The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-11-28

YORK; w. A. German, j. L. Robinson, and A. j. Harlan,
Of Indiana; +. Gerry and c. Sietson, OF Maine
Federal poiicy.-Ths people demand retreachnasnt
and economy.
The great cardinal principle OF democracy is, that the
people shall control the government The great cardinal
principle OF federalism is just the reversenamely, that
the government shall control the people.
Upon these two opposite axioms Of politics the two
parties have acted from the foundation Of the govern
ment to the present time The policy OF the democratic
party has constantly favored economy and rerenchment
in the expenditure of the public money Every neli
gent democrat knows that all revenues and taxes Of
whatsoever nature they may bewheher collected in the
form OF duties upon foreign goods imported into the
try, or levied directly upon property, real and personal
come out of the pockets Of the people, 1t is labor
which earns and produces all II is the toll and the
sweat Of the working millions which supply everything
OF intrinsic value possessed by civilized communities, or
consumed in civilized life 1t is labor which subdues the
Forest cuvaes the field builds cities constructs public
works, and manufactures all fabrics and articles that
minister TO the comfort luxury Of civilized man, and
it is labor which supplies the Of revenue to the
government, well as income to the capitalist. Con-
scous therefore, that all taxes imposed by the govern
ment fall ultimately upon the man Of TOLL the democratic
sibe, consistently with the supreme interests Of society,"
that they may be but little felt by the laboring classes by
whom they must finally be borne Hence il has always
contended for economy in public expenditure and it
has not contended for economy in theory only The
journals of Congress will abundany PROVE that the great
majority of democratic members have always advocated
and voted for low expenditures and light taxation Great
emergencies like war, the necessary acquisition Of con-
guous foreign territory have alone caused exceptions to
the general policy pursued by the democratic party with
regard TO expenditures.
And the democratic party has pursued this policy OF
low expenditures and light taxes because democrats
that all taxation tends to weaken the people, and
deprive them OF the power and energy to resist the
croachments and usurpation of government They know
that government possesses principle which attracts and
aggregates power around ITSELF large of matter
by the principle of gayitaon, attract smaller ones In
short, democrats conscious of the truth of the
MAXIM that "power is always stealing from the MANY
the !" in other words that government is constantly
uswping control oper the people.
But the political theories OF federalism are the very
opposite OF those of democracy that party of pur
different and opposite policy in the administration
OF the government. The federalists having no conf
dence in the capacity ofhe people for segevernment,
and holding that tae few should govern the many be-
leve that government should always control the people
and hence the policy OF that party conforms to the the
cries which it processes 1t is in favor OF strong gov.
eminent that can MAINTAIN "law and ORDER" with fire
and sword il necessary, as England maintains it in Ire
land, or Austria in Hungary II in favor OF national
debts and heavy taxes because those embarrass and
weaken the people, and deprive them OF the power OF re-
ssng the government in its Entertainments and usurpa-
lions upon the peoples rights. Hence federalists-
modern wings who the same th:ng--favor extrava.
gance and profgacy in the expenditures Of the public
money.
That such has been the practice of the federal party
from the foundation Of the government to the present
time, the journals OF Congress will conclusvely prove
They will show that the great body OF the edelists in
Congress have always voted for all sorts of extravagant
appropriations, for all OF claims against the govern.
ment whether founded in justice OF not and against all
the efforts of their opponents to reform and rerench the
expenditures Of the government They know that this
policy Of profuse expenditures and high taxation tends
10 increase the power Of the government and weaken the
influence Of the people; thus carrying out their favore
principle that the government should control the people,
instead of the people controlling the government
Such being the theories Of federalism in regard TO gov.
snmen and such having been the practice OF that party
IN reference TO expenditure and taxation, what course
ian reasonably expect the administration in power,
who represent the federal party will pursue in refer
to the deficit which their organs alege exists in the
reasury' VIII they recommend and practise economy
n the public expenditures Will they advocate retench.
nent in all the departments OF the public service, where
I can be safely made Or will they still continue to
recommend profuse appropriations for internal improve
nents for the army and navy and for every other branch
II the public services And will they resort to increased
axation and TO additional loansl II the limitations al
eady given out by the press Of that party are TO be relied
pon, we are to have reenchment in the public ex
endtures, leaving the alleged deficit to be supplied by
additional taxes and perhaps more loans.
II this shall be the policy which the cabinet will re-
ommend, let the people demand retrenchmen and econo
n.y. Let the money be saved by forbearing to recon-
mend and make unnecessary appropriations Let
etrenchment take place in all the departments OF the
ublc service in which il be safely done. Let the
rmy be reduced. Let the navy be reformed Let Con.
ress dismiss all supernumerary officers connected with
he government, and send out fewer ships to sea Let
etrenchment take place in the departments Let all un-
ecessary officers be dismissed Let the Department OF
he Interior, which the whole country now sees is not
My unnecessary but dangerous excrescence upon our
ys,em. be abolished Let these reforms be made, and
here will be need OF adding to the burden OF taxes
Thch the people now bear, nor OF borrowing money |
nd thus fho