Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-08-08

county has streamed in defense Of
our soil. The very capital of the
United States, the lofty temple Of
liberty, which was reared and conse-
Grated by Washington, has been a.
bandoned to its fate by his degencr-
ated successor, madison, who ought
TO have shed his last drop of blood
in its defense
Aner the (Democratic) admins
trallon had entered upon the war,
instead of coming forward with man
ly confidence and taxing the people
for It's support, they basely shrunk
from their duty, in order to maintain
their popularity. and adopted the odi-
Gus system Of carrying on the con-
test by borrowing money. What
were the effects of this policy? Does
not every man In the country know,
what is not even disguised by the
administration, that the United States
would, in a short lime, have become
bankrupt, had not peace been con-
cluded Thanks to Heaven, that
we have obtained peace, bad aud dis
graceful as it is otherwise the beau
tiful structure of the federal govern
ment, supported 10y the same feeble
hands, might have sunk, like the cap
ltal, into ruins.
This system Of anticipating our
revenue has left an immense load Of
debt upon the country, the payment
Of which will be grIevous burden,
not only upon the present genera
ton, but upon posterlty. This bur
den has fallen more heavily upon
our country than upon any other
part OF the Union, on account Of our
numerous and extensive distillerles.
The late additional duty imposed
upon whisky has almost destroyed lis
manufacture In It's consequences.
it has not only affected the disule-
rles, but it has given a severe blow
upon the prosperity of this country
generally.
Whist the disIilleries were in ac-
tive operation, the cattle and grain
found good and ready market at
home. The balance of trade was
greatly in our favor, aud wealth was
rapidly difiusing itself throughout
our country. But Congress, by i'm
posing a tax upon the article more
gneyous than 1t was able to bear,
have destroyed the very revenue
which they intended to raise. This
instance, among many others of ID
similar nature, shows how totally
destitute are our present rulers of
wisdom and foresight, even upon
subjects immediately regarding the
pecunlary Interests of the Govern
ment.
These are not the only evils conse-
quent upon that limid and time-serv-
ing policy. 1t has embarrassed the
Government so much, that It must
be a long time indeed before we can
dare again to go TO war with any
powerful nation, even for the nam
lenance Of our dearest rights. An
these evils would in great measure
have been prevented by sufficient in
dependence in the administration, to
have imposed moderate taxes at the
commencement OF the contest. The
credit of the nation would then have
conianued good ; and we might have
avoided the painful spectacle of see
ing the public stock sold in the mar
kel, at an enormous discount, and
greedy speculators enrIching them
selves by its purchase N the expense
of the toll and sweat of the honest
yeomanry ofour country.
Instead of exemptlng seaman sail
ing under our flag from lmpressment
by the war, we have altogether relln-
pushed that principle; because it is
a well-estabished truth in the law of
nations that if war be waged by one
country against another, for specl-
fed claim, and the treaty which ter
minated the contest is silent upon
that object, it is forever abandoned.
Thus The government have at last
yielded the very point for the main
tonance OF which they prolessed TO
go to war, after having expended
nearly two hundred millions of dol
lars.
We have not only obtained by the
war nothing which we were taught
TO expect, but we have lost many
valuable privileges. All the numer-
Gus rights and advantages guaranteed
to us by jays treaty have been relin-
qnished Nay. we have not only
been compelled to conclude treaty
which does not contain one solitary
stipulation IN our favor, except that
there shall be peace, but which un-
settles the boundaries Of our country,
and leave to the decision OF com-
missioners, whether We shall longer
retain a part Of our territory, which
we have held IN quite possession for
more than twenty years.
But Notwithstanding our immense
national debt, which if the war had
continued, would soon have resulted
in national bankruptcy; nolwiIh-
standing all our property, even the
necessaries of life have been taxed
heavily; Notwithstanding we have
not obtained q single object which we
had in view at the commencement of
the contest, but have lost many val
liable privileges Notwithstanding our
country has been invaded IN every
quarter, and the capitol Of the United
States has been laid IN ashes by IA