Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-03-13

world never Witnessed. ms tfaae u
conducted on railroads and canals, on the
noble rivers aud arms Of tho sea which
bind together the North and tho South,
tho East and West Of our Confoderacy.-
Annihilate thIs trade, arreet It's free pro-
gress by geographical lines Of jealous and
hostile States, and you destroy The pros
perily and onward march Of tlo whole
and every part. and Involve all IN ono COM
mon ruin. But such considerations, I'm
por!ant as they are IN themselves, sink IN
10 insIgniacance when We reflect on tho
terrific evils which would remit from dis
union to every portion Of tho Confedora-
cy, TO tho North lot moro than to tho
West. Theso shall not attompt to por-
tray, because | fcol an humble confidence
that the kind Providence, which inspired
our fathers with wisdom to franc tho
most perfect form Of government and
union ever devised BY man, will not suffer
Il TO perish until Il shall have been peace
fully Instrumental by rs example in the
extension Of civil aud religious liberty
throughout tho world.
Next In importance 70 the malntainaiice
Of the Constitution and tho Union, Is tho
duty Of preserving government free from
the faint or even suspicion Of corruption.
Public virtue is the vital spirit Of Repub-
lies, and history proves that when this has
docayed, and the love Of money has usur-
ped lis place, although the forms Of FREQ
government may remain for season, tho
substance has departed forever Our
present financial condition Is without a
parallel in history. No nation has ever
before been embarrassed from too largo a
surplus in rs treasury This almost nee
essarIly gives birth to extravigant lcgisla-
ton. Il produces wild schemes Of cx-
pcnditures, and bogets race Of speoula-
tors and jobbers, whose ingenuity Is cxor-
tod In eontriviug and promoting expedi-
cnts to obtain the public money. Party,
through It's official agents, whether right
fully or wrongfally, ia suspected, mud the
character Of tho government suffers IN the
estimation Of tho people. This 10 in itself
a very great evil Tho national mode Of
relief from embarrassment, 10 to appro-
pirate tho surplus IN tho treasury to great
national objects, for which clear warrant
can DO found IN tho Constitution. Among
these | might mention tho extinguishmcnt
Of tho public debt, aud reasonable Inc
crease Of tho Navy, which Is at present
Inadquate to the protection Of our vast
tunnase aaoat, now greater than that Of
any other nation, as we'll as the defense
Of our excluded aeaeoast.
II Is, beyond all questions, the true pvIn-
clple that no more revenue ought to be
collected from the people than the amount
necessary to defray tho expenses OF wise
economical aud efficient administration Of
tho Government. To reach this, II was
necessary to resort TO a modification Of the
tariff. aud this has been accomplished IN
such a manner TO do as little Injury as
may have boon practicable to our domestic
manufactures, especially those necessary
for the defense Of tho country. Any dis
cFimination against particular branch for
tho purpose OF beuchting fayorIte corpo-
rations, individuals or interests, would
have boon unjust to tho rest Of tho COM
munity, and inconsistent with that spirit
of fairness aud equality which ought to
govern in the adjustment Of revenue tar
III.
But tho squanderiug Of the public mon
ey sinks into comparative inaignidcance as
a temptation to corruption, whom eOmpar-
cd with the squandering Of tho public
lands.
No nation in the tide Of time has ever
been blessed with so rich and noble an IN
heEitance as we enjoy IN the Public Lands.
IN administering this important trust,
while itmay be wise to grant portions Of
them for the improvement Of the remain
der, yet We should never forget chat It Is
our cardinal policy to reserve these lands
as much as may bo FOR actual settlers, and
this et moderate prices. Wo shall thus
not only best promote the prosperity Of
tho new States by furnishing thom har-
dy aud independent race Of honest and
Industrious citizens, but shall secure
homes for our children and our childrens'
children, as well as for those exiled from
foroignshoros who may seek in this conn-
try to improve their condition and to en-
Joy the blessings Of civil and religious lib
erty. 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 becom-
ing citizens. they are entitled under the
Constitution and laws to DO placed on q
perfect equality with native born citizens
and in this character they should ever be
kindly recognized.
Tho 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 moro or less divided pc.
Iitical parties from the beginning. With.
out entering into the argument, | desire
to state, at the commencement Of my
administration, that long experience and
observation has convinced mo that strict
construction Of the powers Of government
is the ouly 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 injurious and un.
happy consequences. Many such instan-
cos might be adducei If this wero the