Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-10-28

upon my garments the dinge of the shop anc
the dust OF the field, as badges of the pursuit,
OF peace, than the dazzling epaulet upon my
shoulder, and the sword, with its glittering scab
bard, dangling by my side-the insignia of hon.
orsbe and glorious war.
The Army and Navy in this, as in most of
the nations of the earth, are the two great alb
sorbants of the peoples substance. They are
the two greet arteries that will, unless confined
within proper limits, bleed this, as :hey have
some OF the other governments well nigh to- a
state of exhaustion. Even here, where we seem
70 have fixed prejudice against large standing
Erlies, and extensive nayies, it is almost start.
ing to announce the aggregate amount the
Psoplc have TO pay for the support of their Ar
ny aisa Aeyy, in time of profound peace. Ac-
mitted to the Congress ur TIM.
will require, during the present fiscal year,
twenty-one million of dollars to sustain our Ar
my and Navy, which is tax Of nearly one dol
lar per head, for every man, woman and child
in the United States. The entire, amount col
lected from the American people, by the Gene
raj Government alone, in the shape of taxes,and
expended since the 4th March, 1889, to the 4th
March l849, is 81 ,428, 100000, in round num-
bers. Of this amount S513 900 have been
paid out in the shape of a national debt, con-
tracted for the purpose of carrying on our vari-
GUS wars, at home and abroad. Which leave
100000. Out of the last named sum,
there has been paid, for the support of the Ar
nv and Navy, six hundred million dollars, ex-
elusive of all pensions, which is sixty-two mill
ions, and is properly chargable to the Army
and Navy. 1t will be very readily perceived
from this simple statement of facts, that two
thirds of the whole amount of revenue collected
from the people has been appropriated for the
two branches of government; it is notmy purpose,
in making this allusion to this vast amount that
has been expected IN the name of our little Ar
my and Navy, to detract aught from their high
character; but to show that they are costing the
American people more, in proportion to tho
number employed in the naval and military SER
vice than any other government in the world;
and for the further purpose of showing, that ma
in this republican form of government Of ours,
and that, too, where most of the fighting IN t'nle
of Gcti,al ,gGr, is done by the citizen solder
While l make these remarks, 1 am not to be
understood as being opposed to the Government
keeping in readiness sufficient physical force
to maintain the honor, dignity, and rights OF
our country, at home OF abroad, upon the ocean
or upon the land But l must be permitted,
iaeidentaliy, to recur oace more to that great
sch-ue, the Homestead Policy, as being better
calculated in all its bearings, if faithfully and
successfully carried out for building up the most
reliable physical force for this country in time
of war. If this scheme is once established, and
carried oct in good faith, it will build up
standing army, in the character Of the citizen
soldier, that will by its own productive power,
support itself in time of peace, aDd will be in
readiness to defend the country In time of war.
1t is one that will protect your frontier settle.
mcnts against any disturbance growing out of
unfrienily or hostile relations with our numer-
Gus Indian tribes And in the event of wsr
with any foreign power that dare invade the
soil of freedom, it would be the first to obey its
country's call, and, after having participated in
the heat and strife of battle the benignant star
of peace once more resuming the ascendant
the citizen soldiers who compose it would with
alacrity, return to their homes and their ire
sides, to their wives and their children, and there
renew the avocations of peace. This would be
q standing army composed of the citizen soldier
in fact, that would go when war came, and
come when war went, and is the only kind of an
army, that can be safely relied upon and
trusted by Republican or Democratic form
of Government, either in peace or war.
At as early day as may be deemed prac-
ticable, will prepare and transmit aeommuni.
cation to both branches of the Legislative de-
partment, presenting for their consideration
such measures of public policy as may seem to
require legislative action.
There is high and solemn duty imposed up
on the Executive, to take care that the laws be
faithfully executed" which are in conformity
with the Constitution of the State. In all ques-
tons Of difficulty, which may arise in regard to
the faithful execution Of the Constitution, and
the laws made in pursuance thereof, the Exec
utive will confidently expect the willing co-ops-
ration of the other two departments of the Gov
ernment.
In discharging the various and responsible
duties imposed on me as the Chief Executive
Officer of the State, by law and the Constitution,
may often, from defectofjudgementgo wrong,
and when right, will no doubt be censured and
condemned by the fault-6nding portion of those
who may differ with me in political sentiment,
which almost precludes the hope that general sat
isfaction will be given to all by anyone occupying
the position to which have just been elevated
The entering upon the discharge of duties 50
and delicate in their character, IN
reference to which there is such great variety
of opinions. must necessarially be embarrassing
tn one who feels so forcibly his own ineompoten-
ev to the performance of so arduous task
But relying, as do, upon that great principle
&C -;cht which lies at the foundation of all
things. shall repair to the post assigned
me by the sovereign people, with fixed and
determination to do my whole duty,