, 1844-12-14
u interests, depend mainly upon u

US " OOIoIV tiItlfis Jul
public men and public officers should
make no eXtravaeart promises. They
should not promise wealth TO the peo,
pie. The government cannot be.
stow wealth. On the contrary, both
the government and The public off,
GERS want a support from the people
for themselves. They should not
promise 10 exempt the psnple from la
hor. The government cannot eX
empt them. On the contrary, the
people must labor to support them
selves, the public officers, and tie
government. They should not prom
Use to confer benefits on the people
generally. The government has
nothing to give except what it first
takes from the people; and TO take a
way 10 give back again. would only
be rohbing with n hand and restor-
ing with the other; first deducrlug
for lis officers both the expense OF
robbing and restoring. and leaving
the people in the end poorer than II
originally found them. They should
not promise advantages 10 any par
ticuIar class. The government can
not confer benefits upon a lew with
out fl 81 extracting the means Of do
ing 81 from the many. This would
be unjust and partial, and The govern
menl should be just and impartial,
and should act towards all men alike.
and should 90 for the doctrine OF E.
quail rights. and pass equal laws 10
sustain them. They should not pro-
mise TO make;the people rich. for. as
previously remarked, the government
cannot bestow wealth. because it is
itself the largest beggar, and its
wheels must stop whenever the peo-
pie refuse TO grant the necessary sup
plies TO keep them in motion. The
people must enrich themselves or
they will forever remain poor. And
we should never lose sight Of the I'M
portant truth, that on the labor of the
people and the spontaneous produce
tons of the earth every man, and
every public officer. and the govern
ment itself, must depend for support.
No doctrine, then, should be taught,
and no promises sholld be made by
public men or public officers, in refer
ence 10 Il governments, which
would retard the progress OF indus
try among the'great body OF the peo-
pie. and encourage a reliance upon
the-government instead OF their own
exertions for the meanso obtaining
he necessaries and comforts OF life.
All should labor.
But if these things should not. still
many olhers7may he safely promised.
The laws can be distributed & faith
fully executed. The rights of the
weak and the honest can be protect
ed from invasion by the strong and
the VICIOUS. A proper observance of
all contracts can be enforced. The
public expenditures a be made rea-
sonabIe. The public monies can be
judicicusly appropriated, and then
properly applied to the purposes for
which they are appropriated. II
benefits cannot be conferred on the
people, vice. immortality. crime, and
practices injurious to the interests of
the country, can be prevented. In
~legisIaring. the wishes of the people
can be carried on: as far as they are
practicable and constitutional. As
far as the people are willing TO iurn-
ish the means, laws a be passed 10
provide for the construction OF pub
lie works, and the money appropria.
ted can be faithfully applied, and the
works properly executed. Selfish,
partial and speculative legislation,
which, while it may contribute to
the interest of a few, seldom Us to
result greatly TO the injury OF the
country at large. can be avoided
All these things can be safely promls-
ed. and by the cooperation OF the
legislature and the executive, a be
accomplished. hope that that CO.
operation may be had.
la our mixed form Of government
the true division of powers Is always
a question Of vital Importance. I'm
der our system the powers which
may become the subjects Of leg'sla-
ton are divided between the people,
the state, and the United States, and
in n or the other Of these three
bodies can be found every power OF
political character, not excepting
even, those prohibited 10 the states.
The vast extent of the disputed
questions which spring out o. this d.
vision of powers. and the serious con
sequences to be apprehended from
collisions between the States and the
JTnitad States. makes the true loc3-