South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1837-03-18


of losing their airinfluence in the Gov
eminent, and with difficulty maintain
4 their just rights against the incessant
| efforts daily made to encroach upon
IL The mischief springs from the
I power which the moneyed interest de-
!, rives from paper currency, which
they are able to control; from the null
titude of corporations, with exclusive
! privileges, which they have succeeded
in obtaining in the different States and
which are employed altogetherfor their
( benefit; and unless you become more
watchful in your States, and check this
spirit of monopoly and thirst for exclu-
siye privileges, you will, in the end find
that the most important powers of Co.
vernment have been given or battered
away, and the control over your dear
est interests has passed into the hands
of these corporations.
The paper money system, and its
natural associates, monopoly and ex-
! elusive privileges have already struck
their roots deep in the soil, and it will
require all your efforts to check its fur
Their growth, and to eradicate the evil.
The men who profit by the abuses, and
desire to perpetuate them, will contin-
ue to beseige the halls of Legislation in
the General Government as well as in
the States, and will seek, by every arti-
fee, to mislead and deceive the public
servants. 1t is to yourselves that you
must look for safety, and the means Of
guarding and perpetuating your free
institutions. In your hands is right
fully placed the sovereignty ofthe coun-
try, and to you every one placed in au-
thority is ultimately responsible. 1t is
always in your power to see that the
wishes of the people are carried into
! faithful execution, and their will, when
once made known, must sooner or later
be obsyed, And while the people re-
main, as | trust they ever will, uncor-
rupted and incorruptible, and continue
watchful and jealous oftheir rights, the
Government is safe, and the cause Of
freedom will continue to triumph over
all its enemies.
But it will require steady and perse-
vering exertions on your part to rid
yourselves of the iniquities and mis-
chiefs of the paper system, and to check
the spirit Of monopoly and other abuses
which have sprung up with it, and Of
which it is the main support. So ma
ny interests are united to resist all re-
form on this subject, that you must not
hope the conflict will be short one,
nor success easy. My humble efforts
have not been spared, during my adj
ministration Of the Government, to re-
store the constitutional currency of
| gold and silver; and something, | trust,
has been done towards the accomplish
ment Of this most desirable object. But
l~''e1'e-b yet remains to require all your
energy and aHaa a nA Rs Fs
edy must and will be applied, if you
determine upon it.
l. While | am thus endeavoring press
upon your attention the principles
which I deem of vital importance'in the
domestic concerns of the country,
ought not to pass over, without notice,
the important considerations which
should govern your policy towards for
elgn powers. 1t is, unquestionably,
our true interest to cultivate the most
friendly understanding with every ma
ton, and to avoid, by every honorable
means, the calamities of war; and we
shall best attain this object by frankness
and sincerity in our foreign intercourse,
by the prompt and faithful execution of
treaties, and by justice and impartiality
in our conduct to all. But no nation,
however DESTROYS ofpeace, can hope to
escape occasional collisions with other
powers; and the soundeSt dictates of
policy require that we should place
ourselves in condition to assert our
rights, if a resort to force should ever
become necessary. CURL local situation,
our long line of seacoast, indented by
numerous bays, with deep rivers open
ing into the interior, as we'll as our ex-
tended and still increasing commerce,
point to the Navy as our natural means
of defence.-It will, in the end, be
found to be the cheapest and most effec-
tual; and now is the time, in a season
ofpeace, and with an OVERLOOKING rev.
enus, that we can, year after year, add
to its strength, without increasing the
burdens of the people. tits your true
policy. For your navy will not only
protect your rich and hourishing com
merce in distant seas, but will enable
you to reach and annoy the enemy, and
will give to defenceits greatest elicien-
cy, by meeting danger at a distance
from home. II is impossible, by any
line of Notifications, to guard every
point from attack againsta hostile force
advancing from the ocean and selecting
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