Newspapers / Carolina Watchman (Salisbury, N.C.) / March 15, 1845, edition 1 / Page 2
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I 4 0 a If i f i - -. 'A J. 'ritv had been Cllinjr nu. for days, and i even for weeks, in anticipation of the approach Jng IflVpguration,.with strangers of every Tank in lifeand every variety of personal appearance. The public hotels had become so much crowded -as to bd compelled to refuse new applicants, .and thej private boarding houses were PJdI1 romiftr' into (he uams condition.- Halls and, bar rWn4riminf?.rrtnms.av. dininff-lables might at -t -Yiitrnt h ceen lii ... :..-ar! tvlik hd and Dallets for thtk accommodation of such as could no longer earn admission Into the overcrowoea and dignified appearance, were from lime to time to hn met on our ffreat thorough-fares, recognis ing &ii otker as after Ions separation Ex. JiSgi lex-Senators, ex-Heads of Departments, .f9rnTer, members of both houses of Congress in creat numbers, Governors., States, and other " distinguished individuals (om all parts of our country peemea arawn ipgeiner, as-oy'peii, to one cohirnon centre jof attraction. Office-seek ers aiidjj jo ffice-expectants, apolitical speculators and party leaders without number, and of every calibre jcrowded our streets, and especially near ine noiei wnero ;ur. roin, iuc rresiaeni eieci, had lddklnzs. Among other wdrtbies. the mem ' herk of the famous Empire t Club, conspicuous from the ir flame-colorcd uniform, blazVd like me. icon jahiong the throng. ( The fairer sex must not be tprgotten. . They, tio, in all their grades, from th4 je welled lady to the modest country girl In her new bonnet and riband, appeared tojJiver- aifyj the ruder multitude. The cify was swarm- Inc like a hive, and the slow movinir stream of people traversing the pavements of Pennsylva- nia Avenue in the morning of yesterday seemed itselfajprocession upon some sad Qr solemn oc- csion,;l-kther than a joyous: gathering for the purposef common gratulation. jJJuHne hopes of the monw. whichhadkept tnariy an eve wakinz through, the preceding night, Were all sadly dashed by the unrelenting, unuiscriroinaung sky, vmcn, auer a transient smile, began to lower, and frpwn and threaten, andrfihally to pour down rain outright. Could any, peeing, eye, 0y Jurking open ear, have witnessed the corresponding frowns in many a boudoir, where laces were ready to be donned, arid &lMhX artillery of Beauty lay, like the arms , of Achijles, all. ready for fields of victory, how j ad,fye,t how instructive, might not the lesson have proved I However, the appointed cannons roared and the national flags, (displayed, be it remembered, from every Whig as well as every emocrajjic staffi) though somewhat damped by ijo WUUIUIIUIUU9 ucavens, uiu ineir uesi to wave in triumph :;and the bands played martial airs, .TI15 programme had promised a splendid pro- ; cession something must be done ; andaccord- inglyiujch a display of umbrellas as darkened hetitilr Uy their shade was never probably wiul nessea oy me " oldest inhabitant." The; Procession being formed, proceeded to the Capitol, in the order described in a following column; considerably lessened in the brillian. :i cy of its display, however, by the rain which (ell during its march. 1 r 'Z " iythijheCapitora more interesting scene : presented itself than on the approach to it. The - avenues Jo the building had all been closed and ; ' care fullyf guarded till the hour appointed in-the plait of proceedings. , But, when that hour did ' arrive, the rush was fearful. , No limbs, happily, were broken, though injuries both to clothes and pOMonsJpertainly were sustained. The gentle, men's gallery in the Senate chamber was crow. ded as in a moment, while tho stairs leading to ; Jt and ;a are space about the dor long contin . nedto be occupied by a struggling massvainly OPS lj? their way in. , The circular gal. lery opposite lo the gentlemen's gallery was giv. enUp to jhe Ladies, on condition, however, that ! ;eaui ahd brothers should be left behind ; and, accordingly, when these doors also were thrown ODCli. SUCh a din of itrrcl giumda Knret Cf U ! j juch a Wjxving of plumes, fanned by ambrosial i; . : breath, Astonished the delighted air. as would v calljor i poet duly to dcc:'.'oe it, t' i . -In tharea lelow, ine officials might be seen an5!S6 seats and making preparations for the ( augdtaisemblage that was soon to enter. Sen. fl . ." atorkftnd 11 drop in, with now and then one of our naval or militaryhoroes in his imposing military dress ; f10 craning of necks, and peering ofea. gercurious eyes, and the pressing of Jhcessant qT"Sr ed lhit to larSe portion of those who beheld itthe 1 A r-' . Jength the Marshal pf the District of Columbia and thelerk oflbe Supreme Court made their appfararice; at the head of the Judges of the Su. preme' Court in their robes, Who, entering the P!6,!' ont of the Secretary's table, occupied v "I 8em!circlp on the right of the Chair of if .Vr1ide,lt of lho Senate. A solemn, beauli. ul, andjvery appropriate Prayer was delivered r by the Chaplain of the Senate, -1 jThepenate being called to order, tho newSe- f "fflt.6'? qualified ; among whom we recog. . tnsedi withcordial satisfaction. iTm nrtt.u Ftufoutenances of several good WhirS and i; - t!' th e Wuenl advocates and guardiansf the ; v " f , , vvMiiiuuoawnoss voice has 'WjK h&ttl;V 10 oraaofthe darkest days v of onrj changeful history. fj J " DVHtfi all the new Senators had taken their eats, the appearance of the Vice President elect attractdd. as well by the dignity as the snow-like C?lla --he .a,r hi?h distinguishes Mr. DalIasJihe immediate notice of all spectators L1?8 mdmfnistered o Mm by v m Mngum, lh Tresident of the Se nar Immediately vacated his own seat, sur - rendering to the new occupant. - A brief pause ensued ; after which Mr. Dal. y.iVlWr, V5" self-possession jneri aaarest which a copy wiU be found in aiiuiiirr pan oi inir aay's paper. 1 dT?l Piplonriatic Corps entered the hall whili ,noi v Jcr 'resident was speaking, and took their Tr .1 F tuc vuair.ppposue the Judges, it the Rbpearance of Maior General ;Ws towering form and lofly; plumes, and other :vnc ana otati Utticersiri full uniform, call. ;ed forth ;eorornents ahd inquiries instil Quarter.. ?.h?n teU ,ho impression cm one of the sons of M - 5eV n.ow v,s,ling cities for tha first time. i j " V" "m manyolored, dazzling speda. rVS6jvt5 ! natIonal wstumes now presented iTf WKVee?,,emari" ?n tn bright red hic! ibeilargFepaulets TWheU MinisrWhoare - . m a mm 1 j 1 naAx 11 i a -mx. a r m w a a& a m ' i . ,,l ,, . ' 4UO eo,a nutr.box in his hand 7X flint vnnn :i . 1IS tb the gold snuklwr in kr. i i i !- " i M? waiter r- m . A hundred questions like these might be hUwi V among; tje crowd jn.thtf gallery. aW the man tmi wuju answer see IDCO a D looked In Oil of Virart y as-a -. 3 1 i Allen kit, k tuvi Presidents, actual ana eiect. nnt likeTJchard and Uolingbroke, but entereo, -:a- t;-LM-; and took their seats below the Cierk'i iable,and with their .face towards "ibe . ; . I i than nfier ft. brief nau.ft. the or auaience v . . - der of arrangements was read aloud, the par ties falling into their places a they were re spectively named, and the whole mass left the Senattf Chamber and proceeded to the Eastern Portico-:? - . k-v ''. . " ir" Here a temporary stage had been erectedi as at the ; inauguration - of President Harrison, over the 'great flight of steps; and, from; the I front ofthia, the President Elect read to as ma- ny ot wcivast mass whicn miea me pace in The delivery of the Inaugural being conclu ded, the Oath of Office was administered to the President; by the Chief Justice of the United States,aijid the new President was saluted by loud cheer from the surrounding multitude. The procession war then asrain formed, and escorted the President to the Presidential Man sion, where, in the course' of the afternoon, he received the congratulations of a large number of his fellow-citizens.- iYa. Int. I Mr. Polk's INAUGURAL ADDRESS. FeltoiclCilizeris : Without solicitation on my pa,rt, I hac been chosen by the free and volun tary sufirasres of my countrymen to the most hon- orable! anp most responsible office on earth. I am deeply impressed with gratitude for the confi. dence renosed in me. Honored with this tinguished consideration at an earlier period of life than any of mv predecessors. I cannnt Hi- guise ihediffidence with which I am about to enter on the discharge of my official duties. If the more aged and experienced men who have filled he office of President of the United States; even in the infancy of the Renublir' di.. trusted thir ability to discharge the duties of inai exatiexi station, wnat ought not to be the apprehensions of one so much yountrer and less endowed, now. that our domain extends from ocean to dcean, that our people have so greatly increased In numbers, and at a time when so great diversity of opinion prevails in regard to the principles and policy which should charac terize the (administration of our Government ? Well mayfthe boldest fear, and the wisest trem. blewhenii incurring responsibilities on which may depend our country's peace and prosperity. and, in some degree, the hopes and happiness of the fvhole human family. in assuming resDonsibilitiea an vt. T f- ventlv invoke th iH f tht Aim;k r :i . m " the Universe, in whose hands are the destinies of nations land of men, to guard this heaven.fk. l. w va vored land against the mischiefs which, with out Hi guidance, might arise from an unwise public policy. With a firm reliance upon the wisdoni of Omnipotence to sustain and direct me in tho . path of duty which I am appointed to pursue; I ptand in the presence of this asse.n. bled multitude of my countrymen, to take upon myselithe solemn obligation, M to the best of my ability to preserve, protect, and defend the Const itut ion of the United Slates." z A conefse enumeration of the principles which will guide me in the administrative policy of the Government, is not ouly in accordance with the examples set me by all my predecessors, but -is eminently befitting the occasion. TheCpnstitution itself plainly written as it .is, thej safeguard of our federative compact, the oftfpfing of concession and compromise, binding together in the bonds of peace and un ion this great and increasing family of free land independent States, will be the chart by which I shall be directed. It will be my firsr care to administer the Go vcrnmejitjin the true" spirit of that instrument, and to is$ume no powers not expressly granted or clearly implied in its terms. The Govern ment of-the United States is one of delegated and limited powers : and it is bv a Ktrirt rt. heren.ee to the clearly granted powers, and by abstaining from the exercise of doubtful or un authorized implied powers, that we have the on ly surejguaranty against the recurrence of those unfortunate collisions between the Federal and State authorities which have occasionally so much disturbed the harmony of our system, and even; threatened ihe perpetutity of our glorious Union. ; "To the States respectively, or to th Pn. pie," have been reserved " the powers not dele- gated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States." Each State is a complete sovereignty within the sphere of . 'r j arm mm us reserved powers, the Uovernment of the Union, acting within the sphere of its delegated authority 's a'so a complete sovereignty. Whilo 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 overstep the liftit of powers reserved to them. One of the rdostydistinguished of my Dredece.tors t. tached deserved imporUnce to " the support of the Sjate; Governments in all their rights, as the mrtef ftAmnAiM.4 I ? . - -vvicm nummisirauon lor our domestic concfrnsi arid the surest bulwark again stantii repuhMn tendencies," and to the -preserva. Hon of the General Government in its whole constitutional vigor, as the sheet-anchor of our peace atjhome and safety abroad." beeMnmt,f.the United Sha 3 rlS th e"lve management of our general enumerated powers. It does not force reform on the State,. It leaves ind"vhkaU overs whmit cast, its protecting influence en' tl f? imprTe lr owl, conSn V lfg1l,nate eicrciso of aH their mental anH PhWljojvers. It i, a common pmtector of each and all the State. ; of every maT,y ?, eTerJ rcng,ou sect, in the wor.hip of the "cording to the dictate, of their own mos!re inlury ; of every art, trade, and oc ctmaUonnsUtent with, tbe law. of iCsuuZ !TT In lhe 8Cneral ppines p perity, and advancement of our country, which pT erf of freedoriVo t& wefelafed Vtem of deviiedhum: turyr and, if preserved fw .w "V the wrcue by the Sui.. r.-.- na and believe, endure for aire, to com,. lou. ohe tude. It will Ka mV Al.; . ... .. '.v "'J W Culm a$au5st that rnost fniWul source of danger to the - - p That the blessing, of liberty which our Con stitution secure, may be enjoyed alike by riii'n orities and majorities, toe .xecuiive Has been wisely invested with a qualified Veto upon the acts of the Legislature, j It a negative pow. er. and is conservative in its character. It ar. rests for the time hasty, j inconsiderate, j or u constitutional legislation, invite. reconsidera tion, and transfers questions at issue between the Legislative and Executive departments to the tribunal of the People! ' Like all other pow. ers, it is subject to the abused. .When judicious, ly and properly exercised, iho Constitution it. self may be saved from infraction, and the rights of all preserved and protected. ; j The inestimable value of our Federal Union is felt and acknowledged by;all. By this sys tern of united and confederated States our peo ple ore permitted, collectively and individually, to seek their own happiness in their own way, and the consequences have been most auspi cious, oince the Union was formed the num ber of the States has increased from thirteen to twenty-eight : two of these have taken their position as members of the Confederacy within the last week. Our population has increased from three to twenty millions. I New commu nities and States are seeking protection under its aegis, and multitudes from the Old World are flocking to our shores to participate in its bless ings. Beneath its benign sway peace and pros perity prevail. Freed from the burdens land miseries of war, our trade and intercourse have extended throughout the world, j Mind, no long er tasked in devising means! to ' accomplish or resist schemes of ambition, usurpation, or con. quest, is devoting itself to man's true interests in developing his faculties arid powers, and the capacity of nature to minister to his enjoyments. trenius is free to announce its inventions arid discoveries, and the hand is free to accomplish whatever tho head conceives! not incompatible with the rights of a fellow-being. All distinc tions of birth or of rank have been abolished. All citizens, whether native or adopted, are ola ced upon terms of precise equality. - All fare entitled to equal rights and equal protection. No union exists between Church and State, and perfect freedom of opinion is' guarantied toj all sects and creeds. ! 1 I These are some of the blessings secured to our happy land by our Federal Union. To per petuate them it i3 our sacred duty to preserve it. Who shall assign limits to the achievements of free minds and tree hands! under the protec tion of this glorious Union? No treason to mankind, since the organization of society, would be equal in atrocity to that f him who would lift his hand to destroy it. He would o verfhrow the noblest structure! of human k'is dom, which protects himself and his fellow-man. He would stop the progress of free government, and involve his country either in anarchy! or despotism. He would extinguish the fird of liberty, which warms and. animates the hejtrts of happy millions, and invites all the nations of the earth to imitate our example. If he Isay that error and wrong are committed in thejad. ministration o! the Government let him remern berthat nothing human -can be perfect; and that under no other ystem of government re vealed by Heaven or devised by man has rea son been allowed so free and broad a scope to combat error. Has the sword of despots prov ed to be a safer or surer instrument of reform in Government than enlightened reason ? Docs he expect to find among the ruins of this Union a happier abode for our swarming millions than they now have under it ? Every lover of1 his country must shudder at the thought of the pos sibility of its dissolution, and Will be ready to adopt the patriotic sentiment,. Our Federal Union, it must be preserved." i To nreserve it. the compromises which alone enabled our fa- t Vt ft aa s J aTV . . form a common Constitution for ih government ahd protection of so many States and distinct communities of such diversified ha bits, and domestic institutions, mustbe sacredly and religiously observed. Any attempt to dis turb or destroy these compromises, b;ing terms of the compact of Union, can lead to none other than the most ruinous and disastrous sequences. I ' con i ot'Utcc in ueeD FRrrPr. fhnt in catyia sections of our country misguided Dersons have occasionally indulged in schemes and agitations whose object is the destruction of domestic in stitutions existing in other sections institutions which existed at the adoption of the Conskitu tionj and xvejre recognized arid protected bV it. All must see that, if it were! possible for them to be successful in attaining their object, ! the dissolution of the Union, arid the consequent destruction of our happy form of Government, must speedily follow. , j ! i I am hapyy to believe that at everyperidd of isiruce hs a nauon. mere bas existed, and rnntlntiPB. tn arl.t n .ui . . J aujuug ujc greai mass on our people, a devotion to the Union of the States, which will shield and protect it against the trior al treason of any who would seriously contem plate its destruction. To secure a continuance of that devotion, the compromises of the Con stitution must not only be preserved, but sectional jealousies and heartburnings! must be discoun- anced; and all should remember that they are members of the same political family, having a common destiny. To increase ' the attachment pi our people to the Union, our laws should be justj . Any policy which shall t?nd to favor mo. iorwil i a a . itt. iuiaiiIia. r . . . . . . - r rbuuar iiiicresis oi sections or classes, must operate to the prejudice of the1 in r?'J 'J'f fellow-citizens, j and should! be Tf k 11 tno compromises of the Cons itu LhK P"- .ectiohat jealousies and heartburning, bdiscountenancedif our laws Governraentibetpractically lad-Withla- limit, of riiver f2rft0 ,,r"We ?aJr dard all apprVben sions for th mCmv f.u. r - ,r n v w " onion. With thefie view, of the nature, character and object, of the. Governments and the value JV0nl 1 icose the crea. tioq ofthose instrtutions and ystemawhichi in natura,tendPerveri Ppo., and make k th( instrumen! of sections, ciassp nA sj::4.ji n I n.tt i i n e ne no "4anK or other extraneous institutions mt"SxZ .r luo government, to control or wrenstben it in w.mi.. ..i7 ... i . "i wr -pCnence bas tau2ht us how nnn. rjr mey are as antillnrr c.i. , . r ties how. trr,i .V"' " " c puduc aumo- ' ' harmonious" actfoa f our .ysteru which cbniUts. In substircting the mere 'discretion and caprice of the Executive, or of majot ities iu the legis. lative department of the Goverriroent,for Cow. era which have been withheld from the Federal Government bythe Constitution. By the theo ry of our GovernmenU maioritie. rule ; but this right is riot an arbitrary or unlimited one; It is a right Jo be ; exercised 1q subordination to the Constitution, and in conformity to it. One great object of the Constitution jvas to restrain majorities ; from oppressing minorities, .or en croaching upon their just rights Minorities have a right to appeal to the (Constitution as a shield ftirainst such oppressiop... f Z ;s 4 . " Oiiri Wai intended to Lo . plalu and fru gal Government ; and J shall regard it to be my du if to recommend to Congress, and, as far as the Executive is concerned, to "enforce, by all the means within my power, the strictest economy a the' expenditure of the. public money, which may be compatible with the public interests I A national debt has become almost an insti tution of European monarchies. Jt is viewed, in iome of them; as an i essential prop to exist- in Governments. : Mciancnoiy is ine conuuion ofthat people whose Government can be sus tained only bjr a system which periodically trans fers large amounts from the labor of the many to the cofiers of the few. Such a system is in comoatible with the ends for which our . repub- .j : . i ' ft- 3 ; ' lican Government was insiuuieu. uuuer a ..www policy, the debts contracted in oQr Revolution and during the war of 1812 havo been, happily extinguished. By. a judicious application of the revenue, not required for other necessary pur poses, it i. not doubted that the debt' which baa grown out of the circumstances of the last few years may be speedily paid oflEI ' I congratulate my lellow.citizens on the en tire restoration of the credit of the General Go vernment of the Union and that of many of the States. Happy would . it be for the indebted State, if they were freed from their liabilities, many of which we re incautiously contracted.- Although the Government of the Union is nei ther in a legal nor a moral sense bound for the debts of the States, and it would be a violation of our compact of the Union to assume them, yet we cannot but fuel a deep interest in seeing all the States meet their public liabilities and pay off their just debts at the earliest practical period. That they will do so, as soon as it can be done without imposing too heavy burdens on their citizens, there is no reason to doubt. The sound, moraUrand honorable teelingpf the peo ple of the indebted tales cannot be questioned; and we are happy to perceive a settled disposi tion on their part, as their ability returns, after a season of unexampled pecuniary embarrass ment, to pay off all just demands, and to acqui esce in any reasonable measures to accomplish that object. One of the difficulties which we have had to encounter in the practical administration of the Government consists in the adjustment of our revenue laws and the levy of the taxes neces sary for the support of Government. In the general proposition that no more money sha'l be collected than the necessities of an economical administration 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 the country, or one class of citizens, or one occupation, for the mere profit of another Justice and sound policy forbid the Federal Government to foster one branch of industry to the detriment of another, or to cherish the in terests of one portion to the injury of another portion of our common country." I have hefe . . ' j i i . f ii ... . i . . iwore aeciarea io my ieuow citizens mat, in 4 my judgment, it is the duty of the Govern, ment to extend,; as far as 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, embra cing agriculture, Manufactures, the mechanic arts, commerce, and navigation." I have also declared my opinion to be in favor of a tariff for revenue," and that, "in adjusting the details of such a tariff, I have sanctioned such moder ate discriminating duties as would produce the amount of revenue needed, and at the same time afford resouable incidental protection to our home industry j. and that I was ' opposed to a tarin tor protection merely, and not for re- enue. The power "to lay and collect taxes, duties. imposts, and excises," was an indispensable one to be conferred on the Federal Government. wbich, without it, would possess no means of providing for its own support. In executing this power by levying a tariff of duties for the support of Government, theraising of revenue should be the object and -protection the incident. To re verse this principle, and make protection the ob ject and revenueh& incident, would be to inflict manifest injustice upon all other than the pro tected interests. In levvinsr duties for revenue. it is doubtless proper to make such discrimina. tions, within the revenue principle, as will afford incidental protection to our interests. Within the revciiue limit, there is a discretion to dis criminate ; beyond that limit, the rightful exer cise of the power is conceded. The fhcidental protection afforded to our home interests by dis. criminations within the revenue range, it is be lieved will be ample. In making discrimina tions, all our home interests should, as far as practicable, be equally protected. The largest portion of our people are agriculturalists. Oth ers are-employed in manufactures, commerce, navigation, and the mechanic-arts. They are all engaged in their respective pursuits, and their joint labors constitute the national or home in dustry. To tax one branch of this home indus try for the benefit of anot her would be unjust. No one of these interests can rightfully claim an advantage over the others, or to be enriched by impoverishing me otner.s All are equally enti tled 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'HDf the toiling millions, by taxing loicest lhe luxuries of life, or articles of superior quality and high price, which can only be con sumed by the wealthy, and AAfithe necessa ries of life, or articles of coarse quality and low price, which the poor and great mass of our peo ple must consume. The burdens of Govern ment should, as far as practicable, be distributed justly and equally among all classes of our pop. ulation. These general views, long entertain ed on this subject, I have deemed it proper to reiterate. It is a subject upon which conflict. ihg interests of sections and occupations aro supposed to exist, ahd a soirit of mutual cone,. sion and compromise in adjusting its details j should be cherished by every part of our wide spread country, as ,the only means of preserving harmony and a cheerful acquiescence of all in the operation of our revenue laws. Our patri otic citizens in every part of the Union will rea dily submit to the payment of such taxes as shall be needed for the support of their Government, whether ip peace or in war, if they are so levied as to distribute the burdens as equally as possi ble among them. The Republic of Texas has made known her desire to come into our Union, to form a part of our ponied e racy, and eniov with us the blessing i of liberty, secured and guarantied by our Con- rlut,lon,i cxas was once a part of our coun tryfwas; unwisely ceded away to a foreign Iower is now independent, and possesses, sn andoobted rirht to disrtose of a nart or the wlrnTn i , 0 r , - o nert territory, and to merge her sovereignty, at a separate and independent State, in curs. I congratulate mv couotrr that, br an act thai late Congrcsi of thetJnjted States, the asseqt of Vron1 1'00 given to the reunion : ' and it only retnuins forlLa two countries to agree upon the terms, to consummate aa object sj im portant to both. ; , V' VT;I reSara' the question of annexation ai belong ing exclusively to the United States and Texas. They"; are independent powers, competent to contract Jl and foreign nations have no right to interfere with them, or to take exceptions to their "runionrFo preciate the true character of bur Government.' Our Union is a confederation of. independent State's; whose policy i.;peace with each other and all the yorld. To enlarge it. limit. ( i. to extend the dominion of, peace over additional territories and increasing millions. The world has nothing to fear from military ambition in our Government, ; While the chief Magistrate and the popular: branch of Congress' are elected for short term, by the suffrage, of those millions who must, in their own persons, bear all the bur dens and miseries of war,our Government can not be otherwise than pacific. . , Foreign powers should therefore look on the annexation ot Tex as to the United States, not as the-conquest of a nation seeking to extend her dominion, by arm. and violence, but as the peaceful acquisition of a territory once her " own, by ; adding another member to our confederation with the consent of that member thereby - diminishing the chances of war, and opening to them new and evcr-mcreasing markets for their products To Texas the reunion is important, because ine strong protecting arm oi our uovernmen would lie extended over her, and the vast re sources . of her fertile! soil and genial climate would be speedily developed; while the safety of JNew Orleans and oi our whole south-western frontier, against hostile aggression, as well as the interests of the whole Union, would be pro moted by it. In the early stages of our national existence the opinion prevailed with some that our system ot conlede rated states could not operate sue cessfolly over an extended territory, and serious objections have at different times been made to the enlargement of our boundaries. These ob jections were earnestly urged when we acquired Louisiana. Experience ha. shown that they were not well founded. . The title of numerous Indian tribes to vast tracts of country have been extinguishednew Slates have been admitted into the Union new Territories have been ere ated, and our jurisdiction and laws extended over them. As our population has expanded, the Union has be?n cemented and strengthened. As our boundaries have been enlarged, and our 1a 1 ! . 1 . I . agricultural population uas been spread over a large surface, oUr federative system has acquir ed additional strength and security. It may well be doubted whether it would not be in greater danger ot overthrow if our present population were connned to the comparatively narrow lim- its of the original thirteen States, than it is now that they are sparsely settled over a more ex panded territory. It is confidently believed 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 tar trom being weakened, will become stronger. None can fail to see the danger to our safety and future peace, if Texas remains an indepen dent State, or becomes an ally or dependency of some ioreign nation more powertul than herselt. Is there ono among our citizens who would not prefer perpetuaFpeace with Texas to occasional wars, which so often occur between bordering independent nations? Is there one who would not prefer free intercourse with her, to high du ties on all bur products and manufactures which enter her ports or cross her frontiers ? Is there one who would not prefer an unrestricted com munication with her citizens to the frontier ob structions which must occur if she remains out of the Union?' Whatever is good or evil in the local institutions of Texas will remain her own, whether annexed to the United States or not. None of the present States Will be resnnnsihln for them any more than they are for the local institutions for each other. They have confed erated together for certain specifiedobjects. Upon the same principle that they would refuse to form a perpetual union with Texas because of her local institutions, our forefathers would have been prevented from forming our present Union. Perceiving no valid objection to the measure, and many reasons for its adoption vi. tally affecting the peace, the safety, and the prosperity of both countries, I shall, on the broad principle which formed the basis and produced the adoption of our Constitution, and not in any narrow spirit of sectional policy, endeavor by all constitutional, honorable, and appropriate means, to consummate the expressed will of the People and Government of the United States, by the re annexation of Texas to our Union at the earliest practicable period. Nor will it become in a less degree my duty to asssrt and- maintain, by all constitutional, means, the right of the United States' to that portion of our territory which lies bevond the- Rocky Mountains. Our tftle to the country of nievregonis clear and unquestionable, and already are our people preparing tor perfect jat title by occupying it with their wives and chifr dren. But eighty years ago our population was confined on the west by the ridge of the Alle ghanies. Within that period within the life time, I might .say, 'of some of my hearers our people, increasing to many millions, have filled the eastern valley of the Mississippi, ad venturously ascendecTtheJVfissouri to its head springs and are already engaged in esjablishirig the blessings of self govern ment in valleysof which the rivers flow to the Pacific. The world beholds the peace ful triumphs of the industry of our emi grants. To us belongs the duty of protect ing them adequately wherever thev may be upon our soil. The jurisdiction of our laws and the benefits of our republican in stitutions should be extended over them in the distant regions which they have selec ted for their homes. The increasing fa t d . .. - iniercoufse will easi cilities of intercourse will easily bring the a,esr yhlch the formation in that part of our territory cannot be long delayed, wnuin ine sphere of our federative Union. In the mean time, every obligation impos ed by treaty or conventional stipulations should be sacredly respected. m In the management of our foreign rela tions, it will be my aim to observe a care- vi icspeci lor me ngnts ot other nations, while our'own will be the, subject of con stant watchfulness.; Equal and exact jus tice should characterize all our intercourse with foreign countries.; All alliances hav ing a tendency to jeopard the welfare and honor of our country, or sacrifice any one brthe national interests; will be studiously avoided ; and vet no ooDortunitv will be - . . r . . " , , . navigation and comme rce may be extend cd and the ample products of our fertile Soil, as weir as the manufactures of bur il f a rartizans, find a ready market and icmuiici;iiui;j prices m ioreign countri la taking " care that the Jaws be faith-; luny cxecuicu,; a strict perlorrrrance c'f v duty will be exacted from. all public of3-; cers. v From those officers, especially, who ; are charge4 with the collection and dii.i ' Dursemeni ot-tne public revenue, will prompt and rigid accountability be rertm. ecLAny culpable failure ordelav on thi- part to XLCCOunt Jbr ,tkb moneys entrusted to them, at the times and in the manner m' Huircu uy ww, wm, m every instance, ter minate the official connection of such d faulting' officer with the Government, j AlthougU in our country, the Chief Ms. gisfrate must, almost ;of necessity, bq tho. seii by. a partvand stand nledred tn u. principles and measures, yet, in his official , ucnon, ne snouicL nor be the Tresident of a part only, but of The whole peopleof thb United States. Vhile he executes the no proper resoonsibilitv. ahd faith Put Kr ries out in lhe Executive Department of the Government the principlesmd policy of those who have chosen him, he should : not be unmindful that our fellow-citizens who have differed with him in opinionire entitled tathe full and free exercise jpf their ! opinions and judgments, and that the right of all are entitled to respect and regard. ! Confidently Relying upon the aid and as- ' sistanceof the co-ordinate departments of i theGovernment in conducting our public affairs, I enter upon the discharge of the high dutles-vvbich have been assigned me by the people, again humbly suDDlicatino- J that Divine Being, who has , watched brer and protected our beloved country from its infancy to the: present hour, to continue His gracious benedictions upon us, that we may continue to bea prosperous and hap. py people. , ; ; r S , , j Salisbury. HT. Marclii I845J We are authorised to announce JAMES E, KERR, as a candidate for the County Court Clerkship .of Rowan, j We are authorised to announce JOHN II. IIARDIR as a candidate for the County Court Clerkship of Rpwil The fnangiiral Address. it: We present in to-day's paper the Inau gural SpecK of President kk iTh s reader wiU bcrstruck with no neideaVas it contains little but what lias been par forth by , other Presidents, and 'which all j will, with somo exceptions, acquiesce ii very;readily. ' 'p.-. iyj . The only measures alluded toby Mr. 1 Polk, of any note are-a National Bank, the Tariff and the annexation of Texa -1 No one ever expected him to favor a Banl n: aS his whole ic life and acts Have all been in oppdsiti to such an , institution 4. and which will not be again' urged,W suppose, until the People themselves def mand it. So far as it regards the Tariff, .Mi Mr. Polk, has done nothing more nor less than adopt the opinions of the Whigs.-4 ' He has reiterated his language contained in his letter to Mr. Kane, of Philadelphia, taken almost word for word from MrJ Clay's speeches and letters, published to the world years ago'. Fromithis, it will Jbe seen, that he at once places himsejf m 1 juxtaposition to the free trade wtng of his j party, at the head of which Mr. Cauioujt stands most conspicuous. How the South- ern chivalry will like this, we arc unable, - i - i s -as yet to say, as we have not: had time to hear from them But if 'thev; are TsincefelH n theicprofessions-i they, in fact, think; ! that "Free Trade9 isj essential to their; , prosperity, they of course .cannot with any show of consistency, co-incide with Mr. PoLKjan this subject. -I But so far as we are concerned, this! doctrine, if practised, will do very well.if he only has the firmness to act out his part as laid down in his address on this head. There is also one other nromise . made, if carried intc-effect by his Excel lency, will be more than any other Locd- foco President has ever done, and it is this': . that whenever an Officer becomes a De faulter, his connection with the Govern ment ceases. . So far, so good. , And we doubt not, Mr. Polk will have the hearty co-operation of the whole Whig party in the redemption, of this pledged ' t; As it respects the. Texas- question, we think, that all Mr. Polk's high professions! of regartTfbr the Constitution, are mate-11 ' - f V ..-"1.1! rially weakened by his unqualified appro-; val of the mode by which Texas has been made a sovereign State of this Union, to wit. hv Tnlnt T7nlnt!rtn - A nA AnnhM k that this circumstance alone, blasted &U confidence in the fair promise ot ihh new President. But they arc made, we sup pose, like every other promise of the De mocracy, to tickle tbe-ear, and to be bro- ken whenever the interests "of requires it. .- ' -vif!!f:.;.;"-:l:" thei party Mr. Polk, also asserts that our right to f Oregon Territoryy is clear and nnqoes tionable an leipressionichimigbti have been omitted with propriety, when it jj is rememoered that a negotiation for tne u .Mwucui ui mis question, is now, gou i on-between the American Secretary of I State J and the British Minister! at : Wasji 4 inon-".r I With these le w brief iafks, we leavej ; cy unci inuaiao nviv- bled to'npprove more orMrPoLKVpu4i Jia acts! as theTChiefVMagistrate or the ,f i- - " - ' . - r m. l-j. ... nf PT l wumry, man we at present uac v z t pect ation of 5 and that he may for the good j Mi . -
Carolina Watchman (Salisbury, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 15, 1845, edition 1
2
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