Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

Fello,o- Citizens Of the Senate aRd Of the House
Of Representatives. .....-- -..-. ..
The Constitution requires that the Pres
ident shall, from time 10 time, not only re-
commend to the consideration Of Congress
such measures as he may judg" necessary
and expedient, but also that he shall give
Information to them Of the state of.Ihe Un-
ion. To do this fully involves exposition
of all matters in the actual condition Of
the country. domestic or foreign. which
essentially concern the general welfare
While performing his constitutional duty
in this respect. the President does not
speak merely to express his personal con
VIcIiOns, but as the executive minister Of
the government. enabled by his position.
aud called upon by his official obligations.
to scan with an impartial eye the interests
Of the whole and Of every part of the
United States.
OF The condition of the domestic inter-
ests Of tie Union. its agriculture. mines,
manufactures. navigation. ar d commerce.
1t is necessary only |" say that the inter
nal prosperity of the country, its continu
Gus and steady advancement in wealth
and population. and in private as we'll as
public we'll being. attest the wisdom Of
our institutions, and the predominant Spir
1t Of Intelligence and patriotism. which.
notwithstanding occasional irregularities
Of opinion or action resulting from pnpu.
lar freedom. has distinguished and char
acterized the pe"ple Of America.
Ia brief interval between tie termina-
tion Of the last and the commencement Of
the present session Of Congress. the pub.
lie mind has been occupied with the care
of selecting. for another constitutional
term. the President and Vice President
6t the United States.
The determination Of the persons, who
are Of right. or con;ingentlv. to preside
over the administration OF the governs
ment. is. under cur system, committed to
the States and the people. We appeal to
them. by their voice pronounced in the
fo'ms of law, to call wh0mSnever they
will to the high post of Chief Magistrate.
And thus it is that as The senator's rep
resent the respective States of the Union,
and the members of the House Of Repre-
SentatiVes the several constituents of each
State. so the President represents the ag-
gregate population Of the United States.
Their election Of him is the explicit and
solemn act Of the Snle sovereign auLhori.
y OF the Union.
II is impossible to misapprehend the
great principles. which by their recent
political action. the people of the United
States have sanctioned aud announced.
They have asserted the constitutional
equality of each and all Of the States Of
the Union as States; they have affirmed the
constitutional equality of each and all Of
the citizens of the United States as ciui.
Hens. whatever their religion. whatever
their birth, or their residence they have
maintained the inviolabiIity Of the couSti.
tutIonal rights Of the ditfereut SECTIONS Of
the Union; AMI they have proclaimed
their devoted and unalterable attachme II,
t" the Onion and To the constitution, as
objects of interest superior to all subjects
Of local or secriun1l controversy, rs the
safeguard OF the righ,s Of all. as the spir.
1t and the essence Of the liberty, peace,
and greatness Of The republic.
In doing this, they have. at the same
time. emrhatIcaIIy condemned the idea of
organizing in these United States mere
geographical parties of marshAIIiuy ia
hostile array towards each other the diff
terent parts of the country, North or
South. East or West.
Schemes Of this nature, frauyht with
'ncaIculable mischief. and which the c,o
'slderate sense Of the people has rejected.
could have had coulteuance in mn mart of
'she country, had they not been disguised
10y suggestions plausible in appearance.
acting upon an excited state Of tie public
e 'mtnd. induced by causes temporary in
their character, and it is to be hoped tran
sient'in their influence.
Perfect liberty of association for poll,
zeal objects aud the widest scope of dis.
cussiOn are the received and ordinary
conditions of government in our country.
Our institutions. framed in the spirit OF
confluence in the intelligence and inteyri.
y OF the people. do not forbid citizens.
either Individually or associated together,
10, attack by writing. speech or any other
'melhous short Of physical force, the con-
,sutuuon and the very existence of the
On'on. Under the shelter of this great
HIOerty' and protected by the laws and
Nsages OF the government they assail, as.
soeiatlons have been formed in some of
she States Of individuals who, pretending
70 seek only to prevent the spread OF the
Asutut'on OF slavery into the present or
Htore lnchoate States of the Union. are
really Inaamed with the desire to change
Sne domestic institutions of existing
5o1:a 5sIs' to accomplish their objects. they
SeoieaIe themselves to the odious task of
9sPteeiatlng the government organization
Mn'ch stands in their way, and Of fealumn;.
Aslng' with indisoriminate inveetive M.