16 great, or even merely safe, must practice 'an austere and self-denying morality. The faith of canonized ancestors, whose fame now belongs to mankind, is pledged to the payment of these debts. “ Let the merchants send hither well-authenticated evidence of their claims, and proper measures shall be taken for their relief.” This was the promise of Washington. The evidence is here. Let us redeem the sacred and venerable engagement. Through his sagacity and virtue, we have inherited with it ample and abundant resources, and to them we ourselves have added the newly discovered wealth of Southern plains, and the hidden treasures of the Western coasts. With the opening of the half century, we are entering upon new and profitable intercourse with the ancient Oriental States and races, while we are grappling more closely to us the new States on our own Continent. Let us signalize an epoch so important in commerce and politics by justly discharging ourselves forever from the yet remaining obligations of the first and most sacred of all our national engagements. While we are growing over all lands, let us be rigorously just to other nations, just to the several States, and just to every class and to every citizen ; in short, just in all our administration, and just towards all mankind. So shall Prosperity crown all our enterprises—nor shall any disturbance within nor danger from abroad come nigh unto us, nor alarm us for the safety of Fireside, or Fane, or Capitol.
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