Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-03-12

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%oefully iasifumenij by its example. IN the sx
tension Of elsil and religious Liberty thtoaghi
out the Wodd.
Next in importance 70 The maisienaneo o.
The Constitution and The Union Is he duty q
preserving government free from the laini q
, even suspicion Of corruption. Public virtue is
the vital sphi! Of Republics. aud history proves
! that when this has deeayed, and the lOte oil
money has Insured its pace. although The
forms Of free government may remain for a sea
son, the substance has departed forever. Our
present financial condition is without a par.
ALL in history. No nation has ever before
been embarrassed from too large a surplus il
its treasury. This almost necessarily gives
birth to extrayagaht schemes of expenditures
and begets a race Of spectators and isbbers,
whose ingenuity is exerlel 10 coLtriving and
promoting expedients To obtain the public mon.
icy. Party, through its official agents, vAsIh.
er rightfully or wrOngfully. is suspected and
the eharacterOf the government! suffers in The
he estimation OF the people. This is in itseli
avery great evil. The rational mode Of relief
from embarrassment, is to appropriate the
surplus in the treasury TO great national OBJ.
jscts for which a clear warrant can be found
IN the Constitution, Among these l might
mention the exliDguishmsnt Of the public debt
a reasonable increase Of the Navy; which is
at present inadequate to the protection Of our
vast tonnage aloat, now greater than any 9TH
er nation, as well as the defence Of our extern
ded sea coast.
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 a wise, economical and
efficient administration Of the Government
To reach this, it was necessary to fesort to a
modification Of the tariff, and this has been &C.
cOuplished 10 such a manner to do as little in.
Jury as may have been practicable TO our dc.
nestle manufactures, especially those necessary
for the defense Of The country. Any discrimi-
nation against a parclicalar branch for the pur-
pose Of benrftting f%avorite corporations, indi-
viduals or Interests, would have been unjust
to the rest of the community and inconsistent
With that split Of fairness ard equality which
ought TO govern in he adjustment OF 2 revenue
tariff.
Put the squandering Of the public money
sinks into comparative insignifcance as a temp.
tation to corruption. when compared with the
squaudering ofthe public lands.
No nation in the tide Of time has ever been
blessed with so itch an Inheritance as we enjoy
in the public lands. In administering this
important trust, whilst it may be wise to grant
portions for the Improvement of the remainder
yet we should never forget that it is our car
dinal policy to reserve these lands as much as
may be for actual stul RS, and this at moder-
ale prices. We shall thus not only best pro-
mote the prosperity of The new States by fur
them a hardy and Independent race Of
honest and industrious %cltiztns, bat shall Sc
cure homes for our children and our childrens'
children, as. well as for those exiled from for.
eign shores who may seek in this country to
THEN condition and TO enjoy the bless.
ing of civil and religious liberty. Such emf.
grants have done much TO promote the growth
and prosperity of the country, They have
faithful both in peace and war. Afer
citizens they are entitled under
he Constitution and laws to be placed on a
erfect equality with native born citizens and
4 this character they should ever be kindly
scognized. II
The Federal Constitution is a grant from the
tates 10 congress- Of certa in specific powers
nd the question whether this grant shall be
berally and strictly constructed, has more or
'ss divided political parties from the begin
ing. Without entering into the argument, |
TO state, al The commencement Of my
administration. that long experience and Obser
atioE has convinced me that a strict construc-
on Of the powers of the government is the on. q
true, as well as the only safe theory of the c
institution. Whenever, in our past history. o
'ubtful powers, have been exercised by Con. c
ess, they have never failed to produce inju- il
'us and unhappy consequences. s
any such instances might be adduced il this n
as the proper occasion, neither is it neces-
ry for the public service to strain the lam v
Iage Of the constitution, because all the great
ID useful powers required for the successful
.minislration of the government, not in peace s
in war, have been granted. either in express
or by the %plainest implication, Wills e
convinced Of these truths, l yet consid '
it clear. that under the war.msking power, |
may appropriate money towards the
instruction of a military road, when this is
necessary for the defence Of any P
ate or Territory Of the Union against for y