The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-12-12


For the future, friendship between the two
countries must rest on the basis Of mutual
justice.
From the moment of the establishment of
our free Constitution, the civilized world has
been convulsed by revolutions in the interests
of democracy or of monarchy but through
all those revolutions the United States have
wisely and firmly refused to become propa-
gandists of republicanism. 1t is the only
government suited TO our condition but We
have never sought to impose it on others and
We have consistently followed the advice of
Washington to recommend it only By the
careful preservation and prudent use Of the
blessing. During all the intervening period
the policy of European powers and Of the
United States has, on the whole, been har-
moni0us. Twice, indeed, rumOrs Of the
invasion of some parts of America, in the
interest Of monarchy, have prevailed twice
my predecessors have had occasion 10 announce
the views Of this nation in respect to such
interference!
On both occasions the remonstrauce Of the
United States was respected, from deep con-
viction, on the part Of European governments.
that the system Of non-interference and mu-
tual abstinence from propagandsm was the
true rule for the two hemlspheres. Since
those times we have advanced in wealth and
power but we retain the same purpose to
leave the nations Of Europe to choose their
own dynastes and form their own systems Of
government. This consistent moderation may
justly demand corresponding moderation
We should regard it as great calamity t.
ourselves, TO the cause CT good government
and to the peace Of the world, should any
European power challenge the American peo-
pie, az it were, to the defense Of republican
ism against foreign interference.
We cannot forSee and are unwilling to con-
slider what opportunities might present them
selves, what combinations might offer to pro
tect ourselves against designs inimicable to
our form of government. The United States
desir to act in the future as they have ever
acted heretofore they will never be driven
from that course but by the aggression Of
European Powers and we rely on the wisdom
and justice of those Powers to respect the
system Of non-interfeTence which has so long
been sanctioned by time, and which by its
good results, has approved itself to both con-
tinents.
The correspondence between the United
States and France, in reference to questions
which have become subjects of discussion be-
tween the two Governments, will at Il proper
time, be laid before Congress.
When on the organization Of our Govern
ment, under the Constitution, the President
of the United States delivered his inaugural
address to the two Houses of Congress. he
said to them ,aqd through them to the country
and to mankind that the preservation ofthe
sacred FIRE of liberty and the destiny of the
republican model Of government, are Justly
considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked
on the experiment intrustcd to the American
people"
And the House Of Representatives answered
Washington by the voice of Madison eve
adore the invisible hand which has led the
American people, through SO many difficulties
to cherish a Concions responsibility for the
destiny Of republican liberty" More than
seventy six years have glided away since these
words were spoken the United States have
passed through severer trials than were fore
seen and now at this new epoch in our exist
ence as one nation, with our Union purified by
sorrows, and strengthened by conflict, and es-
tablished by the virtue of the people the great
ness ofthe occasion invites US once more to re-
peat with soemnity, the pledges of our fathers
to hold ourselves answerable before our fell
Iow-men for the success of the republican form
of government.
Experience has proved It's suhiciency in
peace and in war it has vindicated its au-
thority through dangers and Affections, and
sudden and terrible emergencies, which would
have crushed any system that bad been less
firmly fixed in the heart ofthe people. At the
inauguration of Washington the foreign re-
lations Of the country were few, and its trade
was repressed by hostile regulations now all
the civilized nations of the globe welcome our
commerce, and their Governments profess
towards US amity.
Then our country felt its way hesitatiugly
along an untried path, with States so little
bound together by rapid means Of communi-
cation as to be hardly known to one another
and with historic traditions extending over
very few years now intercourse between the
States is swift and intimate: the experience
of centuries has been crowded into a few
generations, and has created an intense. in
destruCtible nationality
Then our jurisdiction did not reach beyond
the inconvenient boundaries Of the territory
which had achieved independence now
through cessions Of land, first colonized by
Spain and France, the country has acquired E
more complex character, and has for its nat
ural limits the chain Of Lakes, the Gulf of
Mexico, and on the east and the west the two
great oceans.
Other nations were wasted by civil wars for
ages before they could establish for themselves
the necessary degree of unity the latent con-
vIction that our form of Government is the
best ever known to the world, has enabled US
to emerge from civil war within four years,
with camplete vindication of the constitu-
tional authority of the General Government.
and with our local liberties and State nstitu-
tons 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 industry is blessed
with unexampled rewards, and the bread of
the worllingman is sweetened by consciousness
that the cause ofthe country ''is his own cause
his own safety, his own dguity." Here every
one enjoys the free use of his faculties and the
choice of activity as natural right. Here,
mn l,a inf Of a Frl oil