The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-12-08

Indians; and for fulfilling our treaty stipulation
with Mexico 10 defend her citizens against tn
Indians with equal diligence and energy a
our own"
For determining the relative rank between th
naval and civil officers in our public ships, ant
between the officers of the Army and Navy IL
the various grades of each; for reorganizing the
naval establishment by fixing the number OF on
GERS in each grade, and providing for retres is'
upon reduced pay of those unit for active DUTY;
for prescribing and regulating punishmenfs IN the
Navy; for the appointment OF COMMISSION u
revise the puqlie statutes of the United States by
arranging them in order, supplying deficiencies,
correcting incongruities, simplifying their IAN
puape and reporting them to congress Tor Its hnal
action. and for the establishment OF commission
to adudicate add settle private claims against the
United States: | am not aware, however, that
anTof these subjects have been finally acted upon
by Congress- Without repeating the reasons for
legislation on these subjects which have been as
signed in former messages, respectfully recon-
mend them to your favorable consideration.
think it due to the several Executive Depart
ments of this Government to bear testimony to
the efficiency and integrity with which they are
conducted With all the careful superintendent
which it is possible for the Heads of those De-
partments to exercise, still the due administration
and guardianship of the public money must very
much depend on the vigilance, intelligence, and
fidelity of the subordinate officers and clerks, and
gnd adjustment of claims and accounts am
gratifed to believe that they have generally per-
formed their duties faithfully and well. They
appointe to guard the approaches to the pnblic
Treasury, and they occupy positions that expose
them to all the temptations and saductions which
the cupidity efspecuators and fraudulent claim
ants can prompt them to employ
1t will be but wise precauton to ptotect the
-4Government against that source OF mischief and
corrapatiQns as far as it can be done by the enact
ment ofalp penalties.
The laJFs, in this respect, are supposed to be
defective, and therefore deem it my duty to call
your attention to the subject, and to recommend
that provision be made by law for the punishment
not only of those who shall accept bribes, but
also of those who shall either promise, give
offer to give to any of those officers or clerks
bribe or reward touching or relating to any mat
ter Of their official action duty.
thas been the uniform policy of this Govern
ment, from its foundatioo to the present day, to
abstain fen all interference in the domestic af-
fairs of other nations. The consequence has been
that while the nations of Europe hace been en-
gagged in desolatng wars, our country has pursu-
ed its peaceful course OF unexampled prosperity
and happiness The wars in which we have been
compelled to engage, in defence of the rights and
: honor of t4e country, have been fortunately of
short duration. During the terrific contest OF ma
tion against nation, which succeeded the French
revolution, we were enabled by the wisdom and
frmness of President Washington to maintain
our neutrality.
While other nations were drawn into this wide
sweeping whirlpool, we sat quiet and unmoved
upon our own shores. While tha flower of their
numerous armies wasted by disease or per-
ished by hundreds of thousands upon the battle
field, the youth of this land were permitted to en-
Joy the blessings of peace beneath the paternal
roof. While the States of Europe incurred enor-
nous debts, under the burden Of which their sub
sf1,l.
of the predunt of the honest industry of those
countries for generations to come, the United
States have once been enabled to exhibit the
proud spectacle of nation free from public debt;
and ii permitted to pursue prosperous way for
few years longer in peace, we may do the same
again
But it is now said by some that this policy must
}. be changed. Europe is no longer separated from
us by voyage OF months, but steam navigation has
brought her within few days sail Of our shores
We see more of her movements, and take deep
or interest in her controversies. Although no
one proposes that we should join the fraternity of
potentates who have for ages layishsd the blood
and treasurer of their subjects in maintaining ssths
balance power" yet it is said that we ought to
interfere between contending sovereigns and
their subjects Tor the purpose of overthrowing the
u.onarch5 of Europe and establishing their place
republican institutions. 1t is alleged that
have heretofore pursued different course from
sense of our weakness, but that our con-
scious strength dictates change of policy, and
that it is consequently duty to mingle in these
contests and aid those who are struggling for lib
erty.
This is most seductive but dangerous appeal
TO the generous sympathies of freemen, enjoying
rs we do the blessings of free government, there
Is no man that has American heart that would
not rejoice to see these blessings extended to all
other nations We cannot witness the struggle
between the oppressed and his oppressor any,
where without the deepest sympathy for the for
mer and the most anxious desire for his triumph.
Nevertheless, is it prudent or is 1t wise to involve
ourselves in these foreign wars! Is it indeed
true that we have heretofore refrained from doing
so merely from the degrading motive of a con-
scious weakness, For the honor of the patriots
who have gone before US, cannot admit it.
Men of the Revolution who drew the sword
arainst the expressions of the mother country,
and pledged to Heaven 'sther lives, their fortunes
and their sacred honor to maintain their freedom,
could never have been actuated by so unworthy
motive. They knew no weakness or fear where
right or duty pointed the way and it is a libel up
on Their faifame for US, while we enjoy the blas.
ings for which they so nobly fought and bled, to
insinuate it.
The truth is that the course which they pur-
sued was dictated by stern sense of internaton-
al Justice, by statesmanlke prudence of far
seeing wisdom, looking not merely to the present
necessaries but to the permanent safety and IN
terest of the country, &ESs
They knew that the world is governed less by
sympathy than by reason and force, that it was
not possible for the nation to become "propa-
gandst'' of free principles without arrayng again.
st it the combined powers of Europe; and that the
resultwas more likely to be the overthrow of re-
publican liberty here than its establishment there.
History has been written in vain for those who
can doubt this.
France had no sooner established republican
form of government, than she manifested de,
sire to force its blessings on all the world. Her
own historian informs us that hearing of some
petty acts of tyranny in a neghboring principali
ty. s.'The National Convention declared that she
would afford succor and fraternity to all notions
who wished to recover their liberty; and she guV'
it in charge to the executive power to give or,
: ders to the generals of the French armies to ali
all citizens who might have been or should be op
pressed in the cause of liberty.
Here was the false step which led to her sub
sequent misfortune. She soon found herself in
II IT,, 11c