The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-03

proper to commend to your care not only its
material, but also its moral interests, including
education, more especially in those parts of the
District outside of the cities of Washington
and Georgetown.
The Commissioners appointed to revise and
codify the laws of the District have made such
| progress in the performance of their task as to
insure its completion in the time prescribed by
the act of Congress.
Information has recently been received, that
| the peace of the settlements in the Territories
of Oregon and Washington is disturbed by hos
tilities on the part of the Indians, with indica-
tons OF extensive combinations of hostile
character among the tribes in that quarter, the
more serious in their possible effect by reason
OF the undetermined foreign interests existing
IN those Territories, to which your attention has
already been especially invited. Efficient meas
ures have been taken, which, it is believed, will
restore quiet, and afford protection to our citi-
| zens.
In the Territory of Kansas, there have been
acts preJudicial to good order, but as yet none
have occurred under circumstances to Justify
the interposition of the Federal Executive.
That could only be in case of obstruction to
Federal law, or Of organized resistance to Ter
rltorial law, assuming the character of insurrec.
ton, which, if it should occur, it would be my
duty promptly to overcome and suppress.
cherish the hope, however, that the occurrence
OF any such untoward event will be prevented
by the sound sense Of the people of the Terri
tory, who, by its organic law, possessing the
right TO determine their own domestic institu-
tons, are entitled, while deporting themselves
peacefully to the free exercise of that right,
and must be protected in the enjoyment 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
Notwithstanding settlements in that region,
and the fact that the main route between indie
pendence, in the State of Missouri and New
Mexico, is contiguous to this line, suggest the
probability that embarrassing questions of ju-
risdiction may consequently arise. For these
and other considerations, l commend the sub.
ject to your early attention.
CONSTITUTIONAL THEORY OF THE GOVERN
| | have thus passed in review the general
state of the Union, including such particular
concerns of the Federal Government, whether
| of domestic or foreign relation, as it appeared
to me desirable and useful to bring to the spe-
cial notice of Congress. Unlike the great States
of Europe and Asia, and many of those of
America, these United States are wasting their
strength neither in foreign war nor domestic
strife.
Whatever Of discomfort or public dssatisfac-
ton exists, is attributable to the imperfections
of human nature, or is incident to all Govern
ments, however perfect, which human wisdom
can devise. Such subjects of political agitation
as occupy the public mind, consist, to great
| extent, of exaggeration of inevitable evils, or
| over-Zeal In social improvement, or mere imagi
nation of grievance, having but remote connec.
ton with any of the constitutional functions or
duties of the Federal Government To what
ever extent these questions exhibit a tendency
menacing to the stability of the Constitution OF
the integrity of the Union, and no farther, they
demand the consideration of the Executive
and require to be presented by him to Congress
Before the thirteen Colonies became Con-
federation of independent States, they were as
sociated only by community of transatlantic
origin, by geographical position, and by the
mutual tie of common dependence on Great Brit
ain. When that tie was sundered, they sew
orally assumed the powers and rights of absolute
self-government. The municipal and social in
stitutions of EACH its laws of property and Of
personal relation, even its political organization
were such only as each one chose to establish
wholly without interference from any other. In
the language of the Declaration of Independ-
ence, each State had "full power to levy war
conclude peace, contract alliances establish com
merce, and to do all other acts and things which
independent states may OF flgnt no. The Seve.
raj Colonies differed in climate in soil, in natural
productions, in religion, in systems of education
in legislation, and in the forms of political adj
mnistration; and they continued to differ il
these respects when they voluntarily allied them
selves States, to carry the war of the Revo
luton.
The object of that was to disenthral the
United Colonies from foreign rule which haC
proved to be oppressive and to separate then
permanently from the nather country; tn,
political result was the foundation of Fedora
Republic of the free white men of the Colonies
constituted, as they were in distinct and re
ciprocally independent State Governments. A
for the subject races whether Indian African
the wise and brave statesmen of that day, being
engaged i'll no extravagant scheme of socia
change, left them as they were, and thus pre-
served themselves and their posterity from tn,
anarchy and the overcoming civil war.
which have prevailed in other revolutionizeC
European Colonies of America.
When the cOnfederated States found it conve
nent to modify the conditions of their association
by giving to the General Government direct &C
cess, in some respects, to the people of tn,
States, instead of combining it to action on tn,
States as such, they proceeded to frame the ex
listing Constitution, adhering steadily to on,
guiding thought, which was, to delegate onl,
such power as was necessary and proper to tn,
execution of specific purposes, or, in othe
words, to retain as much possible, consistent
| ly with those purposes, of the Independent
powers of the individual States. For objects O
common defence and security, they intrusted t,
the General Government certain carefully-defneo
functions, leaving all others as the undelegate,
rights of the separate independent sovereignties
t Such is the constitutional theory of our Gov
eminent, the practical observance of which ha
} carried us, and us alone, among modern Repub
lies, through nearly three generations of time
I without the cost of one drop of blood shed il
civil war. With freedom and concert of action
it has enabled us to contend successfully on tn
battlefield against foreign foes has elevated the
, feeble Colonies into powerful States and ha
raised our industrial productions and our com
merce which transports them, to the level of tn
richest and the greatest nations of Europe. AM
the admirable adaptation of political insti
buttons to their objects, combining local self
. government with aggregate strength, has estab
I lished the practicability of q Government lik
ours to cover continent with confederat
| States.
The Congress of the United States is in effect
: that Congress of sovereignties, which good me
in the Old World have sought for, but coul
never attain, and which imparts to America a
. exemption from the mutable league for commo
action, from the wars, the mutual invasions, an
vague aspirations after the balance of power
which convulse from time to time the Govern
, ments of Europe. Our cooperative action rest
> IN the conditions of permanent confederation
= prescribed by the Constitution. Our balance o
power IL in the separate reserved rights of tn
{ states, and their equal representation in tn
u senate. That Independent sovereignty in ever
/ one OF the States, with its reserved rights O
n local self-government assured to each by thei
= co-equal power in the Senate, was the funda
/ mental condition of the Constitution. Withou
.El nrll