Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-12-07

with it vast augmentation of territory. Distur-
bing questions arose, bearing upon the domestic
institutions of one portion of the confederacy and
involving the constitutional rights of the States
But Notwithstanding difference of opinion and SEN
timent, which then existed in relation to details
and sp ecific provisions the acqueseence of dis
tnguished citizens whose devotion to the Union
can never be doubted, has given renewed vigor to
our Institutions, and restored of repOse and
security to the public mind throughout the Con-
federacy.
That this repese is to suffer no shock during my
fiocial term, if have power to avert it, those who
have placed me here may be assured. The wis
dom of the men who knew what independence
COST who had put all at stake upon the issue of the
revolutionary struggle, disposed of the subject to
which refer in the march of power and prosper
ty which has made US what we are.
It is 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 nfrmities of age and wounds, had
ceased to participate actively in public affairs,
there was not merely quiet acquiescence, but
prompt vindcation of the constitutional rights of
| the States. The reserved powers were scrupu-
| lously respected. No statesman put forth the
narrow views of casuists to justify interference
and agitation, but the spirit of the compact
garded sacred in the eye of honor, and indis-
pensable For the great excitement of civil lib
erty, though enVironed by inherent difficulties
| yet born forth in apparent weakness by pow er
superior to all obstacles.
There is no condemnation in which the voice
of the people will not pronounce upon us, should
we prove faithless to this great trust. While
men inhabting different parts of this vast conti-
nent can no more be expected to hold the same
opinions or entertain the same sentiments, than
every variety of soil or climate can be expected
to furnish the same agricultural products; they
can unite TO common object and sustain COM
inHi MI iaI fn ha Inf1 nf
that object, The gallant men of the south and
the north could stand together during the strug-
gle of the revolution. They could stand togeth-
er in the more trying period which succeeded the
clangor of arms, AS their united valor was ade-
quate 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 sa-
or ed duty to sustain. 1t is but feeble express
sion of a fact strong 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 OF
the country upon foreign soil, will never per-
nit alienation of feeling to weaken the power
of united efforts, nor internal dsscnsions to par
alike the great of freedom upliited for the
vindication of self-government.
have thus briefly presentec such suggestions
as seem to me especially worthy of your consid-
| Grafton. In proVlOlIlS IOE 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 brough:
US in the destined career of our National history
to point at which it we'll behoove US to expand
our vision over the vast prospective.
The successive decimal returns of the census
since the adoption Of the constitution have real
lied law of steady progressive development,
which may be stated in general terms du-
plcation every quarter century. Carried forward
from the point already reached for short period
of time, as applicable to the exigence of the ma
ton, this law of progress, if unchecked, will
bring us to almost incredible results A large al
lowance for diminished proportional effect of
emigration would not very materially reduce the
estimate which the increased average duration of
human life shows to have already resulted from
the scientific and hygienc Improvements of the
past fifty years, will tend to keep up through the
next fifty and perhaps hundred; the ratio
of growth which has been thus revealed in eur
past progress, and to the influence of these eau
ses may be added the influx of laborng masses
from eastern Asia to the Pacific side of our pos.
sessions, together with the probable accession oil
the populations already existing in other parts OF
our hemisphere, which, within the period in ques-
ton will feel with increasing force the natural at
tachment of SO vast, powerful and prosperous a
confederation OF self governing republics, and
will seek the privilege of being admitted within
it's safe and happy bosom, transferring with them
selves by peaceful and healthy process of incor-
poration, spacious regions of virgin and exuber-
ant soil, which are destined to swarm with the fast
growing and fast spreading millions of our race.
These considerations seem fully to Justify the
presumption that the law of population above
stated, will continue to act with undiminished ef-
feet through at least the half century, and that
thousands of persons who have already arrived at
maturity, and are now exercising the rights OF
freemen will close their eyes on the spectacle of
more than one hundred millions of population
embraced within the majestic proportions Of the
American Union. 1t is not merely as an inter-
es.ing topic of speculation that present these
views for your consideration. They have impor-
tant practical bearings upon all the political duties
we are called upon to perform. Heretofore our
system of Government has worked on what may
be termed a miniature scale in comparison with
| the development which it must thus assume with
in future so near at hand as scarcely to be be-
yond the present of the existing generation. 1t
is evident that confederation so vast and SO
varied, both in numbers and in territorial extent
in habits and interests, could only be kept in ma
tiona cohesion by the strictest fidelity to the prin-
ciples of the Constitution, understood by those
who have adhered to the most restricted construc-
tons of the powers granted by the people and
the States Interpreted and applied according to
those principles, the great compact adapts itseli
with healthy ease and freedom to an unlimited
extension of that benign system of federative
self-government Of which it is our glorious, and
l trust, immortal characteristic.
Let us then, with redoubled vigilance, be on
our guard against yielding to the temptation o
the exercise Of doubtful powers, even under the
pressure of the motives of conceded temporary
, advantage and apparent temporary expedience.-
The minimum of federal Government compat
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