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XIX our United Republic have been under the direction of a President and Congress, The number of States have been nearly doubled, the whole population increased in a ratio, imparalelled in the History of Nations, the necessaries, comforts and conveniences of life have been multiplied, perfected and diffused to a degree unknown to former ages. We have been safely conducted in our onward course amidst the conflicts of other nations, and have sustained are in our own defense, which have new Custre to our national character, tested the energies and capacities of the Government, displayed the cool bravery of our people, developed the resources of the nation, and has laid that foundation for the respect of other Powers, which constitutes and furnishes, to a good degree, the best assurance of future peace.

  The success and stability of our Government and general prosperity of the People under its administration, for such a period of time, has given strong proof to the world, that Republican principles have taken  too deep root in American soil, ever to be overthrown on extirpated, Should their lustre be obscured by the practices or examples of any administration, we may feel the fullest assurance, that the intelligence of the American People will be competent, eventually to distinguish reality from fiction, and will never sanction such as shall be shown to produce evil of any magnitude to the public interest.
  To our Sphere is emphatically reserved the authority, and to us remains the duty of correcting and remedying the natural and moral evils, incident to the social condition in the domestic concerns of the State, the usages which have been sanctioned by experience and sound reason, and a general code of Legislative enactments, constitute the legal restraints of our standing laws.
  The remedies for natural evils and impediments to the highest social enjoyment, arising from cases independent of moral agency, are frequently postponed, in the care and concerns of Government for those of lesser moment. In connection with this sentiment, I submit the inquiry, whether the