Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-12-16


by arranging them in order, supplying deficiencies,
rcctng incongruites, simplifying their language, and |
reporting them to Congress for its final acton and for
the establishment of commission TO adjudicaie and
settle private claims against the United States. am
not aware however, that any Of these subjects have
been finally acted upon by Congress. Without repeat
ing the for Legislation these subjects which
have been assigned in former messages, respectfully
recommend them again to your favorable consideration
think it due to the several Executive Departments
Of this Government TO bear test mony to the efficiency
and integrity with which they conducted. With oil
the careful superintendent which il is possible for the
Heads of those Departments to exercise. still the due
administration and guardianship of the public money
must very much depend the vigilance, intelligence
and fidelity VT the subordinate officers and clerks, and
especially those entrusted with the settlement and ad
iustnent Of claims and accounts. j cratifed to
believe that they have generally performed their duties
faithfully and we'll They are appointed to guard the
approaches to the public Treasury and they occupy pO
suns that expose them to all the temptations and
ductons which toe cupdity Of peculatOrs and fraulu
lent claimants prompt them to employ. 1t will be
but wise precauton to protect the Government against
that Of mischief and corruption far II 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 atten-
ton 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 clerks bride or reward touching or rea-
ting to any matter Of their official action duty
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 of other nations.
The consequence has been that while the nations Of
Europe have been engaged in desoating wars, our
country has pursued its peaceful to
pied prosperity and happiness The in which we
have been compelled to engage in 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
were enabled by the wisdom and irmness of Pres-
ident Washington to maintain our neutrality. While
OF int wild
| whirlpool, we sat quiet and unmoved upon
shores. While the flower of their numerous armies
was wasted by disease pershed by hundreds Of thou
sands upon the battle field the youth of this favored
land permitted to enjoy the blessings of peace
beneath the pacma roof. While the States Of Europe
incurred enormous debts, under the burden Of which
their subjects still groan, and which must absorb
small part Of the product 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 debit and if per-
mitted to pursue prosperous way for few years
| longer in peace, we may do the same again.
ut it is now said by some that this policy must lie
changed Europe is no longer separated from ia by
voyage of months, but steam navigation has brought
her within few days sail of our shores. We see more
If her movements, and take deeper interest in her
controversies Although no proposes that we should
join the fraternity of poentates who have for ages Law
hed the blood and treasure of their subjects in main
tanning the balance of power, yet it is said that
ought to interfere between coutendng soIereigns and
their subjects, for tho purpose of overthrowng the
monarches Of Europe and establishing in their place
| republican institutions II ii alleged that we have
heretofore pursued different from sense of
our weakness, but that conscious strength die
taes change Of policy, and that is consequently
duty to mngle in these contests and aid those who
| struggling for liberty.
This is n most seductive but dangerous appeal to the
generous sympathy of freemen Enjoying rs we do the
blessings Of free government, there is man who
has an American heart that would not rejoice to
these blessings extended to all other nations. We
not witness the struggle between the oppressed and his
oppressor anywhere without the deepest sympathy for
the former and the most anxious desire for his tri-
umph. Nevertheless, is it prudent is it wise to in
volve ourselves in these foreign wars? Is it indeed
true that we have heretofore RETAINED from doing
merely from The degrading motive Of q conscious weak
ness For the honor oi the patriots who have gone
before us. 1 cannot admit it.
Men of the Revolution who drew the sword against
the expressions OF the Mother country, and pledged
Heaven their 'ives, their fortunes and their sacred
honor" to maintain their freedom, could never have
been actuated by 50 unworthy motive. They knew
nogeakness or fear where right duty pointed tee
way, and it is libel upon their fair fame, for us,
while enjoying the blessings for which they nobly
fought and bed toinsinuate it. The truth is, that the
course which they pursued was dictated by strong
sense of international justice, by statesmane prr-
dence and a farseeng wisdom, looking not merely to
the present necessities but to the permanent safety and
interest Of the country. They knew that the world Is
governed less by sympathy than by and force
that it was not possible for the nation to become
''propnganlst Of free principles without arraying
result was more likely TO be the overthrow Of repun
can liberty here than its establishment there. History
has been written in vain for those who can doubt this
France had 10 sooner established republican form Of
Government than she manifested desire to force its
blessings all the world. Her historian informs
Us that, hearing Of some petty acts Of tyranny in q
neighboriug principally, Tine National Convention
declared that she would afford and fraternity to
'a nations who wished to their liberty and she
'gaveit in charge to the executive power TO give
'ders to the generals Of the French armies, aid to c
'Zens who might have been should be oppressed in
the Of liberty" Here was the false step which
led TO her subsequent msfortunes. She soon found
herself involved i with all the rest Of Europe
In less than ten years her government was changed
from republic toa empire; and finally, after she'd
ding rivers Of blood foreign powers restored her
lied dynasty and exhausted Europe sought peace and
repose in the unquetioned ascendency Of monachical
principles.
Let US le2rn wisdom from her example. Let us re-
member mat revolutions do not always establish free
dom. Our own free institutions not the ,prng
OF our Revolution. They existed before. They were
planted in the free charters Of self government under
which the English colonies grew up, and our Revolu-
ton only freed Us from the dominion of foreign pow
err whose at variance with those nsti-
buttons. But European nations have had no such
training for selfgoycrnment and every effort estab-
sh it by bloody revolutions has been, and must, with
ont that preparation, continue to be failure Liber-
ty unregulated by law, degenerate into anarchy,
which soon become the most horrid of all despotisms.-
Cur policy is wisely to govern ourselves and thereby
to set such example Of national justice, property
and true glory, shall teach to all nations the bes-
sings Of elfgoyernmep and the unparalleled enter
prise and success Of free people.
Weliye in an age of progress, and ours is emphat-
cnlly country Of progress. Within the last half
century the number Of States in the Union has nearly
doubled, the population has almost quadruped and
boundaries have tcen extended from the Mississippi tC
the Pacific. Our territory is chequered with rail
roads, and furrowed with canals. The inventive talent
of country is excited to the highest pitch, and the
numerous applications for patents for valuable improve
ments distinguish this age and this people from al
Others. The genius Of one American has enabled Oul
commerce to move against the wind and tide, and tina
Of another has annihatod distance in the transmission
of intelligence The whole country is full Of enter
prise Our common schools are ditusng intelligence
among the people, aud our industry is fast accumula
ting the comforts and luxues Of life This is in par
owing to peculiar position, to fertile soil, anC
comparatively sparse populations but much Of it is ais
owing TO the popular institutions under which we live
to the freedom which every feels to engage in any
useful pursuit according to his taste or inclination
to the entire confidence that his person and property
will be protected by the laws. But whatever may b
the cause of this unparalleled growth in popuation in
tclgence and wealth. the thing is clear, that the Go
vernment must keep peace with the progress Of the peO
pie. II must participate in their spirit Of enterprise
and while il exacts obedience to the laws and restrain