The spirit of democracy. [volume], March 14, 1845, Image 1

About The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994

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THE SPIRIT OF DEMOClt AC Y
' ana kn..n vaV Miftiv rniallttf;"
' y;jfY JAME9 It MORR$S
13 ! K.Pf annum, If paid M
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ifri Kp' paper il be dUatlimei, except at Ue
ptioa'orthe editor, pn'til all aireare irt paid. ', j
(t AU comrounicatione eeni by nail must be
post-paid. j J,,, , v - i t. .... ,i
' J AoviaTiaEJicKTi loawfed at the uaual ratea.
a kind, to thy father for hen thou wert y oon-,
' Who loved lhe so fondly as hef "''.
He ciufbt the first aecanla tbatte!t from thy loofM
And joined In thy innocent gloat.' i ?,j-
Pfckiod to thy lather foe bow be la old, r.
Hie locks intermingled with grey; - -bis
footatepa are feeble, once iearleaa and bold;
Thy father la paaaing away. . ,
,. -Vv'" -'
Be kind to thy motherfor lot on her brow
May traoeeof eorrosr beseen; .
O well mayat (hou cherish and comfort her now,
for loving and kind hath ahe been. -Remember
thy mother for thee will ahe pray,
Aakwgee God give her breath4H'
With accent! of kiodnew then cheer her lone way
Evan to the dark alley of death.' 'i
Be kind td thy brother hit i Heart Will hire dearth
If the amile of thy jov be withdrawn; t
The AoWere of feeHhg will lade at their births
V thed.w of aflection be gone. " -T-y
Ba kind to thy brother wherever you art,
The love of a brother than, do t r i, .. r
mir. tilt! rirhft- hv ftp ' '
"Than pearla trrfin the depih of the sea. " ': -
Be kind to thy enter not many may know t , ,.
r '"The depth it true eisterlV love; ' "" .
The Wealth of the ocean ties fathom below: '- ''
Tbeaurface that aparklee abovei ,1 nt :,:'.
tTby kindiiese shall bring to (bee many aweet houra
And bleesinga thy pathway to crown; ,, , ,
ABection ahall weave thee a gailand of flowers,' '
More precious than wealth or renown.' '
CONGRESS.
v, Senate. Tuesday r March 4,. i?45.,
At ihulfipast It o'clock the) lion.
. GEORGE M.4AI.US; Vice Pres.
Went elect 'tof the United States, was
iritroiuced'.by the Committee of A r
rUnpementH, nnd,'4idiiijf duly 'sworn- by
the President fro tem.j took the Chair
r(S' President of the Seniite, pursuant' to
the 'Coh?titutiorif tli .r1 United 'States',
- fetid 'dd'jfeisca jtnT-scnni.-;':f"
"At fiirtA', minutes mst 1 1 o'clock. the
fleet of.Uie. United ,tntes, nc;oinpani
f j hjt the, cvlVeMtJent of the United
States, the lion. John Trusu, vn in
troduced " by iho' Committee of Ar
rangements, and, .having bowed to the
isserhiled Sen ite; toolt his seat.irifi rtn.i
of thef' dest b'f the Secretary ' or 'the
Ktyti' minutes, before 2 o'clocli,
tVe1. pssistant Sergeant-at-arms ,of the
' Seiiati namd Jthe order of procession
from the Senate Chamber to the. plat-,
jjm:at the East, front .of the Capitol,
and the processioa-, formed ,and pro
ajeeded accordingly.' ",, "' ;
wOn reaching ite front of the-Portico,
the President elect and Chief- Justice
took the seats provided for them.
"The' efc-Presidents, the Committee
of Arrangements, and Associate Jus
tices of the,Suj)reme Cpurt, occupied a
fjsiljon several feel iii the rear of the
resident elect. ; ,. , . ;.
. ,1'he Vce Presidcntr Secretary and
tMembers of the Senate, occupied par -,alle
lines Dextirt rear.' .; i i -'i
The Diplomatic Corps occupied the
next position ; and the space immedi
ately In their rear was assigned to tne
late Speaker, Clerk and Members of
the Senate and House of . Representa-
,tives, V; I ?. K' if . ;
v -The Ladies, and such, persons as, by
j.the rules of the Senate and . at range
-meats of the; Committee, were ndmitr
,ted within the Senate Chamber, oeco-
pied the" steps and the - residue of the
tpruco. ! -" ;!
The' President elect then 'read the
1bll6wing . -; .: .
INAUGURAL ADDRESS. ;
'. 'i'LLOW-ClTIZKNS:' '"'! ; V'T '"'T'
Without solicitation on, my part, !
" have , been' chosen by the-' free1 and
' Voluntary, suffrages of my counlrytnen
to the most honorable urid most re
!nnnsible office on earth. . I am deep-
ly impresaed with gratitude for the con
,ndence reposea in me. nonoreu wim
the -distinguished consideration, at -an
.earlier period- of life than any of my
predecessors, 1 cannot disgaise the
diffidence with which. I-am aboutito
enter on the discharge. of my official
duties.'' ''-;i"i'-'- ''"1-" r',!"
,xA If1 the more "aged and experienced
men who hove filled the office of Pres.
Mdenf'bf the United States, even in the
'infancy' of "the 'Republic, distrusted
'their a'bility to. discharge the "duties l
;that exalted Station, what ought not to
'be' tlie " apprehensiops'of one', sq much
"younger and Jess endowed,' now that
. 'cur ' domain . extends .from ::. ocean' jo
, ocean, thai pur people ha ve so greatly
ijncreased in, ,n.um.bers, ; and at a time
4wben so great diversity of opinion pre
vails in. regard to the, principles ,anj
'.policy which should churaoterizo the
iltdministrution ,. of our .-government t-
Well may the boldest jear, and ' the
iwisest tremble, when incurring respon
jibilities - on' vvhkb may depend our
-country1 "peace and ;prosj5eritvy and,
iri some degree, the hopes 'and happi
'nW of the whole human fimilyi'1 ' '
' ' In nssuiping responsibilities so'vnst,
"1 fervently invoke the aid of thst Al
'Vigh'ty Ruler tne Univer'se, in w hose
'.haods'are' the destinies o(J, nations and
:of ,4jien. ta guard this eaven-favojed
'iii frr; ViJvt:vt t).:. il'jt.-';-';- 'i. j
iVn'l tli til
ft i
litW iiWU-iUi:f W.I
...it it) 7i',vVf. nt
iviMo- tft ' l.'ti) j
y!v r a .!li.v.,l'. t..IirfNCirLE1AND
land ftgaioirt the mischiefs which',' with
out His guidance,' must arise from an
unwwe puUic policy, , With a firm re
liance upon the iwisdom; of; Omnipo
tence to sustain and .direct, ine irr the
path; pf duty, which, l am. appointed to
pursue, I stand in the presence of this
assembled multitude of my country
men, td take upon myself the . solemn
obligation, 4to the best of n.y ability,
to; preserve,., protect, and .defend the
Constitution of the United States,!'. ,
j, '-K. concise enumeration of .the prin
ciples vyhich will . guide., me, in the ad
niinistrative policy of the government,
is notonly in accordanr.e with the ex
amples, set me .by all my, predecessors,
but is eminently befitting the occasion.
.Tbe Constitution itself, plainly writ
ten as it is, the safeguard of our federa
tive. pornpacLjthe pflspringof conces
sion a nd com p romise, hi nd ing to ge the r
itr the bonds anf peace and - union this
great and increasing family ;of free and
in. e pendent Slate?, wil) be the chart
by whjch l shnjl be directed, t .?
i . It will be mv first cure to - adminis
ter thegoverpniept in the .true spirit of
that wstr.uinent..and.to assume no pow
ers not expressly, granted, or. clearly
implied in it .terms. ,r. The government
uf .the; United States is one of delegat
ed jind limited, powers; and it is .by o
gtrivtodberenre.tp. the clearly grnnled
powers, and by, abstaining from ihe ex
ercise of, doubtful or .unauthorized im
olied Rowers, that ,t have the only
sure guarpnty against the recurrence of
those unlortunate- collisions) between
the Federal and .State- authorities,
which have otjcimiodnlly! so niuch dis
turbed rlheJvmnnny ol our system, and
even threatened the perpetuity of our
glorinns Uni-m.. , i n- ..,
, . To the States respectively, , or to
the people,'' have been .reserved, Hhe
powers not deltgated to the United
States by the .Constitution, nor pro
hibited .by Jit lo.the States.'.',, Each
State is a complete sovereignly within
the sphere of its reserved powers.
The government of the Union, acting
within tlte sphere of its delegated au
thority, is pJ?o a. complete sovereignty.
While the General Government should
abstain from the exercise of authority
not clearly delegated, to it, the States
should be .equally, careful that, in the
maintenance of their rights, they do not
over step-the limits if powers reserved
to them. One of the most distinguish
ed of my predecessors attached deserv
ed importance to "the. .support of the
State Governments in all their rights,
as the most competent administration
for our domestic concerns, and the sur
est bulwark ngainstantt-republican ten
dencies!", and to the "preservation of
the General -ovemment in its whole
constitutional vigor, , as the sheet-an
chor of our peace at home, and safety
abroad." ;. -
, To the Gove-nment of the United
States has been instructed the exclu
sive management ot our foreign affairs.
Beyond .that, it . wields a few general
enumerated powers. It does not force
reform on the States., It leaves indi
viduals, over whom it casts its protect
ing influence, entirely free to improve
their own condition by the legitimate
exercise of all their mental and physi-
cil powers. - It is a commpn protector
of each and all the States; of every
man who lives upon our soil,, whether
of native or foreign birth; of every re
licious sect, m their worship of, the Al
mighty according;-to the 'dictates of!
their own conscience; ol every hade
of opinion, and the most, tree inquiry;
of every art, trade or occupation, con
sistent with: the. laws of the States.
And we rejoice in the general happi
ness, prosperity and advancement of
our country, which have been the oil
spring of, freedom, and not of power.
; This most admirable and wisest sys
tem of well regulated, self-government
among men., ever dvied by human
minds, has been tested by successful
operation for. more than half a century;
and, if preserved from the usurpations
of the federal government on the one
hand, nnd. the exercise by the .States
of powers not reserved to them on the
other,- will, J fervently hope, and be
lieve,, endure for ages to rome, and dis
pense the blessings of civjl and religious
lilertyi to distant generations. , To
effect objects so dear to. every patriot.
I shall devote mysel(,with nntious solicitude.-
; It will be my desire ..to guard
against that most fruitful source ol dan
ger to the harmonious action of our sys
tem, whan consists in substituting the
mere discretion and caprice of the "ex
ecutive, or of majorities in the -legislative
department of the government, for
powers which have been withheld from
the federal government by the consti
tution. ""' By the theory of our govern
ment, majorities rule; but this right is
not on arbitrary pr . unlimited one. -, U
i' li;?i-i)iitii.s" Wwl av-,:d Ytu i Vr'
,r ;.. H7 'vf:;,i V.-'.f, ,v(il nr'"'ii?l f 7 1
: -Hn .',:.p.h. ?.dJ . '-J. 7;'.t:,.n: . r
MEASURES, AND MEN THAT WILL CARRY THOSE PRINCIPLES AND MEASURE
is a right to- be exercised in 'subordi
nation te the' constitution,! nnd in con
formity to It. ' One great object of the
constitution was to restrain majorities
from "oppressing tmnoriljes, ;or'. "en
croaching upon their just rights. : Mi
norities have a right to appeal to the
constitution, as a shield against -such
oppression. -i : ' J-
That the blessings of liberty which
our constitution secures rrray- b-? en
joyed alike toy 'minorities and v mnjori
ties, the executive 'has been wisely in
vested with n qualified veto upon the
acts of the "legislature. ' If is a nega
tive power, nnd is "conservative h its
character. It arrests for the time has
ty, inconsiderate, or unconstitutional
legislation; invites reconsideration, nnd
transfers - questions at issue between
the legislative nnd executive depart
ments to the trlbnnal of the people
Like all other powers, it w subject to
be nbused.J When 'judiciously find
properly exercised, the constitution
itself may be saved from infraction nnd
the rights of all preseved and protect
ed. ' ' ' - ' '----l r- -'
The inestimable value of our federal
U'-ion isfeltnnd acknowledged by all.
By this system of united and confeder
ated States, our" people tire permitted
collectively and individually, to seek
their own happiness in their own way;
and the consequences have been most
auspicious." Since ' the Union was
formed the number of the States hnsin
creased from' thirteen ' to twenty-eight;
two of these have taken their posiliori
as members of the confederacy within
the last week. ;- Our population has in
creased from three to twenty millions;
New communities and States are seek;
ing protection tinder its regis, and mul
titudes from the Old 1 World are flock
ing to our shores to participate in its
blessings. Beneath its benign sway,
peace nnd prosperity prevail. Freed
from the burdens and miseries of wari
our trade and intercourse have extend-;
ed througiiont the - world.' Mind, no
longer tasked in devising means to ac
complish or resist schemes of ambition,
usurpation or conquest, is devoting its
elf to man's true interest?, in develop
ing his faculties and powers, nnd the
capacity of nature to minister to his
enjoyments. Genius is free to an
nounce lis inventions ana aisrovenes;
and the hand is free to accomplish what
ever the, head conceive", not incompat
ible with the rights of a fellow-being.
All distinctions of birth or rank have
been abolished. . All citizens, whether
native or adopted, are placed upon
terms ol precise equality. All are en
titled to equal rights and equal protec
tion. No union exists between church
and State; nnd perfect freedom of
opinion is guarantied to all sects and
creeds. : .
These are some of Ihe blessings se
cured to our happy land by our federal
Union. To perpetuate them, it is our
sacred duty to preserve it. Who shall
assign limits to the achievements ol
free minds and free hands, under the
protection of this glorious Union? No
treason to mankind since the organiza
tion of society, would be equal in atro
city to that of him wh would lift his
hand to destroy it. He would over
throw the noblest structure of hum in
wisdom, which protects himself and
his fellow-man. v lit would stop the
progress of free government, und in
volve his country either in anarchy or
despotism.' " lie , would Extinguish the
fjie of-' liberty winch'., warms and ani
mates the hearts of happy millions, ah.,
invites all the nations of the earth to
imitate bur example., , If he say that
error and wrong are committed in' the
administration of the government, let
him remember that nothing human can
be perfect; nnd that unJer no other
systemol government revealed by
Heaven, or devised by man. hns resson
been allowed so free nnd broad a scope
to Combat error. Has. the sword of
despot proved ti be a saier or surer
instrument ol relorm in government,
than enlightened reason? l)oes he ex
pect to rind among the . ruins of this
Union a happier abode for our swarm
ing millions than they now have .under
it? - Every lover of his country must
shudder at the thought of the possibili
ty of its dissolution, and will be ready
to adopt the patriotic sentiment. ''Our
federal: Union it must, be preserved.'"
.To. preserve it, the compromises which
alone , enabled our fathers, to form a
common constitution .for;.the govern
ment and protection of so many Sta le
and distinct' communities, .of ; such di
versified habits, interests, and .domes
tic institutions must be-: sacredly ood
religiously observed. ;- Any. attempti to
disturb or destroy these, compromise,
being terms of. the compact of Union;
can lead -to none other than, . the most
ruinou. apd -disastrous consequence
'j - 'i: - - V.t 't-irTcl t.ooj.'r.r r li ,U :h) f a 'oi
1.- -iv7', i . ;V .1;;j.'W j5' WJil
u'-vi rr''i---'V'
" Itis a source of deep regret that,' in
some sections' of our country; misguid
ed persons ha"ve occasionally' indulged
In schemes and agitations', whose object
is the destruction of domestic, institu
tions existing in other sections insti
tutions which existed ht the adoption
of.the constitution', and Were recognis
ed and protected by it. " All ''must gee
that if it w ere possible for' them to be
successlul in attaining their object,' the
dissolution, of the Union, and the con
sequent destruction 'of onr happy form
of government,' must' speedily follow'.
' 1 am happy to'believe that at1 every
period of our existence as a nation,
there has existed, and continues to ex
ist, among the great mass of our peo
ple, a devotion to' the Union", of the
States,1 which will shield and protect
it ag linst the moral trezison of any who
would seriously contemplate its des
truction. ' To secure a continuance of
that devotion, the comprondses of the
constitution must hot only be preserv
ed, but sectional jeajousies nnd heart'
burnings must be discountenanced; and
all should remember that they Tiro mem
bers of the'sime political family, hav
ing a common destiny.' To increase
the attachment of our 'people to' "the
Union, otir laws should be. just. Any
policy which shall tend to favor mon
opolies,or the peculiar interests of sec
tions or classes, must opetate to the
prejudice of the interests of their fellow,
citizens, nnd should be avoided. .11 the
compromises of the constitution be
preserved "f sectional jealousies and
heart-burnings be d'iscuutenanced,---if
our laws be just, and the government
be , practically .administered strictly
within the limits of power prescribed to
it, we may discard all apprehensions
for the safety of the Union. , ,
. ) W ith these vie ws of the nature, char
acter and objects of the government,
and the - vqlue of the Union, I shall
steadily oppose the, creation of those
institutions und systems whicji, in Uiric
nature, tend to pervert, it from its le
gitimate purposes, and make.it the in
strument of sections, classes, and indi
viduals. ,- We ,n?ed, no national banks,
or other extraneous institutions, plant
ed around the government to control
or. strengthen it in opposition .to the
will of its authors. Experience , has
taught us how unnecessary; they are
as auxiliaries of , the- public authorities,
how impotent for good and hoy pow,
erful, for mischief. 7.
. Ours, was intended to be a plain and
frugal government; and I shall regard
it to be my duty to recommend to Co l
gress. and, as far as the executive is
concerned, to enforce, by oil the means
within my power, the strictest econo
my in the expenditure of the public
money, which may be compatible with
the public inter"8ts. , . ...
A national debt has become almost
an institution of European monarchies.
It is viewed in some of them, as an
essen'ial prop to existing governments.
Melancholy is the condition of that
people whose government can be sus
tinned only by n system which period
ically transfers large amounts from the
labor of the many to the coffers of tne
few. ..Such a-system is incompatible
with the ends for which our republican
government was instituted, tinder a
wise policy, the debts contracted in
our revolution, and during the war of
1812, have been happily extinguished.
By a judicious application of the reve
nues not required for other necessary
purposes, it is not doubted that the
debt which has grown out of the cir
cumstances of the last few years may
be speedily paid off. . . : .
I congratulate my fellow-citizens on
the entire restoration of the credit of
the general . government - of the Un
ion, and that, of many of the States.
Happy would it be, lor the indebted
Statt-s if they were freed from -their
liabilities, many of which were incau
tiously contracted. Although the go
vernment of the Union is neither in a
legal nor a moral, sense bound for the
debts of the Stales, and it would be a
violation of our compact of Union to
assume them. et we cannot but feel a
deep interest in seeing. all the States
meet their public liabilities, nnd pay off
their just debts, at the earliest practica
ble period. That they will do so,; as
soon as it can be done without impos
ing too heavy burdens on their citizens,
there, is po reason to doubt. , ,The sound
moral, and honorable feeling of the peo
ple of the indebted, States, cannot be
questioned; and we are happy to per
ceive a seltlfd disposition on their part,
us their ability, returns, after a season
of,. unexampled pecuniary .embarrass
men 1,10 puy plf all just demands, 'and
to acquiesce in any .reasonable meas
ures to, aecqmpl.is.tt thai object, .' : 1
;;Ope(;Qfj the di$culties , which f we
have hqd,to encounter in the practica
" ' ". "'.'tMiJicO )
ai v.,. iaa .!:.' i j i
'Y..
INTO EfFECT.";, '
:fi::
No.' 2.
.'Si -
ble; administration of the government,
consists in the adjustment of our reve
nue laws, and the levy of the taxes ne
cessary, foi th support of government.
In the general nroposition.that no more
money shall be collected than the ne
cessities of. an economical administra
tion shall require, all parties seem to
acquiesce.- Nor does there seem to be
any material difference of opinion as to
the absence of right in the government
to tax one section of country, or one
class of citizens, or one occupatinnr for
the mere profit of another. ' Justice
and sound policy forbid the federal gov
ernment to fo'stefpne branch of Indus
try to' the detriment of another, or to
cherish the interests of one portion to
the.injury of another portion of our
common country.". I have heretofore
declared to 'my fellow citizens that, in
my judgment, it is the duty of the gov
ernmentto extend, as far ag it may be
practicable, to do so, by its revenue
laws, and all other, means within its
power, fair and just protection to all
the great interests of the whole Union,
embracing agriculture, manufactures,
the mechanic arts, commerce, and nav
igation,1. I. have also declared my
opinion to be ." in favor of a tariff for
revenue,'' and that, .--in adjusting the
details of such larilf, 1 have sanction
ed such modern te d iscriminating duties
as would produce the amount of reve
nue needed, and, at the same time, af
ford reasonable incidental protection
.to our home iudirstry;" and that I was
"opposed , to a , tariff ,. for. protection
merely,and not for, revenue." : :u ,
,', The pbwerto lay and collect taxes,
duties imposts, and excises," was an
indispensable one to be conferred on
the federal government, whichwithout
it, would, possess no means of providing
foritsowfl support, , In executing this
power, by levying p tariffof duties .for
the support ol government, the raiting
of i revenue should be the object, and
prplection, the incident. . ;To reverse
this principle, , and , make protec
tion - the . objeet, . and revenue the
incident, , would . be t to inflict man
ifest injustice upon all other: than
the oroteclea": interests. In lerying
duties lor revenue,u is aouuuess proper
to make such discriminations within
the, revenue principle, as will afford in
cidental protection to our home inter
ests. Within the revenue limit, there
is a discretion to discriminate; bevond
that limit, the rightful exercise of this
po er is not conceded. The inciden
tal protection afforded to our home in
terests by discriminations within the
revenue range, it is believed will be
ample. In making discriminations, all
our home interests : should, as far as
practicable, be equally protected.
T'ie large81 portion of our people are
agriculturalists. Others are employed
in manufactures, commerce,navigation,
and mechanic arts, engaged in their
respective pursuits, and their joint la
bors constitute the national or home in
dustry. To tax one branch of thi home
industry for tne benefit of another,
would be unjust. No one of these in
terests can rightfully claim an advant
age over the others, or to be. enriched
by impoverishing the others. All are
equally entitled to the fostering care
and protection of the government. In
exercising a sound discretion in levying
discriminating duties within, the limit
prescribed, care should be taken that it
be done, in a manner not to benefit the
wealthy few, at the expense of the toi
ling millions, by taxing lowest the luxu
ries of life, or articles of superior qual
ity and high price, which can only be
consumed bv the wealthy; and highest
the necessaries of life, or articles of
coarse quality and low price, which the
poor and great mass of our people must
consume. : .
The burdens of government should,
as fur as practicable, be distributed just
ly and equally among all classes of our
population. These general views, long
entertained on this subjecUl have deem
ed itproperto reiterate. Itisasubject
upon which conflicting interests of sec
tions nnd occupations are supposed to
exist, and a spirit of mutual concession
and compromise in adjusting its details
should be cherished by every part ol
our . wide-spread country, as the only
means of preserving harmony and a
cheerful acquiescence of all. in the, ope
ration of .our- revenue lows. Our pat
riotic citizens in every part of the Uni
on will readily submit to the payment
of such taxes as shall, be needed for the
support of the government, whether in
fence or in wpr, i( they are so levied ns
to distribute tne burdens ps equally as
possible among them.;,,, ,f .
The . republic of Texas , has . made
known , her desire to come into our
Union, to form a partof our . confede
racy, and enjoy with us the blessings of
liberty secured and guaranteed by our
comtitutioD.-i Texas was once part
of our countrywwar unwisely ceded
away to a foreign power is now indel
pendent, and possesses an undoubted'
right to dispose of a part or the whole
of her territory, and to merge lier sov
ereignty, as a separate and independent-State,
in ours. 1 congratulate my -country
that; by an set of the late Con
gresi of the United States, the -assent
of this government has been given to
the re union, and it only remains for
the two . countries to agree upon tbJ
terms,', to consum.te an object so iin-,
porta nt to-both.' - -;r' v:.:',B'i
I regard the question of annexation
as belonging exclusively to ill United
States and Texas. They 'are indepen
dent powers' competent to contract
and foreign nations have no right to in
terfere with them,or to take exception
to their re-union. - Foreign powers do
not seem to appreciate the true charad
ter of our government. Our Union is
a confederation of independent States',
whose policy is peace with each other
and all the world. 'To enlarge its lim
its, 'is to-extend the dominion of peace
over additional territories and ihcreas
ing millions. The world has nothing
to fear from military ambition in out?
govei'nment. ' While the Chief Magisi
Irate and the popular branch of. Con
gress are elected for short terms by the
suffrages of those milli ns who must,in
their own persons, bear all the burdens
and miseries of war, our government
cannot be otherwise than pacific.
Foreign poW'ers should, therelore, look
on the nnnexation of Texas to the Unit
ted States, not as the conquest of a na
lion seeking to extend her dominion!
by prms and violence, but as the peace
fu! acquisition of a terrkoay once hes
o wn by adding another member to our
confederation, with the consent of that
member --thereby diminishing the
chances of war, and opening to therm
new nnd ever-increasing markets fo
their products.' ' ' - - ' ; - -.
To Texas the reunion in important,
because ihe strong protecting arm of
ottr government would "bo extended
over her, and t'ie vast resources 'of her
fertile soil and genial climate would.be
speedily developed; while the gtifety of
New Orleans and of our whole south
western frontier against hostile aggres
sions, as well as the interest of. the
whole Union, would be promoted by it.
In the earlier stages of our national
existence,'the opinion prevailed' with"
some, that our system of confederated
States could ;not operate successfully
over an extended territory, and serious
objections have, at different titnes,been
made to the enlargement of . our boun
daries. ' These objections were earrt
estly urged when we acquired Louiiaj
no. Experience has shown that they
were not well founded. The title of
numerous Indian tribes to vast tracts of
country has been extinguished. New
States have been admitted into, the
Union; new Territories have been cre
ated, and our jurisdiction and laws est
tended over them. ' As our population
has extended, the Union has been ce
mented and strengthened; as our boun
daries have been enlarged, and our ag
ricultural population has been spread
over a large surface, our federative sys
tem has acquired additional strength
and security. It may well be doubted
whether it" would not be in greater
danger of overthrow if our present pop
ulation were confined to the compara
tively narrow limits of the original
thirteen States, than it ts,now that they
are sparsely settled over a more, ex
panded teriitory. It is confidently be
lieved that our system may be safely
extended to the utmost bounds of our
territorial limits, and that, as it shall be
extended, the bonds of our Union, so
far from being weakened, will hecoma
stronger.
None can fail to see the danger to
our safety and future peace if Texas
remains "an independent state, or . be
comes an ally or dependency of, some'
foreign nation more powerful than- her
self. Is there one among our citizens
who would not prefer perpetual peace
with Texas, tj occasional wars, which
so often occur between bordering in
dependent nations? Is there one who
would not prefer free intercourse with
her, to high duties on all our products
and manufactures which enter her
ports or cross her frontiers? - Is there
one who would not prefer an unre
stricted communication with; her citi
zens, to the frontier obstructions -which
must .occur if she remains out of the
Union?. Whatever is good or evil in
the local institutions of Texas will re
main her own, whether annexed to the
United States or not. None of the
present States will be . responsible for
them any more than they are for the
local institutions of each other.
They have confederated together for
certain specified objects. .. Upon. the
same principle that they would refuse
to form a perpetual union witli Texas,
becnuse of her local institution,, our
forefathers would have been prevented
from forming our present Union. : Per
ceiving no valid objection to the meas
ure, and many reasons for its adoption,
vitally effecting the peace, the safety,
and the prosperity ot both countries, I
shall, on ihe brood principle which, for
med the. basis and, produced the adop
tion of our constitution, and not in any
narrow- spirit of sectional policy, en-
.1-.
it.
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