The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-03-20
MGREGOR, FRIDAY, MARCH. 20, 1857

ton of Congress, is without any legiti-
mate object. 1t is an evil of the times
that men have undertaken to calculate the
mere material value Of the Union. Rca-
soncd estimates have been presented of
the pecuniary profits and local advantages
which would result to the different States
and sections from its dissolution, and of
the comparative injuries which such an
event would inhict on other States and
sections. Even descending this low and
narrow view of the mighty question. all
such calculations are at fault. The bare
reference to single consideration will be
conclusive on this point. We a. present
enjoy free trade Throughout. our extensive
and expansive country, such as the world
never witnessed. This trade is conduct
ed on railroads and canals, on noble rivers
and arms Of sea. which bind together the
North and South, the East and the West
of our confcderacy. Annihilale this trade,
arrest its free progress by the geographic
cal lines of jealous and hostile States, and
you destroy the prosperity and onward
march of the whole and every part, and
! involve all in one common ruin. But
such considerations, important as they
are in themselves, sink into insignifcance
when we reflect on the terrific evils which
would result from di,union, to every por.
ton of the confederacy-to the North
not more than to the South-to the East
not more than to the West. These shall
not attempt to portray, because l feel an
humble confidence that the kind provi-
dence which inspired our fathers with
wisdom to frame the most perfect form of
government and union ever devised by
man, will not suffer it to perish until it
shall have been peacefully intrumental by
its example in the extension of civil and
religious liberty throughout the world.
Next in importance to the maintenance
of the constitution and the Union is the
duty Of preserving the government from
the taint or even the suspicion of corrup
ton. Public virtue is the vital spirit of
republics, and history proves that when
this has decayed. and the love of money
has usurped its place, although the forms
Of free government may remain for sea-
son, the substance has departed forever.
Our present financial condition is with
out parallel in history. No nation has
ever before been embarrassed from too
large surplus in its treasury. This al
most necessarily gives birth to extravagant
legislation. 1t produces wild schemes of
expenditures, and begets race of specu
lators and jobbers, whose ingenuity is ex-
erted in contriving and promoting expe-
dients to obtain the public money. The
party. through its official agents, whether
rightfully Or wrongfully, is suspected, and
the character of the government suffers
in the estimation Of the people. This is
in itself very great evil. The national
mode of relief from this embarrassment
is to appropriate the surplus in the trea-
sury to great national objects for which a
clear warrant can be found in the consti-
tuition. Among these l might mention
tie ex inguishment of tie public debt a
reasonable increase of the navy, which is
at present inadequate to the protection of
our vast tonnage ahoat--now greater than
that of any other nation-as we'll as the
defence of our extended sea coast.
1t is, bepond all question the true prin-
cip!e that no more revenue ought to be
collected from the people than the amount
necessary to defray the expenses of a wise.
economical and efficient administration of
tie government. TO reach this point it
was necessary to resort to a modification
OF the tariff, and this has been accomp-
lisLed in such a manner rs to do us as
little injury as may have been practicable
to our domestic manufactures, especially
those necessary for Tie defence Of the
country. Amy discrimination against q
peculiar branch for the purpose of bene-
fitting favored corporations, individuals
orinerests, would have been unjust to the
rest OF the community, aud inconsistent
with tlat spirit of fairness and equality
which ought to govern in the adjustment
OF a revenue tariff.
But tie squandering of the public
money sinks into insignifcance, as a
temptation to corruption, VIXEN compared
with the squandcring of the public lands.
No nation in the tide of time Las ever been
blessed with SO rich and SO noble an in
heritance as we enjoy in the public lands.
In administering this important trust,
whilst it may be wise to grant portions of
them for the improvement of the remain
der; yet we should never forget that it is
our cardinal policy to reserve these lands,
as much as may be, for actual settlers, and
this at moderate prices. We shall thus
not only best promote the prosperity of
the new Stltes by furnishing hardy and
independent race of honest and industrious
citizens, but shall secure homes for our
children and our children's children, as
we'll as for those exiles from foreign shores
who may seek in this country to improve
their condition, and to enjoy the blessings
Of civil and religious liberty. Snch emf
grants have done much to promote the
growth and prosperity Of the county,
They have proved faithful both in peace
and in war. After becoming citizens they
are entitled, under the Constitution and
laws, to be placed on perfect equality with
native born ci,izens, and in this character
they should ever be kindly recognized
The federal Constitution is a grant from
the States to CONGRESS- of certain sDecific