North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-03-19

trolls their motohs out itself remains at in the
centre. Does any regard its Office as less impor
tant because of its quiet controlling as il does the
action of the entire SYSTEM and preserving the due
: dependence OF all its parts2 Or does any one sup
pose that conId assume the rapid motions OF the
little planet Mercury without derangng and destroy
ing the whole solar SYSTEM so if this central gov
shall attempt assume the active and lesser
which properly belong to the several States
1t will destoy the existing system. 1t may possibly
create in its stead vast and extended despotism
rather hoPe however, that the attempt would be fol-
lowed by the disruption of the government and the
throwing off OF several confederacies. The fragments
thus separated would be sufficiently large to preserve
their liberties. and advance the sum of human happi
e ness. is not the apprehension even constantly
expressed that the government is totally changing its
] limited character, and becoming useless and mis-
: chleVous machlnet Why, members this floor Of
ten pay more regard 10 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 derllect in its duties, does not sup
D ply them regularly with school books and garden
Seeds Look at the enormous increase in its expen-
dltures They are now amounting to more than fifty
on the President his advisers, constituting the
bine respect them all highly, and regard them
well qualified, both intellectually and morally, for
the stations which they fill. The estimates for
penditure, which they send in us, will be almost
assuredly increased in this House. After passing
through this body, they will have additions made
to them in the Senate. On the last day, or to
the last OF the session, they will be returned to
! with hundred or two hundred amendments, amount
ing in the aggregate to expenditure of millions
For want of time to investigate them, 10 save the
general appropriation bills from defeat, because the
Senate is obstinate the last day of the session,
we obliged to assent to appropriations, which
would not in this House, after proper investigations
find supporters enough obtain division on the
vote rejecting them. From the very situation in
which find ourselves placed here, is impossible
that there should be that feeling of responsibility
and that degree of vigilance which exists in our State
! legislatures. The several States oughtto leave to
individuals the accomplishment of all such works as
private enterprise effect because of the greater
cheapness OF its operations. For similar reason
ought to leave to the States the execution of
whatever can be accomplished by them. know that
for the evil under which labor, it is difficult to
find remedy, but honest effort on the part of all
of concerned in the adminisra ton of this federal
government, would be productive of much good.
The clamor raised against Mr.. Van Buren's admin
stratlon for its extravaganza, caused reduction of
its expenditures in its last year, from forty down to
twenty-five millions. During the whole four years
of the administration of MIR. Tyler the Wing party
having come into power upon professions and princ-
pies of economy, kept their expenditures down this
standard. During the first year of Mr. Folks ad-
ministration, the expenses were not materially in
creased. But now, interval of only five years
having elapsed, they are greatly more than doubled
Sill there is much reason to fear that they will be
rapidly increased. This results from the fac. that
while the people furnish the money, the government
determines the amount of the expenditure.
Where an individual is responsible for his own
expenses, it is often difficult for him keep his out
lay within proper limits But wherever one furn-
ishes the money and another eXpends il, profusion
and extravaganza almost invariably are the results
Had not then better refuse all expenditures and
decline TO exercise all powers but those which are
necessary to the carrying of the known and well
defined objects Of this government! The case is sur
rounded with difficulty, however, because it is easy
to carry into excess and abuse powers the exercise
of which cannot well be dispensed with have
thouUht MIR. Chairman thata
difference between the modes of thinking in the
Southern and Northern portions of Union, might
be found in this: The people of the Southern States
engaged in agriculture, live far apart are customed
to reflect much, and are not easily driven to excess
In the North, the people IN close contact more
restless in their habits readily act upon each
other, they show more quckness and energy in their
and manifest more eXctability. They
are readily brought up to efficient action but
reflect less the ultimate tendency of their move
ments The excitabe population and presses of their
large cities, as sensitive to the change of day as
the thermometer itself, exert controlling influence
over the sentiment of the North. Hence the North
ern population. acting States and corporations have
shown great efficiency, and made extraordinary pro-
yress. They have not, however. exhibited so much
Of that enlarged philosophy, which essential to the
constitution of statesman of the first order. Their
onblic usually sensitive TO popular i'm
,uIse, and exhibit often too little independence of
thought and action. The Southern States seem to
lave produced large number of independent, self
elying phllosophic statesmen. In the action of bo-
lies of men aggregated as States and corporations
his spirit of great activity and energy works well,
md the Northern States have made extraordinary pro-
yress in their movements.
In the Southern States, on the contrary, the ind-
RITUALS live more alone, are accustomed TO depend
more on their own resources, have feeling of greater
Independence and have time for reflection.
They less sensitive immediate popular impress
ions, exhibit often stronger will as individuals, L
nd are more accustomed to take enlarged and 1
'hosophic view of subject. This, as it has some {
ines been alleged by the Abolitoniss, may be due
part to the habit of dominion their slaves and
he pride of superior CASTE But whether atiributa-
lie in any degree not, to such cause it is GER
ainly true that while they have accomplished less,
Trough the medium of the State governments where
mere activity and impulse essential, they
eem to have exerted grea control upon the action
t this central government 1t is a common remark b
,ents which complained of with US, really had Il
heir origin with Southern statesmen. This is I'M t
oubtedly true The Virginians were opposed to the
Indefinite importation of slaves, and advocated the
rohibon TO take effect after the year $685. and Mr.. s.
ee:son undoubtedly favored the exclusion of slave
Y north of the Ohio river. But when the New tt
'ngand politicians that in the convention which Il
lade the federal Constitution for the proonga
on of the sIavetrade the latest period proposed
lbsaquently shifted their position and assumed the
rongest antslayery ground in the Missouri hi
ersy, it is equally certain that Mr.. Jefferson con-
emned their movement. 1t is also true that the 81
octrine of protection domestic industry had til
early and most strenuous advocates among South u
n statesmen. AS soon, however, it taken ST
by the of the North, it pressed to an "
Htent of extravagant protection and prohibit oil
on. The doctrine Of internal improvement by the
sneral government, is likewise affirmed to have had