The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1857-03-12

JIM 1oSetuSi viz ASis ana the Soutn,
the East and the West of our Confedera-
Icy. Anninilate this trade, arrest its free
progress by the geographical lines Of jeal-
Gus 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 consldera-
tons, important as they are in themselves,
sink into insigni6cance when we reflect on
the terrible evils which would result from
disunion to every portion of the Confede-
racy To the North not more than to the
South to the East not more than 10 the
West. These I shall not attempt to por-
tray, because feel an humble confidence,
that the kind Providence which inspired
our fathers with 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, by its example, in the
extension ef 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 even the 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 departed
| forever.
Our present financial condition is with
out parallel in history. No nation he's
ever before been embarrassed from too
large surplus in its treasury. This al
most necessarily gives birth to extraya-
giant legislation. Itproduces wild schemes
of expenditures and begets race of spec
ulators and jobbers, whose ingenuity is
exerted in contriving and promoting ex-
pedients 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 very great evil. The natural
mode of relief from this embarrassment is
to appropriate the surplus in the Treasu'
ry to great national objects, for which q
clear warrant may be found in the Con
stitution. Among these might mention
the extinguishment of the public debt, g
reasonable increase Of the Navy--which
is at present inadequate to the protection
of our vast tonnage atloat, now greatel
than that of any other nation-as well a:
to the defence of our extensive sea coast
1t is beyond all question the true princi
pie that no more revenue ought to be col
lected from the people than the amour
necessary to defray the expenses ofa wise
economical and efficient adm inirtration o
6 the government To reach this point,
was necessary to resort to modification
of the tariff, and this has, trust, been &C
complished in such a manner as to do a
, little injury as may have been practica
BILE to our domestic manufactures, espe
cially those necessary for the defence G
the country. Any discrimination agains
a particular branch for the purpose c
bene6tting favored corporations, individ
uals or interests, would have been unius
to the rest of the community, and incon
sistent with that spirit of fairness an
equality which ought to govern in tn
adjustment OF revenue tariff. But tn
squardering of the public money sink
into comparative insignifcance, as
temptation to corruption, when compare
with the squandering of the public lands
No nation in the tide of time has eve
been blessed with so rich and noble a
inheritance as we enjoy in the Publ
:. Lands. In administering this impor
: tant trust, whilst it may be wise, to gran
: portions of them for the improvement {
: the remainder, yet we should never forge
: that it is our cardinal policy to preserv
! these lands, as much as may be, for &C
J tual settlers, and this at moderate price.
:. We shall thus not only best promote tn
. prosperity of the new States and Terrific
ries by furnishing them a hardy and r
dependant race of honest and industriou
: citizens, but shall secure homes for on
: children and our children's children,
: well as for those exiles from foreig
: shores who may seek in this country
: improve their condition and to enjoy tt
blessings of civil and religious libert,
y Such emigrants have done much to prc
. :, mote the growth and prosperity of tt
y country. They have proved faithful bot
. in peace and in war. After becomin
: citizens, they are entitled under the col
: stitution and laws, to be placed on pc
y :, feet equality with native born citizen
- - and in this character they should ever
. = kindly recognized. The Federal Const
tuition is grant from the States to Coz
= gress of certain specific powers, and Il
l. l. question whether this grant should
, literally or strictly construed, has mo-
y y or less divided political parties from t.
70 beginning. Without entering into Il
70 argument, desire to state, at the con
ie mencement of my administration, th
q long experience and observation ha,
!, convinced me that strict constructie
- of the powers of the Government is Il
as a only safe theory OF the Constitution.
= Whenever, in our past history, doub
le full powers have been exercised by CO.
= gress, these have never failed to proda
a a Injurious and unhappy consequence
= - Many such instances might be adduce
= if this were the proper occasion. Meth
y is it necessary for the public service
ie strain the language of the Constitutio
a. because all the great and useful powe
= required for successful administrati
a q of the Government, both in peace and
81 war, have been granted either in EXPIRE
ei terms, or by the plainest implicatic
While deeplv convinced of these truth