The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-12-22

have thus briefly presented such suEges-
tions as seem to me especially worthy Of your
consideration. In providing Tor the present,
you can hardly fail to avail yourselves Of the
! light which the experience of the past casts
upon the future.
The grow tn ofour population has now brought
us, in the destined course Of our national hatO-
~, to point where it well behOOves US TO cX-
pand our vision over the vast prospective. The
successive decennial returns OF the census Since
the adoption OF thc constitution. have revealed
law of steady progressive development, (which
may be stated in general terms as Il duplica-
ton every quarter of q century carried forward
from the point already reached for only short
period vi time so applicable to the existence Of
4 nation. This law of progress, if unchecked,
viii Lring us almost incredible results. \ large
allowance for diminished proportional effect
Of emigration would not very materially reduce
the estimate which the increased average dura-
ton of human life known to have already re-
suited from the scientific and hygienic improve
mcnts OF the past fifty years, We will find TO
keep up through the next fifty or perhaps hun
drcd years. the same ratio Of growth which has
thus been revealed in our past progress,
and to the influence of these causes may be adj
ded the influx of laboring classes from eastern
Asia to the Pacific side of our possessions, toge-
thcr with the probable accession 10 the popula-
ton already existing in other parts of this hem
isphcrc which within the period in question
will feel with yearly increasing force the pa
tonal attraction OF so vast powerful and pros
p, rous II confedoracy of self governing repub-
lies and will seek the privileges Of being a.
mitted within its safe and happy bosom, trans
ferring with themselves, by peaceful and
healthy process of recuperat!on. Of spacious re-
giOns Of virgin and exuberant soil. which are
destined TO swarm with the fas t-growing and
disappearing millions Of the race.
These considerations seem to Justify The pre-
sumption that the law of population above
spoken Of will act with undinIinishcd effect
through at least the next half century, and that
thousands Of persons who have already arrived
at maturity, and are now exercising the rights
Of trcemcu, viii close their eyes On the sptcta-
Gle gilmore than one hundred millions of popu-
lation embraced within the ma este proportions
of the American Union. 1t is not merely as an
interesting topic of speculation that ] present
these views for your consideration. They have
important practical bearing upon ali the poiti-
cal duties you are called upon to perform
heretofore our system Of government has work
ed out What may he termed a miniature. small
in COMPARISON with developments which it
must thus assume within future so hear at
hand as scarcely to be beyond the present of
tie existing generation. 1t is evident that a
confederation so vast and so varied, both in
numbers and in territorial extent, inhabitants
and interests. could only be kept in national
cohesion by the strictest lGelity to the princi-
pies OF the constitution as understood by those
who have adhered 10 a restricted construction
of the powers granted to the people ami tie
States. Interpreted and applied according to
these principles, the great compact adapts it.
self with healthy case and freedom 10 the I'M
limited extension Of that benign ystcm of fcde-
rativc selfgoyernment Of which It is our glori-
Gus and truet immortal charter. Let us, then
with redou5ied vigilance be On our guard
against yielding to The temptation to the exer-
clsc OF doubtful powers even underthe presence
OF conceded temporary advantage and apparent
temporary eNped.eEcy Tie minimum Of federal
government compatible with the maintenance
OF internal smily and Efficient action in our re-
lations with the rest Of the world, should afford
the rule arid measure OF construction of our
powers nndcr the general clauses o. The consti-
tuition. \ spirit Of strict Difference TO the .oye-
reign rights aHd dignity OF every state rather
than disposition to subordinate thc States in
to provincial relation 10 the central authority
should characterize all outside exercise of tie
respective powers temporarily vested in us-a
sacred trust from the generous confidence of our
constituents IL Ike manner rs a manifest in
d!Spcnsahlc coalition Of the yCFpctuatiOn Of the
tn.on and OF Tie realization OF that ma gnilccnt
future adycred to. docs duty become ycarlv
stronger aEG clearer upon us citizens o. the SC
Ncr@i states 10 cultivate 4 irateraal and ancc-
uonate spirit. language aid conduct in REGARD
terestN, institutions and habits u sea mcnl and
opi":ch Which niay respectively characterize
them.
Mutual iorbeGraace. respect and noa-ntcr-
terence IN our personal actions a. citizens and
an enlarged exercise OF the most liberal princi-
pics Of comfy III the public dealings .! State
VITA state. whether in legislation OF in the exc
cuilon oi laws. are means to pcgpttuate that
confluence and fraternity. tie decay OF which in
mere political union OH vast Il scale it could
not long survive. in still another point of
view 1T IS an important practical duty suggest
Cd W the constitution, the magnitude aid d.
mansions Of which oar political system with
IT. corresponding machinery of government is -
rapidly expanding. With increased vigilencc.
does 1t require Us TO cultivate the cardinal viz
tues OF public flu3aity and Official integrity.
aud purity IN public affairs ought to be so CON
ditQna that i settled conviction shall ncryate
the entire Union, ,hat nothing short O: the high
est tone and standard Of public morality marks
every part OF tn" administration and legislation
oi the general government. Thus will the fed
erai system. whatever expansion time ard pro-
greHS may give. continue more and more deeply
rooted IN the confidence Of The ueoplc That
wise economy which is as far removed from
corrupt and corrupting eXtrayacances: that
single regard for tie public good which Will
irown upon all attempts to approach the treas
ury with invidIous projects of private interest
SiV'Atu "!iuCi i'ubliC preleNiS: tnat sOnnG fiscal
administration which in the legislative denart.
ment guards against the dangerous temptations
incident to o'criiowing revenue. and in The
maintenance housekeeping watchfIlness against
the tendency OF al! national expenditure to ex-
travagance while they are admitted as politicaI
duties, Eay trust he deemed as properly al
ludcd to urged in Wow Of the more impressive
necessity which is directly subjected 10 the con-
SIdorat;Ons now present
Since the adjo rnment Of Congress. the Vice
PRESIDENT OF the United States has passed froa,
The scenes OF the earth without having entered
upon the duties OF the station 20 when he had
been called by the voice Of his countrymen
having occupied also continuously, for more
than thirty years seat in one or the other Of
the two Houses Of Congress, and having by his
singular purity and wisdom secured unbounded
confidence and universal respect. His falling
health was watched by The nation with fearful
Solicltndc. Ills loss to his country under all
the circumstances has been justly regarded as
irrepalrahlc IN compliance with the act Of
{ or rpcs Of NarCl, - ~ noI