The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
I...yr C,i.st"s"i tie S.n,dr
and Hu,. 4 k,pr.srn''rf.t.s:
The Constitution requires that tbs Prs,i-
dent shall. from time to rim" not ONLY r"co,n-
E.en,l to the con-i Iteration Of Congress su>h
measures as he may iu!s. necessary and ex
pedient but also that he SHALL give informa-
ton to them OF the state Of the Union. To
do this tu!v involves exposition OF all mat
tiers in the actual condition CT the country.
domestic or foreign, which essentially con-
Germ the genesal welfare. While perform
ing his constitutional dnty in this respect the
President does not speak merely to express
2erssn,l convictions, but as the executive
minister Of the government. enabled ~ bis
POSITION. and called upon by his official obi
cations. 10 san with An impartial eve th. in
terests Of the whole, AID Of evsryspart of the
United States
Of the condition % the 1omestir interests
Of the Union. lis agriculture. mines. manu-
features, nsvi cation. and commerce. it is nee
rssary only to say hat the internal prssp"ri-
~ Of the rOuntrv. its continuous and steady
advancement IN wealth and population, and
in private a. we'll as public weiI-briny. attest
the wisdom Of our institutions. aud the pre-
slominant spirit of intelligence aui patriot
lem. which. Rot withstand.ny occasion ii ir.rs
ulari.ips OF opinion or action resulting from
popular freedom. has distinguished and char
acteri>ed the people Of Am.rira.
In the brief interval between tn. term;na,
ton Of the last and the commencement OF
the present session OF Congress, the public
mind has been occupied in ear, Of selecting.
for another constitutional term. the President
and Vice President Of the United States
The determination OF persons. who are Of
right, or contin.entv. to preside over the
administration OF The government. is, under
our system. rommi.ted to the States and the
people. appeal 10 them. hv ,heir voice
prosounceS! IN the forsls OF aw.i call whom
soever they wall to TIE high post Of Chief
Magistrate.
And thus it is that a. the Senator, v-pre-
sent the respective States Of the Mon, and
the Members o. the House Of Representatives
:be several constituencies OF each State. SO
the President represents the aggregate popu'
lation of she United States. Their election
VI httN Is Tue fil'It diu Spit"H htt VI wv
sole sovereign authority Of the Urion.
1t !. impossible to mi.aprr-htnt the great
principles, which, bv their recent po.itica
action. the people Of the United States ha,,
sanctioned and announced.
They have asserted the constitutional au
shorty of eat b and all of the States OF the
Union as States; they have affirmed the con
stitu,ional equality OF each and all the clf
sens OF the United States az citizens. what
ever their religion, wherever their birth, OF
their residence they have maintained tie in
volatility of the Constitutional rights Of tn
different sections Of the Union and the,
have proclaimed their devoted and ural,.rs
bic attachment ~ the Union and the Consti
On. on, as objects OF interest superior to a!
sut,isc OF local or sectional controversy. a
the safeguard of the rights of all, as the -3r
it aad e.. nee of liberty, peace, aud grea,
ress Of the Republic.
In dom. tbs. they have. at the same time
emphatically co rd'mned the idea Of organ
ixins in these United Safes mere grograpt
icsi parties: of mar. HAHN. in hostile ARA
towards each other the different parts OF til
country, North or South. Fast or West.
Schemes of ,hi. nature. frsught with inca
culable mischief, and VII, The rons'dera'
sense Of the people has r,'je>''e'. could ha'
had countcnancc in no part o, the ronntr
had they not been disguised by s.'o-*s''o'
PLAUSIBLE in appearance; a-tins upon Az z!
cited state O! the public mind. induced t.
causes temporary in their character, and
- hoped transient in their influence.
Perfect Liberty of association for polite,
objects and the widest scope of discussio,
are the received and ordinary conditions o
government in our country Our institution
framed in tie spirit OF confidence in the j,
telEgence and integrity of the people, d
not forbid citizens either Individually or a
soristed togesher..o attack t'y writing spccc
or any other methods short Of physical fore
the Constitution aaI the very existence G
the Union. Under the shelter of this gre
liberty. aud protected by the laws and usa
- Of tie government they a>saii. association
have been formed, in some OF the States. {
individuals, VITO. pretending TO seek only
prevent the spread OF the institutian of sla
cry ic'o the present or future iuci,0ate Stat
OF the Union, are really in:lalned with desi
70 change the domestic institutions o.exis,i
states. 10 accomplish their objects, tn
dedicate themselves &c the odious task of d
Precia;ing the government organization " hi
stanl, in their way. and OF calunni atinc wi
indiscriminate invective. not only the CT
zeas ct particular States, with whose la
thev hId fault. but Al! others of their trllo
citizens throughout tie country, who do I
participate with them in their assaults up
the Consultation. framed ana adopted by q
fathers. and claiming Tor the privilege it /
secured. and the blessings !. has ronterr,
the steady support and grateful reverence
their children. They seek Az ci.;rcs viii
they we'll know to he revolutionary Gne
They are perfectly aware that the change
The rela;::s rendition ot the white AL! bla
:acss in the .ls:rho!dng States. which tn
would promote, is hey ond their lawful astb
Nv: that to them il is 4 fc-ei.n ELECT Il
: .nsno H.. eHr-t.d kv any ,ea III, in-..