The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-12-19

vii and diplomatic service has been equSily
sustained if ample provision has been made
for the administration Of justice and the ex-
ecuIion of the laws; if the claims upon pub
lie gratitude in behalf Of the soldiers of the
Revolution have been promptly met; and
faithfully discharged, if there have been no
failures in deiraying the very large expendi-
lures growing out fihat long continued and
salutary policy Of peacefully removing the
Indians to regions Of comparative safety and
prosperity, if the public faith has at all
times, and every where been most scrupu.
lously maintained by prompt discharge Of
the numerous, extended, ard diversified
claims on the Treasury;--ifa all these great
and permanent objects, with many others
that might be stated, have, for series of
years, marked by peculiar obstacles and DIFF
liculties, been successfully accomplished
wlthOuta resort to permanent debt, or the
aid of national bank have we not right
10 expect that a policy, the object of which
has been to sustain the public service inde-
pendenIly Of either of these fruitful sources
Of discord; will receive the linal sanction of
people whose unbiased and fairly elici-
ted Judgment upon public affairs is never
ultimately wrong
That embarrassments in the pecuniary
concerns OF individuals, Of unexampled ex-
tent and duration, have recently existed in
this as in other commercial nations, ia un-
doubtedly true. To suppose it necessary
now TO trace these reverses TO their rosour-
ces, would be reflection on the intelligence
OF my felow-ctizens. Whatever may
have been the obscurity in which the sub
jsct was involved during the earlier stages
OF the revulsion; there cauuot now be many
by whom the whole question is not fully un-
derstood.
Not deeming it within the constitutional
powers of the General Government TO re-
pair private losses sustained by reverses in
business having noconnexion with the pub
lie service, either by direct appropriations
from the Treasury,or special Legislation
designed TO secure exclusive privileges and
immunities to iniividusis or classes in pref
erence to, and at the expense of, the great
majority necessarily debarred from any par
tcipaion in them, no attempt to do so has
beer either made, recommended, orencour-
aged, by the present Executive.
II is believed, however, that the great
purposes for the attainment of which The
Federal Government was instituted have
rot been lost sight of. Intrus,ed cnly with
certain limited powers, cautiously enumers-
ted, distinctly specified, and defined with a
precision and clearness which would seem
10 defy misconsiruciion, it has been my
aim TO confne myself within the
limits so clearly marked out, and so careful
ly guarded. Having always been of ,opin-
ion that the best preservative of the union
OF the States is to be found in total abstin-
ence fTou the exercise Of all doubtful pow
ers on the part of the Federal Government,
rather than in attempts TO assume them bv
a loose construction of the constitution, or
an ingenious perversion Of its words, have
endeavored TO avoid recommending anv
measure which had reason to apprehend
would, in the opinion even of consdera-
BITE minority Of my felIow-ciizens, be re-
garded as ltrenching on the rights of the
States, or the provisions Of the halowed
instrument of our Union. Viewing the
aggregate powers of the Federal Govern
nent as voluntary concession Of the Sta,es,
il seemed TO me that such only should be
exercised as were at the time intended 10 be
given.
have been strengthened, too, in the pro-
preIy of this course, by the conviction that
all efforts to 60 beyond this tend only to
produce dissatisfaction and distrnst, to ex-
cite jealousies, and to provoke resistance
Instead of adding strength to the Federal
Government, even when successful, thev
must ever prove source.o incurable weak
ness, by alternating portion of those adhe-
sion is indispensable to the great aggregate
oil united strength and whose voluntarily
attachment is, in my estimation, far more
essential TO the efficiency of government
strong in the best of all possible strength
the confidence and attachment of all those
who make up its constituent elements.
Thus believing, it has been my purpose
10 secure to the whole people, and to every
member of the coniederacy, by general. sal
ltary. and equal laws alone, the benefit of
hose republican institutions which it was
The end and aim of the constitution TO es-
lablish, and the impartial influence of which
IS, in my judgment, indispensable to their
preservation. l cannot bring mvslf to be.
ieve that the lasting happiness of the peo-
pie, the prosperity Of the States, or the DER.
nanency Of their Union, can be maintained
1y giving DreHereDce or nrior;t,, 20 80