Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-12-15
VOL. XVIII, NO. WHOLE NO. 24el.


as well as common iealty and Attachment to tho
Union, shall he di.pp sed FAR as my own
ton is concerned, to follow the lights of The
constitution, as expoundci and illustrated by
those whose opinions and expositons constitute
the standard of my political Nith in regard 30
the powers of the federal government. II is, I
trust, not necessary to say, that No grandeur OF
enterprise, and no preseni urgent inducement
promising popular favor, will lead me 70 disrs-
gard those lights, or to depart from that PATH
which experience has proved TO be safe. and
which is now radiant with the glow Of prospsri-
ty and Legitimate constitutional progress. We
afford to wait, but we cannot afford to over
look the ark Of our security.
IL is no part Of my purpose to give promi-
ncnce to any subject. which may properly be re-
girded 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
inducemcnt for the exercise of active intelli-
gence, the past can never be without useful leo
suns Uf odm0nitipn and Instruction Tf its daQ-
gers serve not bca6ons, they will eyidafty
fail to fulfill the object of a wise design When
the grave shall have closed over all who are now
p cndcavorng to meet the obligations Of duty. the
year 1880 will be REQUIRED 90 n period filed
with anxious apprehension. A successful war
had just terminated. Peace brought with it
vast augmentation Of territory. Disturbing
questions arose, bearing upon the domestic nsti-
buttons OF one portion Of the conf. eracy, and
involving the constitutional rights Of the states
But notwithstanding differences Of opinion and
sentiment which then existed in relation to de-
tails and specific provisions the acquiescence Of
distinguished citizens. whose devotion to the
Union can never be doubted. has given renewed
Iyig1r To our institutions, aud restored sense of
.rcpose and security to the public mind through
out the coniederacy That this repose is to sui-
fer no shock during my official term, If | aayc
power to avert it, those who placed me here may
lie assured The wisdom of men who knew
! what independence cost-whO had put all at
stake upon the issue of the revolutionary strug-
gle disposed oi the subject to which | refer in
the only way consistent with the union Of these
( States and with the march of power and ,iros-
periy which has made us what we are 1t is
, significant fact, that from the adoption Of the
constitution until the officers and soldiers Of the
4 revolution had passed 10 their graves. or thro'
the inhrmities Of age and wounds, had ceased to
participate actively in public affairs. there was
, not merely quiet acquicscence in, but prompt
y indication Of, the constitutional rights OF the
states The reserved powers were scrupulously
ID respected. No statesman put forth the narrow
views of casuists 10 justify Interference and agi-
tation, but the spirit of the compact regard
u ed as sacred III the eye Of honor, and indispen-
sable for the great experiment OF civil liberty,
which, envroned by inherent difficulties was
, yet borne forward IN apparent weakness by u
e power superior % All OuolUcles. mere Is no
y condemnation, which the voice of freedom viii
r not pronounce upon US should we prove faith
T. less % this great trust. While men inhahitng
g different parts OF this vast continent can more
g he expected to hold the opinions, enter
d tain the same sentiments. than every variety of
j climate or soil can be expected to furnish the
e same agricultural products, they can unite in u
% common ollect and sustain common principiev-
essential 60 the mainten nee Of that object.
Il The gallant men of the south and the north
{ could stand together during the struggle of tho
il revolution they could stand together in tho
j more trying period which succeeded the cangor
+ OF arms. rs their united yalor adequate to
y all the trials Of the camp and dangers of the
Geld 50 their united wisdom proved equal to the
+ greater task Of founding, upon deep and broad
J. blsis, institutions which it has been our privi-
legc to enjoy, and will ever be our most sacred
- duty % sustain. 1t is but the feeble expression
. Of II faith strong and universal, to say that their
. sons, whose blood mingled often upon the
5 same field during the war Of 1915. and who
e have more recently borne in triumph the aag Of
the country upon n foreign soil, whl never per-
nit alienation Of feeling Ia weaken The power Of
T. their united efforts, nor internal discussions to
t. plrayze the great arm Of freedom, uplifted for
8 the yindcltion Of selfgoyernment.
= have thus briefly presented such suggestions
r. rs seem 10 me especially worthy oC your consd-
+ ati0n In providing for the present, you can
& hardly fail to avail yourselves Of the light,
} which the experience Of the past casts upon the
r. future.
c The growth Of our population has now brought
t US, in the destined career Of our national histo-
q ~, to point at which il well behooves us to
/ expand vision over the vast perspective.
IS The successive decennial returns of the CEN
ID sus since the adoption Of the constitution have
Q revealed a law Of steady progressive develop
n ment. which may be stated in general terms, as
iad
i forward, from the point already reached, for
l. only short period of time as applicable to the
r existence Of a nation. this law OF progress, if
unchecked, win bring Us to almost incredible
5 results. y large allowance for diminished
, proportional effect Of emigration would not very
e materially reduce the estimate while the in
s creased average duration Of human life, known
p to have already resulted from the scientific and
! hygenie improvements of the past fifty years,
4 Will tend 10 keep up through the next fifty or
G perhaps hundred, the same ratio growth, which
f has been thus revealed in our past progress and
G to the influence of these causes may be added
0 the influx of laboring misses from Eastern Asia
r. To the Pacific side of our possessions, together
{ with the probable accession OF the populations
= already existing in other parts Of our hemis-
. phere, which, within the period in question,
{ will feel, with yearly increasing force. the nata-
raj attraction Of 50 vast, powerful, and prosper
r Gus confederation Of seli-goyernng republics,
. ana VIII seek the privilege OF beins auihltteu
within it's safe and happy bosom, transferring
= with themselves, by peaceful and healthy pro-
cess Of Incorporation, spacious regions OF virgin
and exuberant soil, which destined TO swarm
= with the fast growing and fist-sIreading mill
lions of race.
These considerations seem fully to justify the
presumption, that the law of population above
stated will continue 10 act with undiminished
effect, through az least the next half century;
and that thousands OF persons who have already
arrived at maturity. and now exercising tho
rights Of freemen, will close their eyes on the
? spectacle Of more than one hundred millions OF
population embraced within the majestic proper
ton Of the American Union. Il is not merely AS
an Interesting topic Of speculation that present
{ these views for your consideration. They have
important practical bearings upon all the poti-
cal duties We arc called upon toperiorm. Here
teioro, our system OF government has worked on
what may be termed a miniature scale, in COM
! paration with the development, which it must
thus assume, within a future 50 near az hand, as
scarcely To be beyond the present Of the exist
ing generation.
. IL is evident that confederation vast and
50 varied, both in numbers aud in territorial
tent, m habits aud IN interests could only he