Charles City intelligencer., 1865-12-14


ent attempt at redress by acts of leg
islation. For the future, friendship
between the two countries must rest
on the basis of mutual justice.
From the moment of the etablish-
ment Of our free Constitution, the civi.
lized world has been convulsed by revo-
lutions in the interest of democracy or
of monarchy; but through all those
revolutions the United States have
wisely and firmly refused to become
propagandists of repubIicanism. 1t
is the only government suited to our
condition; but we have never sought to
impose it on others; and we have con-
stantly followed the advice of Wash
ington to recommend it only by the
careful preservation and prudent use
Of the blessing. During all the inter.
vening period the policy of European
Powers and Of the United States has,
on the whole, been harmonious. Twice,
indeed, rumors of the invasion of some
parts OF America, in the interest Of
monarchy. have prevailed; twice my
predecessors have had occasion to an
nounce the views of this nation in re-
spect to such interfereHce. On both
occasions the remonstraRce of the
United States was repeated, from
deep conviction, on the part Of Euro
pean Governments, that the system Of
non.interference and mutual propagan-
dism was the true rule for two hem-
ispheres. Since these times we have
advanced in wealth and power; but we
retain the same purpose to leave the
nations Of Europe 10 choose their
own dynasties and form their own
systems Of government. This consist
ent moderation may justly demand q
corresponding moderation. We should
regard 1t az q great calamity to our
selves. to the cause Of good govern
ment, and to the peace Of the world,
should any European Power challenge
the American people, as it were, to the
defence Of republicanism against
foreign interference. Wecannot fore.
see and are unwilling 10 consider what
opportunities might present themsel-
yes, what combinations might offer to
protect ourselves against designs in
imical to our form Of government.
The United States desire to act in the
future as they have ever acted hereto
fore; they never will he driven from
that course but by the aggression Of
European Powers to respect the sys-
TEN Of non-interfcrence which has 80
long been sanctioned by time, and
which, by it's good rcsnlts, has appro-
| we'd itself to both continents.
The correspondence between the
United States aud France 10 reference
to questions which have become snb-
/ iects Of dicussion between the two
Governments, will, at the proper time'
be laid before Congress.
Il When, on the organization Of on,
Government, under the Constitution
the President of the United States de
livered his inaugural address to the
!; two Houses Of Congress. he said ia
them, and through them to the coun
try and to mankind. that the pres
ervation Of the sacred ERE Of liberty
and the destiny OF the republican mod
I'll Of government are justly considcrc'
: as deeply, perhaps AS finally. stakes
. Oh the experiment entrusted to tn
!. American people," And the House o
!, Representatives answered Washing
: ton by the voice of Madison "W,
{ adore the invisible hand which has LEI
! the American people through 20 man,
difficulties, to cherish conscious re
!, sponsibility for the destiny of republi
: can liberty" More than seventy-si,
years have glided away since these
I words were spoken the United States
!" have passed through severer trials
: than were foreseen and now, at thi,
) new epoch in our existence as one na
tion, with our Union purified by sor
rows, and strengthened by conflict
Y and established by the virtue of th'
! people, the greatness of the occasion
! invites us once more to repeat, will
: solemnity, the pledges Of our father
! to hold ourselves answerable befor,
J, our fellow men for the success Of til,
}, republican form Of government. Elk
: pcrience has proved its suflicicncy IL
t t}peace and in war it has vindicatet
: its authority through dangers. and af
i AictioDs, and sudden and terrible emes
3 gencies, which would have crushed
! any system that had been less firmly
! fixed in the heart of the people A,
: the Inauguration of Washington the
foreign relations of the country were
Q few, aud its trade was reprcsscd by
hostile regulations now all the civ
: iIized nations of the globe welcome
, our commerce. and their Governments
profess towards Us amity. Then our
country felt its way unhesitatingly
along an untried path, with States &c
little bound together by rapid means
of communication as to be hardly
known to one another, and with his
toric traditions extending over very
few years now intercourse between
the States is swift and intimate !: the
experience Of centuries has been crow
: ded into few generations, and has
created an intense, indcstructible ma
tionality. Then our jurisdiction did
not reach beyond the inconvenient
boundaries of the territory which had
achieved independence 4; now, through
cessi0ns Of lands. first colonized by
Spain and France, the country has ac-
quired more complex character, and
has for its natural limits the chain OF
Lakes, the Gulf Of Mexico. and on the
east and west the two great oceans.
Other nations were wasted by civil
wars for agcsApefore they could estab-
lish for themselves the necessary de-
gree Of unity; the latent conviction
that our form of government is the
best ever known to the world, has en-.
ab!ed us to emerge from civil war
within four years, with a complete vim
dication Of the constitutional authori-
ty Of the General Government, and
with our local liberties aud State in
stitutions unimpaired. The throngs
Of emigrants that crowd to our shores
are witnesses Of the confidence OF all
people in our permanence. Here is
the great land of free labor. where In.