The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-03-14

III government and union ever devised by
man. would not suffer it to perish until It
shall have been peacefully instrumental, 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 free from faint.
or even tho suspicion Of corruption. Public
virtue is the vita! spirit Of Republics, and
h story proves that when thishas decaved &
the love OF money has usurpcd its place, al
tho IHh the forms Of free government may
remain, for season, the substance has de-
parted forever
Our financial condition IS wi,hout paral-
lei in history. No nation has ever before
been embarrassed from too large a surplus in
it, treasury. This, almost necessarily, gives
birth to extravaeant legislation. 1t produces
Wild schemes OF expenditure. and begets a
race otspecu!ators and johhers. whose ingc-
nuity is exerte,! in con,rivin- and promoting
expedien.s to obtain the public money. The
party, through its otlicia! agents, whether
risht'uly or wronyfulIy.i is suspected, and the
character of the government suffers in the
estimation of the people This is, in itself, a
very great evil. The rational mode Of re-
lief from this embarrassment is TO appropri-
ate the surplus in the treasury to great ma
tional Objects for which clear warrant can
he found in the Constitution. Among these
mi ght mention tie cxtiHcushment Of TIE
pUhlic debt: reasonable increase Of the ma
w. whi"h i', atprcsent. inadequate to the
protection Of our vast tonnage a!ioat, now
greater than that Of any other nation. as well
a. the defence OF our extended sea coast
1t il, beyond all question. the true princi-
pie, that no more revenue ought to be col
lected from the people than The amount ne
cesSary to defray tie expenses Of a wise and
economical! and efficient administration Ct the
government
10 reach this point, it was necessary to re-
sort to a mobilization Of the Tariff. and this
has be n accomplished in such a manner as to
do as little injury as may have been prac,ira
HE to our domestic manufactures. especially
those necessary for TIE defence Of the coun-
try. ANY discrimination against a pariicu-
lar branch, for the purpose of beneGftng ia
vored corporations, individuals or interests.
would have been unjust to the rest Of thu.
country, and inconsistent with that spirit of
firmness and equality which ought to govern
in the adjustment Of Revenue Tariff.
But the squanderias Of the public money
sinks into comparative insigniticancc as a
temptation to corruption. when compared
with the >quanderinE of the Pubic 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. In admin
isterin this wise and important trust. whilst
it may be wise to grant portions Of them for
the improvement of the remainder, vet we
should never forget that it is our cardinal poll
BE- for actual settlers, and this at modcrat.
prices
We shall thus not only best promote the
prosperity Of the new States, by furnishing
them hardy & independent race OF honest
4 industrious citizens, but shall secure home.
for our children and our children's children.
A. we'll as for those exies from foreign shores.
who may seek, in this country. to improve
their condition. and to enjoy the blessings of
civil and religious liberty. Such emigrants
have done much to promote the growth and
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 citizens. and
n this character they should ever be kindly
The Federal Constitution is grant from
Congress of certain specific powers; and the
tt,n- ~ -
~ or strictly construed, has more or less, d.
vided political parties from the beginning.
Without entering into the argument, desire
to state, at the commencement of my admin
that long experience and observa-
ton have convinced me that strict con.
struction Of the powers Of the government is
the only true, as we'll 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 injurious
and unhappy consequences. Many such in
stances might be adluccd if this were the
proper occasion. Neither is it necessary for
the public service to strain the language OF
the Constitution, because all the srea, and
useful powers required for a successful ad.
ministration Of the government, both in peace
and war, have been granted either in ex-
press terms or by the plainest implication
Whilst deeply convinced of these truths.
vet consider it clear that under the war ma
king power. Congress m,y appropriate mon
ey towards the construction of military
road, when this is absolutely necessary for
the defence of any State of territory of the
Union against forciy invasion.
Under the Constitution. Congress ha, pow
err to declare war, to raise and support armies.
TO provide and maintain a navy, and to call
forth the militia to iepel INVASION Thus en-
dOwed in an ample manner with the war
making power, the corresponding duty is re-
quired. that the United States shall protect
each of them (,he States against invasion.
How is it possible to afford this protection
to California and our pacific possessions. ex-
cept by mean. of military road through the
territory Of the United States, over which men
and munitions of war may be speedily trans
ported from the Atlantic States, to meet and
repel the invaders. In case of a war with
naval power much stronger than our own. we
should have no other available access TO the
Pacific coast. because such power would
instantly close the route across the I>thmns
of Central America. 1t is impossible to con-
ceive, that whilst the Constitution has OK.
pressly required Congress to defend all the
States. ii hould deny to them by any fair
construction. the only possible means bv
which one OF these States can be defended.
Besides, the Government, ever since its orr /
gin. has been in the constant practice of con- (
ttructing military roads. 1t might also be
wise to consider whether the love for the
Union, which now animates our fellow citizens
DE- the pacific coast, may not be impaired. bv /
our neglect or refusal to provide for them, IN
thex remote and isolated condition tho o,l,.