Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-12-15

more Il COnulllOn OF service III WHICH tnls
objection will no longer exist. The detail:
of this plan may be established in great part
if not altogether, by the Executive, under
the authority Of existing laws but have
thought it proper, in accordance with the
suggestion Of the Secretary Of the Navy, tc
submit it to your approval.
The establishment Of corps Of appren.
tices for the navy, or boys to be enlisted un,
till they become Of age, and to be employed
under such regulations as the Navy Depart.
ment may devise, as proposed in the report
cordially approve and commend to your
consideration and also concur in the sug.
geston that this system for the early training
Of seamen may be most usefully engrafted
upon the service of our merchant marine.
The receipts Of the P. o. Department are
less by sl,43l, 900 than in the preceding
fiscal year, owing to the reduction of post,
age. The President still recommends an
adhesion to the late law-The next long
paragraph enumcrates the various things to
which President Fillmore has called the at
tention of Congress in former messages, but
which Congress has not thought proper to
act upon, and concludes by recommending
them again and for the last timc.--Then
comes an aluson to the Cabinet and the
dangers Of corruption, which we give as
being decidedly good:
think it due to the several executive De-
partments of This Government to bear testi
mony to the efficiency and integrity with
which they are conducted. With all the
careful superintcndance which it is possible
for the heads of those departments to exercise
still the due administration and guardianship
of the public money must very much depend
on the vigilance, the intelligence, and fidelity
of the subordinate officers and clerks, and
especially on those entrusted with the settle
mcnt and adjustment of claims and account.
am gratifcd to believe that they have gen.
erallv performed their duties faithfully and
well. They are appointed to guard the ap-
proaches to the public treasury, and they oc-
eupy positions that expose them to all the
temptations and seductons which the cupid.
ty of pcculators and fraudulent claimants
can prompt them to employ. 1t will be but
wise precaution to protect the Government
against that source of mischief and corrup-
ton, as far as it can be done, by the enact.
ment of all proper legal penalties. The
laws, in this respect, are supposed to be de-
! fsctive, and i therefore deem it my duty to
| call your attention TO the suhteCr, aHdto7res'
commend that provision be made by law for
the punishment not only of those VINO shall
accept bribes. but also Of those who shall
promise, give, or offer to give to any OF those
officers or clerks bribe or reward, touching
or relating to any matter of their official ac-
ton or duty.
The remaining portion Of the message
we append without mutilation. Many Of
the reflections contained therein are just
and the tone is good. AS the parting acmo.
milton of an American President it merits
the attention of every American citizen.
1t has been the uniform policy of this
Government from its foundation to the pre-.
sent 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 desolating
wars, our country has pursued its peaceful
course to unexampled prosperity and hap
piness. The wars 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, we
were enabled by the wisdom and firmness OF
President Washington to maintain our neu.
tralty. While other nations were drawn
into this wide sweeping whirlpool, we sat
quiet and unmoved upon our own shores.
! While the flower of their numerous armies
was wasted by disease or perished by hun
dreds of thousands upon the battlefield, the
youth of this favored land were permitted
to enjoy the blessings of peace beneath the
SpaterIral roof While the States of Europe
incurred enormous debts, under the burden
of which their subjects still groan. and
which must absorb no small part of the pro.
duct of the honest industry Of those coun.
tries for generations to come, the United
States have once been enabled to exhibit the
proud spectacle of a nation free from public
debt; aud, if permitted to pursue our pros
porous way for few years longer in peace,
we may do the same again.
But it is now said by some that this poll.
cv must be changed. Europe is no longer
separated from US by voyage of months,
but steam navigation has broug ht her with
in few days sail Of our shores. We see
more of her movements, and take deeper
interest in her controversies. Although no
one proposes that we should join the frater-
ni,y of potentates who have for ages lavish
ed the blood aud treasure Of their subjects
in maintaining the balance Of power" yeti
is said that we ought to interfere between
contending sovereigns and their subjects,
for the purpose of overthrowing the mon-
arches of Europe and establishing in their
place republican institutions. 1t is alleged
that we have heretofore pursued a different
course from sense of our weakness, but
that now our conscious strength dictates a
change of policy, and that it is consequent:
ly our duty to mirsle in these contests and
aid those who are struggling for liberty.
This is most seductive but dangerous
appeal to the generous sympathies of free.
men. Enjoying as we do the blessings ofa
free government, there is no man who has
an American heart that would not rejoice tc
see these blessings extended to all Other