Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-03-13

bare reference to single consideration
will be conclusive on this point. We az
present enjoy "a freestrade throughout our
extensivel and expanding country .such as
the world has never witnessed. This
tradeSis conducted on railroads and ca
nals--on noble rivers and arms Of the sea
which bind together the North aud the
South. the East and the West OF our
confederacy. Annihilate this trade. ar
rest its free progress by the geographical
lines of jealous and hostile States, and
you destroy the prosperity and onward
march Of the whole and every part. and
involve all in common ruin. But such
considerations, important as they are in
themselves. sink into insigni6cance when
we reflect on the terrific evils which
would result from disunion to every poF7
ton Of tho confederacy Ito the North not
more than to the South. to the East not
more than to the West.o These shall
not attempt to portray because feel an
humble confidence that the kind aProyi.
dence 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 peacefully instrumental.
by its example. in the extension Of civil
and religious liberty throughout the
world. E"
Next in Importance 10 the maintenance
Of the constitution and the Union is the
duty Of preserving the government free
from the faint. or even the suspicion. oil
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 has
ever before been embarrassed from too
large surplus in its treasury. This al
most necessarily gives birth to extrava>
CANT legislation. 1t produces wild schemes
Of expenditure, and begets race OF spec
ulators and jobbers. whose ingenuity is
exerted in contriving and promoting ex-
pedients to obtain public money. The pu>
rity of official agents, whether rightfuliy
or wrongfully is suspected. and the char
acter of the government suffers in the es'
timation of the people. This is in itself o
very great evil. 80
The natural mode OF relief from this
embarrassment is to appropriate the sur.
plus in the treasury to great national OBJ
lects. for which a clear warrant can be
found in the constitution. Among these
| might mention the extinguishment OF
the public debt, a reasonable Increase OF
the navy, which is at present inadequate
to the protection of our vast tonnage
afloat. now greater than that Of any other
nation, as well ms to the defence of our
extended sea~coast.
Il is beyond all question the true prin-
| ciple that no more revenue ought to be
collected from the people than the
amount necessary to defray the ex
penses of a wise, economical, and eficien
administration of the government II
reach this point it was necessary % fesor
TO modification of the tariff, and this
has. trust. been accomplished in such
manner as to do as little injury as may havt
been practicable to our domestic manu-
features, especially those necessary 70
the defence Of the country. Any discri
mination against particular branch, 70
the purpose Of benefLing favored corpo
rations, individuals, or interests. woult
have been unjust to the rest of the com
muuity and inconsistent with that spiri
of fairness and equality which ought t.
govern in the ad jusIment Of q revenue ia
riff.
But the squandering Of the publ
, money sinks into comparative insignia
ceTAce as a temptation to corruption whe
compared with the squandering of III
public lands.
No nation in the tide of lime has eve
been blessed with so rich and noble q
, inheritance as we enjoy in the publ
. lands. In administering this importau
trust, whilst it may be wise to grant POI
tons Of them for the improvement {
the remainder, yet we should never forge
that it is our cardinal policy to reserv
these lands. as much as may be. for actu
, al settlers, and this at moderate prices.-
We shall thus not only best promote tn
prosperity Of the new States and Terrific
: ries by furnishing them a hardy and ir
dependent race Of honest and industriou
citizens, but shall secure homes for GU
{ children and our children's children, a
, well as for those exiles from foreign shore
, who may seek in this country to improv
their condition. and TO enjoy the blessing
of civil and religious liberty. Such en-
grants have done much 10 promote ih
growth and prosperity Of the country
They have proved faithful both in peac
and in war. After becoming citizens
they are entitled, under the constiIutio,
and laws, to be placed ON perfect equal
ty with native-born citizens and in thi
character they should ever be kindly re
cognized.
The federal constitution is grant fror
the States to Congress Of certain specifi
powers and the question whether thi
:. grant should ha literally mr. strictly ron