Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-09-16

thus commence a new national debt,
would scarcely be sanctioned by the
American people.
The plan proposed will be adequate
to all the fiscal operations, during the
remainder of the year. Should it be ad-
opted, the Treasury aided by the ample
resources Of the country, will be a6le to
discharge punctually every pecuniary
obligation. For the future, all that is nee.
ded will be that caution and forbearance
in appropriations which the diminution
of the revenue requires, and which the
complete Accomplishment or great for
wardness Of many expensive national
undertakings renders equally consistent
with prudence and patriotic liberaltiy.
The preceding suggestions and recorlmen-
ddtions are submitted, in the belief that their
adoption by Congress will enable the Execu-
tive Department to conduct our fiscal concerns
with success, SO far as their management has
been committed to it. Whilst the objects and
the means proposed to attain them are within
its constitutional powers and appropriate du-
ties, they will at the same time, it is hoped,
by their necessary operation, afford essential
aid in the transaction of individual concerns,
and thus yield relief to the people at large in
form adapted to the nature of our Govern
ment. Those who look to the action of this
Government for specific aid to tho citizen, to
relieve embarrassments arising from losses by
revusions in commerce and credit, lose sight
of the ends for which it was created, and the
powers with which it is clothed. 1t was es-
tabshed to give security to us all, in our law
full and honorable pursuits, under the lasting
safeguard Of republican institutions. 1t was
not intended to confer special favors on indi-
viduals, or on any class of Them to create
systems of agriculture, manufactures or trade,
or to engage in them, either separately or in
connection with individual citizens or organ
lied associations.
If it's operations were to be5directed for the
benefit of any one class, equivalent tavors
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.
All communities arc apt to look to Govern
ment for too much. Even in our own country
where its powers and duties are 80 strictly
| limited, we are prone to do SO, especially at
periods ofsudden embarrassment and distress.
But this ought not to be. The trainers OF
our excellent Constitution, and the people who
approved it with calm and sagacious delibera-
ton, acted at the time on s0Hnder principle,
They wisely judged that the less Government
interieres with private pursuits, the better tor
the general prosperity. 1t is not its legiti-
mate object to make men rich, or to repair, by
direct grants of money or Legislation in favor
of particular pursuits, losses not incurred in
the public service. This would be substan.
italy to use the property of some for the ben
eft of others. But its real duty--that duty
the performance of which makes good Gov
ernment the most precious of human blessings
is to enact and enforce a system of general
laws commensurate with, but not exceeding,
the object of its establishment and to leave
every citizen and every interest to reap, un-
under its benign protection, the rewards OF
virtue, industry and prudence.
! cannot doubt t hat on this, as on all simi.
lar occasions, the Federal Government will
find it's agency most conducive to the security
and happiness of the people, when limited tc
the exercise of its conceded powers. In me-
yer assuming, even for a well meant object,
such powers as were not designed to be con-
|
the general welfare. To avoid every unnece-
ssary interference with the pursuits of the
citizen, will result in more benefit than to a.
dopt measures which could only assist limited
interests, and are eagerly, but perhaps natu-
rally sought for, under the pressure OF tempo
rary circumstances. II; therefore, refrain
from suggesting to Congress any specific plan
for regulating the exchanges of the country
relieving mercantile embarrassments or In.
terferng with the ordinary operations OF for
eign or domestic commerce; it is from the
conviction that such measures are not within
the constitutional province of the General
Government, and that their adoption would
not promote tho real and permanent welfare of
those that it might be designed to aid.
The difficulties and distresses Of the times,
though unquestionably great, are limited in
their extent, and cannot be regarded as affect
ing the permanent prosperity OF the nation.
Arising in great degree from the transac-
tions of foreign and domestic commerce, 1t ID
upon them that they have chiefly fallen. The
great agricultural interest has in many parts
of Or country suffered comparatively little,
and, as if Providence intended to display the
munifcence of its goodness at the moment OF
our greatest need, and in direct contrast to
the waywardness of man, we have been bes-
sed throughout our extended territory, with a
season Of general health and of uncommon
fruitfuIness. The proceeds of our greatest
staples will soon furnish the means of Gqui-
dating debts at home and abroad; and contri-
butte equally to the revival of commercial ac-
tivity, and the restoration of commercial Gre
dit. The banks established avowedy for its
support, deriving their profits from it and rest
ing under obligations to it, which cannot be
overlooked, will feel at once the necessity and
justice of uniting their energies with those Of
the mercantile interest. The suspension of
specie payments, at such a time and under
such circumstances as we have lately wit