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Show 464 INAUOURAI .. AND FAREWJ~LL ADDRESSES. lations of the several States mnRt frcqneutly differ from ono another in important particulars; and t!Jis <.lill'erence is unavoidably incrca ed by the varying principles llj>Oil Which tho American colonic ' were origiunlly planted; principles which had tak en deep root in their social relations before the Revolutiou, and th erefore of necessity influencing· their policy since they bectWJC free and independent Stat es. But enclt Stutc has the unquestionable right to regulate ilH own intcl'llul conccrni' ucconli11g to its own pl •asurc; u.nd while it docs uot interft·rc with the rightt{ of the people of other States, or the rig·ltts of the Union, every late must be the ,'ole judge of the men!:mres prupcr to secure the safety of its citizens, nnd promote their happiness; and all efforts ou the part of people of other States to caHt odium upou their im;tiluliouH, and ull mcu ·ure · calculated to eli ·turb their rights of property or to put iu jeopardy their peace u.nd internal tranquillity, u.rc in direct oppo. iLion to the spirit in which the Uuion wns formed, u.ud must cnc.langcr its safety. Motives of philanthropy may be ns. ignccl for this uuwn.tTautablc interfercllcc; and weu.k men may persuade thcmscl ves for a momeut that tl1cy nrc laboring in tlte euusc of humanity, nnd n. scrting tbc righU; of the human rn. ·c; bnt every 0 11r, upon sober reflection, will ·co that nothino· but mi 'chief can COJIIC from these improper us aults upon the feeliug·s and rights of others. Root assured tlJut the meu found l.Jusy in this work of discord are not worthy of your confidence, and deserve your strongest reprobation. In the legislation of Cougrcss, nlso, and in every measure of the general government, justice to every portion of the United States should be fu.ithfully ou ·crved. No free government can staud without virtue iu the people, nud a lofty spirit of patrioti m ; n.nd if the sordid feelings of mcro selfiohncss shall usurp the place which ought to be filled by public spirit, the legislation of Congress will soon be collvt• t"l.cd iuto a scralllble for personal and sectional advantages. Under our freo insti tntion!-1, the citizens of eve ry qnnrler of our country arc cn.pnu]e of at.t.n in ing a high degree of prosperi ty n.nd happiness, without seeking to profit lhc•msel vcs at the expense of othcn; ; and every such attc111pt must in the end fail to succeed, for the people iu every part of the United tntes arc too cnJightc'ned 11ot lo undcrl-l tand Ll1Cil' ow11 rights und in tcresLH, aml to detect and defeat cv •ry effort to gain undue fiUV<tlllHges OVOl' thc111; it ll(} whc11 Rll<'lt designs n.rc <liHcovercd, it Hn.t.umlly provokes r<!H<.:ntnrenU; which cannot always be easily nllayt'd. Justice, ful l and ample justice, to eve ry portion of tltc Unite<l States, Hhould be the ruling principle of' every frccmn n, nnd should guide the delil>era.tiom; of every puiJl ic bo(ly, whether it be tutP or JHttionn.l. It is well known that there lrnve al wn.ys been those amongst us who wish to en large the powers of the generul government; and experience wonlc.l seem to indicate that. th ere is n. tendency on the pa.rt of' tlriH govemmrnt to overstep the houudari c·s m:nked onL fnr it. by tltc ConsliLut.ion. Its l e~i t.im ate authority is nlH Jn clantly sufli<-i<'nt for all t.he purposes for which it wn.s created; nr~tl its powers being expressly 'numerated, there can be no just ifi ca.tion for claiming anything beyond them. Bvcry attempt to exercise power beyond these limits should be promptly n.n<l fi rmly opposed. For one evil example will lead to other men.s nres sLill more mischievous ; and if the prineiplo or constructive powers, or supposed ndvnnta.gcs, or· temporary ci rcumstances, shall ever be permitted to j 1rstify the assuntp tion of a power not given by the Constitution, the general govcmmen t wil1 before lo11g nhsorb nll the powers of legislation, and you will hn.ve, in effect, but one consolidated government. Prom the extent of our eonu try, its diversified interests, different pursniiR, arHl difl'ercnt habits, it is too obvious for argnmcni, thn.t n. single consolidated government would be wholly inadeqnatc to watch ovor and protect 30 |