The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-20
THOUGHTS FOR THE PEOPLE No. 9.

To The Editor Of the National Era:
In England, an industrious man, with family
of eight persons, who manages TO keep out of the
poor house, and TO get along comfortably pays for
war preparations at the rate of two thousand dol
lars in fifty years. In this country, man in sim
liar circumstances pays at least FIVE hundred dol
lars in the same time
The increase of our expenditures for war preps-
rations within the last half century has been more
than ten fold A like increase for half century
to come, would amount TO the enormous sum Of
200, 100000 dollars annually. We shall soon over
take our leaders, at this rate.
But why this mmcry of European despotsl
Surely there cannot he the same motive with our
Government as with them The Austrian Gov.
eminent wants 100000 bayonets, for the double
purpose Of fleeing the people, and of compelling
them to lie still and be leeced without kicking
IL takes great many soldiers to hang, imprison,
whip, all the men and womea that do not exactly
toe to the line of the imperial will.
Our Senators and Representatives, who have
just gone from the people, and are soon to return
to them, and to be of them, can hardly be inAn-
enced by such motives. Why, then, this mimiory
of European despots? Twenty millions year are
not necessary for the national defence. No sensi-
bic man thinks that No one, suppose, believes
it, unless il be some senseless gull of too little in
dependence 10 think for himself into whose ear IL
has been whispered by his party leaders, or by
some one who xpects to be benefited by the large
amounts squandered on military preparations No
man certainly can suppose 1t win become necessa-
ny to hang, imprison, or whip, honest republican
men and women in this country, as in Austria
PAcFicUs.
The OPINION OF THE RICHMOND ENoUiRRR-
The editor of the Richmond (Va) Eaqnuer, who
was in Washington some weeks since, says, il the
Compromise of Mr.. Clay fail, the Presidents
plan must prevail. lie has no hope that the lat
ter can then be defeated by any parliamentary
maneuvring In letter dated New York, May
2ith, he says
"Under all the circumstances, | very much
fear that, unless the present compromise with
modihcationsl be accepted, the consequences 70
the South will he much worse in every respect
IL the compromise be defeated, the Presidents
policy (which the Administration is now press,
ing with criminal zeal) must pupeal; jrte-'OHi
California nMi be admitted; the 1srraorss
Ut0h and Nsw .Merico sacrificed 10 mihpMy
uNrpation and (ree-soH maehmations; and ci'I
war openly rage between Texas and new
Mexico. do not Jel.<ps that the South can
By any parliamentary manGnues, def,at ths Oh.
mission Of California singlg The minority hare mol
The eaO'nr0nss or physical means 10 hold fgs
against The srried forces and hot zeal OF me naohy
,sho eaa detail their men, relieve guard, Nc In sueh
struggle, the minority must be crushed, or, II
they succeed, il must produce an excitemen'
which will place the Union in an imprac',csvo
crisis. The course of the South on the Nashvihe
Convention question, and recent indications,
show that she riH NOT stand frm and rnned on pN
present Issue, and pW not make dinof'o" inc aA"'
iius Of The admission Of California
OF course she will not What ssn' Nm" ''''
supposed that she would ?
Ma cosw,s.-soms Of the Underwriters are
making free with Mr.. Cerwin. One In the I've"
sAaf Hon Tom Corwin Of Ohiois
NO .'."~sh h q few days against Mr.. Clay,
md in favor of the admission OF Cahiornis, sn
a a.c territorial Governments to Utah anu
Nv. usxioo, Is not true. II he makes speech,n
w, - sor reasons that have not yet developed
.rn...ss,vcs 70 his mind and should he speak, !
.~.--s the prediction that the Free-Soil party
"a a bolitionsts will forever thereafter reere,
~ Effort. a. much as one General Crazy Oh
xishisnn did on Q former memorable occasion
AZ Corwin thinks that this controversy shoula
he ended, and delay in settling II is far more osu
scrous 70 the cause Of Freedom, than TO the prop
sgssion Of slavery over territory now free"
This is eli stuff. Mr.. Corwin has very s0r
emn face and very solemn tone when nc cn00''"
to battle intrusive curiosity by quiasinsm