The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-03-19
NUMBER 81.

happiness in their growth We should opeu
our channels of trade, and international inter-
course must always present o noble field for the
moral influence of great people.
IT, in the course of their growth we should
open new channels of trade, and create addf-
tional facilities for friendly intercourse, the
benefits realized will be equal and mutual. OF
the complicated European systems and nation
al policy we have heretofore been Independent.
From their wars their troubles and anxieties,
we have been happily almost entirely exempt;
while those are confined to the nations which
gave them existence. and within their separate
Jurisdictions they cannot effect us, except as
they appeal TO our sympathies in the cause OF
human freedom and universal advancement;
but the vast interests of commerce are free to
all mankind. With these views firmly and
earnestly carried ont, we have right to expect,
and shall, under all circumstances. REQUIRE
prompt reciprocity.
The rights which belong to us as o nation
are not alone regarded. but these which pertain
to every citizen in his individual capacity.
while at home or abroad, must be sacredly
maintained. So long as he can discover q star
in its place on that ens gn, without wealth to
purchase him preferment or title to secure for
him place, it will be his privilege and his
right must be acknowledged to stand unaltera-
Bile, even in the presence of princes, with the
proud consciousness that he is himself one of
nation of sovereisns, and though he in his le-
gt.mate pursuits. be wanderer far from
home. the agent whom he shall leave behind,
in the place which | now occupy, will see that
no rude hand of power, Of tyranny or tyrann-
cal passion is laid upon him with impunity.
lie must realize upon every sea and every isle
where our enterprise may respectfully seek the
protectitn n four flag. American citizenship is
an inviolable panoply for the security of Amer
lean right
In this connection it is hardly necessary to
re-affirm the principle which shall now be re-
gardcd as fundamental: the rights, sovereign
ty and repOse of this cOnfederacy reject the idea
OF interference Or colonization of this side OF
the ocean by any torei i5u power beyond its pre-
sent jurisdiction, as utterly inadmissablc. The
opportunities of observation furnished by brief
eXperiente as soldier confirmed in my own
MUD. the opinion entertained and acted upon
by others from the formation of the govern
mcnt, that the mantainance of large standing
| armies in our country, would be not only dam
gerous but unnecessary. They also illustrated
the Importance and absolute necessity of mill
tary and civil practical skill, furnished in such
an emin, mt degree by the institutions which
have made our army what it is under the dis
cipline and instruction of officers not more dis
tingu shed for their solid military attainments,
and devotion to the public service than for
unobtlusiv bearing and high moral tone.
The army as organized must be nucleus
around which, in every time of need, the stregtls
# your military power, the sure bulwark OF
your defence, national militia, may be readi-
ly ft rmed into well disciplined and efficient
organization and the skill and self devotion
of the navy assure you that you may take the
performance of the past pledge for the future,
and may confidently expect that the flag which
has waved its untarnished folds over every sea.
will still float in undiminished honor; but those,
like many other subjects, will be appropriately
brought up at future time, to the attention Of
the coordinate branches of the government, to
which shall always look with profound res
| pect, and with trustful confidence, that they
will accord to me the aid and support which
| will so much need, and which their experience
and wisdom will readily suggest. In the admin
istration of affairs, you will expect a devoted
integrity in the public service, and an Observ-
ancc of rigid economy in all departments, so
marked, as never justly to be questioned.
If this reasonable expectation be not real
lied, | frankly confess that my leading hopes
are doomed to disappointment, and that my eff
forts in very important particular must result
in humiliatng failure. If officers can properly
be regarded only in the light of aids for the af-
complishment of those Objects and as occupan-
cy can confer no vccroy, no prerOgative, or inn
Fortunate desire for prefcrment, OF claim, tho
public interests 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 in
iut nee Of good government; but claim for
Office is what the people of a Republic should
never recognize. No reasonable man of any
party will expect his administration to be SO
regardless Of its responsibility, and the obvious
elements of success as TO retain persons known
to be under the influence of political hostility
and party prejudice, i'm positions which will re-
quire not only severe labor, but cordial coop
Grafton.
Having no implied engagements to supply
no rewards to bestOw-nO rcsentmcnts to re-
member. and no personal wishes to consult, in
selections for official stations, shall fulfil this
difficult and delicate trust. admitting no mo-
tives as worthy either of my character or posi-
tiOn. which docs not contemplate an efficient
discharge of duties and the best interests of my
country.
| acknowledge my obligations TO the masses
of my countrymen, and to them alone. Far
higher obligation than personal aggrandizement
gave direction and energy to their exertons in
the late canvass, and they shall not be disap-
pointed. They require at my hands diligence,
integrity and capacity, whenever there are
duties to be performed. Without these quall-
ties in their public servants. more stringent
laws for the prevention or punishment OF fraud,
neglect and peculation will be vain. With
them, they would be unnecessary but they
are not lIc only pOiHtS " WHICH you iOOh ICE
vigilcncc and watchfulness The dangers Of
concentration Of all powers in the general gov
eminent of confederacy so vast as ours are
too obvious to be disregarled. You have q
right therefore to expect your agents in every
department to regard strictly the limits imp0s-
ed upon them by the Constitution of the United
States. The great scheme of our constitutional
| liberty rests upon proper distribution Of pow
er between the State and federal authorities,
and experience has shown that the harmony
and happiness of our people must depend upon
the great disconnection between the separate
rights and responsibilities of the States and
your common rights.
Your obligation, under the general govern
ment and here in my opinion, are the eonsld-
erations which should form the true basis OF
future concord in regard to the questions that
have most seriously disturbed public tranquil
ity. If the federal government will confne
itself to the exercise of powers clearly granted
in the Constitution, it can hardly happen that
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