The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1854-12-15

ed ;but rs I have addressed dsyouppon blth Of
these subjects al length before, iqiaye only to
can your attention to. the suggestions then
made.
My former Recommendation, in relation to
suitable provision fot various. objects Of deep
interest 70 the inhabitants of the District Of
Columbia, are renewed. Many Of these objects
partake largely OF a national character, and are
important, Independently of their relation TO
the prosperity Of the only considerable organi-
zed community in the Union, entirely unrepre-
sented in Congress.
l have thus presented suggestions on such
subjects as appear to me to be Of particular inter-
est or importance, and therefore most worthy of
reconsideration during the short remaining perioh
allotted TO the labors Of the present Congress.
Our fprefathers of the thirteen United Colo
mics, in acquiring their independence, and in
founding this Republic Of The United States of
America, have deyolved upon us, their de.
scendahts, the greatest and the most noble
trust ever committed TO the hands of man, i'm
posing upon all, and especially such as the
lpublic will may have invested, for tho time
being, with political functions, the most sacred
obligations We have to maintain inviolate the
great doctrine Of the inherent right Of popular
self government ; toreconcle the largest liberty
of the individual citizen, with complete securi-
ty of tho public order: to render cheerful obe-
dience TO the laws of the land, to unite in en-
forcing their execution, and to frown indignant
ly on all combinations to resist them to har-
monize sincere and ardent devotion to the
institutions of religious faith with the most
universal religious liberation to preserve the
rights Of all by causing each to respect those
of the other; to carry forward every social i'm
proveinent to the uttermost limit Of human
.perfectibility, by the free action of mind upon
mind, not by the obtrusive intervention of
misappled force to uphold the integrity and
guard the limitations Of our law ! to preserve
sacred from all touch of usurpation, as the
very palladium Of our political salvation, the
reserved powers of the several States aud of
the people to cherish, with loyal fealty and
devoted affection, this Union, as the only sure
foundation on which the hopes of civil liberty
rest; to administer government with vigilant
integrity and rigid economy TO cultivate peace
and friendship with foreign nations, aud to
demand and exact equal justice from all, but to
do wrong to none TO eschew intermeddling
with the national policy and the domestic repose
OF other governments, and to repel it from our
own never to shrink from war when the rights
and the honor of the country calls US to arms
but 10 cultivate in preference the arts of peace,
seek enlargement Of the rights of neutrality
and eleyate and liberalize the intercourse of ma
tions; and by such just and honorable means,
and such only, while exalting the condition of
the Republic, TO assure to it the legitimate
influence and the benign authority of a great
example among all the powers of Cbristendom.
Under the solemnity Of these convictions. the
blessing Of Almighty God is earnestly invoked
to attend upon your deliberations, and upon
all the counsels and acts of the government, 10
the end that, with common zeal and common
efforts; we may, in humble submission to the
Divine will cooperate for the promotion of the
supreme good Of these United States.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WASHINGTON, December 4, 1854.