Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1857-03-13

ty around the family altar. Let every
Union-loving man. therefore. exert h;s
best influence to suppress this agitation,
which, since the recent legislation Of
: Congress, is without any legitimate ob.
jeet.
1t is an evil of the times that men have
undertaken to calculate the mere mater.
al value of the Union. Estimates have
been presented Of the pecun;ary profits
and local advantages Which would result
to different States and sections from its
lissoution-of the comparative injuries
which such an event would in1ict or
other States and sections. Even dcccn-
ding to this low and narrow view of tn
weighty question. all such calculations
are to fault. The bare reference 10
single consideration will be CONCLUSIVE
on this point. We at presant enjoy q
free trade throughout orr extensive and
expansive country. such az the would
never witnessed. The trade is conduc-
ted 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 oar conf.der-
alton. Annihilate this trade-arrest its
free progress by the geographical line of
jealous and hostile States. and you des-
troy the prosperity and onward march
Of the whole and every part. and involve
all in one common ruin. But such con-
sidcrations, important as they are in
themselves, sink into insgnifcance when
we reflect on the terrific evils whic.
would result from disunion to every po-
rtion of the confederacv-to the North
not more then to tn, Sonth-to tho
+ East not more than to the West. Theso
| shall not attempt to portray. because J
feel an humble confidence that the kin.
Providence which inspired our fathers
v.th wisdom to amo the mo tperfectfor
of government and anon ever devised
by man. would not suFar it to perish
until it shall have been peacefully instru-
mental, by its example. in the extension
ofcivl and religious liberty throughout
| the world.
Next in Importance to tAe maintcn-
ance of the Constitution and the Union,
is tie duty of preserving the government
free from taint, or even the suspicion Of
corruption. Public virtue is the vital
spirit of Republics. and history proves
that when this has decaycd, and the
love of money has usarped It's place.
although the forms Of free government
may remain. for season, the substance
has departed forever.
Our financial condition is without
parallel in history. No nation has ever
before been embarrassed from too large
surplus in it's treasury. THIS. almost
necessarily, gives birth to cx;ravagant
legislation. 1t proluccs wild SCHEMES
OF expenditure. and bosets race ofSpcc-
nlators and johbers. whose ingenuity is
exerted in contrivins and promoting
cXpcdicnts to obtain the public money.
The party, through its Official agents,
whether rightfully or wrongfuliy. is sus-
pcctcd. and the character of the govern
mcnt suffers in the estimation of the pro-
pie. This is, in itself. very great evil.
The national mode of relief from this
embarrassment is to appropriate the sur
plus in IA treasury to great national OBJ
lccts for which clear warrant can be
found in the Constitution Among
these might mention the extin.uish-
ment of the public debt: a reasonable
increase of the navy, which sat present,
inadequate to the protection of our vast
tonnage ahoat, now greater than any
other nation, as well az 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 defray the EXPENSES
Of wise and economical and efficient
administration of the government.
To reach this point, it was necessary
to resort to modification Of the Tariff.
and this has been accomplished in such
a manner as to do a, little injury as may
have been practicable to our domestic
manufactures, especially those necessary
to the defence of the Country. Any
discrimination against particular
branch, for the purpose of benetiting
favored corporations, individuals or in
terests, would have been unjust 10 tho
rest of the country, and inconsistent with
that spiri: of frmness and equality which
ought 10 govern in the adjustment OF a
Revenue Tariff.
But the squandcrins OF the public
money sinks into comparative insignif-
cance as temptation 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 wo
} enjoyed in the Public Lands. In ad-
: mnistering 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
r cardinal policy to preserve these lands
e as much as may be for actual settlers,
y and this at moderate prices.
a We shall thus not only best pro-
e mote the prosperity of the new States,
e by furnishing them hardy and inde-
= pendent race of honest and Industrious
" citizens, but shall secure homes for our
e children and our children children. as
'e we'll as for those cxiles from foreign