The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-08-22


article more grievious than it was able ts
bear, have destroyed the very revenue which
they intended to raise. This instance AMONG
many others of a similar nature. SHOW
HOW TOTALLY DESTITUTE ARE
OUR PRESENT RULERS OF WISDOM
AND FORESIGHT, even upon subjects i'm.
medately regarding the pecuniary interests
Of the Government.
These are not the only evils consequent
upon that timid and tme-serving policy. II
has embarrassed the government SO much,
that II must be long time before we car
dare again to go to war with anv powerful
nation, even for tho maintenance of our
dearest rights. All these evils would, in a
great measure have been prevented bv
sufficient independence in the administration.
to have imposed moderate taxes a: the com
mencement of the contest The credit of
the nation would then have continued good,
and we might have avoided the painful spec.
tacle Of seeing the public stock sold in the
market, Mt an enormous discount, and gree.
dy spectators enriching Themselves by its
purchase, at the expense Of the toll and sweat
of the honest yeomanry of our country.
Instead Of exempting seamen sailing under
our flag from impressment by the war we
have altogether relinqushed that principle;
because it was a well. established truth in
the law of nations, that if war be waged by
one country against another, for specific
claim, and the treaty which terminated the
contest is silent upon that object, it is forev.
er abandoned. Thus the Government has
at last yielded the very point for the muinte-
nance of which they professed to go to war, af-
ter having expended nearly two hundred mil
lion o. dollars. We have not only not OBJ
talned by the war anything which we were
taught to expect, but we have lost many val
liable privileges. A the numerous rights
and advantages guaranteed to us by jays
treaty, have been relinquished. Nay, we
have not only been compelled to conclude
a treaty which does not contain one solitary
stipulation in our favor, except that there
shall be peace; but which unsettles the boun.
dairy of our country, and leaves to the deci-
sion of Commissioners, whether we shall lon.
ger retain part of our territory, which we
have held in quiet possession for more than
twenty years.
But notwithstanding our immense ma
tionality debt, which, if war had continued,
would soon have resulted in national bank
'fuptcy Notwithstanding all our property,
even the very necessares of life have been
taxed heavily; Notwithstanding we had not
obtained single object which we had in
view at the commencement of the contest,
but have lost many valuable privileges; not
withstandng our country has been invaded in
every quarter, and the capitol of the United
States has been laid in ashes by maraud-
ing party of the enemy-this has been called
a glorious ,oar. Glorious it has been, in the
highest degree, to the American character
but Disgraceful in the Extreme to The Ad.
ministrafion. When the individual States
discovered that they were abandoned by the
general government, whose duty it was to
protect them, the fortitude of their citizens
arose with their misfortunes. The moment
we were invaded, the genius of freedom in
spired their souls. They rushed upon their
enemies with hallowed fury, which the
hireling soIdies of Britain could never feel.
They taught our foe that the soil of free
dom would always be the grave of its in
vader.
THE COUNTRY RUINED BY DEMOCRATIC RULE.
But do the administration, pho involved
us indte late unnecessary war, deserve any
credit from their exertions? Certainly not
They were the spontaneous efforts of the
country, undirected by the government
The militia who were chiefly engaged in
these glorious conflicts were often without
pay and comfortable clothing. The dread
ful situation Of the country compelled them
to abandon their families and the sweets of
domestic life, without any previous warning,
to defend places which ought to have been
ready for siege at the commencement Of
the contest As well might Ferdinand the
9Th of SPUN who was not in his kingdom,
but who was nominnlly King, claim the
glory of rescuing his country from the ar
mics of France, as our government take to
itself the credit of expelling our invaders.
When we turn our sttentiOn to the reg
ular army, which were peculiarly under the
direction Of the national government, what
do we discover? During the first year with
in which our triumphant banners were to
have noated upon the walls of Quebec, and
al Canada was to have been ours, the year
in which that province was left unprotected,
and the forces Of our enemy were employed in
Europe, il experienced nothing but COLI
tinuation of degradation aud defeat. Is
there an American on the floor OF this house,
who has not blushed for his country thou
sand times, during that disgracefu year-un-
til all the general officers, who had been ap
pointed for political purposes, and entrusted
with the command at the commencement of
the contest, were disgraced; and until 9TH
ers had fought themselves into credit and
into notice, all our battles ended in defeat.
During the last year of the war, the reg.
ular army, under their commanders, retriev-
ed their lost character and performed pro.
digies Of valor; unfortunately, on account of
the impotency of the government, they
fought against such fearful odds that they
were hardly able to defend our northern
frontier Indeed, so dreadful was the sit
uation of our country for some time previous
to the close of the contest, that the OCCASION
al splendid exploits of our heroes, like the
CLEANS of lightning in dark and tempestu.
aus night, 0ny added new horrors to the
surrounding gloom. They only served to
show us what brilliant exertions our country
might have made, had we been governed by
men who were capable of properly collecting
It's resources.
But peace has again returned to bless our
shores. Again, Commerce, who has for years
been weeping over the misfortunes of our
country, begins to smile. Again we stand
neutral towards all European powers. What
then should BE- the political conduct Of our
country in future! Precisely TO pursue the
political maxims adopted by WashingtoE.-
We ought to cultivate peace with all nations, |
BY adopting strict neutrality not only Of
conduct, but of sentiment.
We ought to make our neutrality respected
by placing ourselves In IN attitude of defence.
We ought forever to abandon the wild pro-
ect of a philosophic visionary, of letting