, 1854-02-18

rather than a disposition to subordinate
the States into provincial relation to the
central authority, should characterize all
our exercise of the respective powers tenn
pOrarily vested in us as a sacred trust from
the generous confidence of our constituents.
In like manner, as a manilestly indispcn-
sable condition of the pcrpetuatiOn Of the
Union, and of the realization of that mag
niliccnt national future advcrtcd to, does
the duty become yearly stronger and clear
er upon us as citizens Of the several States,
to cultivate fraternal and anCctionate
spirit, language, and conduct in regard to
other States, and in relation to the varied
interests, institutions, and habits of scnti-
ment and opinion, which may respectively
characterize them. Mutual forbcarancc,
respect, and non-nterfcrence in our personal
action as citizens, .and an enlarged eXer-
else Of the St-liberal principles Of comfy
in the public dealings Of State with State,
whether in legislation or in the execution of
laws, are the means to perpetuate that con-
fidencc and fraternity, the decay of which n
could not long survive.
In still another point of view, is an i'm
portant practical duty suggested by this
consideration of the magnitude of dimcn-
SionS, to which our political system, with
its corresponding machinery of government,
is so rapidly expanding. With increased
vigilance does it require US to cultivate the
cardinal virtues Of public frugality and Off
cial integrity and purity. Public affairs
ought to be so conducted that settled
conviction shall pervade the entire Union,
that nothing short of the highest tone and
standard of public morality marks every
part Of the administration and legislation
Of the general government. THUS will the
federal system, whatever expansion time
and progress may give it, continue more
and more deeply rooted in the love and
confidence of the people
That wise economy, which is as fur re-
moved from parsimony as from corrupting
extravaganza - that single regard for the
public good which will frown upon all at
tempts to approach the treasury with in
sidious projects of private interest cloaked
under public pretcXts-that sound fiscal adj
minstration, which, in the legislative de-
partment, guards against the dangerous
temptations incident to Overaowing reve-
nucs, and in the executive, maintains an
nnslecping watchfulness against the ten
dency fall national expenditure to eXtrav-
agancc-while they are admitted elemental
ry political duties, may, trust, be deemed
as properly adverted TO and urged, in view
of the more impressive sense of that neccs-
sity, which is directly suggested by the
considerations now presented.
Since the adjournment of Congress, the
Vice President of the United States has
passed from the scenes of earth, without
having entered upon the duties of the sta
ton to which he had been called by the
voice of his countrymcn. Having occu-
pied, almost continuously, for more than
thirty years, a 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 re-
spect, his failing health was watched by
the nation with painful solicitude. His
loss to the country, under all the circum-
stances, has been justly regarded as ire
parable.
In compliance with the Act of Congress
of March 2, 1858, the oath of Office was
administered to him on the oath of that
month, at Ariadne estate, near Matanzas,
on the island of Cuba; but his strength
gradually declined, and was hardly sulH-
cient to enable him TO return to his home
in Alabama, where, on the eighteenth day
of April, in, the most calm and peaceful
way, mis- long and eminently useful career
was terminated
Entertaining unlimited confidence in
your intelligent and patriotic devotion to
the public interest, and being conscious of
no motives on my part which are not in
separable from the honor and advancement
of my country, hope it may be my privil-
ege to deserve and secure, not only your
cordial cooperation in great public meas
ures, bnt also those relations of mutual
confidence and regard, which it is always
so desirable to cultivate between members
of coordinate branches Of the government
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec 5, 1868.
BS~ FATAL CASUALTY Through a pri-
vate letter from Portland, Oregon, we have
received tho mploncholv intellipenre of the