The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1856-12-10

orotherwise, some adequate arrangement shall
have been made for the protection and Sc
curity Of line Of inter-oceanic communication
50 important at this time, not to the the United
States only, but 10 all other maritime States
both in Europe and America.
Meanwhile, negotiations have been instituted
by means of a special commission, 70 obtain
nom New Granada full indemnity for injuries
sustained by our citizens on the lsthmus, and
satisfactory security for the general interests Of
the United States.
In addressing TO you my last annual message,
the occasion seems to me an appropriate one to
express my congratulations in view Of the peace,
greatness, and felicity which the United States
now possess and enjoy. TO point you to the
state Of the various departments of the govern
ment, and Of all the great branches of the pub
1ic service, civil and military, in order to speak
Of the intelligence and the integrity which pre-
yades the whole, would be to indicate bit i'm
perfectly the administrative condition Of the
country, and the beneficial effects Of that on the
general welfare. Nor would it suffice to say
that the nation is actually at peace at home and
abroad; and its industrial interests are prosper
Gus; that the canvass Of its mariners whitens
every sea; and the plough Of its husbandmen is
marching steadily onward to the bloodless con-
quest of the continent; that cities and populous
States are springing up, as if by enchantment,
from the bosom Of oar western wilds, and that
the courageous energy Of our people is making of
these United States the great republic Of the
world. These results have not been attained
without passing through trials and perils, by ex-
perience Of which, and thus only, nations can
harden into manhood Our forefathers were
trained to the wisdom which conceived and the
courage which achieved independence, by the
,cfo oh ,Io.I
they were thus made capable Of the creation of
the republic.
:, Itdevolved on the next generation to consoli-
date the work of the revolution, to deliver the
country entirely from the influences of conflict
ing transatlantic partialities or antpathes,
which attached to our colonial and revolutionary
history, and to organize the practical operation
ofthe constitutional and legal institutions of the
Union. To us, of this generation, remains the
not less noble task Of maintaining and extend
ing the power of the United States. We have
at length reached that stage of the national Ca
reer, in which the dangers to be encountered
and the eXertions to be made, are the incidents
not Of weakness, hut of strength. In our for
eign relations we have to temper our power to
the less happy condition of other republics in
America, and to place ourselves in the camness
and conscious dignity of right by the side of
the greatest and wealthieSt Of the empires of
Europe. In our domestic relations, we have to
guard against the shock of the discOntents, the
ambitions, the interests, and the eXuberant, and
therefore, sometimes irregular impulses of opin-
ion, or of action, which are the natural product
of the present political elevation, the selfrei-
ance and the restless spirit of enterprise OF the
people of the United States
shall prepare to surrender the Executive
trust to my successor and retire to private life
with sentiments ofprofound gratitude to the good
Providence which, during the period of my ad-
ministration has vouchsaied to carry the country
Through many difficulties, domestic and foreign,
and to enable me to contemplate the spectacle
of amicable and respectful relations between ours
and all other governments, and the establishment
Unconstitutional order and. tranquility through
out the Union.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WASHINGTON, December 2, 1856.