Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-03-12

that or the respective States themselves, wherein
it exists. May we not then hope thas the long
agitation on this subject is approaching its end,
and that the geographical parties to which ithas
given,birth, so much dreaded by the Father of
his Country, will speedily become extinct.
Most happy will it be for. the country when the
public mind shall be diverted from the question to
others of pressing and more practical Importance.
! Throughout the whole progress Of this agitation,
which has scarcely known any iutermission for
more than twenty years, whilst it has been pro-
ductirc of no positive good to any human being,
it has been the prolific of great evils to the
master, to the slave and to the whole country; 1t
has alienated and cstranged the people of the SIS
ter states from each other and has even seriously
endangered the very existence Of the Union-nor
has the danger yet entirely ceased.
Under our system there is remedy for all mere
political evils in the sound sense and sober judg-
ment of the people. Time is great corrective.
The political subjects which but few years ago
excited and exasperated the public mind, have
passed away, and are now nearly forgotten-but
this question of domestic slavery is of for greater
Importance than any mere political question, be-
cause, should the agitation continue, it may
eventually endanger the personal safety of large
portion of our couutrymen where the institution
exists. In that event, no form of government,
however admissible in itself, however productive
of material benefits, can compensate for the loss
of peace and domestic security around the family
altar. Letevery Union-loving man therefore ex-
ert his best influence to suppress this agitation,
which, since the recent legislation Of Congress,
is without any legitimate object. ~
1t is an evil of the times that men have under
taken to calculate the mere material value of the
Union Reasoned estimates have been presented
Of the pecuniary profits and local advantages
which would result to different States and sections,
from its dissolution and of the comparative inju-
ries which such an event would infiict on other
States and sections. Even descending to this low
and narrow view of the mighty question, all such
calculations are at fault. The bare reference to
q single consideration will be conclusive to this
point.
We at present enjoy free trade throughout our
extensive and expansive country such as the world
never witnessed. This trade is conducted on rail-
roads and canals, on noble rivers and arms Of the
sea, which bind together the North and the South,
the East and the West of our confederacy. An
initiate this trade arrest its free progress by the
geographical lines of jealous and hostile States,
and you destroy the prosperity and onward march
of the whole and every part, and involve oil IN
one common ruin.
But such considerations, important as they are
in themselves, sink into insignifcance when we re-
fleet on the terrific evils which would result from
disunion to every portion Of the Confederacy-
the North not more than to the South-tothe East
not more than to the West. These shall not at
tempt to portray, because I feel an humble conf
dence that the kind Providence which inspired our
fathers with wisdom to frame the most perfect
form o. government and union ever devised by
man, will not suffer it to perish until it shall have
been peacefully instrumental, by its example, in
the exepson of civil and religious liberty through
out the world. .....
Next in Importance to the maintenance of~the
Constitution and the Union, is the duty of pre-
serving the government free from the tant or even
the suspicion of corruption. 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 gov
ernment may remain for season; the substance
has departed forever Our present financial con-
dition is without parallel in history. No nation
has ever before been embarrassed from too large
surplus in the treasury.
This almost necessarily, gives birth to extrava-
CANT legislation. 1t produces wild schemes Of e1-
penditures, and begets race of spectators and
jobbers, whose ingenuity is exerted in contriving
and promoting expedients to obtain the public
money. The party through its official agents,
whether rghtfully or wrongfully, is suspected,
and the character of the Government suffers in
the estimation of the people. This is in itself q
very great evil. The natural mode of relief from
this embarrassment, is to appropriate the surplus
in the Treasury to great national Objects for which
q clear warrant can be found in the Constitution.
Among these, might mention the eXtinguishment
of the public debt; q reasonable increase of the
Navy, which is at present inadequate to the pro-
oP
than that of any other nation, as we'll as the de-
fence 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 defray the
expenses Of wise, economical, and efficient ad-
ministration Of the Government To reach this
point it was necessary to resort to modification
of the tariff, and this has been accomplished in
such manner to as little injury as may have
been practicable to our domestic manufacturers,
especially those necessary for the defence of the
country. ANY discrimination against particu-
lar branch for the purpose of beneftting favored
corporations individuals or interests, would have
been unjust to the rest Of the community, and
inconsistent with that spirit of fairness and equal
ity which ought to govern in the adjustment of a
revenue tariff; but the squaLdering of the public
money sinks into comparative insignifcance, as
TEN ptation to corruption, when compared with
the squandering of the public lands. No nation
in the tide of time has ever been blessed with so
rich and noble an Inheritance as we enjoy in the
public lands. g
In administering this important trust, whilst it
may be wise to grant portions of them for the i'm
provement Of the remainder, yet we should never
forget hat 1t Is our cardinal policy to reserve these
lands as much rs may be, for actual settlers, and
this at moderate prices. We shall thus not only
best promote the prosperity of the new States by
furnishing them hardy and independent race of
honest and industrious citizens, but shall secure
homes for our clildren's children, as we'll as for
those exiles from foreign shores, who may seek in
this country to improve their condition. and to en-
Joy the blessings of civil and religious liberty
Such emigrants have done much to promote the
growth and prosperity of the country. 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 nativeborn citizens, and in this
character they should ever be kindly recognized.
The federal constitution is grant from the
States to Congress of certain specific powers, and
the question whether this grant shall be literally
or strictly construed has more or less divided po-
litical parties from the beginning. Without enter
ing into tho argument, desire to state at the
commencement of my administration, that long
experience and observation has convinced me that
q strict construction of the powers of the govern
ment is the only true as well as the only safe
theory of the constitution. Whenever in our past
history doubtful powers have been exercised by
Congress, they have never failed to produce inju-
res and unhappy consequences. Many such in
stances might be adduccd if this were the proper
occasion. Neither is it necessary for the public
service to strain the language Of the constitution
because all the great and useful powers required
for successful administration of the government,
both in peace and in war, have been granted Ell
ther in express terms or by the plainest mplca-