Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-01-22
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF GOV, CLIFFORD.

We have read with particular qualification the
Address of the Hon. JOHN III. CLIFFORD the new
Governor of the State Of Massachusetts,, TO the Le
gisature of that State We invite the attention of
our readers especially to the sound Republican prin
ciples comprised in the following extracts, from it,
of SO much as concerns the relation of the People
and the States to the General Government:
The relations sustained by the Comm onwealth to the
Government of the Union, and the action of that Govern
ment on the people of the several States be
all times matters of deep interest 1t is Govern
ment in the sense, and within its constitutional
sphere Of action entitled loyal allegiance in the
samedegree the Government of Commonwealth
1t was established not as league compact between
independent States, but Government founded upon
the voluntary SURFACES of the whole people in adopting
the Constitution of the United States and declaring it to
be their supreme law. While therefore, may properly
give expression to views and opinions respecting its
action and endeavor through the authorized and cons
tuonal channels to influence that action in such direc
tons we may deem most promove of the general well
fare cannot regard any part Of duty either
legislators citizens to exhibit opinions at such
times, and in such modes, produce other effect
than discord and lwl to endeavor, under their in
uence to withdraw ourselves from the full performance
States have common history and a common destiny;
and there adequate compensaons to the interests
of the human that will justify any action of States
of individuals which tends impair the strength and
integrity of that Union under which the great Of
humanity has been signaly advanced and prospered
By the patriotism Of fathers and the favor of good
there has been here great family
OF States; and people, can no more calculate
the value Of its Union than we can, Individuals
calculate the value of the ties which bind together in
the relations Of domestic life.
With respect both the national legislation and her
duties to her sister States MASSACHUSETTS early placed
upon record her deliberate convictions and she has now
ground upon those Subjects for the first time to
occupy In her response the celebrated Virginia Reso
lutions of 1798 she declared that being convinced that
the Federal Constitution is calculated to promote the
happiness prosperity and safety Of the people of these
United States, and to maintain that Union of the several
States essential to the welfare Of the WHOLE and be-
ing bound by solemn oath to support that Constitution
Legislature feel it to make any profess
sions Of their attachment to it, Of their firm deerm
nation to support it against every aggression foreign
or domestic That they persuaded that the dec-
sion Of all arising under the Constitution and the
construction of all laws made in pursuance thereof
exclusively vested by the people in the Judicial Courts of
the United States That thus amicable and dspas-
sionate remedy is pointed out for any evil which expe
rence may prove to exist and the peace and the pros
perity of the United States may be preserved. And
finally, that they feel strong conviction that the
raj United States connected by interest
which ought to render their Union ndissolube and that
this State will always cooperate with its confederate
States in rendering that Union productive Of mutual
security, freedom, and happiness"
cannot doubt that in the sober judgment of the peo-
pie of this Commonwealth this conviction has been gain
ing strength with the experience of every passing year
since uttered Not the least among the blessings
which we have enjoyed have been the judicial abors
that august tribunal to which fathers referred and
to which must REFER the ultimate determination of all
questions arising out of the national legislation upon
which differences of opinion may arise amongst