Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-09-20


tain them are within its constitutional pow
ers and appropriate duties, they will at the
same time it is hoped, by their necessary
| operation, afford essential aid in the trans
| action of individual concerns, and thus yield
relief to the people at large in form adap-
ted to the nature of our Government
Those who look at the action of this Govern
ment for specific aid to the citizen, to re-
lieve embarrassments arising from losses
by reyulsions in commerce and credit, lose
sight of the ends for which it was created,
and the powers with which IT is clothed
II was established to give security to us all,
in our lawful and honorable pursuits under
the lasting safeguard of 6pubican insi'tu-
tons. II was not intended to confer spe-
cial favors on individuals, or on any classes
Of them to create systems Of agriculture,
manufactures, or trade or TO engage in
them, either separately or in connection
with individual citizens or organized ASSOC
Citations. If its operations were to be direc-
ted for the benefit of any one class, equiv.
alent favors must, in Justice be extended to
the rest and the attempt to bestow such
favors with an equal hand, or even TO select
those who should most deserve them, would
never be successful. AllCommunities are
apt to look to Government for too much
Even in our country, where its powers and
duties are strictly limited, we are prone to
do so, ESPECIALLY at periods of sudden EN-.
barrasment and distress. But this ought
not to be. The trainers of our excellent
Constitution, and the people who approved
it with calm and sagacious deliberation, &C.
ted at the time on a sounder principle
They wisely judged that the less Govern.
ment interferes with private pursuits, the
better for the general prosperity. II is not
its legitimate object TO make men rich, or
to repair by direct grants of money or leg.
slaiion in favor of particular pursuits, losses
not incurred in the public service. This
would be substantially to use the property
of some for the benefit of others. But its
real duty-that duty, the performance of
which makes good Government the most
precious Of human blessings-is to enact
and enforce system of general laws CON-
mensurate with, but not exceeding, the OBJ
jects of its establishment, and to leave eve-
ry citizen to reap, under its benign protec.
ton, the rewards Of virtue, industry and
prudence.
cannot doubt that on this, as on all SIM
liar occasions, the Federal Government
will find its agency conductive to the secu.
rlty and happines of the people, when lmi.
J ted to the exercise of its conceded powers.
In never assuming even for well meant
J object such powers as were not designed to
be conferred upon it, we shall in reality do
! most for the general welfare. To avoid
J every unnecessary interference with the
pursuits of the citizen, will result in more
benefit than to adopt measures which could
assist limited interests, and are eagerly, but
perhaps naturally sought for under the pres.
sure oftemporary circumstances. Ifthere-
: fore refrain from suggesting to Congress
any specific plan for regulating the exchan-
J ges OF the country relieving mercantile
: embarrassmcnts or interfering with the
, ordinary operations Of foreign or domestic
: commerce /; it is from conviction that such
; measures are not within the constitutional
province Of the General Government, and
; that their adoption would not promote the
, real and permanent welfare of those they
, might be designed to aid.
The difficulties and distress of the times
though unquestionably great, are limited in
their extent, and cannot be regarded as Ell
!. fecting the permanent prosperity ofthe ma
ton. Arising in great degree from the
) transactions of foreign and domestic com.
, merce, it is upon them that they have chiefly
fallen. The great agricultural interest has
, in many parts ofthe country, suffered com.
paratively little; and, as if Providence in.
! tended to display the muniicence of its
goodness at the moment Of our greatest
, need, and in direct contrast to the evils oc.
casloncd by the waywar ness Of man, We
have been blessed throughout our extended
territory with season of general health
and of uncommon fruitfulness. The pro.
ceeds of our great staples will soon furnish
the means of quidating debts at home and
} abroad; contribute equally to the revi-
val of commercial activity, and the restora-
J ton of commercial credit. The banks, es.
r tablished avowedly for its support, deriving
: their profits from it, and resting under obi
cations to it which cannot be overlooked,
will feel at once the necessity and justice OF
uniting their energies with those ofthe mer-
camille interest. The suspension of specie
J payments at such time and under such cir.
J cumstances as we have lately witnessed
: could not be other than a temporary meas.
ere: and we can scarcely err in believing
that the period must soon arrive when all
, that are solvent will redeem their issues in
} gold and silver. Dealings abroad natural.
y depend on resources and prosperity at
home. If the debt OF our merchants has
accumulated, or their credit is impaired,
these are lamentations always incident to
extensive or extravagant mercantile trans
actions. But the ultimate security of such
obligations does not admit of question:
They are guaranteed by the resources ola
} country the fruits of whose industry afford
, abundant means of ample liquidation, and
by the evident interests of every merchant
to sustain credit, hitherto high, by prompt.
: y applying these means for its preserva.
lion.
| deeply regret that events have occurred
which require me to ask your consideration
ofsuch serious topics. Icould have wished
that, in making my first communication to
the assembled representatives of my coun-
try, had nothing to dwell upon but the
history Of her unalloyed prosperity. Since
, il is otherwise, we can only feel more deem.