Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-04-05

off carrying The thunder with them. and Il
was all thethunder they had.s and they
would no; let the matter be settled. and it
became a party question.
With an annual expenditure ofs50,0 900
staring US in the face, is there anything
more ridiculous than to talk about the va
carries Of free trade? Toraise this amount
it would require 335 per cent on all our
imports, and when we all know that this
sum has been raised, it is folly to talk about
free trade.
Nv politics don't hang very heavy on
INV shoulders, and when the interests of
nv country are at stake, | can very easily
get rid ofthern have passed the grand
climacteric of life, and can at the best
have but few years TO live, and | live but
in nv children. FL were to consult my
own feelings only, and wanted to nave
good lime, | would kick up row, and
would be more certain in the confusion to
get into the White House than am now.
But speak for my children. for my coun-
try, and may say, without profanity,
for nv God, thatI desire peace. For
here is the last asylum of liberty; destroy
it and where will be its resting placed
The mos, important measure to preserve
it, is economy in the public expenditures
They have increased IN the last quarter
OF a century from thirteen to fifty millions.
and If they 90 on increasing in the same
proportion Tor the next quarter of a cen
fury, they will amount to two hundred
mllions-nearly three-tenths OF the ex-
penses of the British Empire indepen-
dent ofthe interests on the public debt.-
Ifyou don't arrest that enormous increase
YOU will be ruined. lis consequence will
be corruption. with its lydra-head and all
its train of evils, and if they have once
begun to sap the foundation of Republican
government, freedom is at an end.
| want to see our country come back
to the simplicity and economy Of the days
of ] efferson. 1t is not the money regard,
but its consequences--corruption and other
evils
These NAV seem queer sentiments com
ing from me, if did not belong 10 the
young and progressive school. | was
broug ht up at thefeet of Gamaliel-l was
brought up in the straltest sects OF Fed
eralism. My father was Federallst.-
| was one He was the compeer OF
Washington and of Hamilton and of 9th
err great men of those times. He loved
them when they lived and loved their
memory when dead, and ii was his religion
to follow in the footsteps of Washington,
wherever they led. If | hadlived in those
days should have done as they did
A purer band Of patriots and more honest
men never lived. Perennial flowers shall
ever blossom on their graves. Those are
the men whose principles are my prncl-
Piles.
They never put their hands forward to
control the future, any more than we can
attempt to control it so years hence. Since
their day, our country has gone on increas-
, ing in importance, surprising all belief
We must judge of public affairs for our
selves. l do not like that opponent who
says stand fast, and when he enters the
ring takes Washington in his arms,so that
!, you cannot shoot him without shooting
Washington. You have no right to bring
Washington here now with his opinions OF
so years ago.
Standing here and looking forward for
my children and my country, there is not
that danger now which then existed
there is no danger of dissolution Of the
Union. The only danger now is from a
consolidation Of the States. producing ex-
penditures of an enormous amount, which
tend 10 the downfall of republican govern
ment. The powers Of the general govern
ment should never be stretched. Every
thing possible should be left to the direc-
ton of the States. Its powers should new
er be elongated or spread, but its opera
tons should be confined within the COM
pass of that sacred volume, the Constitu-
ton. Our efforts should be to disembar-
rass and relieve the Government from the
opportunity OF expenditure.
l am deeply obliged for the compliment
of calling on me. and the attention with
which you have listened to me. j bid you
fsrewen.
The Commodore retired amid consid-
cradle applause.