The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-12-23

wheo hSardinary revenues ofthe govern
msnt we're decreasing, as well from The
operation Of the laws, az the condition OF
the country, uiihoot the creation ofs per.
manent public debt, or incurring any liabi-
lity, other than such as the ordinary re-
sources Of the government will speedily
discharge, and without the agency OF
national bank.
Ifthis view Of the proceedings Of the 60
vernmens, for the time i! embraces, be war
ransed by facts as they are known to exist.
ifthe;army & navy have been sustained to
the extent authorized by law, and which
Congress deemed suf6eientfo for the defence
of the country and the protection OF It's
rights and its honor: if its civil and diplo-
matte service has,been equally sustained;
If ample provision has been made for the
administration Of justice and the execu'
.ion of the laws; If the claims upon public
gratitude in behalf of the soldiers of the
Revolution, have been promptly met,
and faithfully discharged;. if there have
been no failures in defraying the very
large expenditures growing out of the
long continued and salutary policy of
peacefully removing the !. Indians to re.
gions of comparative safety and prospeFi.
ty; il the public faith has OF all times, and
every where, been most scrurulously
maintained by prompt discharge of the
numerous, extended and diversified claims
on the Treasury;-if all these great and
permanent objects, with many others that
might be stated, have for series of years,
marked by peculiar obstacles and difficult
ties, been successfully accomplished with
out resort to permanent debt, or the
aid of national banks have we not a
right to expect that policy, the object Of
which has been to sustain the public SER
vice independently of either ofthese fruit
full sources of discord, will receive the f.
nal sanction Of people whose unbiased
and fairly elected judgment upon public
affairs is never ultimately wrong?
That them embarrassme nts in the pecu-
mary concerns of individuals. of ofunexam-
Piled extent and duration, have recently
existed in this as in other commercial ma
tons. is undoubtedly true. To suppose
it necessary now to trace these reverses
to their sources, would be reflection on
the intelligence Of my fellow citizens
Whatever might have been the obscurity
in which the subject was involved during
the earlier stages Of the revision, there
cannot now be many by whom the whole
question is not fully understood.
Not deeming it within the constitution
al powers of the general government to
repair private losses sustained by reverses
in business having no connexion with the
public service, either by direct approplia.
sions from the Treasury. or by special le-
gislation designed to secure exclusive pri-
vileges and immunities TO individuals or
classes in preference to, and at the ex.
pense OF, the great majority necessarily
debarred from any participation in them,
no attempt to do 90 has been either made,
or encouraged by the pres.
ent Executive.
lis believed, however, that the great
purposes for the attainment of which the
federal government vas instituted have not
been lost sight Of Intrusted only with
limited powers, cautiously enumerated,
specified, and defined with
precision and clesrness which would seem
10 defy misconstruction, it has been my
aim to con6ne myself within the
limits so clearly marked out, and SO care
fully guarded. Having always been of
opinion that the best preservative of the
he union of the States is 10 be found in
he total abstinence from the exercise of
Ill doubtful powers on the part Of the
federal government rather than in attempts
% assume them by loose construction Of
he constitution, or an ingenious perver-
lion Of its words, have endsavored to
void Recommending sny measure which
lad reason to spp,ehend would, in the
opinion even Of q considerable minority
If my fellow citizens, be regarded as
rerching on the rights Of the States, or
he provisions Of the hallowed instrument
# our Union. Viewing the aggregate
,owers of the federal government as vo-
untary concession Of the States, it seem.
ID 10 me that such only should be exer.
Used as were at the time intended to be
yiveh.
l have been strengthened, too, in the
,ropriety of this course, BY the conviction
hat ali efforts to 60 beyond this, tend
'nly to produce dissatisfaction and distrust,
o excite jealousises, and to provoke re-