The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-03

WmEATLAND, (near LancasterD Feb. 20, 1852.
GENTLEMEN: In returning home through your city on
Saturday last, had the unexpected honor OF receiving
your kind Invitation to partake OF puoc dinner al sucn
lime as mi hl best suit my own convenience; For this
ds,ng and valued token of your regard please to
accept my most grateful Acknowledgements and, whilst
regrettng that circumstances which VIII be 100 tedious
to explain, will deprive OF the pleasure OF meeting
you al The festive board you may rest assured that shall
highly prize the favorable opinions you express OF
my poor public services.
strong ties In early life had selected it as the place
where 10 practise my profession and nothing prevented
me from carrying this purpose into elect but my invnc
BILE reluctance at the last moment TO leave my native
State The feeling which prompted me in 1914, during
the last with Great Britain, 10 march us private TO
Baltmorea circumstance 10 which you kindly allnde-
resulted from patriotism universal throughout Penn
syvana that the honor which may TALL to the ot oil any
one Of the thousands ofmy fellow. citizens who volun
eeed their that trying occasion scarcely de-
serves TO be mentioned
If rightly read thc signs Of the times" there has
seldom been period when the democratic party OF the
country. to which you and warmly attached, was
in greater danger OF suffering defeat than al Inc pres
moment In order TO avert this catastrophe we must
mutually forget and forgive past dssensons, suner by
cones TO be byyonesp and commence a career
Keeping constantly in view The ancient and long esab.
shed landmarks OF the party Most; y no. a, Inc
political opponents have been settled IN our favor
No person at this day thinks of reesabshng another
national bank repeating the independent treasury, or
distributing the proceeds Of the public lands among the
several States abolishing the veto power On these
great and important questions the wings alter long and
violent struggle, have yielded and Tor the present al
least would stand upon the democratic platform
The compromise measures are now a "hnaliiy'-ihose
who opposed them honestly and powerfully, and who
still believe them be wrong, having periodically de-
termned acquesce in them for the sake OF the Unon
provided they shall be faithfully carried into execution
On what issues then can we 60 before ' ne oeua
people at the approaching presidential election
answer unhesi,atingyha hat we must fall back, as you
suggest upon those fundamental and time honored prn
yyh m
since the beginning, and which, from the very ma
,ure of the federal constitution, must continue to divide
our banners sound regard for the reserved nights OF
the States, strict construction OF the constitution,
denial 10 Congress OF all powers not clearly granted BY
that instrument, and rigid economy IN publc cxpendi-
lures.
These expenditures have now reached the enormous
OF fifty millionso dollars per annum, and unless
arrested their advance by the strong OF the de-
mocracy of the country, may IN the course oil a few
years, reach one hundred millions. The appropriation OF
money accomplish great national objects sanctioned by
the constitution ought 10 be scale commensurate
with power and resources nation but its expend-
iture ought be conducted under the guidance OF
lighened economy and strict responsibility. am con.
WINGED that our expenses might be considerably reduced
below the present standard not only without deirment
but with positive advantage both 10 the government and
the people.
An excessive and lavish expenditure OF public money,
though in itself highly pernclous is as nothing when
compared with the disastrous influence may exert upon
the character oil free institutions. strong tendency
towards extravaganza is the great political evil OF the
present day; and this ought to be firmly resisted Con-
gress is necessarily mPoruned from every quarter
to make appropriations for all sorts OF projects Money,
money from the national treasury constantly demanded
to enrich contractors SPECTATORS and agents and the Sc
projects gIded with every alurenent which
be impaired to them by ingenuity and talent Claims
which had been condemned by former decisions and had
become rusty with age have been again revived, and
have been paid, principal and interest Indeed, there
seems TO be general rush 10 obtain money from the
treasury, on any and every pTe'ence.
What will be the inevitable consequence OF such law
oh apI hraf hau In 1txnf hA
nicely adjusted balance between the federal and State
governments upon the preservation OF which depend the
harmony and efficiency of SYSTEM Greedy expect
ants from the federal treasury will regard with ndiHer.
II not with contempt the governments oil the seve-
raj States The doctrine oil State rights will be laughed
TO by such individuals obsolete abstraction
unworthy OF the enlightened spirit of the age The
rupting power OF money will be felt throughout the
length and breadth Of the land and the democracy, led
by the Hero and Sage OF the Hermitage will have in
vain put down the Bank OF the United States, II the
fatal influence for which was condemned shall be
exerted and fosered by means drawn from the public
treasury.
To be liberal with their money but sparng of that
of the republic the glory OF distinguished pubk
wants among the ancient Romans When this maxim
reversed, and the public money was employed by aru
and ambitious demagogues TO secure Their own aggran-
dizemen genuine liberty soon expired II IS true that the
forms OF the republic continued for many years but the
tain no serious apprehensions that shall reach
1 this point yet may still profit by their example.
With sentiments OF the highest respect remain your
friend and fellow citizen. JAMES BUCHANAN
John Nelson, William +. Giles, John o. Wharton
John Morris, Carroll Spence, William p Pouder and
i John A. Bowen, esqs, and others
/ Treasury Nosas Outstanding March n 1850