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240 and direction of such internal affairs as were thought essential to the well being of our Union, were committed by our Fathers to the united councils of our Federal Republic.

It is now more than forty years since the affairs of our United Republic have been under the direction of a President & Congress. The number of States have nearly doubled, the whole population increased in a ratio, unparalleled 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 one in our own defence, which gave new lustre 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 deep root in American soil, ever to be overthrown, or 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.