M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1857-03-12

pOlItlcal QUESTION, Oecduse snOuIu TIC
agitation continue, it may eventually
endanger the personal safety OF a large
portion OF our countrymen where the
institution exists. In that event no
form of government, however admira-
bic of itself-however productive OF
material beneits-can compensate for
the loss of peace aud domestic securi-
ty around the family alter. Let every
Union-loving man, therefore, exert
his best influence to suppress the ag-
itation which, since the recent legisla-
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.
Recent estimates have been presen-
ted of the pecuniary profits and local
advantages which would result to diff
ferent States and sections from its dis.
solution, of the comparative injuries
which such an event would inhict on
other States and sections, even descen-
ding to this low and narrow view of
the mighty question. All such calcu-
lations are at fault. The bare refer
ence to a single consideration will be
conclusive on this point. We at pres
ent enjoy a free trade throughout our
extensive and expansive country, such
as the world never witnessed. This
tradei is conducted on railroads and ca
nails, on the noble rivers and arms of
the sea which bind together the North
and the South, the East and the West
of our Confederacy. Annihllate this
trade, arrest its free progress by geo.
graphical lines of jealous and hostile
States, and you destroy the prosperity
and onward march ofthe whole and
every part, and involve all in one
common ruin. But such considera-
tions, important as they are in them.
selves, sink in to insigniticanca when
we reflect on the terrific evils which
would result from disunion to every
portion of the COnfedoracy, to the
North not more than to the South, to
the East not more than to the Vest
These | shall not attempt to portray,
because | feel an humble confidence
that the kind Providence, which in
spired our fathers with wisdom to
frame the most perfect form Of Gov
eminent and union ever devised by
man, will not suffer it to perish until
it shall have been peacefully instru-
mental by its example in the exten.
sion of civil and religious liberty
throughout the world.
Next in Importance to the maintain
ance o fthe Constitution.And the Union,
is the duty of preserving government
free from the faint or even suspicion
of corruption. Public virtue is the
vital spirit of Republics, and history
proves that when this has ~decayed,
and the love o fmoney has usurped its
place, although the forms Of free gov
eminent may remain for n season, the
substance has departed forever. Our
present financial condition is without
a parallel in history. No nation has
ever before been embarrassed from too
large a surplus in its treasury. This
almost necessarily gives birth to ex-
travagant legislation. 1t produces
wild schemes of expenditures, and be-
gets a race of spectators and jobbers,
whose ingenuity. is exertcd in contri-
wing and promoting expedients to OBJ
tain the public money. Party, thro'
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 a very great evil. The ma
tiOnal mode of relief from embarrass.
ment, is to appropriate the surplus in
the Treasury to great national objects,
tor which aclear warrant can be found
in the Constitution. Among these ]
might. mention the extinguisllment Of
the public debt, and a reasonable in.
crease ofthe Navy, which is at present
inadequate to the protection of our
vast tunnage ahoat, now greater than
that of any other nation, as well as
the defence Of our extended sea-coast.
1t is, beyond all question, the true
principle that no more revenue ought
to be collected from the people than
the amount necessary to detray the ex-
penses of a wise, economical and eff
cient administration OF the Govern
ment. To reach this, it was necessary
to resort TO a modification of the tariff,
and this has been accomplished in
such a manner to Go as little injury
as may have been practicable to our
domestic manufactures, especially
those necessary for the defence of the
country. Any discrimination against
a particular branch for the purpose of
benefitting iavorite corporations, in
dividuals or interests. would have been
unjust to the rest of the community,
and inconsistent with that spirit of
fairness and equality which ought to
govern in the adjustment Of a revenue
tariff.
But the squandering of the public