The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-12-08

those whose opinions and cxpOstiOus constitute the
standard Of my political faith in regard to the powers
OF the Federal Government II is, tust, not ncces-
sary To say, that no grandeur Of enterprise, and no
present urgent nducement promising popular favor,
will lead ncso disregard those lights or 10 depart
from that path which experience has proved to be
safe and which Is radiant with the glow Of pros
parity and legitimate constitutional progress. We can
afford 10 waitshut cannot afford to overlook the
ark Of our security.
IL is no part OF my purpose TO give prominence TO
any subject which may properly be regarded as set
at rest by the deliberate judgment of the people But
while the present is bright with promise and the fu
ture full OF demand and nducement for the exercise
OF active Intelligence the past can never be without
useful lessons oil admoniton aud instruction. IL its
dangers serve not as beacons they will evidently fail
to fulfil the object Of wise design When the grave
shall have closed over all who are now endeavOrng
TO meet the obligations of duty the year 1850 will be
REQUIRED to period filled with anxious apprehen-
sion successful war had just terminated Peace
brought with II a vast augmentation Cf territory.
Disturbing questions arose bearing upon the domestic
institutions OF one portion Of the COnfedcracy and
involving the constitutional rights of the States But
Notwithstanding differences of opinion and sentiment
which then existed in relation To details and specific
provisions, the acquescence Of distinguished citizens
whose devotion to the Union can never be doubted,
has given renewed vgor to our institutions, and
stored a sense OF reposc and security to the public
mind throughout the Coniederacy. That this repose
is To suffer shock during my official term if have
power to avert it. those who placed me hore may be
assured. The wisdom of men, who knew what indie
pendence cost-who had put all at stake upon the
issue OF the revolutionary struggle disposed Of the
subject TO which refer, in the only 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 significant fact that from the adoption Of the
Constitution unit, the officers and soldiers of the Rev
outon had passed to their graves or through the in
hrmites OF age and wounds had ceased to participate
actively IN public affairs there not merely quiet
acquesconce in. but prompt vndicstOn VT the
stutlonal rights of the States The reserved powers
were scrupuously respected No statesman put forth
the narrow views of casusts to stsfS interference
and agitation, but the spirit of the compact was
garcd sacred in the eye Of honor and indispensa.
bic for the great experiment of civil liberty which,
environed by inherent difficulties was yet borno for
ward in apparent weakness by power superior all
obstacles. There is condemnation which the voice
OF Freedom will not pronounce upon us, should We
prove iahess 10 this great trust. While inhab-
ltng different parts of this vast continent
be expected to hold the same opinions entertain
the same sentiments than every variety of climate
soil can be expected To furnish the agricultural
products, they can unite in object and
tain common principles essential to the maintenance
OF that object The gallant 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 clangoT of arms
As their united vaor adequate to all the trials of
tue camp and dangers Of the field their united wis
dom proved equal to the greater task Of founding
upon 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 faith strong and universal to say that their sons
whose blood mingled often upon the same field du-
ring the war of 1912, and who have mere recently
borne in triumph the flag of the country upon tor
eign soil, will never permit alienation of feeling to
weaken the power of their united efforts, internal
dssentOns TO para we the great of Freedom up
| lifted Tor the vindication of self government
l have thus briefly presented such suggestions RS
In providing for the present you 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 national history, to
point Mt which it well behooves us to expand our
vision over the vast prospective.
The successive docennla returns Of the census,
since tho adoption OF the Constitution have revealed
"A law Of steady progressive development which may
be stated in general terms rs a duplication every
quarter century. Carried forward from the point al
ready reached, Tor only short period of time APP
pcabe to the existence Of nation, this law of pro-
greSs if unchecked, will bring to almost Incredible
results. large allowance for II diminished proper.
tional effect of emigration would not very materially
reduce the estimate, while the increased average du
ration of human life, known to have already resulted
from tho scientific and hygonic improv ements of the
past fifty years will tend to keep up through tho next
fifty or perhaps hundred, the same ratio of growth
which has been thus revealed in past progress and
to the influence OF these may be added the in
huX of labOrng masses from eastern Asia to the Pa
ci6c side Of our possessions together with the proba
bic accession of the populations already existing in
other parts of our hemis phere which within the DO
| riod in question, will feel with yearly increasing
force the natural attraction of vast powerful and
prosperous Confederation of self governing Repub
lies and will seek the privilege Of bolng admitted
within its safe and happy BOSOM transferring with
themselves, by peaceful and healthy process of in.
corporation spacious regions of virgin and cxuberant
soil, which are destined to swarm with the fast grow
| ing and fastspreading millions of our
These considerations fully to justify the pre-
SUMPTION, that the law of population above stated
will continue to act, with undmnshed effect through
at least the next half century and that thousands OF
| persons who have already arrived at maturity, and
are now exercising tho rights of reemen, will clos,
their eyes on the spectacle of than hundred
millions of population embraced within the majesti,
proportions OF the Anne lean Union IL is not merely
as an interesting topic of speculation that present
these views for your consideration. They have i'm
porant practical bearings upon all the political du
ties We are called upon TO perform. Heretofore our
| system of government has worked on what may be
termed miniature scale, in comparison with the do
vclopmcnt which 1t must thus assume, within future
80 near at hand scarcely to be beyond the present
| OF the existing generation.
| Ii Is evident that a Confederation vast and so
varied both III numbers and in territorial extent in
habits and in Interests could only be kept in nation
al cohesion by the srices fidelity to the principles OF
the Constitution, understood by those who have nd.
bered TO the most restricted construction of the pow
ers granted by tbs people and the States Interpret
| ed and applied according to those principles, the
great compact adapts itself with healthy and
freedom TO an Unlimited extension OF that benign sys-
TEN OF icderatiye selfgovernment of which il is our
| glorious and, | trust immortal charter. Let us,
| then, with rcdoublCd vigilance, he our guard
against yielding to the temptation OF the exercise Of
doubtful powers, even under the pressure Of tho mo-
tives OF conceded temporary advantage and apparent
| temporary expcdiency.
| The minimum of Federal (,oyernment. comma bio
| with the maintenance of national unity and efficient
action IN our relations with the rest of the world,
should afford the rule and OF construction of
our powers under the general clauses Of the Cobstitu.
| ton spirit d ttrict Difference TO the sovereign
rights and dignity Of every State rather than dispo-
siIon 10 subordinate The States into provincial
ation TO the central authority should characterize
all our exercise OF the respective powers temporarily
vested IN us as sacred trust from tho generous
| hdence OF our constituents.
In like manner, M IA naDiGs silly indispensable CON
dition OF the pcrpeuatoD Of the Union and OF the
realization Of that magnificent national future advert.
| cd to, does the duty become yearly stronger and
clearer upon US, rs citizens Of the several States to
cultivate raternal and aiectionate spirit language,
and conduct in regard TO other States and IN rela-
ton TO the varied interests Institutions and habits Of
sentiment and opinion, which may respectively char
actorize them Mutual forbeorance, respect, aud
interference in personal action as citizens, and
enlarged exercise of the most liberal principles OF
comfy In the public dealings OF State with State,
whether in legislation or in the execution of laws, are
the to pcrpetuato that confidence and fraterni
| ty the decay of which n political union
vast n scale could not long survive
In still another point OF view IL an important prac
tical duty suggested by this consideration Of the mag
nudo of dimensions to which our political system,
with its corresponding machinery Of government is
50 rapidly expanding With increased vigilance docs
it require US 10 cultivate the cardinal virtues Of pub
lie frugaty and official integrity and purity Public
affairs ought to he conducted that settled conyic-
ton shall pevado the entire Union, that nothing
short Of the highest tone and standard Of public
| raIity marks every part OF the administration and
legislation OF the General Government. Thus will the
federal sytem. whatever iansion time and progress
may give il, continue more and deeply rooted
in the love and confidence Of the people.
That wise economy, which il ns far removed from
parsimony as from corrupt and coruptng extrava-