The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-01-10
From the Washington Union
The Past and Present.

Inc Fast and Present.
In his first annual message to Congress,
President Washington congratulated the
Senate and House of Representatives upon
the rblessings which they had right to ex.
pect from free, efficient, and eqnal govern
hient. The population of the Union was
then less than four millions of PERSONS
Only twelve States had then ratified the
Constitution. Rhode Island was the thir.
teenth, and came into the Union few
months after The national revenue was
loss than five millions Of dollars. II was
difficult to pay even the interest of the revo :.
lutionary debt Our national territory hld
not then onethird of its present extent
The mouth OF the Mississippi was in the
possession of n foreign power. The Mis-.
sissippi valley was unreclaimed from savage
occupation. The expedition of Lewis and
Clarke had not then occurred Yet Wash
ington congratulated his fellow CO ountrymen,
and pointed them to the future. He appre-
cated the wisdom Of the government, and
anticipated its results.
Some of these results are spread before
us IN the second message of President
Pierce. Instead of twelve or thirteen
States, we number thirty.one. Our public
territory has more than Implicated itself
oui ISNCHuVs lIOlu i've IlllllOlS, has become
seventy-four millions We have paid OFT
the debts of two wars, and the purchase
money of two principalitles, and have nc
complished our vast Mexican acquisitions
without any embarrassment to the treasury.
We owe less lhnn years income We
are ut peace with the world and our over
flowing wealth invites diminution of taxes
What gorgeous picture of national pros.
perity is here presented How the great
results of the Uuion speak trumpet tongued
of the value of the Union II the Amcri.
can people in successive generations shall
prove themselves worthy Of their heritage,
and shall faithfully maintain their govern
ment upon its original principles, who ,an
predict the future wealth and power and
glory of the republic! Twill be the great
est nation the sun ever shone on. 1t will
embrace happier community of citizens
than the Old World ever yet conceived of.
1t will be the guiding light of multitude
OF similar governments, who Will have been
awakened into life by the potent influence
OF its example. Liberty is not disSc;nna-
ted through the world by mcIdling ,,ropa-
gandiSts but its seeds float upon tho air,
and are carried by The winds, and find their
own way into congenial sell, where, under
the eye Of Providence, they germinate and
Increase and bring forth fruit Let us pre-.
serve our Union and our constitution.
not only for the blessings which they will
confer upon US and orr descendants, but for
the inappreciable value of their influence
upon the destinies Of the world. We'll and
beautifully docs the President remind US of
the responsibility which is cast upon us BY
the very privileges of our condition, and
we repeat this beautiful extract because it
can bear repetition
"Our torcfathers Of the thirteen United
Colonies, (Il. says,l in acquiring their indie
pendence aid In fouadIng this republic Of
the United States of Amer lea, have davoiv.
ed upon US, their descendants, the greatest
and the most noble trust ever committed tn
the hands Of man, imposing upon all. and
especially such ns the public will may have
invested, for the time being, with political
functions, the most sacred obligations
We have To maintain invioiatc the great
doctrine of the inherent right of popu-
Lar seltgovernment To reconcile the lar
gest liberty OF the individual citizen
with complete security Of the public or
der ; TO render cheerful obedience To the
laws OF the land, To mite in enforcing their
execution, and TO frown indignantly on all
combinations TO resist them TO harmonic
sincere and ardent devotion 10 the institu-
tions of religious faith with the most uni.
yersal religious tolcration; to preserve the
rights OF all by causing e.ch TO respect
those OF the other to carry forward every
socli! Improvement 10 the uttermost limit
OF human pcrfectabilty, by the &c action
OF mind upon mind, not by the obtrusivc In
tervention of misappied force to uphold
the integrity and guard the limitations OF
our, organic law ; to preserve sacred from
all touch OF usurpation, as the very p.lla-
dunn Of our political salvation, the reserved
rights and powers Of the several States and
OF the people TO cherish, with loyal feaIry
and devoted affection, this Union, ;is the
only sure foundation OIL which the hopes of
civil liberty rest /; 10 administer government
with vigiant integrity and rigid economy !;
to cultivate peace and friendship with for
eign nations, and to demand and exact equal
justice from all, but to do wrong TO none !;
TO eschew intermeddling with the national
policy aud the domestic repose of other
governments. aud to rcpel il from our own !;
never to shrink from war when the rights
and the honor Of the country calls US to
arms, but to cultivate in preference the arts
oi peace, seek enlargement of the rights
OF neutrality, and elevate ani liberallze the
intercourse of nations; and by such just
and honorable means, and such only, whilst
eSalting the condition Of the republir. to as
sure to il the legitimate influence and
The benign authority Of great example
amongst all the powers Of Christendo %
The citizen who feels the full force Of
these truths can never lend himself to any
purpose or any faction hich may seriously
threaten the safety of the constitution oS
the stability Of the Union. lis cannot fail
on the contrary, to reverence the principles
OF State rights and popular sovereignty, up
on which the government was originally
founded, and 20 conform TO the faith and
Practice Of the American democracy.