Southern reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1851-185?, 1852-04-07
From the Washington Union.
WHEATLAND. (near Lanchaster,)
February %, 1852.

1ulE Nlty Dh IdAuAddJ Aa1tI hAA N1~ NAeA-
pecled honor Of receiving your kind invita-
ton 70 partake Of a public dinner at such
time os might best suit my own convenience
For this distinguished aud valued token Of
your regard please to accept my most grateful
Acknowledgements; and, whilst regretting cir
cuInstances which it viii be too tedious to ex-
plain. viii deprive me Of the pleasure Of meet
ing you at the festive 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
attached BY strong ties. In early life ! had
selected II a. the place where to practice my
profession; and nothing prevented me from
carrying this purpose into effect but my invin-
chile reluctance, at the last momens.. to leave
my native State. The feeling which prompt
ed me in 1914, during the last war with great
Britain, 70 march as private to Baltimore
a circumstance to which you Kindly alluded
resulted from a patriotism 50 universal
throughout Pennsylvania, that the honor which
fall to the lot Of any one Of the thousands Of
my feIIow-citizens who volunteered their SER
vices on that trying occasion scarcely deserves
to be mentioned
If / rightly read the signs Of the times, "
there has seldom been a period when the
democratic party Of the country, 70 which
you and I are warmly attached, was in
greater danger Of suffering defeat than at the
present moment. In order to avert this ca
tastrophe, we must mutually forget and for
give past dissensions, suffer "bygones to be
bygones," and commence new career, keep
ing constantly in view the ancient and long
established landmarks Of the party. Most if
not all, the great questions Of policy which
formerly divided US from our political oppo-
nents have been settled in our favor. No
person at this day thinks Of re-establishing
another national bank, or repeating the inde-
pendent treasury, or distributing the proceeds
Of the public lands among the several States,
Or abolishing 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 compro-
mise measures are now a finality those
who opposed them honestly and powerfully,
and who still believe them to be in the wrong,
having patriotically determined TO acquiesce
in them for the sake Of the Union, provided
they shall be faithfully carried into execution.
On what issues. then, can we 60 before the
country and confidently calculate upon the
support Of the American people at the ap-
preaching Presidential election! ] answer
unhesitatingly that we must fall back. as you
suggested, 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
constitution. must continue to divide us from
them until the end We must inscribe upon
our banners, a sound regard for the the re-
served rights Of the States, strict construc-
ton Of the constitution, a denial to Congress
Of all powers not clearly granted by that in
srument, and rigid economy in public ex-
penditures.
These expenditures have now reached the
enormous sum 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 course Of few years
reach one hundred millions. The appropria-
ton Of money to accomplish great national
objects sanctioned by The constitution ought to
be on a scale commensurate with our power
and resources as a nation but its expenditure
ought to be conducted under the guidance Of
enlightened economy and strict responsibility.
I am convinced that our expenses might be
aansiderabIy reduced below the present stand
not only without dctriment but with posi-
advantage both 70 the government and
I9s people
An extensive and lavish expenditure Of
public money, though in itself highly per-
nicioua. Is as nothing when compared with
the disastrous influence it may exert upon the
character Of our free institutions. A strong
tendency towards extravagance is tbe great
political evil Of the present day; and this
ought to be firmly resisted. Congress j. now
necessarily importuned 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 projects
are rilded over with every allurement which
can be impaired 70 them by ingenuity and
talent. Claims which had been condemned
bv former decisions, and had become rusty
with aqe, have been again revived, and have
been paid, principal and interest Indeed,
.hara saems 10 be one general rush 10 obtain