The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-03-13
remain for season, the substance has de-

gives bhth to extravagant Legislation. II
produces wild schemes Of expenditure, and
begets race of sprculatnrs and jnbbers.
Whose ingenuity is rxeIted in contriving and
promoting rxpedienls to obtain public money.
The purity Of official agents, whether right
fully or wrongfully, is suspected, and the
character of the government suffers in the
estimation OF the people. This is IN itself a
very great evil.
The n tn al mode of relief from this EN-.
barrassment is to appropriate the surplus in
the treasury to great national objects, Tor
which a clear warrant can be found in the
Constitution. Among these might mention
the extnguishment of the public debt, q
reasonable increase of the navy, which is ar
present inadequate to the protection of our
vast tonnage nhoat, now greater than that OF
any other nation, rs well rs to the defense oil
our extended searOast.
II 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 administration of the government
To reach this point it was NJ crssrry 10 resort
To a modification of the tariff, and this has, ]
| trust, been accomplished in such n manner MS
To do us little injury ms may have been prac-
tcable TO our domestic manufactures, espe.
cially those necessary tn tine defense of the
country. Any discrimination against n par
tcuar branch, for the purpose Of benrflting
favored corporations, individuals, or interests,
would have been unjust to the rest of the
community, and Inconsistent with that spirit
of fairness and equality which ought to govern
in the adjustment of n revenue tariff.
But the squandering of the public money
sinks into comparative insgnihcnnce Ms u
temptation to corruption when compared with
the squandering of the public lands.
No nation in the tide of time has ever been
blessed with 81 rich and noble inheritance as
We enjoy in the public lands. In administer
ing 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 that It is our cardinal policy Ia
reserve these lands az much rs may he for
actual settlers and this ut moderate 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 and Industrious citizens, hut
shall secure homes for our children aud our
| chidrpn's children, ns well ~ for those exiles
from foreign shores who may seek, in this
country, to improve their condition, and to
enjoy the blessings of civil and religious lib
eriy. 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 n perfect equality with
| the native born citizen; and in this character
should ever BE- kindly recognized.
The federal constitution isn grant from the
| Strtes IT, Congress Of certin specific pnwers;
and the question whether this grant should
| be literally or strictly construed, has, IN re
or less, divided political parties from the be
ginning. Without entering into the argument,
| desire to state, at the commencement of nv
administration, that long experience and OBJ
servaiion has convinced me that II strict con.
struction Of the powers of the government is
| the only true, M well IN the only safe, theory
of the constitution. Whenever, in our past
| history, doubtful powers have been exercised
bv Congress, these have never failed to pro.
ducr injurinu and unhappy consequences s.
Many such instances might be added, il this
were the proper "ccnsnn. Neither l., II necrs
snry for the public service to strain the lam
gnagp of the constitution; because all the
great and useful powers required for n SUI
cesstul administration OF the government,
both in peace and in war, have been granted
either in express terms or by the parest in.
pcation.
While deeply convinced of these truths,
vet consider it clear that, under the war uak
ing power, Congress may appropriate money
towards the construction of n m litarv road,
when this is absolutely necessary Tor the de-.
Tense of any State or territory of the Uriun
against foreign invasion. Under the Consi-
tuition Congress has power "lo declare war"
ITO raise and support arnes;""io provide and
maintain navy;" aud to call forth the militia
to "rrpe INVASION" Thus endowed in an
ample manner with the war making power,
the corresponding duty is required that "the
United States shall protect each Of them The
States agains, INVASION" Now, how is it
possib, to afford this protection to California
and our Pacific possessions except by means
OF II military road through the territories OF
the United States, over which men and muni.
tons of war may he speedily transported
| from the Atlantic States To meet aud rrpel
the invader! In the event Of n war with n
naval power much stronger than Onr own, We
should then have no other available access to
the Pacific coast; because such power would
instantly close the route across the Isthmus
of Central America. 1t is impossible to con-
crive that, whilst the Constitution has ex-
pressl, required Congress to defend all the
States, it should yet deny to them, by any
fair construction, tho only possible means by
which one of these States can be defended
Besides, the government, eve. since its origin,
has been in the constant practice OF construct
ing military roads
Ii might, also, be wise to consider whether
the love for the Union which now animntes
our fellow. citizens on the Pacific coast, may
not he imp red by our neglect or refusal 10
provide for them, in their remote and isolated
condition, the only means by which the pow
er Of the States on this side of the Rocky
Maintains can reach them in sufficient time
to protect them against invasion. fnrbrnr
for the present, from expressing nm opinion MS
to the wisest and most economical mode in
winch the Government can lend its aid in
accomplishing this great and necessary work
! believe that many IF the difficulties in the
way which nav appear formidable will, in Il
great degree, vanish ns soon ns the nearest
and best route shall have been satisfactorily
aseeriained.
II NAV he right that on this occasion
should make some brief remarks in regard Ia
our rights and duties as n member of the
great family Of nations. In our intprcours,
with them there are some plain principles
approved by our own experience, from which
We should never depart. We ought to cult
| vntp npncp commerce. and fripndship with ,l