The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-12-15

" Us great Calamity 10 ourselves, to tho
cause of good governments; aud 20 tho peace
of the world, should any European Powor
challenge tho American people, as il were,
to tho dofenso of RepublicaDism against for
oign interference. We cannot forcsee and
are Unwilling to.oonsder what opportunities
might present themsolvea--what combna.
tons might oflor to protect ourselves against
designs inimical TO our form OF. government.
The United States desiio to act in tho future
as they have ever acted beret ofore; thew will
mover DO driven from that course but BY tho
aggression of European Powers; and we ro.
ly Oh tho wisdom and Justice of those Pow.
ors to respect tbe'sys;em of non in tor ference
which has so long boen sanctioned by time.
and which, by its good rosults, has approved
itself to both continents.
The correspondence between the United
Sta,oe and Franco, in reference to questions
which have became objects of discussion be.
tween tho two Governments, will, at prop.
er time, be laid before Congress.
When, on the organization OF our Gov.
ernm't, under the Constitution, the Pres
ident Of the United States delivered his
inaugural address to the two Houses Of
Congress, he said to them, and through
them 10 the country and to mankind, that
"the preservation Of the sacred fire of lib
erty, and the destiny of the republican
model of government, are justly consid-
cred as deeply, perhaps as finally staked
on tie experiment! entrusted 10 the Amer.
ican people," And the House Of Repre-
sentatives answered Washington by the
voice Of Madison: ave adore the invis-
ible hand which has led the American
people through SO many difficulties, 10
cherish conscious responsibility for the
destiny OF republican liberty" More than
76 years have glided away since these
words were spoken; the United States
have passed through sovorer trials than
were ioreseen; and now,at this new epo:h
in our existence as one nation, with our
Union purified by sorrows, and strength.
encd by conflict, and established by the
virtue Of the people, the greatness of the
occasion invites us once more TO repeat,
with solemnity, the pledges of our fathers
10 hold ourselves answerable before our
fellow mon for the success Of the republi.
can form Of government. Experience has
proved its sufficiency in peace and in war;
it has vindicated ills authority through
dangers and Affections, and sudden and
terrible emergencies, which would have
crushed any system that had been less
firmly fixed in the hearts of the people.
AT ,he Inauguration oil Washington the
foreign relations 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 toward us am
lty. Then our country felt its way hesi.
tatingly along an un.ried path. with States
so little bound together by rapid means
OF communication as to- be hardly known
to one anolher,u and with historic traditions
extending over very few years; now in
tercourso between the States is swift and
intimate; the experience of centuries has
been crowded Into few generations, and
has created an intense, indestructible
nationality Then our jurisdiction did not
reach beyond the inconvenicnt boundaries
OF the territory which had achieved its
independence; now, through cession OF
lands, first colonized by Spain and France,
the country has acquired 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 ages before they could es.
tablsh 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 enabled us 10
emerge from civi! war within four years,
with complete vindication of the const-
tutional authority OF the General Govern
ment, and with our local liberties and
our State institutions nnimpaired. The
thrcngs Of emigrants which crowd to our
shores are witnesses of the confidence of
all peoples in our pormanence.
Hore is tho groat land of FREQ labor, who're
industry is blessod with unoxamplod 70.
wards, and the bread of the workingman is
swoetenod by tho consciousness that the
causo OF tho country "ia his own cause" his
own stately, his own dignity. Hero overy
ono enjoys the free uso Of his faculties and
tho choice of activity as natural
right. Here, under tho combined in
ilncnce of fruitful soil, genial
climos, aud happy institutions, population
has increased fiftoen-iold within q century.
liere. through the ossy development Of
boundess resources, wealth has increased
with two fold greater rapidity than mum
bors. so We have become secure against tho
financial vicissitudes of other countries, and,
alike in. business and in opinion, arc self.
conferred and truly independent. Horo
moro and moro care is eivon to provide cd.
ucalion for every one born on our soil.--
Here religion, released from political con.
nection with tho civil government. refuses
to subsorvo tho craft of statesmen. and be.
comes, 10 its independence, the spiritual life
OF tho pooplo, Hero toloration is extended