The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-07-14
Letters ftcm Members Of the Cabinet.
Hor. RsvnRDy JoHNsoN's vlEws ON THE


TAalrF AMI LABoR-HoN. JOHN NJ.
CLAYTON ON TIE LAsoRs OF PUBLIC
OFFICE, &c.
The wings Of Wilmington, Del, had
grand festival on the 4th of July, and in
the Journal, ofthat city, we find a full re-
port Of the proceedings. annexed to which
are the letters from the Honorables Rever-
dy Johnson, John Nj. Clayton, I. Ewing,
VIM. Ballard Preston, and VIM. NJ. Mere
dith, all members of the Cabinet. They
all declined the invitation rendered to them
to be present, on account Of the pressure of
public business. The letters from Mr..
johnson and Mr.. Clayton, however, con-
tain matters of general interest, as coming
from members Of the cabinet, and we there
fore make room for them in our columns:
WASHINGTON, July Sd, 1S49.
Gentlemen,-Official engagements which
am not at liberty to neglect, deprive me
Of the pleasure of accepting your invitation
to the celebration our friends propose of
the coming anniversary ofour national in
dependence.
There is no portion of my countrymen
! should more rejoice to meet upon such an
occasion, than the citizens of Delaware,
and at their home. From the period ofthe
first struggle of our ancestors for freedom,
to the present hour, our relations, political
and social, have been almost as intimate as
If we were citizens Of the same State
scarcely battlefield of the Revolution
which was not moistened by our common
blood, and did not gloriously illustrate our
common valor, and in all succeeding years
the ties Of association have been growing
stronger and stronger, amidst common per-
lis, and almost always, common prosperity
The pure fire of patriotism, which warmed
the hearts Of our ancestors, still animates
their descendants, and will, | trust, and
doubt not, in all coming time, be the cher
ished possession Of those who are to follow
US.
That such people shall proudly cling
to the institutions which secure us personal
and political liberty, is but the consequence
of their descent. That they shall be So
licitous, under their auspices, still further
to extend and perfect the blessings they
are calculated to bestow, is but natural; Of
these, the internal improvement of the
country so as to secure protection to the
property and lives of our citizens, and the
encouragement of our domestic industry by
wise and enlightened system of legisla-
ton, and its safety, from ruinous conflict
with the pauper labor of other nations,
have ever been the favorite objects OF our
States. With country, now limited only
BY the great oceans which wash its boun-
diaries, and, with forms ofgovernment gen.
eral and local, how admirably adapted to
secure and perpetuate freedom, and impart
individual happiness, than the world has
ever before witnessed-with every variety
of climate and soil and mineral wealth,
Heaven would seem to point it out as our
especial duty to establish system of A
merican policy, which shall, at the same
time, secure us from foreign convulsions,
and protect Our people in a full and liberal
compensation for all the fruits of their do
nestle industry. Our forms of govern
mcnt, resting on intelligence, can never
be maintained if the people generally have
not competency. The affect poverty Of
the masses in the Old world-the gross and
degrading ignorance, its unavoidable con-
sequences, in which they are involved,
can never exist with US and our institutions
stand. 1t should be our object, the very
necessity of our political conditions de-
mands ito secure our labor, not only an
adequate, but q liberal compensation.
The laborer with us, in every branch Of
human industry, should be made TO receive
more-much more than bare suficiency
to support life. He should be in cond-
ton, by economy and industry, to educate
his children, and secure himself in his old
age from want. He should be indepen-
dent in mind, as well as body-one of the
sovereigns of the iand-the only sovereign
nature recognizes he is entitled, when true
70 himself, to the comforts of life, and the
benefits of education, and these, through
the ballot box, he should take care to Sc
cure for himself and hand down to his chill
dren. Bring the schoolmaster into every
cottage-and keep poverty out OF it, and
no imagination can figure the happiness,
individual and general, and the national
power, great as all are, which our people
and country are to witness and enjoy heSe--
after. Very respectfully, your obedient
servant. REvERDy JOHNSON.
To Hon. John Wales and others.
WAsulsGror, July I'd, 1S49.
Gentlemen have this day received
your invitation to attend The festival OF
the Wing citizens Of Wilmin gton and
New Castle county, Delaware, who are
making preparations for patriotic cele-
bration OF the coming anniversary Of
American Independence.
The pies Of public business neces-
sanly consequent upon the advent of a