Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-12-10

| opinion and sentiment, which then existed in rel,
ton to details and specific provisions, the acquie
cencc Of distinguished citizens, whose devotion
tile Union can never be doubted, has given renew
cd yigor to our institutions, and restored sens
of rcposc and security to the public mind through
out the concdcracy. That this repose is to suft'
no shock during my official term, il have powe
to avert it, those who placed me here may DC a:
surcd. The wisdom OF men, who knew what inde
pendenoe cost,-who had put all at stake upo
the issue Of tho revolutionary sirugglc,-dSpOsc
Of tho subject to which refer, in the only wa
consistent with the union Of these States, and wit
| the march Of power and prosperity which has mad
lie what we arc. 1t is significant fact, that roI
| the adoption of the constitution until the officer
and soldiers of tho revolution had passed to tbei
graves, or, through the infrmitics of age and
wounds, had ceased w participate actively in pub
| lie affairs, there was not merely quite acquies
cencc IN, but prompt yindicatIon Of, tbc copsi
| tttional rights Of the States. The reserved pow
| crs were scrupulously respected. No statcsma
put forth the narrow views of casuistS to jnstll
interference and agitation, but the spirit of th
compact was regarded as sacred in the eye ofhon
! or, and indispensable for the great experiment Q
| civil liberty which, enrirOned by inherent difi
culties, was yet borne forward in apparent weak
ness by power superior TO oil obstacles There
| is no condemlations, which tho voice OF freedom
win not pronouce upon US, should We prove faith
! less to this great trust. While mcn inhaDitibt
different parts Of this vast continent can 10 more
be expected to hold the same opinions, or enter
tain the same sentiments, than every variety VI
climate or soil can be expected to furnish the same
agricultural products they can unite in common
object and sustain common principles essential IL
the maintenance of that object. The gallant mcn
of the south and the north could stand togetbcI
during the struggle Of the Revolution they couid
stand together in the more trying period which sue
ccedcd the cangor OF arms. AS their united val0r
was adequate to all tho trials OF the camp ana
dangers ofihe field so their united WISDOM pfo'eu
equal to the greater task Of founding, upon deep
aud broad basis, institutions, winch II has
been our privilege to enjoy, and will ever bc our
most sacred duty to sustain. 1t Is but tnc ceoic
expression of faith strong and universal, to say
that their sous, whose blood mingled 50 often up
ON the same field, during the war Of lSl2 anu VINO
have moro recently borne IN triumph the nag ol
tho country upon foreign soil, VIII never pefii'
alienation Of feeling 10 weaken the power oil thclr
united efforts, nor internal disScnsons 10 paraiyzc
the great arm offrcedom, upiltcd for the vlndica-
ton Of sclEgovcrnmcDt. 80,
have thus briefly presented such Suggestions
rs seem to me- especially worthy OF your consider
alton. In providing for the present, you can hard
~ fail to avail Yourselves of the light, winch Tue
experience OF the past casts upon the future.
The growth of our population has now oronsh'
us, in tho destined career of our lauonai his'o'!
TO d point at which it well bchOoycs us 10 cApaDu
our vision over the vast prospective.
The successive deccnnal returns oi the census
since tho adoption Of the constitution nave rcvcai'
cd law of steady progressive dcvclopolneht wn.en
may DC stated, in general terms, as dupilca'on
every quarter-centnry. Carried 'orwaru' lio" ~.
poirt already reached, for only a short period oI
time as applicable to the existence OF nation, thS
Iaw of progress, il unchecked, will bring us 10 al
most iuClcdiblc results. a large allowance iof
diminished proportional effect OF emigration wouio
not very materially reduce the estimate, "bilc lbe
Increased uycIagc duration Of human lllc, kuo"n
10 have already resulted frCDi the scient'lc anu
.lygcnic Improvements Of the past MY years, WIZ
tcud 10 keep up through tho next hsty, OF perhaps
hundred, the same ratio of growth, WHICH hds oSo
thus rev called in our past progress; anu W INC III
fucnce OF these causes may bc added the inllux OF
Iaboring masses from eastern Asia to lilo L rac,ac
side of our possessions, together with the propapc
accci sion OF tile populations already cAis'ine ]"
other parts of our hemisphere, whED, W'thil' .ne
period In question, will feel, with yearly increasing
force the natural attraction OF SO vast, powerful
and prosperous confederation Oi seii.govcihiuE
republics, and will seek the privilege OF being ad
mittcd within IFS safe and happy bosom, transfer
ring with themselves, by peaceful aho hca'lns
process of iuco, poraion, spacious regions VI s'r
gin and cxuberant soil, which are destined 10 swarm
with the fast growing and disappearing millions
our race.
These considerations seem fully 10 JUSTIFY thc
presumption, tha. the law Of population ABOVE s'a
ted ilfcOutiuuc to act with uudninIsbco envc',
through at least the next half century, ana t''a
thousands Of persons who hayo already arrived al
maturity, and are now exercising the rights OF fcc
men, will close their eyes the spectacle oi more
than one hundred millions Of population cuioraccu
within the inaiestic proportions oi Tue Au'ete"i,
Union 1t is not merely as an interesting TOPIC of
speculation that present these views LOT you,
consideration. They have important practcai
bearings upon all the political duties VIC arc called
upon to perform. Heretofore, our system oi gov
ernmcnt has worked Oh what may be terIhed 'li'.
iature scale, In comparison with the dcveiopenien'
which it must thus assume, within iuture 81 hea.
at hand, as scarcely to be beyond the present o'
the existing generation.
1t Is evident that confederation so vast anu so
varied, both in numbers and in territorial extent,
in habits and in interests, could only be Kept III
national cohesion by the strctest idehty 10 'ne
principles of the constitution, as understood Ds
those who have adhered TO the most restricted con,
struction Of the powers granted By the people anu
tho States. Interpreted and applied according to
those principles, the great compact adapts itseli
with healthy case and freedom to unlimited exten'
ernment, of which it is our glorious and, trust,
immortal charter. Let us, then, with redoubied
vigilance, be on our guard against yielding to the
temptation of the exercise ofdoubtful powers, even
under the pressure of the motives OF conceded tenn
porary advantage and apparent temporary expedi-
ency. = ftfF 80
The minimum Of federal government, compatible
with the maintenance Of national unity and efficient
action in our relations with the rest of the world,
should afford the rule and measure Of construction
Of our bowers under the general clauses Of the
constitution. A spirit Of strict Difference to the
sovereign rights and dignity Of every State, rather
than disposition to subordinate the States into
provincial relation TO tho central authority, should
characterize all our exercise 0t the respective pow
ers temporarily vested IN MS as sacred trust from
the generous confidence four constituents.
In like manner, as manifcstly Indispensable
condition Of tho perpctuation of the Union, and of
the realization Of that magnificent national future
adyerted to, does the duty become yearly stronger
and clearer upon US, as citizens Of the several
States, to cultivate fraterpal aud acctionatc spir
IT, language and conduct in regard to other States,
and IN relation to tho varied interests, institutions,
and habits of sentiment and opinion, which may
respectively characterize them. Mutual forbcar-
ahce, respect, and noD-ntcrference in our personal
action as citzcnS and an enlarged exercise ot the
most liberal principles Of comfy IN the public deal
ngs of State with State, whether I'D ie2ieai'oh or
in the execution of laws, are the means to perpet
ualc that confidence and fraternity, the decay OF
which mere political union, on SO vast scale,
could not long survive.
In still another point Of view. is all important
practical duty suggested by this consideration OF
the magnitude Of Dimensions, to which our politi
cal system, with It's corresponding machinery oil
government, is SO rapidly expanding. With in
creased vigilance does It require us 10 cultivate
the cardinal virtues of public frugaly and official
integrity and purity. Public affairs ought 10 be
so conducted that a settled conviction shall per-
wade the entire Union, that nothing short of the