Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-12-10

mens VI LUIS government 10 bear testimony TO the
efficiency and integrity with which they are con-
ducted,. With all the careful Superintendent
which 1t is possible for the heads Of those Deuart
msnts to exercise, still the due administration and
guardianship Of the public money must very much
depend on the vigilance, intelligence and fdelity
OF the subordinate officers and clerks and especial
ly on those entrusted with the settlement and ad-
JuStment of claims and accounts. / am gratified
to believe that they have generally performed their
duties faithfully and well. They are appointed to
guard the approaches to the public treasury, and
they occupy positions that expose them to all the
temptations and seductions which the cupidity of
REGULATORS and fraudulent claimants can prompt
them TO employ. 1t twill be but wise precaution
10 protect the government against that source of
hischef and corruption, as far as il can be done,
oy the enactment of all proper legal penalties The
awS IN this respect, are supposed to be defective,
anu therefore deem 1t my duty TO call your at
'chtioh 10 the subject and TO recommend that pro-
VISIONS be made by law for the punishment no, on
J y OF those who shall accept brides, but also of
tnose who shall either promise, give, or offer to
give 10 any OF those officers clerks bride or re-
ward touching or relating TO any matter of their
official action or duty.
1t has been the uniform policy of this Govern
ment from It's foundation to the present dav 10 alb
stain from all interference in the domestic affairs
OF other nations. The consequence has been that
while the nations of Europe have been engaged =,
dcsoiatIng wars, the L. 5. has pursued its peace
tulcourSe TO uneXamped prosperity and happiness
The wars in which we have been compelled TO en-.
gage, Ill defence of the rights and honor of the
country, have been fortunately of short duration
During the terrific contest of nation against nation
which succeeded the French revolution, we were
enabled by the wisdom and irmness of President
washington TO maintain our neutrality. While
other nations were drawn into this wide sweeping
whirlpool we sat quiet and unmoved upon our
shores hp Of flIpir MN arOI,
armies was wasted by disease or persisted by hun
dreds of thousands upon the battle field, the youth
OF this favored land were permitted to eniov the
blessings of peace bencath the paternal roof
While the States of Europe incurred enormous
debts, under the burden of which their subjects
still groan, and which must absorb no small part
of the product of the honest industry of those coun
tries for generations TO come, the United States
have once been enabled to exhibit the proud spec
tacle of nation free from public debt and, if per
united to pursue our prosperous way for n 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 n few days sail of our
shores. We see more of er movements and take
deeper interest in her controversies. Although
no one proposes that we SHOULD Join the fraternity
OF potential. who have 10 ages lavSh"d the bio d
and treasure of their subjects IN maintaining the
balance of power" vet il is said THAI ought to
interfere between the contendng soy egns and
their subjects Tor the purpose OF ovcrthrowng the
monarchles of Europe and establishing in their
place republican institutions 1t is alleged that
we have heretofore pursued different course from
sense of our weakness, but that now our con-
scious strength dictates n change of policy, and
that it is consequently our duty TO mnge in these
contests and aid those who are struggling for Ii
bertv.
This is most seductive but dangerous appeal
TO the generous SympatheS of trcemen. Enjoying
as we do the blessings of free government, there
is no man who has American heart that would
not rejoice TO those blessings extended TO all
other nations. We cannot witness the struggle
between the oppressed and his opprcsSor anywhere
without the deepest sympathy for the former, and
the most anxious desire for his triumph. Never
thcless is it prudent, is it wise to involve oar
selves in these foreign wars! Is it indeed true
that we have heretofore rcfrained from doing so,
merely from the degrading motive of a conscious
weakness? For the honor of the patriots who have
gone before us, cannot admit it. Men of the re-
volution who drew the sword against the OppreS-
sionS of the mother country, and pledged TO llca-
ven their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred
honor" to maintain their freedom, could never
have been actuated by so unworthy motive They
know no weakness or fear, where right or duty
pointed the way, and it is Il libel upon their fair
fame, for rs, while ENJOY the blessings for which
they noblv fought and blcd, to nSinuatc it. The
truth is, that the coarse which they pursued was
dictated by stern sense OF international Justice
by staesman-like prudence and farsccing wis
dom, looking not mcrelyto the present necessities
but TO the permanent safety and interest ~ the
country. They knew that Inc world is governed
less by sympathy than by reason and fercc that
it was not possible for this nation to become
"propagandSt of free principles, without array
ing against il tho combined powers of Europe; and
+h, III ilntx hnt Tho
of republican liberty here than its establishment
there. History has been written III vain for those
who can doubt this. France had no sooner csta-
bishcd a republican form of government than she
manifested desire TO force its blessings on all the
world. Her own historian informs that hear
ing of some petty acts OF tyranny IN nelghborrng
principalitv, "The National Convention declared
that she would afford succor and fraternity to al
nations who wished 20 recover their liberty; and she
gave it in charge 10 the executive powrtogiyc ord rs
to the generals of the French armies TO aid all CT
tizcns who might have been or should be cypress
ed in the cause of liberty" Here was the Ii, sc
step which led to her subsequent misfortuneS. She
found herself involved in with all the rest
of Europe. In less than ten years her government
was changed from republic TO an cmdire; and fl
nally after shedding rivers of blood, foreign pow
ers restored her exilcd dynasty and exhausted Eu-
rope sought peace and rcpoSc in the unquestonCd
ascendency Of monarchcal principles. Let us learn
wisdom from her example. Letus remember that
revolutions do not always establish freedom. Our
own free institutions were not the offspring of our
revolution. They existed before. They were
planted in the free charters of self-government I'M
der which the English colonies grew up, and our
revolution only freed us from the dominion of
foreign power whose government was at variance
with those institutions. But European nations
have had no such training for self-govemment, and
every effort establish it by bloody revolution has
BEEN and must, without that preparation, continue
10 be failure. Liberty, unregulated by law, de-
generates into anarchy, which soon becomes the
most horrid of all deSpotisms. Our policy is wise
y to govern ourselves, and thereby to set such an
example of national justice, prosperity, and true
glory, shall teach all nations the blessings Of
selfgovenmcnt, and unparalleled enterprise and
success of a free people.
We live in an age of progress, and ours is EN-
phaticallya country of progress. Within the last
half century the number of states in this union has
nearly doubled, the population has almost fsad-
rupled and our boundaries have been extended
from the Mississippi to- the Pacific. Our territory
is tequefed over with railroads and furrowcd with
canals. The inventive talent of our country is ex-
cited to the highest pitch and the numerous appli
cations for patents for valuable improvements dis
tinguish this age and this people from all others.
The genius of one American has enabled our com
mcrcc to move against wide and tide and that of
hos oDuibilated IN, he