Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-03-12

Hon. JAMES BUCHANAN.
WHEATLAND, Near Lancaster,) Feb %, 1852
GENTLEMEN: In returning home through YOUR CT
ty on Saturday last, ] had the unexpected honor of
receiving your kind invitation to partake of public
dinner at such time might best suit my own con-
venence, For this distinguished and valued token
of your regard please to accept nv most grateful &C
acknowledgements and, whilst regretting that crcum-
stances, which it will be too tedious to explain will
deprive of The pleasure of meeting you the fes
tival board you may rest assured that shall ever
highly prize the favorable opinions you express of
my poor public services -
To the city Of Baltimore | have ever been attach
ed by strong ties. In early life had selected it as
the place where to practice my profession and no
thing prevented me from carrying this purpose into
effect but my invincible reluctance at the last mo-
ment, to leave my native State The feeling which
prompted me in 1914, during the last war with Great
Britain, to march private to Baltmore-a cir
cumstance to which you kindly allude-resulted from
a patriotism universal throughout Pennsylvania
that the honor which may fall to the lot Of any one
of the thousands Of my feowcitzens who volunteer
ed their services that trying occasion scarcely de-
serve to be mentioned.
If rightly read the " gns of the timesn there has
seldom been period when the Democratic party of
the country, to which you and warmly attach
ed, in greater danger of suffering defeat than
at the present moment I'm order to avert this caas
trophe, we must mutually forget and forgive past
discussions, suffer ''bygones to be bygones,' and
commence new career, keeping constantly in view
the ancient and long established landmarks of the
party. Most if not ALL the great questions of poll
cy which formerly divided US from political op-
ponents have been settled in favor. No person
at this day thinks of reestabshing another nation
al bank, or repeating the independent treasury, or
distributing the proceeds of the public lands
the several States, abolishng the veto power
On these great and important questions the wings,
after a long and violent struggle, have yielded, and
for the present at least would seem to stand upon
| the democratic platform. The compromise measures
are I" finality Those who opposed them hon
estly and powerfully. and who still believe them
| be wrong, having patrioticay determined to acqni-
esce in them for the sake of the Union, provided
they shall be faithfully carried into execution
On what issues then, go before the coun-
try and confidently calculate upon the support of the
American people at the approaching presidential
election answer unhesitatingly that we must fall
back, as you suggest. upon those fundamental and
time honored principles which have divided us from
our political opponents since the beginning, and
which, from the very nature OF the federal consttu-
ton, must continue to divide US from them until the
end. We must inscribe upon our banners sound
regard for the reserved rights of the States strict
construction of the constitution denial to Congress
of all powers not clearly granted by that instrument
and rigid economy in public expenditures.
These expenditures have now reached the enor-
nous of fifty millions of dollars per annum and.
unless arrested in their advance by the strong arm
of the democracy of the country, may in the
Of few years, reach one hundred millions. The
appropriation OF money to accomplish great national
objects sanctioned by the constitution ought to be on
! a scale commensurate with power and resources
as nation but its expenditure ought to be con-
Quoted under the guidance of enlightened economy
and strict responsibility. am convinced that our
expenses mig ht be considerably reduced below the
| present standard, not only without detriment but
with positive advantage both to the government and
the people.
An excessive and lavish expenditure of public mo-
+ney, though in itself highly perncious. is as nothing
when compared with the disastrous influence it may
exert upon the character of free institutions.
strong tendency towards extravaganza is the great
political evil of the present day and this ought tc
be firmly resisted Congress is necessarily i'm
portuned from every quarter to make appropriations
for all sorts of projects. Money. money from the
national treasury is constantly demanded to enrich
contractors spectators, and agents and these pro-
jects are glded with every allurement which
can be impaired to them by ingenuity and talent
Claims which had been condemned by former dec.
, sions, and had become rusty with age. have beer
again revived, and have been paid principal and in
terest Indeed there seems to be one general rush
to obtain money from the treasury any and every
pretence.
What will be the inevitable consequence OF sucl
lavish expenditures? Are they not calculated t.
disturb the nicely iusted balance between the fed
eral and State governments upon the preservation
; of which depend the harmony and efficiency Of ou
system Greedy expectants from the federal trea
sury will regard with Indifference, if not with con
tempt, the governments of the several States. Tht
doctrine of State rights will be laughed to BY
such individuals an obsolete abstraction, unwor
thy of the enlightened spirit of the age. The cor
ruping power of money will be felt throughout thu
length and breadth of the land and the democracy
led on by the Hero and Sage of the Hermitage, vii
have in vain put down the Bank of the United States
if the fatal influence for which ii condemn
ed shall be exerted and fostered by means draw
from the public treasury
To be liberal with their own money but sparing 0
that of the republic was the glory of Distinguish
public servants among the ancient Romans. WheI
tins maxim was reversed, and the public money wa