Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-12-07

Then our Jur1sdI>t1on DID not reach beyond the
inconvenient boundaries of the territory which
had achieved Independence; now, through sss-
sions of lands, first eoloDized by Spain and France
the country has acquired more complex charac-
ter, and has for its natural limits the chain of
Lakes, the Gulf Of Mexico. and on the east and
the west the two great oceans.
Other rations were wasted by citii wars for ages
before they could establish for themselves the
necessary degree of unity the latent conviction
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 complete
Vindicaton Of the constitutional authority Of the
General Government and with our loo Al Liberties
and State institutions unimpaired. The thronrs
Of emigrsnts that crowd to our shores are w.t.
nssses Of the conhdence of all peoples in our per-
manence. Here is the great land of free labor,
where industry Is blessed with unexampIed re.
wards, and the bread of the workiugman Is sweet.
ened by the consciousness that the cause of the
country is his own cause, his OWE sefsty, bis own
dignity. Here eve one enjoys the free use of his
faculties and the choics of activity as a natural
right. Here, under the combined Influence OF a
fruitful soil, genial chimes, and happy fnstitu
tions, population has increased fteen-f Id within
a century. Here, through the easy development
Of boundless resources wealth has Increased with
wo-fold greater rapidity than numbers, 50 that
have become secure against the inan cial yieis
situdes OF other coGn ri7s, and, alike in business
and in opinion, are self conferred and truly indie
pendent. Here, more and more car. is given 10
provide education for every one born on our soiI
Here, religion, released from political Connection
with the civil government, refuses to subserye the
craft OF SCatesme0s ana becomes, IN its indanand.
ence, the spiritual life of the people, Here toIer
alton is extended to every opinion, in the ouiet
certainty that truth needs onl fair field to a.
cure the victory. Here. the human mind 0oes
forth unshackied in the pursuit OF science to col
lect stores OF knowledge and scq sire an eyer.i0.
creasing astery over the forces Of nature Wera
the national domain is ossred and held in MIL
lions of separate freeholds. that our fellow |
beyond the occupants of any other mart
of the earth, constitute in reality people, Here
exists The democratic form of government: and |
that form Of government, by the confession Of
European statesmen, " gives power of which no /
other firm is cspableI because it Incorporates |
every man with the state, and arouses eysrythfpe7
that elongs to the soul" r4 asslsIl1s
Where, in past history, does parallel exist to /
the public happiness which is within the reach o<
the people ofthe United tatesa Whsre, in auy /
part OF the globe, institutions be found 40 L
suited TO their habits entitled to their love
them, then, in whatever part of the land he has |
bis home, must wish its psrpetuitys5 Who of them
will not now RcknowledSe, IN She worda ~ |
Wsshingtons that 'severy letee by which the |
peope OF the United States have advanced "a az |
character Of an independent nation, SEEMS 10 have
been distinguished by some ,tok en- 81 ProsidentiaI
agencyf' Who will not join in with me in the
prayer, II at the invisible hand which has led M
through the clouds that gloomed around our
path, will SO guide us onward to perfect restora-
lion Of fraternal affection, that of this day NAV
be- able to transmit our great Inheritance Of State
in all their RI hts, of the General
In its whole constitutional yieor. to |
'ur posterity, and they to theirs through count
ess generationsl ANHREW JOHNSON.
WAsHIxaEoE, December 4, ise6. mTb +