The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-22


content itself with conducting successfully our
foreign affairs, and preserving the relations be.
tween its component States, leaving them to reg
ulate all domestic matters. Let it be, as many
desire it to be, the great Sentral sun but let it
becontent with tho performing the office, which
the sun does in the iirmanent of the Heavens
That vast luminary regulates the orbits Of the
planets, preserves their due dependence on each
other, and controls their motions, but itself re-
mains at rest in the centre. Does any one re-
gard its office less important, because of its
quiet, controlling it does the action of tie en-
tire system, aud preserving due dependence Of
all its parts Or does any one suppose that it
could assume the rapid motions of the little
planet Mercury, without deranging and destroy
ing the whole solar systemy SO if this central
government shall attempt TO assume the active
and lesser functions, which properly belong to
the several States, it will destroy the existing
system. II may possibly create in its stead a
vast and extended despotism. ] rather hope
however, that the attempts would be followed
by the disruption of the government, and the
throwing off OF several confederaces The frag-
ments thus separated, would be sufficiently
large to preserve their liberties, and advance the
sum OF human happiness. Is not the apprehen-
sion even now constantly expressed, that the
government is totally changing its limited char
acter, and becoming useless and mischievous
machine! Why members on this floor often
pay no more regard to constitutional limitations.
than they would do in popular meeting, where
the unchecked will Of the majority controls all
things.
Many Of our people are beginning to suppose
this government drelect in its duties, if it does
not supply them regularly with school books and
garden seeds. Look ut the enormous increase
in its expenditures. They are now amounting
to more than fifty millions annually. do not
intend to cast reproach on the President or his
advisers, COZ shutting the cabinet. | respect
them all highly, and regard them as well quail
fed both Intellectually and morally, for the sta
tons which they fiI The estimates for expen-
diture, which they send in to us, will be almost
assuredly increased in this House After pass
ing through this body, they will have vast addi-
tons made to them in the Senate On the last
day, or next to the last Of the session. they will
be returned to us with hundred or two hun
dred amendments, amounting in the aggregate
to an expenditure Of millions. For want of time
to investigate them, or to save the general ap-
preparation bills from defeat, because the Senate
is obstinate on the last day of the session, we
are Obliged to assent to appropriations, which
CATION, find supporters enough to obtain dvs-
ion on the vote rejecting them. From the very
situationin which we find ourselves placed here,
it is impossible that there should b. that feeling
of responsibility, and that degree Of vigilance
which exists long our State legislatures The
several States ought to leave to individuals the
accomplishment Of all such works as private en-
terprize can effect, because of the greater cheap
ness of its operations. For similar reason we
ought to leave to the States the execution of
whatever can be accomplished by them know
that for the evil under which we labor, it is diff.
cult to find remedy, but an honest effort on
the part OF all OF rs CONCERNED in the admins.
tration CT this federal government, would be
productive Of much good. The clamor raised
against Mr. Van Buren's administration for its
extravaganza, caused reduction Of Its expen-
ditures in its last year. from forty down to TWEEN
ty-two millions. During the whole four years
of the administration of Mr.. TYLER, the Wing
party having come into power upon professions
and principles Of economy, kept their expendi
lures down to this standard During the first
year of Mr. Folks administration, the expenses
were not materially increased. But now an in
terval Of only five years having elapsed, they are
greatly more than doubled Still there is much
reason to fear that they will be rapidly ncreas d.
This results from the fact that while the people
furnish the money, the government determines
the amount of the expenditure.
Where an individual is responsible for his
own expenses, il is often difficult for him to
keep his outlay within proper limits. But
wherever one furnishes the money and another
expends it, profusion and extravaganza almost
invariably are the results. Had we not then
better refuse all expenditures, and decline to
exercise all powers but those which are neces-
sary to the carrying out Of the known and well
defined objects of this government. The case
is surrounded with difficulty, however, because
1t is easy to carry into excess and abuse pow
ers, the exercise of which cannot well be dis
peDsed with. | have sometimes thought, Mr.
Chairman, that striking difference between the
modes OF thinking in the Southern and Northern
portions Of our Union, might be found in this :
The people of the Southern States engaged in
agriculture, live far apart, are accustomed to re-
fleet much, and are not easily driven to excess
In the North, the people are in close contact
more restless in their habits, more readily act
upon each other, they show more quickness and
energy in leir movements, and manifest more
exeitabity. They are more readily brought up
to efficient action, but reflect less on the ulti-
mate tendency Of their movements The ex-
ph'pic popuidtlon anu presses OF lneiT large
cities, IA sensitive to the change of day as the
thermometer itself exert controlling influence
over the sentiment of the North Hence the
Northern population, acting as States and cor
porations, have shown great efficiency, and made
extraordinary progress. They have not, how
ever, exhibited so much of that enlarged philos-
ophy, which is essential to the constitution OF
a statesman of the FIRST order Their public
men are usually too sensitive to popular i'm
pulse, and exhibit often too little independence
of thought and arton. The Southern States
seem to have produced a larger number of indie
pendent, self relying, and phosophic statesmen
In the action of bodies of men aggregated as
States and corporations, this spirit Of great ac-
tivty and energy works well, and the Northern
States have made extraordinary progress In their
movements.
In the Southern States on the contrary, the
individuals live more alone, are accustomed to
depend more on their own resources, have a feel
ing of greater independence, and have more time
for reflection. They are less sensitive to imme-
date popularimpressions, exhibit often stronger
wi as individuals, and are more accustomed 10
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