The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-01-09

der circumstances to justify the inter~
position of the federal executive. That
could only be in case Of obstruction to
federal law, or Of organized resistance
to territorial law, assuming the char
acter OF instruction which, fit should
occur, it would be my duty promptly
to overcome and suppress. l cherish
the hope, however, that the occurrence
Of any such untoward event will be
prevented by the sound sense Of the
people of the territory, who by Its or
ganic law possessing the right to de-
termine their own domestic institutions,
are entitled, while deporting them~
selves peacefully, to the free exercise
of it, without interference on the part |
of the citizens of any of the States.
The southern boundary line of this
Territory has never been surveyed and
established. The rapidly extending
settlements in that region, and the
fact that the main route between In
dependence in the State of Missouri
and New Mexico is contiguous to this
line, suggests the probability that ems
barrassing questions Of jurisdiction
may consequently arise For these
and other considcra ions | commend
the subject to your carly attention.
CONSTITUTIONAL THEORY OF GOVERN.
MENT.
have thus passed in review the
general state of the Union including
such particular concerns OF the FEEDER
al Government, whether Of domestic
or foreign relations, as it appeared to
me desirable and useful to bring to the
special n tice Of Congress.
Unlike the great States Of Europe
and Asia, aud many OF those Of Amer.
lea. these UuiteG States are wasting
their strength neither in foreign war
nor domestic strife. Whatever of dis
content or lubIc dissatisfaction exists,
is attributable to the impcrfections OF
human nature, or is incident to all gov.
ernmcnts, however perfect, which hui
man wisdom can devise. Such sub
jects Of political agitation as occupy the
public mind, consist, to a great ex'
tent, Of operations, Of inevitable
evils, or over zeal in the social i'm
proycment, or mere Imagination Of
grievance, having but remote connec-
ton with any Of the CONSTITUTIONS
functions or duties Of the Federal gov
eminent. TO whatever extent these
questions exhibit a tendency mcracint
to the stability of the Constitution 0
the integrity OF the Union and no far
Their, they demand the consideration o
the Executive, and require to be pre-
sentcd by him to Congress. Before
the thirteen Colonies became a con
federation Of independent States, the.
, were associated only by community Q
trans Atlantic origin, by geographical
| position, aud by tho mutual tic OF con
mon dependence on Great Britain
When that tie was sundered, they Sc
verally assumed the powers and right
Of absolute sclt>goyernment, municlpi
8 and social institutions of each, its law
/. Of ptopliety and Of personal relation
even its political organization was sue
only a. each one chose to establiil
wholly without interference from an
. other
q In the language of the Dcclaratic
{ Of Independence, each State had tu
!. ,lower to levy war, conclude pcac
D.. contract alliances, establish commerc
l ana to do all other acts and thin,
= which independent states may Of rig
II do. The several colonies differed
&c climate, i'll soil, in natural production
i in religion, i'll systems, in education,
~ legislation, and in the form of polite
y administration, and they continued
ID differ in these respects. When tn
lie voluntarily allied themselves as Stat
Is to carry ON the war Of the Revolutic
rs the object Of the war was to disenthl
b. the united colonies from foreign ru
IL which had proved to be oppressive, "a
to separate them permanently from t
mother country the political result "
he the foundation Of a Federal Repub
as Of the free white men Of the colom
it constituted as they were distinct a
IT. reciprocally independent state COVE
c. mcnts. AS for the subject races whe
tic err Indian or African, the wise a
If, brave statesmen of that day being c
lr- gagged in no extravagant scheme
Is, social change, left them as they we
IS, and thus preserved themselves a
he their osterity from the anarchy a
IS, the ever recurring civil wars VIII
j. have prevailed in other revolutions
lie, European colonies of America.
ID, When the confedcrated states for
al it convenient to modify the conditi
lal of their association, by giving to
ct. general government direct access,
raj some respects. to the people Of
m States, instead Of coniining it to
to ton Of the States, as such, they +
al ceeded to frame the existing Consti
ca ton, adhering steadily to one guild
Of thought, which vas to delegate c