Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1852-12-11
SECURITIES TO THE PUBLIC MONIES.

cy and integrity with which they are conductel-
With all the careful superintendent which it is pos
sble for the Heads Of those Departments to exercise
still The due administration and guardianship of the
public money must very much depend on the vigi-
lence intelligence, and fidelity of the subordinate
officers and clerks, and especially those entrusted
with the settlement and adjustment of claims and
accounts. am gratifed 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 ex-
pose them to all the temptations seductions which
the cupdity of spectators and fraudulent claimants
prompt them to employ. twill be bat wise pre-
caution to protect the Government against that
of mischief and corruption far it can be done,
by the enactment of all proper legal penalties. The
laws in this respect 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 brides, but also of those who shall
either promise, give, offer to give to any of those
officers or clerks bride reward touching relat-
ing to any matter of their official action or duty.
FOREIGN INTERVENTION.
1t has been the uniform policy of this Government
from its foundation to the present day to abstain
from all interference in the domestic affairs CT other
nations The consequence has been that while the
nations of Europe have been engaged in desoating
wars country has pursued its peaceful course to
unexampled prosperity and happiness. The in
which we have been compelled to engage, in de-
fence Of the rights and honor of the country, have
been fortunately of short duration. During the ter
rife contests of nation against nation, which
ceeded the French revolution, enabled by the
wisdom and frmness of President Washington, to
maintain neutrality. While other nations were
drawn into this widesweeping whirlpool we sat quiet
and unmoved upon cur own shores. While the
flower of their armies was wasted by dis
ease persisted by hundreds of thousands upon the
battle field the youth Of this favored land were per
mitted to enjoy the blessings of peace beneath 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 smell
part of the product Of the honest industry of those
countries for generations come the United States
have been enabled to exhibit the proud spectacle
of nation free from public debt; and, if permitted
TO pursue our prosperous way for few years longer
in peace, we may do the same again.
But it is said by some that this policy must
be changed. Europe is no longer separated from us
by voyage of months, but by steam navigation has
brought her within few days sail of our shores
We more CT her movements, and take deeper
interest in her controversies. Although no one pro-
poses that should join the fraternity of poentates
who have for ages avshed the blood and treasure of
their sub ects in maintaining he balance of power
yet it is said that ought to interfere between CON
tending sovereigns and their subjects, for the pur-
pose of overthrowing the monarchics of Europe and
establishing in their place republican institutions 1t
is alleged that Lave heretofore pursued differ
ent course from a of our weakness: but that
now our conscious strength dictates change of poll
cy, and that it is consequently duty mngle in
these contests and aid those who are struggling for
liberty
This is most seductive but dangerous appeal to
the generous sympathies of freemen. Enjoying as
do the blessings of free government there is no
who has American heart. that would not re-
joce to these blessings extended to all other ma
tons. We not witness the struggle between the
oppressed and his oppressor any where without the
deeDpSt sVmOafbV for The farmer and tha
Gus desire for his triumph Nevertheless, is it pru-
dent is it wise to involve ourselves in these foreign
wars? Is it indeed true that we have heretofore re-
Trained from doing so merely from the degrading
motive of a conscious weakness? For the honor of
the patriots who have gone before US, 1 not adj
NIT it. Men of the revolution who drew the sword
against the expressions of the mother country, and
pledged to heaven their lives, their fortunes, and
their sacred honor to maintain their freedom, could
never have been actuated by unworthy motive.
They knew weakness or fear where right duty
pointed the way and it is libel upon their fair
fame for us, while enjoy the blessings for which
they so nobly fought and bled, to insnuate it The
truth is that the which they pursued dicta
ted by a stern of international justice, by
statesmanlike prudence and far-seeing wisdom
looking merely the present necessities, but
the permanent safety and interest of the country
They know that the world is governed less by sym
pathy than by and Forces that il not pos
sible for this nation to become 'propagandist of
free principles without arraying against it the COM
bned powers of EuTOpe and that the result was
likely to be the overthrow of republican liberty
here than its establishment there History has been
written in vain for those who doubt this. France
had no sooner established republican form of GOV
eminent than she manifested desire to force its
blessings the world Her own historian informs
us that, hearing of some petty acts of tyranny in
neighboring principaity, 'The National Convention
declared that she would afford and fraternity
to all nations who wished to recover their liberty;
and she gave it in charge to the executive power to
give orders to the generals of the French armies to
aid all citizens who might have been or should be
oppressed in the cause of liberty" Here was the
false step which led to her subsequent msfortunes-
She soon fcInd herself involved in war with all the
rest Of Europe. In less than ten years her govern
ment was changed from a republic to empire; and
finally, after shedding rivers of blood foreign powers
restored her exiled dynasty, and exhausted Europe
sought peace and repose in the unquestcned ascen
dancy of monarehcal principles Let us learn wis !
dom from her example. Let remember that revo-
lutOns do not always establish freedom. Our own |
free institutions not the offspring of revou
ton. They existed before They were planted in |
the free charters of self government under which |
the English colonies grew up, and revolution on
ly freed US from the dominion Of a foreign power
whose government was at variance with those insti
tutions. But European nations have had no such |
training for self government, and every effort to
establish it by bloody revolutions has been and must
without that preparation, continue to be failure
Liberty, unregulated by law, degeneraes into anar
chy, which soon becomes the most horrid of all des
potisms Our policy is wisely to govern ourselves |
and thereby set such an example of national justice
prosperity, and true glory, shall teach all
tons the blessings of self government, and the
paralleed enterprise and success of free people.
We live in an age of progress and ours is emphatic
ally country of PROCESS. Within the last haf-cen-
fury the number of States in this Union has nearly
doubled, the population has almost quadrupled, and |
boundaries have been extended from the Missis-
spp to the Pacific. Our territory is chequerrd over
with railroads, and furrowed with canals. The in
ventve talent Of our country is excited to the highest
pitch, and the numerous applications for patents for
valuable Improvements distinguish this age and this
people from all others. The genious of American
has enabled our commerce to move against wind and |
tide and that Of another has annihilated distance in
the transmission of intelligence. The whole country
is full Of enterprise. Our common schools diff
fusng intelligence among the people, end indus
try is fast accommodating the comforts and luXuries of
life. This is in part owing to peculiar position
to fertile soil, and comparatively sparse pOpula
tion but much of it is also owing to the popular in
situations under which live to the freedom which
every man feels to engage in any useful pursuit
cOrding to his taste inclination and to the entire
confidence that his person and property will be pro-
tected by the laws. But whatever may be the cause
OF this unparalleled growth in population, intelligence
and wealth. one thing is clear that the Government
must keep pace with the progress of the people 1t
must participate in their spirit of enterprise, and
while 1t eXacts obedience TO the laws and restraints