Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-03-08

rghtfully seek tho protection OF our flag, A.
mcrican citizenship Is an Invaluable panOpl)
for the security Of The Americans rights and
in this connection, II can hardly be necessary
to rcallim principle, which should now bt
regarded as fundamental, the right, for the sc
curity and reposc Of this confederacy, TO rejec
the idea Of interference or colonization on thi.
side Of the ocean, by any foreign power beyond
its present jurisdiction, as utterly inadmissa-
bic. ------'
The opportunity Of observation, furnished b,
my brief experience as a soldier, confirms in
my own mind, the opinion entertained and act
cd upon BY others, from the formation Of the
government, that the maintainancc Of large
standing ormies in our country would be moi
only dangerous, but unnecessary. They also
illustrate the Importance, might well say the
absolute necessity, in military service, Of prac-
| teal skill, which has made our arny what il
is. Our army, as organized, must be the nu-
cleus, around which in every time Of need, the
strength Of your military power, the national
mill iiia, may be readily formed into well dis
ciplincd and efficient organization. The skill
and self devotion Of the navy, assure you that
you my take the performances of the past as q
pledge for the future; and you may confidently
expect that the flag which has waved untarn
ished its folds over every sea, will still float in
undiminishcd honor. Bat these, as well as
many other subjects, will be brought before
you a! the appropriated time, through the sub
ordinate branches Of the Government, to which
l shall always look with profound respect, and
with trustfil confidence, for that cordial aid
and support which shall so much need, and
which their experience and wisdom will rcadi'
ly suggest, in the administration of our doncs.
tic Affairs. You expect devoted integrity IN
the public service and an observance in oil It's
departments, SD marked as never justly to be
Qucstioncd; and if this reasonable expectation
be- not realized, ! frankly confess that one Of
my leading hopes is doomed to disappointment,
ana t.iat ny efforts, in very important partict-
lar, must result in Illuminating failure. Oih-
ces can be properly accepted, only as aids ior
the accomplishment of these objects, and, as
occupancy, can confer no prerogatlve, nor IN
or Innate desire for prcicImcnt amy CLAIMS, the
public interest impefaVely demands, and eve
ry good citizen may and will claim the protcc-
ton Of good laws, and the benign influence of
good government; but a claim for Office is
what the people of the Republic should never
recognize, ana no reasonable man Of any party
VIII expect the administration to be 50 regard-
less OF It's responsibility, and the obvious clc-
menIs oi It's Success as to retain pcrSols known
to be under the influence Of political hostility
ana parllzan prejudice in positions which will
require, not only severe labor, but cordial CO.
operation. Having II, implied engagements To
rati!y, no rewards t bestJw, no rcscnlm :nts to
r.m mbcr, nJ personal wishes To consult in Sc
lcctin; for official stations, shall fulfil the diff.
iicuit and delicate irust, admitting ~ mJ,ivc
as worthy either my character or position,
which does no Contemplate an clic:ent dis
charge OF ny duty All the bes, interests Of my
cJun.ry.
acknowledge my obligations to the masses
OF my counlryin N and 10 them alone; and as
higher obects than perS agyral.llScment
gave direction to their cxertlons in the late can
vass. they Shall Mt be disappointed. They re-
gu r. at my hand, L l!grnce, integrity and ca e.
paciiy, wherever tlcrc are d ties u be perform
ed; and, without this guaranteed gIaity IN
their public servants, m;rt stringent laws fJr
the prevention or punishment for negligence
ana p.culai!ol will be vain, and with them
they woull be unnc 2essaIy. But these are not
the only points to which You lo)k for viri!ant
wa.chiuinass. The dangers of the conccn.ra
ton of all the powers in the general govern
ment, in confrdcracy 50 vas. us ours, is too
obvious to BE- diSsrctarcl You have right
therefore, to expect Your agents. in every de e
paf!ment, 10 regard strictly the limits imp ,sed
upon them by the conStit Ition. The great
scheme of or constitutional liberty rests upon
proper distribution Of the power between the
State and federal auth Drity; and experience has
shown that the harmony and happiness Of oar
people depends upon the best discrimination
between the separae rights and resp,nslbili-
ties OF the states and your common rights
And herein, in my opinion, are the consdera-
lloas which should form the true basis of our
future concord. In regard to the questions
winch have n c.r,niISlv liciurh,1 tho nj h
lie tranquility, if the government exercise the
powers clearly grlnted by the Constitution,
II can hardly happen that its action upon any
question should cnaan, ger the institution of the
states. or interfere with their right to manage
mlttefs OF a strictly domestic character accOr-
ding to the will OF their own people.
la expressing my views briefly upon an i'm
poriant subject which has recently a.tatcd the
nation to an almost fearful degree, am moved
Dy no o her impulse than an earnest desire Tor
the perpttualion OF that union which has ma ie
us what we are, showcring upon us blessings,
and conlerrIng power ndiniluen;e which our
fathers nd hardly have anticipated, even
with lhe's most sanguinc hopes directed to far
Off future. The sentiments | now announce
were MT unknown before the expression OIL that
voice winch called me hcrc; M own position
upon this subject was clear AMI uueq liv)cal in
the record OF my words and ny acts; AMI it is
only reclr'ei to at tins TIM, becalse M ST.
lencc might b. perhaps m.sconstrael. Vita
the 1 mon my dcarcs. earthly hops are cn.s.ed
without 1t what are we, Individually OK c)l-
lectlvely. What becomes of the noblcst field
ever opened for the advancement Of our race in
religion, in government, in the arts, and in all
that digniiies and ad)rns mankind. From that
radiant constellation, which both iilumes our
a and nlIuts fn G ri a
Their course, bat let single star be lost, and if
utter darkness does not follow, the lustre Of the
whole is diminished.
DO my countrymcn need any assurance that
such catastrophe is not to ovcrtakc them.
while possess the power to stayit 1t is, with
me, an earneast and vital belief, that as the In
ION has been the sIu'cc, under providence, of
oar prosp ;rliy mp to this tim,, 50 it is pledge
OF the continuance of the blessings We have en-
joyci, ana which we are sacredly bound to
transmit undi mnished to our children.
The field Ct calm and free discussion in our
country, is open, and will always be so; bat it
never has been and never can be travers,d foI
good in spirit of sectionalism and uncharita-
blcness. The founders of the Republic dealt
with things as they were presented to them, in
spirit OF sel(-sacrilicing patriotism, and as
TIM has proved, with comprehensive wisdom
which ii will be always safe for US TO consult.
Every m ,asilre tending to the fraterna! feel
lngS of the members of our Union, has had my
heartfelt approba'ion; but TO every theory OF
government, whether the offspring of feverish
ambition, or Of morbid enthusiasm, calculated
to diss I've the bonds of love and affection
whic h unite us, shall ntcrp)sc steady and
stern resistance.
believe that involuntary scrvitude, as IT ex.
lists in the differ ent States of this Conf.deracy,