The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-03-14
Il is 4 source 81 deep regret that, in

GU pCiSOHo nave OC'fuotoh"hy biuWSSu
In schemes and agitations, whose object
is the destruction ofdomestic institu
tions existing in other sections-insti-
tutions which existed at the adoption
of.ihe constitution, and were recognis-
ed and protected by it. All must see
that if it were possible for them to be
successful in attaining their object, the
dissolution Of The Union, and the con.
sequent destruction Of our happy form
Of government, must speedily follow.
am happy 10 believe that at every
period of our existence as nation,
there has existed, and continues to ex-
ist, among the great mass Of our peo-
pie, a devotion to the Union OF the
States, which will shield and protect
itag1inst the moral treason Of any who
would seriously contemplate its des.
truction. To secure a continuance Of
that devotion, the compromises of the
constitution must not only be preserv-
ed, but sectional jealousies and heart
b,mnings must be discountenanced; and
ali should remember that they are mem
bers of the SINE political falnily. hdv-
ing common destiny. TO increase
the attachment of our people TO the
Union, our laws should be Just. Any
policy which shall tend to favor mon
opolies, or the peculiar interests of Sec
tions or classes, must opeIate to the
prejudice Of the interests oftheirfe!low-
citizens, md should be avoided. If the
compromises Of the constitution be
preserved-if sectional jealousies and
heart. .burnings be disc ,untenanced,-if if
our laws be just, and the government
he practically administered strictly
within the limits Of power prescribed to
tive may discard all apprehensions
for the safety of the Union. .~eog
With these views Of the nature, char
acter and objects of the government,
and the value Of the Union, ! shall
steadily oppose the creation of those
institutions and systems WHICH, in their
nature, tend to pervert it from its le-
climate purposes, and make it the IN
strument ofsections, classes, and indi-
viduaIs. We need no national banks,
or other extrane Gus institutions, plant
ed around the government to control
or, strengthen it in opposition to the
will of its authors. Experience has
taught us how unnecessary they are
as auxiliaries of the public authorities,
how impotent for good and how pow
erful for mischief.
Ours was intended to be n plain and
frugal government; and | shall regard
it to be my duty to recommend to Cob
gress. and, as far as the executive is
concerned, to enforce, by all the means
within my power, the strictest econo-
my in the expenditure Of tie public
money. which may be compatible with
the public interests. p.
A national debt has become almost
an Institution Of European monarchIes.
1t is viewed IN some of them, as an
essential prop to existing governments.
Melancholy is the condition Of that
people whose government can be sus-
tanned only by system which period
icalIy transfers large amounts from the
labor of the many to the Golfers of tue
few. Such system is incompatible
with the ends for which our republican
government was instituted. Under
wise policy, the debts contracted in
our revolution. and during the war Of
1912, have been happily extinguished.
By judicious application of the reve-
nucs not required for other necessary
purpo ses, it IS not doubted that the
debt which has grown out of the cir
cumstances of the last few years may
be speedily paid of. lg
| congratulate my felow-citizens on
the entire restoration of the credit Of
the general government Of the Un-
ion, and that Of many Of the States.
Happ, would it be tor the indebted
States il they were freed from their
liabilities, many Of which were incau-
uously contracted. Although the go
vernment of the Union is neither in a
legal nor moral sense bound for the
debts OF the States. and it would be a
violation of our compact Of Union TO
assume them, vet we cannot but feel a
deep interest in seeing all the States
meet their public liabilities, and pay off
their just debts, at the earliest praetica-
Bile period. That they will do so, as
soon as it can be done without impos-
ing too heavy burdens on their citizens,
there is no reason to doubt. The sound
moral, and honorable feeling Of the peo-
pie Of the indebted States, cannot be
questioned; and we are happy to per-
ceive a settled disposition on their part,
as their ability returns, after a season
Of unexampled pecuniary embarrass.