Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-12-15

form of government is the best ever
known to the world, has enabled us
to emerge from civil war within foul
years, with complete vindicatior
of the constitutional authority of the
General Government, and with oul
local liberties and State institutions
unimpaired.
The throngs of emigrants thai
crowd to our shores are witnesses O
the confidence Of all people in oul
permanence. Here is the great lane
of free labor, where industry is bless
ed with mexampled rewards. anc
the bread of the workman is sweet
ened by the consciousness that the
cause of the country is "his owl
cause, his own safety. his own digni
ty." Here every one enjoys the free
use of his faculties, and the choice Of
activity as a natural right. Here
under the combined influence OF a
fruitful soil, genial climes and hap
lpy institutions, population has in,
Creased fifteen-fold within century
Here, through the easy development
of boundless resources, wealth has
increased with two-fold greater ra.
Ipidity than numbers, so that we have
become secure against the financial
vicissitudes of otner countries, and
alike in business and in opinion, are
self conferred and truly independent.
Here more and more care is given
to provide education for every one
born on our soil. Here religion, re-
leased from political connection with
the civil government, refuses to sub
serve the craft of statesmen, and in
its independence, becomes the spir-
itual life of the people. Here toler-
alton is extended to every opinion,
in the quiet certainty that truth needs
only fair field to secure the victo-
ry. Here the human mind goes
forth unshackeled in the persuit of
science, to collect stores of knowl-
edge and acquire an ever increasing
mastery over the forces Of nature
Here the national domain is offered
and held in millions of separate free
holds SO that our fellow-citizens, be-
yond the occupants of anyother part
of the eaath, constitute in reality a
people. Hereexists the democratic
form Of government; and that form
of government, by the confession of
statesmen, "gives a power
of which no other form is capable,
because it Incorporates every man
with the State and arouses every.
thing that belongs to the soul"
Where, in past history, does a
parallel exist in the public happiness
which is within the reach of the peo-
Die of the United States 3? Where,
n any part of the globe, can institu-
ions be found so suited to their hab-
is or so entitled to their love as
,ur own free Constitution? Every
me of them, then, ia whatever part
# the land he has his home must
Wish its perpetuity. Who of them
will not now acknowledge, in tho
words of Washington that "every
step by which the people of the Unit
ed States have advanced to the
character of an independent nation,
seems to have been distinguished by
iome token of Proyidential agency p"
Who will not join with me in the
prayer, that the invisible hand that
las led us through the clouds that
doomed around our path, will SO
Jude US onward to a perfect resto- /,
alton of fraternal affection; that
We of this day may be able to trans =,
nit our great inheritance of State
Governments, in all their rights, of
he General Government in its whole
Constitutional yigor, to our posteri-
y, and they to theirs through count
ess generations ?
ANDREW JOHNSON. L
Washington, Dec. 4, 1865. !