may rightfully sesk
the protection of our flag American citizen.
ship is an inWolable panoply for the security
OF American rights. And in this connection
1t can hardly be necessary to reaffirm prime.
pie which should now be regarded as fund,.
mental. The rights, security, and repoe a
this Confederacy reject the idea of interfereDs
or colonization on this side of the ocean by any
foreign Power beyond present Jurisdiction, a. |
utterly inadmissible
The opportunities of observation, furnished
by my brief experience as a soldier confirmed
in my own mind the opinion, entertained and /
acted upon by others from the formation of the |
Government, that the maintenance of large
standing armies in our country would be not
only dangerous, but unnecessary. They also /
illustrated the Importance, | might we'll w
the absolute necessity, of the military science |
and practical skill furnished, in such an emf
nent degree, by the institution which has made
your army what it is, under the discipline and
instruction of officers not more distinguished
tor their solid attachments, gallantry, and de-
votion to the public service, than for unobtru.
sive bearing and high moral tone The army
as organized, must be the nucleus around which
in every time of need, the strength of your
military power, the sure bulwark of your de-.
fence-a national militia--may be readily
formed into a well-disciplined and efficient or.
ganization. And the skill and self-deyoton 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 it's untarnished folds over
every sea, will still float in undimnished honor
appropriately brought, at future time, to the
attention Of the coordinate branches of the
Government, to which shall always look with
profound respect, and with trustful confidence
that they will accord to me the aid and sup
port which shall 80 much need, and which
their experience and wisdom will readily sug
gest
In the administration of domestic affairs
you expect q devoted integrity in the public
service, and an observance of rigid economy in
all departments, 80 marked as never justly to
be questioned. If this reasonable expectation
be not realized frankly confess that one Of
your leading hopes is doomed to disappoint
ment, and that my efforts, in very important
particular, must result in humiliating fail
ure. Offices can be regarded only in the ligh'
of aids for the accomplishment of these oh
jects; and as occupancy can confer no prerog
alive, nor importunate desire for preferment
any claim the public interest mperatively de-
mands that they be considered with sole refer
ence to the duties to be performed Good cit
zens may well claim the protection of good
laws, and the benign influence of good govern
ment but claim for Office is what the people
OF Republic should never recognise No
reasonable man of any party will expect the
administration to be 80 regardless of its re.
sponslbility, and of the obvious elements Of
success, a. to retain persons known to be I'M
der the influence of political hostility and par
tsan prejudice, in positions which will require,
not only severe labor, but cordial cooperation
Having no implied engagements TO ratify no
rewards to bestow no resentmeuts TO remem-
Der, and no personal wishes to consult, in Sc
Lotions for official station | shall fulfil this
difficult and delicate trust, admitting no motive
as worthy either of my character or posihm
which does not contemplate an efficient d.
charge of duty and the best interests of my
country. | acknowledge my obligations to the
masses of my countrymen, and to them alone
Higher objects than personal aggrandizement
gave direction and energy to their exertions
in the late canvass and they shall not be dis
appointed They require at my hands dill
gence, integrity, and capacity, wherever there
are duties to be performed Without these
qualities in their public servants, more strin
gent laws for the prevention or punishment OF
fraud negligence, and peculation, will be vain
With them, they will be deemed unnecessary
But these are not the only points to which
you look for vigilant watchfulness The dangers
of concentration of all power in the General
Government of a Confederacy 80 vast as ourS
arc too obvious to be disregarded. You have
a right, therefore to expect your agents N
every department 10 regard strictly the limits
imposed upon them by the Constitution Of the
United States. The great scheme of our con
stitutional liberty rests upon o proper dlstribu
ton of power between the State and Federal
authorities; and experience has shown that the
harmony and happiness Of ear people must De
pend upon a just discrimination between the
separate rights and responsibilities OF the
States, and your common rights and oblgs
tons under the General Government ana
here, in my opinion are the considerations
which should form the true basis of future con
cord in regard to the questions which nave :,
most seriously disturbed public tranquility: II
the Federal Government will confne itsei 70
the exercise of powers clearly granted by inc
Constitution, it can hardly happen that "
action upon any question should endanger inc