Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1853-12-15

Union, shall be disposed, so far as my own
action is concerned, to follow the LIGHTS of
the constitution, rs eXpoundod and ilIustra-
ted by those whose opinions and expostons
constitute the standard Of my political faith
in regard to the powers Of the federal gov
eminent. 1t is, trust not necessary to say,
that no grandeur of enterprise, and no pres
ent urgent inducemont promising popular
favor, will lead me to disregard those lights,
or to depart from that path, which expert
cnce has proved to be safe, and which is now
radiant with the & low Of prosperity and egit
innate constitutional progress. We can af-
ford to wait, but we cannot afford TO overlook
the ark of our security,
1t is no part olmy purpose to give prom-
nencc to any subject, which may properly be
regarded as set at rest by the deliberate iudg-
ment Of the people. But while the present is
bright with promise, and the future full of
demand and induccment for the exercise of
active Intelligence, the past can never be
without useful lessons Of admoniton and in
structon. If its dangers serve not as bea-
cons, they will evidently fail to fulfil the OBJ
ect of wise design. When the grave shall
have closed over all who are now endeavor-
ing to meet the obligations of duty, the year
1850 will be required to as a period filed
with anxious apprehension. A successful
war had ust terminated, Peace brought
with it a vast augmentation of territory
Disturbing questions arose, bearing upon the
domestic institutions of one portion of the
coniederacy, and involving the constitutional
rights of the states. But notwithstanding diff
fcrcnces of opinion and sentiment WHICH then
existed in relation to details and specific
provisions, the acqucsccnce of distinguished
citizens, whose devotion to the Union can
never be doubted, has given renewed vigor
to our institutions, and restored sense of
repose and security to the public mind
throughout the conlederacy. That this re-
pose is to suffer no shock during my Official
term, if | have power to avert it, those who
placed me here may be assured. The wis
dom of men who knew what Independence
cost-who had put all at stake upon the issue
Of the revolutionary sruggle-dIsposed of
the subec to which | refer, in the onl y way
consistent with the union of these states, and
with the march of power and prosperity
which has made us what we are. 1t is a
significant fact, that from the adoption of the
constitution until the officers and soldiers OF
the revolution had passed to their graves, or,
through the inhrmities Of age and wounds,
had ceased to participate actively in public
affairs, there was not merely quiet acquI-
escencc in, but prompt ylndcatIon OF, the
constitutional rights of the states. The re-
served powers were scrupuously respected.
No statesman put forth the narrow views of
casuists to justify interference and agitation,
but the spirit Of the compact was regarded
as sacred in the eye of honor, and indispen-
sable for the great experiment of civil liberty,
which, environed by inherent difficulties, 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
tathlesS to this great trust. While men in
habing different parts of this vast CONT
nent can no more be expected TO hold the
same opinions, or entertain the same sentl-
ments, than every variety Of climate or soil
can be expected to furnish the same agricul-
tural products, they can unite in common
object and sustain common principles essen
tiul 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 the
more trying period which succeeded the
clAngor of arms. As their united valor 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 a deep and broad basis, institutions,
which it has been our privilege to enjoy, and
will ever be our most sacred duty to sustain,
1t is but the feeble expression of a faith
stroug and universal, to say that their sons,
whose blood mingled so often upon the same
field, during the war Of 1912, and who have
more recently borne in triumph the flag oil
the country upon a foreign soil, will never
permit alienation of feeling to weaken the
power of their united efforts, nor internal
dissensions to paralyze the great arm Of free
dom, uplittcd for the yindication of seli-gov-
eminent.
have thus briefly presented such sugges-
tons as seem to me especially worthy 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 the future.
The growth Of our population has now
brought us in the destined career of our ma
tional history, to a point at which it well be-
hooyes US to expand our vision over the vast
prospective.
The successive dcccnnial returns of the
census since the adoption Of the constitution
have revealed law of steady progressive
development, which may be stated in gener-
al terms, as "A duplication every quarter-cen-
fury. Carried forward from the point al
ready reached, for only short period Of
time as applicable to the existence Of ma
ton, this law of progress, if unchecked, will
bring us to almost incredible results. A
large allowance for diminished proportional
effect of emigration would not very materially
reduce the estimate, while the increased av
erage duration of human life, known to have