Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1857-03-12

conclusive on this point. We at present en-
Joy free trade throughout extensive
and expanding country such as the world
never witnessed. This trade is conducted on
railroads 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. Annihiate 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 all in
one common ruin. But such considerations,
sink into insignifcance when we reflect on
the terrific evils which would result from
disunion to every portion of the contederacy.
To the North not more than to the South
to the East not more than to the West. These
l shall not attempt to portray, because feel
| nm humble confidence that the kind ProVl-
dence which inspired our fathers with wis
dom to frame.the most perfect form Of Govern
ment and Union every devised by man. will
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 the
taint or 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 government may
remain for season. the substance has de-
parted forever.
Our present financial condition is without
a parallel in history. No nation has ever
before been embarrassed from tco large
surplus in its treasury. This almost neces-
sarly gives birth to extravagant legislation.
| 1t produces wild schemes of expenditures
and begets race of spectators and iobbers,
whose ingenuity is exerted in contriving and
promoting expedients to obtain public mon
ey. The purity of official agents, whether
rightiully or wrongfully, is suspected, and
the character Of the government suffers in the
estimation of the people. This in itself is a
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 n clear warrant can be
found in the Constitution.
Among these | might mention the extin-
! guishment of the public debt, Il reasonable
Increase Of the Navy-which Is at present in
/ adequate to the protection Of our vast ton
/ mage ahoat, now greater than that Of any
/ other nation, as we'll as to the defence Of our
extensive sea coast. 1t is beyond all qucs-
ought to be collected from the people than
the amount necessary to defray the expenses
of IL wise, economical and efficient admins
tration Of the government. To reach this
point it was necessary to resort to Il modifca-
ton of the tariff, and tins has, ! trust. been
ACCOMPLISHED in such Il manner as 10 do aS
( little injury US 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 benctttlng iayoreI
corporations, individuals or interests, would
have been unj just to the rest Of the commu-
nitv, and inconsistent with that spirit Uf
fairness and equality which ought to govern
in the adjustment Of & revenue tariff.
But the squanderiug Of the public money
sinks into comparative lnsl5nlh :auce aS
u temptation to corruption, when compared
with the squanderlnS vt the public lands
No nation in the tide of time has ever been
blessed with rich and noble an inhcrtlnce
as we enjoy in the Public Lands. In al
ministerInS this important trust, whilst it
may be wise to grant portions Of them for
the improvement of the remainder, yet we
should never forget that it Is our cardinal
olicy to preserve these lands, as much as
may be- for actual settlers, and this 1T mod
crate prices We shall thus not only best
promote the prosperity Of the new States and
Territories by furnishing them hardy and
independent race Of honest ana industriOu,
citizens but shall secure homes for our chill
dren aud our childrcns children, as well as
for tlr)se exiles from foreign shores who may
seek in this country t. improve their condi-
ton, and to enjoy the blessings of civil and
religious liberty. Such em;g grants have done
much t. 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 cCusti-
tuition and laws, 10 be placed on perfect
equality with native born citizens AMI in
this character they should ever be kindly
recognized. The Federal Constitution is a
grant from the States to Congress Of certain
specific powers, and the question, whether
this grant should be literally or strictly con-
strued, has more or less divided political par
ties from the beginning.
Without entering into the argument, de-
sire to state, at the commencement Of my ad
mnistration, that long experience and o5Ser-
yaton have convinced me that a strict con-
structi0n of the powers of the Government is
the only true, as we'll as the only safe theory
Of the Con tituti0n. Whenever in our past
history, doubtful mowers have been exercised
by Congress- these have never failed tn pro-
duce Injurious and unhappy consequences.
Many such instances might be adduced, 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 success
ful administration of the Government, both
| in peace and in war, have been granted eth
er in express terms or by the pIainest impli-
cation.
Whilst deeply convinced of these truths,
| | yet consider il clear, that under the war
making power, Congress may appropriate
money towards the construction of military
road, when this is absolutely necessary for
the defence Of any State or Territory Of the
Union, against FOREIGN invasion. Under the