Litchfield enquirer., 1853-03-10
RRssEpENT,s aaEssAas.

lAA W 4-N@ - - -@-
 Itisa rsiief Rs feel that no heart bu
 @y oWn can know che personal regret ani
 bif1er soIrOw ovoe which haze beer
 borpe e . position. 90 suitable for others rather than desirable fur mysslf.
 The citeamstances, under which hav
 been called for limited period. to presid,
 over the destiOies 6F the republic. fIl m' with profound sense of responsibility. bu
 wilh nothing like shrinking apprehension { ArepRir tO the post assigned me, not to on'
 Vought, but in obedience to the qnsOlicilet
 OxpresssOn of your will. answeratIe Only
 faf'a fearless. faithful. and diligent exercis'
 pf my best powers.
 ought t0 be, and am, truly gratefu
 for the rare manifestation of the nation.
 confidence, but this, SD far from Tightening
 my obligations. only adds to their weight
 You have summoned me in my weakness,
 you must sustain me by your strength.-
 When looking for the fulfiIment of req
 scnable requirements, you will not be un-
 mindful of the great changes which hay @
 occurred, even within che last quarter of a
 century, and the consequent augmentation
 and complexity of duties imposed. in the
 Administration both of your home and for"
 eign affairs.
 Whether the elements of inherent force
 in the Republic have kept pace with its pnparalleled progression in territory, pop>
 nlaiion and wealth. has been the subject pf earnest thought and discussion on both sides of the ocean. Less than sixty three Years ago, the Father of his country made sihe' then recent accession of the impOr- tant State of North Carolina to the Cons sfitution oF the United Staies,' ons of hts special congraiulatiOn. At that moment, however. when the agitation consequent upon the revolutionary struggle had 'sub> eided. when we were just emerging from the weakness aHd endorsements of the Confederation, there was an evident con, scionsness of vigor. equal to the great mis- sion sO wisely and braveIy fulfilled by our fathers. IL was not a presInptious assur> ance but calm faith. springing from a clear view of the sources of power, in a government constituted like ours. It is no parodox to say that. although compara- lively weak, the new born nation was in- irinsically strong. lnconsiderable in pop. 9la,idn and apparent resources. it was up.
 leld bJ broad and intelligent comprellen. zion of rights and all pervading purpose 10 maintain them, stronger than arma menis. It came from the furnace of the gevoIut'on, lemDered to the necessities of ihe times. The thoughts of the men of that day were as practical as thelr senti> ments were patriotic. They wasted n0 portion of their energies upon idle delusive speculaiions. but with firm and fearless etep. advanced beyond tho governmental landmarks. which had hitherto circum- scribed the limits of human freedom. and planted their standard where it has stood against dangers which have threatened from abroad, and internal agitation. which flas at times feariully menaced at home. They approved themselves equal to the folution of the great problem, to understand which their minds had been illuminated by the dawning lights of the revolutiOn.- Tne object sought was not a thing dream ed of-it was thing realized. They had exhibited not only the power to achieve, but what all history affirms to be SO much fnOre unusual, the capacity to maintain. The oppressed throughout the world, from that day t0 the present, have turned their ryes hitherward. not to find those lights extiHguished. or to fear lest they should wane, but to he constantly cheered by their steady and iucreasing radiance
 In this our country has. in my judge ment, thns far falflled it's highest duty to suffering humanity It has spoken. and will continue to speak not only by it's words but by it's acts. the language of ofsympathy, encouragement and hnpe. to those who earnestly listen to tones which pronounce or. the largest rational liberty. But after lll. the most animating encouragement and 'otent appeal for freedom will be its own listolty. ls trials, and its triumphx. Pre- ,minently the power of our advocacy re. 'oses in our example-but go example, be remembered. can be powerful for lasting yood. whatever apparenr advantages may % gained. which is not basad upon eternal principles of right and justice. Our fath- ITS decided for themselves, both upon the 1 hour to declare and the hour to strike.- IEey were .tleir own judges of the circum- stances, under which it became them 10 | pledge to each other .lheir lives their for. nnes. and their sacred honor.' for the ae> 1 luisition of the priceless inheritance trans- | nitted 10 us The energy with which that | treat conflict was opened. and under the | guidance of a manifest and beneficent the accomplishing endurance with which it was prosecuted to it's cons were only surpassed by the wisdom and patriotic concession, which characterized all the counsels oc the carly fathers.
 Que of the most impressive evidences of hat wisdom Is to be found in the fact, that hs actual working of our system has dis. pelled degree of solicitudr, which at the n9tset. disturbed hold hearts aud far reach. ing intellects. The apprehension of dan. gers from extended territory, multiplied States. accumulated wealth, and nuernen, led population, has proved to be unfound> ed.i The stars upon your banners have become nearly three fold their original your densely populated possessions skirt the shores of the two great oceans. and yet this vast increase of p.ople ard territory has not only shown itself eonpa,. ible with the harmonious actions of the States and the federal government in their respective constitutional spheres. but has afforded an additional guarantee of tho
 strength and integrity of both.
 With an experience thus suggestive and