justify it ! The writer of Old Lycoming had
a two fold object in view. The chief of which
waa to secure the appointment to individual
ot their clan in Williamsport, and the other ti
justify their treason to democracy, the most of
thorn being implicated therein. These Williams
port writer aro notorious throughout the coun
try for their grasping propensities. They have
become by-word every where t and they may
be found in herds wherever patronage or heavy
contracts are to be distributed. It a Judge sud
denly expire, and before tbs corpse is cold, they
nra on the scent in full cry; lot an adminiatra
tinn change, and you find them facing about to
the new order of things ; and whenever the
party brings forward a candidate from any o
ther part of the county or district, whom they
cannot control, if they cannot prevent his nom
ination by the people, they tecrclly join the op
position and defeat him ; and yet, they desire
to retain their position in the party. Who can
now doubt how Crawford, Snyder, and olhcis
were defeated! Nothing that these men may
do will hereafter surprise me, unless it is that I
find they have commenced, and are practising
life of political honesty. After plundering the
State till there is nothing left but the bare ske
leton to prey upon, ! should not be surprized to
find them besetging Col. Polk before lie is warm
at Washington.
I would not be understood as including in
the above picture all those who belong to the
Democratic party in Williamsport ; far from it,
o large majority of them are good men, and
true, firm and unflinching in their adherence to
their principles, who would willingly assist
their brethern throughout the county to rid the
party of those Harpies who have been hanging
on the out-skirts for years ; but the monopoly of
the patronage of the Canal Officers, nod a com
plete organization in tho wigwam have here
tofore rendered their efiorts abortive.
I am also charged with having established
and given the name to a paper to aid in my no
mination. Now the simple truth willrl ar'y
disprove the assertion. The editor of the 'Olive
15-hmcIi,' has informed the public, through his
columns, that Col. Bigler, ot Clearfield, dtiggrs
ted the name of his paper before I ever saw the
gentleman: I may as well say, that had inv
taste been consulted, or my opinion asked, I
would have advised a more warlike name, in
the midst ol the warm contest in which we were
engaged at that time, with the co-horts of Old
Federalism. By referring to the fiies of the
'Olive Branch,' it will be seen that it did not
appear until after the nominations were made,
ami the Art number contains the ticket. How
then, could it have been established to a id the
nomination of any one !
But 1 have trespass more upon the atten
tion of the reader than 1 first intended. I chal
lenge the world to produce a single instance,
and sustain it with evidence, wherein I proved
unfaithful to my profession, or even took a posi
tion hostile to the cherished principles of Demo
cracy. When the late Executive was the no
minee of the party, and so long as any constant
democrat cnuld adhere to him, I sustained bi n ;
but when he departed from the path of rectitude.
and outraged every long cherished principle of
hw party, and devised schemes for its destruc
tion, I abandoned his support, and took a hm.
tion against him.
1 would direct the attention of the reader to
a circumstance which goesconclpsively to show
that the intention of the writers ot 'Old Lyco
ming' was to deceive the people. When the
extraordinary chain of untruths, in the Sunbury
American, made their appearance here, a de
mand was made on the editors of the Lycoming
Gazette to publish thctn, and a promise given
by that paper that the request should be com
plied with. But mark in what way ! When
the Gazette came out, and the communication,
purporting to be the one published in the Ame
rican, read, it was found that the authors bad
doctor'd it up so as to suit the meridian of Ly
coming county, well knowing that many of the
statements were so glaringly false that every
candid person would fuel indignant at the par
ties concerned iu the publication. They, there
.fore, suppressed much that appeared in the'A'
mericari,' published in Northumberland county,
and inserted other statements that they dare not
publish there, the falsehood of which is not so
well known to the people in this quarter. This,
if other evidence were not abundant, would ful
ly satisf" all that the object of those men, in
publishing such a statement abroad, was to di
vert public attention from the exposure of their
treason at hvmr.
In conclusion, I ak the indulgent reader to
examine tho case carelully, and 1 am persua
ded, he can cuaie to no other conclusion, than
that my only sin, in the eyes of my censors, is
that I have not yielded my support to advance
tho ambitious views of a selfwb reckless faction,
who were rapidly running the good old ship of
Democracy upon the breakers of Federalism,
Tho foregoing imperfect statement of facts
have been thrown together at abort interval
from pressing engagements in more important
matters, which is the only apology I shall offer
to the public for the absence of that methodical
arrangemeut, classical diction, and re -fined taste
that characterizes the chaste production of your
correspondent, 4,Oid I.) coming."
W M. A. PETRI KIN.
Muney, l.ycoining county, (
February yi, lVt
Wiikat in tup. VWsr At the West, the
quantity of wheat stored to be forwarded this
spring it much less than t the same period last
year. At Chicago, in 1811, 400,000 buihela ;
1813, 250,000 bushel. At Michigan city, in
1911,200,000 bushels ; 1613, 130 000 bushels.
The same deficiency exists iu other point heard
from.
THE AMERICAN.
Sot unlay t .Varch 8, !84S.
1 II. VI f.'it, Ktq., at hit Heal f
tate and Cottl Office, .V.. 59 line Street, I'M-
Itwltlphla, la out knitted to art at .Igent, and
receipt tor all mnlet due thtt office, for tub-
tcrtptlon or attvrrttnliif.
.linn at hit Oil let Vb. 160 Atotati Vtrect,
CT7" The whole of our first page is taken up
with the conclusion of Gen. Petrikin' reply to
'Old Lycoming.' Those of our readers who take
little or no interest in politics, doubtless would
much prefer seeing other matter in its place.
Politicians must, however, be indulged occasion
ally, and as there has been a perfect calm since
the late contest, a little may be necessary to re
store things to a proper equilibrium.
CE7" The Inaugural Adprkss. We publish
to-day the Inaugural Address of President Polk.
It is a document that has been anxiously looked
for by all paities. The topics of the address are
such as we had a right to expect under the cir
cumstances of Mr. Polk's election. It breathes
a spirit of true patriotism throughout. On the
subject of the preservation of the Union, he is
strong and emphatic. His opinions of the tariff
are precisely as he expressed them in his letter
to Mr. Kane, during the late campaign. ITc is
in favor of discriminating duties, affording inci
dental protection. The annexation of Texas he
views in a favorable light, regarding it as a men.
sure calculated to promote the prosperity and
happiness of the people of both countries.
The Vice President, Mr. Pallas, also delivered
a chaste and beautiful address to the new Senate,
which we Bhal! lay before our readers next week.
rH7 Appropriation Bill. In another column
our readers will find a synopsis of the appropri
ation bill, as reported in the House. It appio
priates $200,000 to common school purposes.
The Post Office Bill, as it passed, we w ill
publish in our next. The postage on letters af
ter the 1st of July will be 5 cts. on all letters
under 300 miles, and 10 cts. on all over that dis
tance. Letters weighing not more than a half
ounce to be considered single. Newspapers, for
30 miles, free of postage.
K7" Our member, F.. V. Bright, F.sq., has re
ported a bill in the House, to protect the sepa
rate property of married women. Mr. Bright is
a good looking man, and something of a favorite
among the woman. It is therefore incumbent
on him to do something for them.
(T Canal Tolls. The Commissioners have
reduced the tolls something below the rates of
last year, on a number of articles. Coal, we see,
is two mills per ton per mile, the same as before.
K7 Bhfak ix tub Canal. A considerable
break occurred in the Canal, near Berwick, du
ring the late freshet. The wood-wall, for nearly
a quarter of a mile, was swept away. It will
probably not be repaired before the 10th of April
next.
( The New Cabinet. The new Cabinet
under Mr. Polk has been officially announced as
follows :
Jamfs Bi ohanan, of Pa., Secretary of State.
Roukut J. Walker, of Miss., Secretary of the
Treasury.
William L. Marcv, of N. Y., Secretary of
War.
George Bancroft, of Mass., Secretary of the
Navy.
Cave Johnson, of Tenn., Tost Master General.
Ma. Sacnders, of N. C. Attorney Genera).
We think this excellent selection must satisfy
all parties that are not prejudiced.
K7 Associate Jldoes. Stephen Baldy, Esq
and Samuel Oakes, have been nominated by the
Governor, as Associate Judges for Columbia
county. They are both men of good character,
and well qualified for the office.
C7" A. B. Wabfoiio. We were pleased to
hear of the appointment of A. B. Warford, Esq ,
as Chief Kngineer at the Navy Yard at Memphis,
Tennessee. Mr. Watford's experience and ta
lents, as an Engineer, are undisputed.
C7"0iiio LrNATie Asvi.i m. We are indebt
ed to Dr. Wm. M. Awl, the able superintendent
of the Ohio Lunatie Asylum, for his sixth annu
al report of this eminently usclul and benevo
lent institution. The report contains much use
ful and interesting information. Among other
things we learn that the whole number of cases,
admitted in six years, was 31 1. The per cent
of recoveries, on all cases admitted iu six years,
was nearly 13- The per ct. of recoveries, on re
cent cases, wasVS, while the per ct. of recoveries
hi aid cases, was but 30. These results show
the iuiH)itance of early attention in such cases.
Dr. Am I, vi bo, w e are proud to say, is a native of
this place, was one of the original projectors ot
the institution, and it is to his able management
that it owes much of its success. Miss Dix, in
her recent memorial to our Legislature, in favor
ol an insane hospital in this State, thus alludes
to him :
"I cannot conclude this very brief notice of
1,- L I lJ ... . ..
iw, umniut-r Hum county, w mioui rel rring lo a
son ot the soil,' whose best enemies are now
successfully devoted in a sister state to conduct
ing an institution for the insane: I refer to Dr
Awl, of Ohio, a name known there, and repeated
with affectionate gratitude by many, whom, in
the providence of God, he has been instrumental
in restoring to health, and to the blessings of fa
mily and social life. 11 is annual reports urge
constantly a timely rare for insane patients, and
humane provision for all, w hether recoverable,
or beyond ike imb J" human skill to cure."
Lt7" John C. Calhoun. During the late
campaign, and for some time after, the whig
press, generally, insisted that John C. Calhoun
would remain in the Cabinet of Mr. Polk, and
would exercise a controlling influence over all
the acts of his administration, and consequently
overthrow the present tarifT system. We never
did believe, nor could we conceive why Mr. Cal
houn should exercise such unbounded influence
over Mr. Polk, especially as be has stood in a posi
tion antagonist ical to Gen. Jackson, and to most
of Mr. Polk' personal and political friends, for
the last ten years. We, therefore, were satisfied
that Mr. Calhoun would never form a part of the
Cabinet. Mr. Polk, it seems, has not even coun
selled him upon the subject. The correspondent
of the Philadelphia Ledger has the following re
marks on the subject :
' The Souih Carolina delegation in Congress
and various distinguished citizens in that Stat"
who have assembled to witness the inauguration,
affect much displeasure because Mr. Calhoun has
not been tendered a seat in the new administra
tion. It appears that all his friends concluded,
without any intimation being given by Mr. Polk,
that Mr. Calhoun would have the privilege of
exercising his own option as to remaining, and
in the event of his refual, that Mr. F.llmore, oi
the next representative of this interest, would
certainly have an appointment offered to him. I
can't see why Mr. Polk may not be allowed to
choose his own Cabinet, and what right South
Carolina, more than any other quarter, has to
feel aggrieved at not being preferred. "
K7 Martin A. Stock has been appointed De
puty Surveyor for Fnion county. Mr. Stock
formerly resided in the lower end of this county-
Hendrick B. Wright is spoken of as col
lector at the Tort of Philadelphia.
C7 Gen. Robert H. Hammond has been
spoken of as Auditor General, by some of the
papers.
fXj" The admission of Iowa, Florida ond Texas
gives us six new Senators, all democrats, of
course.
CST" Wright's Pknnvlvaia Ji stkk. Robt.
K. Wright, Esq., of Allentown, Pa., proposes
publishing a supplement to his PeimsyUania
Justice, w hich will f ave those w ho have the first
ed.tion on hand, the expenses of purchasing an
entire new work. The supplement will con
tain a practical digest of all the acts of assembly
and decisions of the Supreme Court of Pennsyl
vania, relating to the of lice and duties of Alder
men and Justices of the Ppare. with all the ne
cessary forms and entries with a copious index.
The author justly says, "The periodical re
publication of works of this kind entire, is ob
jectionable, on the ground that it taxes the Ma
gistrate onerously, by compelling him to pay for
the same matter over ond over again, merely to
obtain the few additional pages, which are hulls
pensible in the discharge of his duties ; and it is
for the purpose of avoiding this injustice that the
present plan is adopted.
'The woik will be printed with large type,
on good paper of the uual size, and sent by
mail to all w ho order it, at fifty cents a copy. No
order will be attended to, unless accompanied by
the subscription price. The work will be put
to press as soon as the legislature adjourns."
The Joint Resolution for I lie Annexation of
Texas, Pussrd ly Ruth Housu of Con;r.ss.
On Friday evening, the 2&th ult , the debates
on this impel tant measure was brought to a
close. Mr. Walker immediately offered his a
mcndnient, which was indispensable to secure
the votes of Mr. Benton, of Mo., and Mr. L'agby,
of Alabama. The bill then passed by a vote of
27 to 23. The bill was then sent to the House
and was immediately taken up and passed by a
vote of 132 to 70. The following we cony from
the National Intelligencer :
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Repre
sentatives of the Foiled Stutes of America in
Congress assembled, That Congress doth consent
that the territory properly included within, and
rightfully belonging to, the Republic of Texas,
may be erected into a new state, to he called the
State nf Ttxai, with a republican foim of Go
vernment, to be adopted by the people of said
Republic, by deputies in convention assembled,
with the consent of the existing Government, in
order that the same may be admitted as one of
the States of this Fnion.
Sec. 2. And be it further resolved. That the
foregoing consent ol Congress is given upon the
following conditions, and with the following
guarantees, to wit :
First. Said Stute to be formed, subject to the
adjustment by this Government of all questions of
boundary that may arise w it h other Governments;
and the Constitution thereof, with the proper e
vidence as to its adoption by the people of said
Republic of Texas, shall be transmitted to the
President of the United States, to be laid before
Congress for its final action, on or before the first
day of January, one thousand eight hundred and
forty-six.
Second. Said State, when admitted into the
Union, after ceding to the United State all pub
lic edifices, fortifications, barracks, port and
harbors, navy and navy yards, docks, magazines,
urins, aimameuts, and all other proerty arid
means pertaining to the public defence, belong
ing to said Republic of Texas, shall retain all the
public funds, debts, taxes, and dues of every kind
which may belong to or be due or owing said
Republic ; and shall also retain all the vacant
and unappropriated lauds lying within its limits,
to be applied to the payment of the debt and li
abilities of said Republic of Texas ; and the resi
due of said lands, after discharging said debts and
liabilities, to be disposed of as said State may
direct ; but in no event are said debts and liabili
ties to become a charge upon the Government of
the U. State.
Third. New State, of convenient size, not ex
reeding four in number, in addition to said State
of Texas, and having sufficient population, may
hereafter, by the content of laid State, be form
ed out of the territory thereof, which shall ba
entitled to admission under the provision of the
Federal Constitution. And such States a my
be formed out of that portion of said territory
lying south of thirty-six degrees thirty minute
north latitude, commonly known as the Missouri
line, shall be admitted into the Union, without
slavery, as the people of each State asking ad
mission may drsire. And in such State or States 1
as shall be formed out of said territory north of
said Missouri compromise line, slavery or invo
luntary servitude (except for crime) shall be pro
hibited. The debate upon this resolution was resumed
yesterday, in a brilliant speech, by Mr. Critten
den, against the resolution, and was closed by a
speech from Mr. Archer, in reply to the support
ers of the measure, and in a most earnest exhorta
tion to the Senate against the surrender of its pe
culiar constitutional power to mere popular im
pulse. When Mr. Archer concluded
Mr. Walker moved to amend the joint resolu
tion by adding thereto the following :
And be it further resolved, That if the Presi
dent of the United States shall, in his judgment
and discretion, deem it mot advisable, instead
of proceeding to submit the foregoing resolution
to the Republic of Texas as an overture on the
part of the United States for admission, to nego
tiate with that Republic ; then
Be it resolved, That a State, to be formed out
of the present Republic of Texas, with suitable
extent and boundaries, and with two Representa
tives in Congress, until the next appointment of
representation shall be admitted in the Union, by
virtue of this act, on an equal footing with the
existing States, as soon as the terms and condi
tions of such admission, and the cession of the
remaining Texan territory to the United States
shall be agreed upon by the Governments of Tex
as and the United States.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the
sum of one hundred thousand dollars be, and the
same is hereby appropriated, to defray the ex
penses of missions and negotiations, to agree
upon the terms of said admission and cession, ei
ther by treaty to be submitted to the Senate, or
by articles to be submitted to the two Houses of
Congress, as the President may direct.
The piessing fur an immediate vote upon this
amendment (w hich is substantially Mr. Benton's
last proposition) gave rise to some feeling in thr
Senate, and. in the end, it was determined to take
a recess before voting upon the question.
At six o'clock the Senate again assembled..
We refrain from any attempt to give a particu
lar account of proceedings at this evening session,
fearing errors in the lateness of the night, con
tenting ourselves with announcing the decisive
votes merely.
On the question to agree to the amendment of
Mr. Walker, above stated, the votes were as fol
lows :
Yeas Messrs. Allen, Ashley, Atchison, A
therton, Bagby, Benton, Breese, Buchanan, Col
quitt, Dickinson. Dix, Fairfield, Hannegan, Hay
wood, Henderson, linger, Johnson, Lewis, Mc
Dullie, Merrick, Niles, Semple, Sevier, Sturgeon,
Tappan, Walker, Woodbury 27.
Nays Messrs. Archer, Barrow, Bates, Bay
ard, Berrien, Choate, Clayton, Crittenden, Day
ton, Evans, Foster, Francis, Huntingdon, Jarna
giu, Mangum, Miller, Morehead, 1'earce, Phelps.
Porter, Rives, Simmons, Upham, White, Wood-
bridge
So the amendment was agreed to.
On the question of oidering the Joint Resoiu-
HTAtGtrnAL ADDRESS
or
PRESIDENT -POLK.
DtLtvcRcn March 4th, 1813.
Fsarow Citizens. Without solicitation on
my part, I have been chosen by the tree and vo
luntary cuffrages of my countrymen to the most
honorable and most responsible office on earth.
I am deeply impressed with gratitude for the
confidence reposed in mo. Honored with this
distinguished consideration at an earlier period
of life than any ol my predecessor, I cannot
disguise the diffidence with w hich I am about to
enter on the discharge of my official duties
It tne more aped and experienced men, who
have filled the office of President ot the United
Stale, even in the infancy rthe Republic, dis
trusted thrir ability to discharge the duties f
that exalted station, what ought not to be the
apprehensions of one so much younger and less
endowed, now that our domain extends from o
cean to ocean, that our people have so greatly
increased in numbers, and at a time when so
great diversity of opinion prevails in regard to
uie principles and policy which should charac
terizo the administration of our novernment '
Well may tho boldest fear and the wisest trem
ble, when incurring responsibilities on which
may depend our country's pence and prosperity,
and, in some degree, the hope and happiness of"
the whole human family.
In assuming responsibilities rovist.l fervent
ly invoke the aid of that Almighty Kuler of the
Universe, in whose hands are tlie destinies of
nations and of men, to guard this heaven favor
ed land tgainst the mischief!, which, wit hunt
Ilis guidance, might arise from an uriwie pub
lic policy. With a firm reliance upon the wis
dom ol Omnipotence losustain and direct me in
the path of duly which I am appointed to pur
sue, I sIhiuI in the presence of this assembled
multitude of my countrymen, to take upon my
self the solemn obligation "lo the best id my a
biliiy to preserve, protect and defend the Con
stitution oft he U. Sta'es."
A cot.cise enumeration of the principles
which will guide me m the administrative poli
cy of t-e government, is not only in accordance
w iih the fXHinples set nip by all n.y predeces
sors, but is eminently hi fitting the occasion.
The constitution its' If, plainly written ns it is,
the rn'pirunrd of our federative compact; the
i ff-prin? of concession and rompromise, bind-
iih; Increiher in the bonds of peace and union
this great and iucrvasinn fmnly of free and in
dependent Stales, will be the chart by whic't I
slmll be directed. It will lie my first care to
administer the government in '.lie true spirit ol
that instrument, mid lo assume no powers nut
expressly crantrn or clearly implied in ils terms.
The government of the .17. States is one of dele
gated and limited powers' ; and it is by a strict
adherence to the clearly granted powers, nnd
hv abstaining from the exercise i-f doiil t 'ul or
unaiithorzeil implied powers, that we have the
only sure guaranty agiint the recurrr nee of
tho-e unfortunate collisions between the Fed
eral am) Stnte authorities, which have occa
sionally so much disturbed the harmony of our
sys'em, and even thicatened the perpetuity of
our glorious Union.
"'I'u the Slates respectively, or to the pen.
p'e," have iH't'ti reserved "the pewrr not dele
gated to the IT. States by the constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the States." Each Snte is
a complete sovereignty w ithin the sphere of ils
reserved (lowers. The government id' the Uni
on, aeti'ig within the sphere of its delegated au
thority, is also a complete Mvereigniy. While
tl.e general government should abstain Irom
the exercise of authority not clearly delegated
In if, the States should be equally careful that,
in the maintenance of their rights, they do not
overstep the limits of pow ers reserved to them.
One of the inofl ditinguished of uy predeces
sors attached deserved importance to ''the sni-
prt of tin S. ate governments in all their rights.
as the most competent aifministntion lor our
dnmesi Ic concerns, and the surest bulwarks-gain-t
anti-republican tendencies ;" and to the
lions to a third reading as thus amended, the vote j 'preservation of l he general government in its
was as follows :
Yeas Messrs. Allen, Ashley, Atchison, A
therton, Bagby , Benton. Breese. Buchanan, Col
quitt, Dickinson, Dix, Fail field, Hannegan, Hay
wood, Henderson, Huger, Johnson, Lew is Mc
Duflie, Merrick, Niles, Semple, Sevier, Sturgeon,
Tappan, Walker, Woodbury 27.
Nays Messrs. Archer, Barrow, Bate, Bay
ard, Berrien, Choate, Clayton, Crittenden, Day
ton, Evans, Foster, Fiamis, Huntington, .tar lo
gin, Mangum, Miller, Morehead, Pearce, Phelps,
Porter, Rives, Simmons, Upham, White, Wood
bridge 23
So the bill was ordered toa third reading.
The bill was then read a third time, amidst a
profound silence, without the yeas and nays be
ing called for, and passed.
Though the lobbies were crammed, and the gal
leries packed with an anxious and interested mul
titude of people, a perfect dignity and decorum
characterized the whole proceedings ol this me
morable night.
The reader will learn from the preceding state
mentofthe Senate's proceedings of last night,
that the Joint Resolutions of the House of Re
presentatives for the admission of Texas into the
Union, having acquired thesuppoit of Mr. Ben
ton and other by incorporating his last prnjeirt
as an alternative to the provision of the House
resolution, has passed the Senate by a majority
of two votes, in effect by one vote, as a change
of one vote would have reversed the decision, by
producing an equality of vote.
Blown OrT. The "DanvJle Furnace," be
longing to the Montour Iron work at thi place,
was blown out in the latter part of last week, in
order to repair and re-model the hot-blast appa
ratus. "Tby Columbia Furnace,'' under the manage
ment of Messrs. Groves, was also blown out on
Monday last, in order to have a new hearth pla
ced into it, and to make other repair. This fur
nace has now been about two years in blast, and
has yielded an immense quantity of the very best
Anthracite Iron to its enterprising owners.
Both furnace will be repaired with the leat
possible delay, and "blown in" again as soon as
repaired DautiUe Democrat.
whole constitutional vigor, as the sheet. anchor
ot our peace at home, mid safety nhnmd.''
To the Government of the United States has
been intrusted to the exclusive management of
our foreign affairs. lb-yond that, it wu-lds a
few general enumerated powers. It does not
force reform on the Stutes. It leaves individ
uals, over whom it chsIi its protecting inrlu
nee, entirely freto improve their ow n condi
tion by the legitimate exercise of all their men
tal and physical powers.
It is a common protertor of each and all the
Slates, of every man who lives upon our soil,
win ther of native or foreign birth ; of every re.
ligious sect, in their worship of the Almighty
acci rling to the dictates id their ow n conscience,
of every simile of opinion, and the most free in
quiry ; of every art, trade, and occupation, con
sistent w ith the laws of the Stales. And we
rejoice in the general happiness, prosper-ty, and
advancr merit of our country, which have been
the i ff prinif of freedom, and not of pow er.
The most admirable and wisest system of
well-regulated e!t government among men, e-
ver devu-fd by human minds, has been tested by
its successful operation for more than hall acen
felt and acknowledged by all. By this system of
united and confederated States, our people are
permitted, collectively and individually, lo seek
their own happiness in their own way ; and the
consequences have been most auspicious. Since
the Union was formed, the number of the State
has increased from thirteen to twenty-eight ;
two of these have taken their position as mem
bers of the confederacy within tho past week.
Our population has increased from three to
twenty millions. New communities and states
are seeking protection under iu aegis, and mul
titudes from the Old World are flocking to our
shores to participate in our blessings. B ncalli
its benign sway pi ece and prosperity prevail.
Freed from the burdens of miseries of war, our .
trade and intercourse hove extended throughout
the world. Mind, no longer tasked in devising
means to accomplish or resist schemes of ambi
tion, usurpation, or conquest, is devoting itself
to man's true interests, in developing his facuU
lies and powers, and the capacity ( nature to
m ntst r to his enjoyments.
Genius is free in announce its inventions and
discoveries ; and the hand ia tree to accomplish
, whatever the head conceives, not incompatible
, with Ih.i rights of a fellow being. All dislinc-
turns ot birth of rank have been abolished. All
cilizi ns, whether native or adopted, are placed
iiMtn terms of prr cise equality. All are enti
tled to equal rights and equal protection. No
union exists between church and State, ami
perfect freedom of opinion is guaranteed to all
n ets and creeds. These are some of the bles
sings secured to our happy laud by our federal
Union. To perpetuate thrm, it is our sacred
duty to preserve it. Who shall assign limits
to the achievement of free minds and free
hands, under the protection of this glorious U
n;on t No treason to run n kind since the organ
ization of society, would be equal in atrocity to
that of him w ho would lift his hand lo destroy it.
lie would overthrow the noblest structure of
human wisdom, which prutects hiuuelf and h a
fellow-man.
I fe would stop the progress of free govern
ment, and involve his country either in anarchy
or despotism. He would extinguish the fire of
liberty which warms and animates the he.irtsuf
hapi y millions, and invites all the nations ot the
i n i tli to irniiHte our example.
If he say that error and wrong are committed
in the administration of the government let
him remember that nothing human can be per
fect ; and under no other system of government
revealed by Heaven, or devised by man, lint
reason been al owed so frp and broad a scope to
combat error. Has the sword of despot proved
to he a safer or mrer instrument of reform in
government, than enlightened reason !
l)..es he expect to fi'id atnon the ruins of
this Union a happier abode for our swarming
millions than they now have under it 1 Every
lover of his country riin-t shudder at the thought
of the possibility ol its dissolution, and will bo
ready to adopt the patriotic sentiment. "Our
fd'-ral Union il must be preserved." To pre
serve it, the compromises which alone e n.bled
our lathers to f. rm a common constitution tor
the government and protection ofso many Sates
and distinct communities, of such iliversiti' d ha
bits, interests, and comes! ic institutions, must
be sacredly anil religiously observed. Any ;;t
lempl to disturb or destroy these Coinpromi-es,
being terms of compact of Union, can had to
none other than the most ruinous and disaster
ons consequences.
It is a source of deep regret that, in some sec
tions ot our country, misguided persons have oc
casionally indulged in schemes mid agitations,
whose object is the destruction of domestic in
stitutions existing in other sections institu
tions which existed at fie. adoptou of the con
stitution, and were recognised and protected by
it. A I must see that if it w ere possible for
thrm be successful in attaining their object, '
the dissolution of the Union, nuil the const qt-nt
destruction of our happy form of government,
must ppeedily follow.
I am happy to believe that at every period ot
our existence as a nation, there has existed, and
continues to exist, among the great mass of our
p. ople, a devotion In the Union of the States,
which will shield and protect it Bgainst Ihn mo
ral treason of any who would seriously contem
plate its'- destruction. To secure a Continuance
of that devotion, the compromises of the consti
tution must not only be preserved, but sectional
jealousies and heart-burnings must be discoun
tenanced ; and all should remember that they
are members ol the same political family, ha
vin? a common desfiny.
To increase the attachment of our people to
tho Union, our la ws should be just. Any poli
cy which shall tend to favor mouoNilii s, or the
peculiar interests of section or classes, must o
perate to the prejudice of the interests ot their
fe'low-ritizens, and should be avoided. If the
compromises of the constitution be preserved
if sectional jealousies and heart-burnings be dis
countenanced if our laws be just, and the go
vernment lie practically administered strictly
within Ihe limits of power prescribed to it we
may discard all apprehensions for the safety of
With these views of Ihe nature, character,
and objects ot the Government, and the vu!u"of
the Union, I shall steadily oppose the creation of
iiuviand. if nrMPrvoil Imm il, c,niin. ,,r ! 'hose institutions and systems w hich, in their
the federal tovernment on the one hand, and the ! ""lllrPi " pervert it from its legitimate pur
exercise by the States ot powers not reserved to j P'H ml m"lie "' instrument of sections,
t'.em on tl.e othei. will, I fervently hope and be- J"'""'". " individuals. U e nerd no national
leve. endure forages to come, and dispense I r",nl"'-"l,'rr extraneous institutions planted
the hlessinns of civil and reli.-ioua liberty , i around the Government to control or strength
Michkja Cenirf. Railroad. This road will
be in full blast to Kalamazoo the ensuing sum
mer; and a bill is now pending in the Michigan
Legislature appropriating 140,000 acres ol the
State lands to complete the road to St. Joseph,
it western termination. When thi last link is
completed, the journey can be made from Boston
to Chicago in 84 hour.
distant generations.
To effect object so dear to every patriot, I
shall devote myself with anxious solicitude. It I
will he my desire to guard against that most
fruitful source of danger to the harmonious ac
tion of our rystem, which consist in fubs'itu
ting the mere discretion and caprice of the ex
ecutive, or of major ties in the legislative de
partment of the government, for powers which
have been withheld from the federal govern
ment by the constitution.
Uy the theory of our government, majorities
rste ; but this right ia not an arbitiary or unli
mited one. It is a right to bo exercised in su
bordination to the constitution, and in conformi
ty to it. One great object of the constitution
si to restrain majorities from oppressing mi
norities, or encroaching upon their just rights.
Minorities have a right to appeal to the consti
tution, as a shield against such oppression.
Thai the blessing of liberty which our con
stitution secure may be enjoyed alike by mi
norities and majorities, the executive has been
wisely invested with a qualified veto upon the
acts of the legislature. It is a negative power,
and is conservative in it character. It arrests
for the time hasty, inconsiderate, or unconstitu
tional legislation ; invites reconsideration, and
transfer qoestioiia at i-sue between the le"giH
liiive and executive departments to the tribunal
of Ihe people. Like all other powers, it is sub
ject t be abused. When judiciously and pro
perly exercised, the constitution itself may be
sived fiom infraction, and the right ol all pre
served and protected.
The iucitimablt value of our federal Union ta
rn it in opposition to the will of its authors.
Experience has taught us how unnecessary they
areas auxiliaries of the public authorities, how
impotent for good, and how powerful for m s
chief. Our was intended to a plain and frujal go
vernmrni ; and I shall regard it to be my duty
In recommend lo Congress, and, as far as tho
Executive is concerned, to enforce by all tho
means within my power, the strictest economy
in the expenditures ot the public money, which
may be compatible with the public interests.
A national debt has become almost an insti
tution of European monarchies. It is viewed,
in rome of them, as an essential prop to exis
tinff goyrrnmen ts. Melancholy is the condi
tion of that people whose government cn be
sustained only by a system which periodically
transfers large amount from the labor of the
many to the coffer of the few. Such a system
is incompatible with the ends for which our re
publican government wc instituted.
Under a wise policy, the debts contracted in
our revolution, and during Ihe war of IM'J, have
been happily extinguished. Ry a judicious ap
plication of the revenue, not required for other
necesssry purposes, it is not doubted that the
debt which ha grrwn out of the circumstances
ot the last few year may be speedily paid off.
I congratulate my fellow-citizen on the en
tire restoration of the credit of the general go
vernment of the Union, and thtt of many of the
Slate. Happy would il he for the indebted
States if they were freed from their liabilities',
many of which were incautiously eontrscted.
Although the government of t,be VTP'9R if P'