Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-12-09

nnst very much depend on the vigilance, intel
Iiqence. and fidelity of the subordinate officers
and clerks and especially on those entrusted
with the settlement and adjustment of claims
and accounts am gratl6ed TO believe that they
have generally performed their duties faithfully
and we'll They appointed to guard the sp-
breaches to the public Treasury, ard they dccu-
/ pv positions that expose them to all the tempta-
1 lions and seduct0ns WHICH the cgPldlty OF pecu-
lators and fraudulent cl8lma3ts cs3 prompt them
to employ II will be but wise precautIon to
protect the Government against that hource Of
mischief and corruption, as far as il can be done
by the enactment Of all legal penalties. The
VS.. in this respect are supposed to be defec-
tive. and Therefore deem it glY dnty to cali your
attention 10 the subject aud to recommend that
PROVISION be made by law for ihe punishment not
only of those who shall accept brides, but also OF
Z ose vino shall either promise. give or offer ta
give to any of those officers or clerks brlbe or
reward touching relating 10 any matter OF theiE
Official action Or duty.
# has been The uritorm policy of this Gov
eminent from its foundation to the presen. day 10
abstain from all interference IN the domestic
affairs of other nations. The consequence has
been that while the nations Of Europe have been
engaged in desoatIng vars our country has
pursued its peaceful course TO uneRampled pros
Denly and happiness. The WaTs 10 which we
have been compelled 10 engage. in defence of
the rights and honor OF the country, have been
Fortunately Of short duration. During the terri
fc contest of nation against nation, whlch sue
ceeded the French revolution, we were enabled
by the wlsdomand firmness Of President Wash
ingt0n TO maintain our neutrality. While other
naIioBs were drawn into this wide and sweeping
= uhElpool, suit quiet aud unmoyed upon cur
|. t}ss1 shglee. while the Auwer of Their nuuier-
Gus armies was wasted by disease or persisted
{ by hugdreds Of thousands upon the battle field,
q the y.uh Of this favored land were permitted to
enjoy the blessings of peace beneath the paren-
}, tai roof While the States Of Europe incurred
u enormous debts, under the burden Of which their
z subjects sill groan and winch must absorb no
n small part Of the product OF the honest industry
If those countries for generations to come, the
e United States have once been enabled to eXhlb-
it / E proud spectacle OF Ii nation free from pub
i llc debt; and. If permitted to pursue our pros
le porous way for few years longer IN peace, we
- may do the same again.
II, Bnt it is now sad by some that this policy
n must be changed. Europe is no longer separat-
n ed from MS by n voyage of months, but steam
, navigation has brought her within a few days
~, sail of our shores We see more of her move
# mcnts and take deeper interest IN her cnntro-
or verslee Although no one proposes that we
~ should oin the fraternity Of polentatcs who have
~ for ages Iavished the blood and treasure of their
n subjects in maintaining the balance OF power"
of vet it is SAID that we ought to interfere between
Of conendhg sUyerelgns and their Subjects for
"a tine purpose Of oyrrthrow;ug the monarchles Of
Cd Europe aud establishing IN their place repubi.
do can institutions, 1t is alleged that We have pur-
or su, different course from sense Of our weak
vow ness, bat that now conscious strength dc
d. tacs change Of policy, and that it is conse-
roe quently our duty to mIngle in these contests and
re. AID those who ere struggling for liberty.
de- This is most seductive but dangerou appeal
ses 10 the generous sympathes OF treemen. En-
ose loving as we do the blessings of free govern.
lch ment there is no man who has an American
heart that would not rejoice to see these bless
act ings extended to all other nations. We cBnnot
md witness the struggle between the oppressed and
en- his oppressor anywhere without the deepest
he sympathy tor the former, and the most anxious
eat desire for his triumph. Nevertheless, IS 1t pru
der dent or is it wise to involve ourselves IN these
ght foreign wars? Is it indeed tine that we have
OF heretofore RETAINED from doing so merely from
our the degrading motive of u conscious weakness!
For the honor of the patriots who have gone be-
'es lore us.l cannot admit II. Men of the Revolu-
on wha drew ns sword agsas the
Use = their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred
we honor" 10 maintain their freedom, could never
$50 have been actuated by so unworthy a motive
ne They knew no weakness or fear where right or
ny duty pointed the way and it is a libel upon
Id helI alr fame for us, while we enjoy the bless.
, ing for which they SO nObly fought and bIed, to
l uslnuale It. The truth is that the course which
Val they pursued was dictated by stern sense Of
~ International justice, by statesmaulke pru.
his n,oroI, r., tho ,,roso, d,,a ;,, h,, wv
ui manent safety aud interests of the country.
They knew that the world Is governed less by
re- sympathy than by reason and force that it was
'u not possible for this nation to become PRO
-"i pagandlst' OF Tree principals without arraylng
p' against 1t the cumblnGO powers of Europe
- and that the results was more likely to be the
overthrow of republican liberty mere than lis
establishment there. History has been written
o,i III vain tor those who can doubt this France
=" had no sooner established a republican form of
III government than she manifested a desire TO
force its blessings on all the world Her own
.'i historian informs us that hearing of some pretty
'nS acts of tyranny in nelghboing principally,
" The National Convention declared that she
e would afford succor aud fraternity to all nations
~, who wished to recover THAR liberty; and she
u" gave 1t in charge to the executive power to
@ give order to the generals of the French armies
4
i 1'u be opposed in the cause of liberty" Here was
u. he false step which led to her subsequent mis-
ha fortunes. She soon found borseIi involved in
wars with all the Est Of Europe In less than
ten years her government was changed from a
- republic to an empire; aud finally, after she'd
. ding rivers OF blood. foreign powers restored
~ her eXed dynasty, and exhausted Europe sought
~ peace and Iepose in the unquestioncd ascenden.
10 cy OF monarchcal principles, Let us learn
NJ wisdom from her example. Let us remember
~ that revolutions do not always establish free
~ dom. Our own free institutions were not the off
- spring OF our Revolution. They existed before.
y They were planted in the free charters of self
40 government under which the English colonies
- grew up,and cur. Revolution only freed US from
il the dominion OF foreign power, whose govern
~ ment was at variance with those institutions
~ But European nations have had no such training
for self government, and every effort to establish
70 1t by bloody revolutions has been, and must,
without preparation, continue to be failure
M Liberty, unregulaled by law, degenerates into
- anarchy, which soon becomes the most horrd
" OF all despotism, Our policy is wisely to govern
-, ourselves, and thereby to set such an example of
90 national justice, prosperity and true glory, as
~ shall teach to all nations the blessings Of self
nd government, and the unparalleled enterprise and
nj success of free people.
RS We live in an age of progress, and ours is en-
iv phahcaHy country OF progress Within the last
halt-cenlury the number states in this Union has
II nearly doubled, the population has almost quadru-
u Piled, and our boundaries have been extended from
We the Mississippi 10 the Pacific. Our territory is
UT chequ red over with railroads. and turruwed with
r canals The inventive faculty oil our country Is
excited to the highest pltch and he numerous ap-