Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1853-03-24
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the General Government, which, like those
of our State and City Governments, is
now completely in the hands of its princi-
pal antagonists. Though embarrassed
and crippled by distraction in its own
councils and strong adverse majority
throughout in both Houses of Congress- it
has done some things worthy of note on a
transfer of the Executive power-possibly
of remembrance hereafter.
1t has preserved Peace from first to
last, in the face of strong popular ten
dency toward aggression on the rights of
neighboring Nations No Foreign State
has complained-none has had reason to
complain-of any deficiency in good
faith or good neighborhood on the. part
of our Government since Gen. Taylor
Inauguration. And there is not to-day a
speck of war upon our horizon, nor is
there likely to be until our Government
shall see fit to create It.
1t has done all that it has had power
to do for National development and Indus
trial progress. Never crOwding upon the
Aboriginal tribes, though sometimes con-
strained to repel their savage forays on
our border settlements, it has purchased
many millions of acres of the territories
and paid them literally therefore. 1t has
expended Millions in organizing, protec-
ting, surveying, &C., the New Territories
acquired under its predecessor from Mex
leo or created of out our more Northerly
domain. During its four years, large sums
have been expended in building Custom
Houses, Post Offices, Marine Hospitals,
&C., in all parts of the Country. And,
though Systematically resisted and bafied
by majority of Congress in its earnest
efforts to effect something for our more
exposed and crippled Industrial pursuits,
it has had the satisfaction of obtaining at
least one handsome Appropriation for
River and Harbor Improvement, similar
to that vetoed by Polk during the pre-
vious administration.
1t leaves about Sixteen Millions of
hard Coin in the Treasury, although the
second great source of National income
the Public Lands-have been nearly
sequestrated throughout its term by the
issues of Bounty Warrants to soldiers in
the Mexican and earlier wars. And, al
though the no&fnal reduction of our Pub
lie Debt under the Wing Administration
has not been large, yet the real reduction
Of that Debt, through the payment of In
demnity to Mexico and to our own clti-
zens holding claims against her for Spoil
ations which our Government contracted
by the Treaty of Peace to satisfy, the
payment of Indemnity to Texas for the
surrender Of her pretensions to New Mex
leo, the payment of Fremont's and other
claims against the Government, and the
allotment Of Bounty Lands to old soldiers
(which is only justifable on the assump-
ton that it is done in satisfaction of an
equitable claim on the Nation) must alto
gether amount to many Millions of Dol
lars.
Finally, the National Credit stands
higher at this moment than ever before,
and a Loan could be effected on terms
more favorable to the Treasury than at
any former period.
Such are the material circumstances
under which the Wing party surrenders
to its antagonist the Executive power of
the Federal Government. Its brief Of
fetal ascendency has not been brilliant,
for it has stolen nothing from other ma
tions; it has not been eventful and stirring
for it has waged no war upon Industry,
Commerce or Credit at home. No honest
enterprising, law abiding citizen has slept
perturbedly through the night from ap-
prehension that some Removal of the De-
posts, Specie Circular, or what not, would
derange his business or blast his prospects
before morning.
ALI these, we are quite aware, are
very tame, slow considerations in such a
Progressive age and with such Progress
sive people as ours. We do not hope by
them to arrest the attention of
those now intently engrossed in the dis
of the Spoils.' We have no de-
sires to represent the outgoing Admins
tration as faultless-onr columns will