Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-03-07

attempt to portray, because feel an hum
bic confidence that the kind Providence
which inspired our fail crs' wisdom to frame
the most perfect form of government and
Union ever devised by man, will not suffer
it to perish until it shall have been peace
fully instrumental. ly 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 from the faint,
or even the suspicion of corruption. Public
virtue is the vital spirit of republics; and
history proves flat when this has decayed
and the love of money has usurped its place,
although the forms of free government may
remain for a season. the substance has de-
parted forever.
Our present financial condition is without
; parallel in history. No nation has ever
before been embarrassed from too large a
surplus in its treasury. This almost ncces-
sarily gives birth to extravagan legislation
It produces wild schemes Of expenditure.
and heggts race Of spectators and johbers,
whose ingenuity Is exerted in cont1ivin-
and promoting expeaients to gain public
money The purity of Official agents, whc-
Their rightfuliy or wrongfuiy. is suspected.
and the character of The government suffers
in the estimation of the people This is in
itself very great ey.l.
The natural mode Of relief from this en-
harrassnlent is to appropriate the surplus in
the treasury to great national objects. far
which clear warrant can be found in tic
constitution. Among these | niel,t MN
tion the extnguishmont IF the public deli
reasonable increase Of the navy. ahieh is
at present inadequate to the protection Of
our vast tonnage atioat now greater than
that Of any other nation, as well as to The
defence of our extended seacoaxt
Il is beyond all question the true Incl
rle that Do mere revenue ought 10 be col.
lected frem the people than tie omount ne
eessary To defray The expenses Of wise
economical and efficient administration of
the government Toreach this point it was
Necessary to resort to modification ef the
tariff, and this has, trust, been accom-
plished IL such manner as t. do as litiie
injury Us may have been practicable to our
domestic manufactures, especially those ne
cessafy to the defence Of the caun ry. Any
discrimination against a particular branch,
for the purpose of heneftine favored eorpo-
rations. individuals, or interests. woul
have been unjust to the rest Of the cenmu
nifty, and Inconsistent with that spirit Of
fairness and equality which ought to govern
i'll the adjustment Of "A revenue tariff
But the squanierihg of the public money
sinks into cooperative insienicanee as a
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 nolle inheri-
lance as we enjoy in the public lands In
administering this important trust. whilst it
may be wise TO grant portions Of them for
the Improvement OF the remainder. vet we
should never furget that ii is cur cardinal
policy to reserve these lands as inueh a.
may be for actual settlers, and tbs at mod
crate prices We shall tus not only best
promote the prosperity af the new Suites
ami Territories - furnishing them bar y
AID independent race If honest and indus
trious citizens. lat shal secure homes Far
our ehilf,n and or chilflren's children. ..s
VII as tar these eXil7s from fdniru .eores
vile MAY seek IL this country to improve
their condition, and to enjoy the blessings
Of civil and + litiuus liberty. Such eufi.
grants haze done Urh to promote thecrovth
and prosperity Of t'ie country. They hive
proved faithful bath in peace and war. After
becoming citizrus. n, are ,nfirled, under
til constitution ani iiWs. "a he niaeel 81. =
perfect qualify with the naiive.hern cit
zen ; and in this character they should ever
be kindly recoeniz, /.
The federal constitution Is grant from
the State to Congress IF certain spceifc
powers; and the question WHETHER this grant,
should be lleiaily er stictly construed has.
more or less, divided political PARTIES from
the beginning. Without entering into the
argument. desire tn stare. st the com
menoemeut ofufy administration. that lone
experience and observation has convinced
me thai a stliet eone,r III tin of the paNerS of
the govefnment Is the only true, az well as
the nnlg safe, theory If the eonstiaiiea.--
Whenere', IN our past history, daultful
powers have been exercised by Concroes,
these have never failed to produce injurious
anu unhappy consequences. Mny such liz
stances might be added, If this were the
proper occasion, Neither is il neecasarg flr
the public service to strain the language af
the constitution because all the great ami
useful powers required Tor successful ad-
ministration If the gNerum 1T 10th in
peace aud war. hnyc.lcen GRANTED ether in
express terms ly the plainest Implication.
While deeply convinced If these tfaths,
yet consider it clear that under the waf-
making power, Congress my appropriate
money towards the cons tfuctien ofa miIitaly
road. when this is absolutely necessary Tor
the defense of amy State OF Territory Of the
Union against foreign invasion. Under the
constitution Congress has power - declare
war; ITO raise and support armies ) ''to
provide aud niaiutan navy = and to call
forth the militia to ,'fepel invasion. :" Tins
endowed Ia an n.ple n.ariner with the war
making power, the corresponding duty Is re-
qnired that "the United States Shall pro-
teet each of them Fthc States against inla-
SION" Now bow is it possible to atinrl this
protection to california and our Aacilc pos
sessions except by mears If military road
through the Territories ofthe United States,
over Whiph men and munitions of war NAV be
speedily transported iron the Atlantic States
tomeet and to rerel the invader? In tie
auont nf :. o.ar Win q ,r,,.,l L