Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-03-11


eral government of cofedcracv SO vast rs
ours, are 10 obvious TO be dlsregarled. Yo,
have right, therefore, TO expect your agents
IN every department, to regard strictly the lin
l's Impose upon them by the Constitution q
the United States.
j he great scheme Of orr constitutional lib
erty rests upon proper distribution Of pnwe,
between the State and Federal authorities :; and
experience has shown that the harmony AM
happiness Of our people must depend npon a
Just discrimination between the separate riph
and responsibilities of the States, and youl
common rights and Obligations under the 1pn-
eral government.
And here, IN my opinion, are the considcra
ions which should form the true basis of (r-
tnre concord, in regard to the questions which
! nave most seriously disturbed pubic irnnouihrv.
II the Federal Government will conhna Itself
10 the exercise OF powers clearly gtan'pd b.
the Consttullon, II can hardly happen that its
ACTON upon any question should endanger the
| institutions OF the States, or interfere with
Their right to manage matters strictly domestic
according to the WI of their own peop'e
In expressing my views upon an important
subject, which has recentIy ag.tated the nation
to almost fearful degree, | am moved by no
other impulse than a most earnest desire for
the perpeuaIiun Of that Union which has made
us what we are, showering upon US blessings,
ana cohteFrlng power and Influence winch
Our fathers c0u'd hardly have aniiciDa,eJ
even with their most sarguinr hopes directed
! TO a iat-otf future.
! The sentiments now announce were no,
"u""""n oeIo'e Tue expression OF The voice
",''" c'"e' me mere NY own position upon
! ,,''' was c'e'f anu uneqnlvoca upon
| The record Of my words and my acts and Il is
NY 'c'"' ca " AZ th's TIME, because silence
mIE"' perhaps oe nScons'rued. with the
o"'o" NY oest ana dearest earthly hopes are
~, "'''e'' uncut II, what are We indi'idu-
any iv VI co,'eco'eIy
""at becomes OF The nobIest field ever
PV"eu lot 'he Advancement OF our face, IN re-
H'o"' ID government IN the arts, and in all
u''t u'g"'HeS ana adorns mankind? From
''''' '"u''"t co"s'e'tUon' which both lIumea
w. y" way ana no'n'S ont to struggling ma
"orS ''e'r course let Out single star be lost,
""1i 1" lnere DC no ultf darkness, the lus'fe
", w. ""o'e Is o'hmt'. - inY conntrymen
"e.u any assurance lhat such d catastrophe Il,
""t =" o'e'lake them, While possess the pow.
Il :" stay
Is WIN me an earnest and vital belief, that
as 'ne Onl"h has been the source, under Prov
ue'o'' ., our prosperity TO lh's time, So it Is
''e su'e'' P'euse Il continuance @! the bes-
sings we nave elJ'yet, and which we have
go, dnu "n'ch we aye sacredIy bound to
t'|nS"lt uhu'ih,hlshed TO our children. The
heid OF cain and free discussion in our cuuu~
I! Is OPEN ana VIII always be SO, bat it never
h'S oeeh ana never can be traversed for good
III sPIil Of sectIoalIism and unchartdbll-
'enS'
lie founders OF the Republic dealt with
'"iNgs as lney were presented 10 them, in a
spirit OF sell rIticing patriotism, and as time
ntS proved, w''h comprehensive wisdom
winch 1t will always be safe for Us 10 consult.
.'"N ee'"T Ut az ''lc members OF our Cnlon,