The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-05
THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE PEOPLE

''In peace prepare for war;" is maxim,
the soundness of which has been attested by
experience, and in speaking of the course pur-
sued by the present Administration it is but JUS
tice to call the attention of the People to the
measures IN progress, with view to protect
our Territories from hostile aggresslons, let
them come from what quarter they may
If reference be had to the report of the Sec
rotary Of War it will be found that, acting
in accordance with the views and wishes Of the
Chief Magistrate, that able officer has presented
detailed statement of the condition Of the ma
tional detences, which does infinite credit to his
laborious research and patient investigation IN
matters belonging to the Department committed
to his charge. 1t is not deemed necessary at
this time to enter into Details let it suffice there
fore to remark that the enlarged and liberal pol
icy indicated by the Administration is such as,
if carried into effect, as we hope it may be, will
afford the most ample protection at the least pos
sibe expense to our frontier brethren, whether
they be situated on our Atlantic or inland from
tier In examining the report, of which we
have just spoken it must be evident to every OBJ
server that the entire system of national de-
fences is treated in statesmanllke and patriotic
manner indicating that the document has Its
origin in thorough acquaintance with the mil
itary wants of the country, and it only remains
the means necessary to effect the purposes men
toned, to enable the Administration to leave be-
hind it the most enduring evidences of its zeal
in promoting the safety OF our citizens. If as
we find to be the case, the present means OF de-
fence be imperfect, the impertecton must be
traced to the backwardness Of Congress, with
whom rests the authority of appropriating the
money, to do what should have been done, in
stead of consuming the public treasure in the
prosecution of debates upon trivial matters and
affairs not legitimately connected with the SER
vice of the nation. To render our country Sc
cure with sea-coast of vast exlent-to say no.
thing Of the equally import ant line of inland
frontier-cannot fail to create heavy expenses,
but it should be remembered that, however
onerous, they can only be avoided at the cost of
public safety. In the fearless discharge of its
duty, the Executive Department has indicated
the course to be pursued in procuring permanent
protection, and the independence thus manifest
ed must meet with grateful response IN the
bosom of every true hearted American. We
are well aware that economy is word well
known in the vocabulary Of politicians, and that
in the ordinary use of the term, lowness Of price
or stnted expenditure, is considered to be its
proper definition; but we believe that in public
as we'll as private affairs the thorough attain
nent o The end IN pieao IN The most effective and
durable manner, is, after aH the only true
economy. In the application of means to the
ends to be attained, the Executive has looked
with a Just discrimination to the circum-
stances of the case and by adapting its mea-
sures to the local pecuarities with which its
must contend, has pointed out the best modes
in which our people may be rendered safe in the
enjoyment Of their lives and properly. Let
Congress, then, follow up the suggestions so
judiciously made aud thus become participators
in the glory that must attach to the perfection of
our defences. Nor do the measures proposed
stand in the simple basis of ordinary ex-
pedlency, admitting of delay until some
more convenient season, as the signs of the
times are pregnant with indications Of threaten
ing, we would say, imminent danger Our TO
reign relations, conducted, as they have of late
| been, with the greatest talent and discretion,
point to sources Of difficulty with foreign powers
that cannot, with any propriety, be overlooked,
and when our present unprepared condition is
taken into view, the consequences of a war with
any powerful nation are sufficiently appalling to
excite our deepest solicitude. To say nothing
of the possibility of rupture with other powers,
the causes of discomfort between this country
and Great Britain are of themselves sufficient
to create the most serious apprehensions We