Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Communicated TO Congress Tuesday, De-
csmber 2, 1856.

ERotr CiG.ens Of Me Senate and House o.
Representatives. -
The constitution requires that the president
shall, from lime 10 time, not Only recommend
TO the consideration of Congress such measures
as he may jndge necessary and expedienl, but
also that he shall give information 10 them o
the state of the Union. To do this fully in.
wolves the exposition Of all matters in the ac.
Lusl condition Of the country, domestic or for.
eign, which essentially concern the general
welfare. While performing his constitutional
duty in this respect, tho president does not
speak merely To express personal convictions,
but as the executive minister Of the government
enabled by his position, and called upon by his
official obligations, to scan with an impartial
eye the interests of ,he whole, and Of every
part Of the United States.
OF the condition Of the domestic interests Of
the Union, lis agriculture, mines, manufactures
navigation, and commerce, il is necessary only
TO say that the internal prosperity of the coun-
Try, lis continuous and steady advancement in
wealth and population, and in private as well
as public well-being, attest The wisdum Of our
institutions, and the predominant spirit OF in
tellgence of patriotism, which, Notwithstanding
occasional irregularities Of opinion or action
resulting from popular freedom, has distinguish
ed and characterized the people Of America.
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
Ia the brief interval between the termination
of the last and the commencement Of the pres.
ent session of Congress, the public mud has
been occupied with the care of selecting, for
another constitutional term, tine president and
vice president Of the United States.
The determination Of the persons, who are
Of right, or contingently, 10 preside over the
administration Of the government, is, under our
system, committed 10 the states and the people
We appeal TO them, by their voice pronounced
IN the forms Of lew, to call whomsoever they
will TO the high post Of chief magistrate.
And thus it is that as the senator's represent
the respective states Of the Union, and the
members of the House Of Representatives the
several constituencies Of each state, 50 the pres.
ident represents the aggregate population Of the
United States. Their election Of him is the
explicit and solemn act Of the sole sovereign
authority of the Union.
1t is Impossible to misapprehend the erea
principles, which, by their recent political ac
tlon, the people of the United States have
sanctioned and announced
They have asserted the constitutional equal,
iiy of each and all Of The states of. the Union
as states they have affirmed the constitutional
equality of each aud all Of the citizens of The
United States as citizens, whatever their relir-
ion, whatever their birth. or their residence
they have maintained the inYi0labilily Of The
constitutional rights Of The different sections o.
the Union and they have proclaimed their dc
voted and uual,erabe attachment ia the Unior
and to the constitution, as objects Of interest,"
superior 10 all subjects of local or sectional
controversy as the safeguard of the riphls oil
all, as the spirit aud the essence of the liberty
peace and greatness Of the republic.
IN doing This, they have, at the same tiIos
emphatieally condemned the idea OF organizing
IN these United States mere geographical par
f'es Of marshalling in hostile array toward,
each other the different paris of the country
North or South, East or West.
GEOGRAPHICAL PARTIES AND OPPOSITION rc
SLAVERY.
Schemes Of this nature, fiaashl with meal
cnlabla mischief, and which tho eonsiderat,