Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-03-12


made your army what it is, under the dis
cipline and instruction of officers not more
distinguished for their solid attainments
gallantry. and devotion to the public ser
vice, than for unobirusive bearing anG
high moral tone. The army, as organized
must be the nucleus, around which, il
every time of need, the strength of youl
military power, the sure bulwark of youl
defence-a national militia-lnay be read
lily formed into a well ll-discirlined aud eff
cicnt organization. And the skill and
selfdevotion of the navy assure you that
you may take the performance of the pas,
as pledge for the future, and may conf
IDENTIFY expect that the flag which has waved
its untarnished folds over every every sea
will still float in undiminisI ed honor Bu,
these, Ike many other subjects, will be ap
propriately brought, at future time, to
the attention of the cO-ordiate branches Of
the government, to which shall always
look with profound respect, and with trust
full confidence that they will accord to me
the aid and support which shall so much
need, and which their experience and wis
dom will readily suggest.
In the administration of domestic affairs,
you expect devoted integrity in the pub
lie service, and an observance of rigid econ
omy in all departments, so marked as nev-
er justly to be questioned. If this reason
able expectation be not realized, frankly
confess that one of your leading hopes is
doomed to disappointment, and that my
efforts in very important particular must
result in a humiliating failure. Offices
can be properly regarded only in the light
of aids for the accomplishment Of these
objects; and as occupancy can confer
NJ prerogative, nor lmportunate de-
sire for prefcrment any claim, the public
interest imperatively demand, that they
be considered with sole reference to the
duties to be performed. Good citizens
may well claim the protection of good laws
and the benign influence Of good govern
ment; but claim for offcc is what the
people Of republic should never recognize.
No reasonable man Of any party Will ex-
pect the administration 10 be so regardless
of Its responsibility, and of the obvious
elements Of success, as tn retain persons,
known to be under the influence of puiiti-
cal hostility and partisan prejudice, in po-
sitions, which will require, not only severe
labor, but cordial cooperation. Having
no implied engagements to ratify, no re-
wards to bestow, no resentmcnis to remem-
Der, and no personal wishes to consult, in
selections for official station, | shall fulfil
this difficult and delicate trust, admitting
no motive as worthy either of my charac-
ter or position, which does no, contemplate
an efficient discharge of duty and the best
interests of my country. l acknowledge
my obligations to the masses of my coun-
trymen, and to them alone Higher OBJ
jccts than personal asgrandizemcnt gave
direction and energy to their excrtions in
the late canvass, aud they shall not be dis
appointed. They require at my hands
diligence, integrity, and capacity, wher-
ever there are duties to be performed -
WthouLt4cse qualities in their pU5ic ser
wants, more stringent laws, for the prcvcn-
tion or punishment of fraud, negligence
and pecula;ion, will be vain With them,
they Will be unnecessary.
But these are not the only points, to
which you look for vigiiant wachiulness
The dangers of concentration of all pow
er in the general government Of a conted
eracv so vast as ours, are too obvious to be
disregardod. You have a right, therefore,
to expect your agents, in every department,
to regard strictly the limits imposed upon
them by the constitution Of the United
States. The great scheme of our cons,itu-
tional liberty rests upon proper di,'rbu-
tien of power between the Stat and fedcr-
al authorities ami experience has shown,
that the harmony and happiness of our
people must depend upon just disclini-
nation between the separate rights and
responsibilities of the States, and your
common rights and obligations under the
general government. And here, in my
opinion, are the considerations, which
should form the true basis Of future con-
cord in regard to the questions, which have
most seriously disturbed public tranquiii
ty. Iftnc federal government will confinc
itself to the exercise Of powers clearly
granted by the constitution, it can hardly
happen that its action upon any question
should cndanger the institutions of th,'
States, or interfere with their right to m.n-
age matters strictly domestic acccrding to
the will of their own people.
In expressing briefly my views upon al
important subject, which has rccent' agi-
tried the nation to almost fearful degree,
l am moved by no other impulse than a
most earnest desire for the perpetuatiou Of
that Union, which has made US what We
are, showering upon us blessings, and con-
ferring power and influence, which cur
fathers could hardly have anticipated, even
with their most sanguine hopes directed
to far-off future. The sentiments | now
announce were not unknown before the ex-
preston of the voice which called me here.
My own position upon this subject was
clear and uneGuivocal, upon the record of
my words and my acts, and it is on y re-
Cured to at this time because silence might
perhaps be miscoustrued. With the Union
my best and dearest earthly hopes are en-
twined. Without it, what are We indiv;d-
ually or collectively! What becomes Of
the nobl,st field ever opened for the ad-
vancement of our race, in religion, III gov