The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-03-14

IN themselves, sink into nsignisicance wher
We reflect on the terrific evils which would
result from disu..iCn to every portion of the
Confedcracy-to the North not more than to
the South-to the East not more than to
the West. These | shalt not attempt 20
portray, because feel an humble confidence
that the kind Providence which inspired our
fathers with wisdom to frame the most per
feet form OF government and union ever de-
vised by man, will not suffer it to perish
until it shall have been peacefully instru-
mental by its example in the extension of
civil and religious liberty throughout the
world
Next in importance to the maintenance Of
he 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
aI5 history proves that when this has de-
ca,,-S,, and the love Of money has usurped
/ its place, although the forms Of free govern
ment may remain for season, the substance
has departed foreTer. Our present financial
condition is without a parallel in history.
| No nation has ever before been embarrassed
from too large surplus in its treasury.
This almost necessarily gives birth to ex-
'ravagant legislation. 1t produces wild
schemes OF expenditures and begets u race
of spectators and jObbcIs whose ingenuity
Is exerted in contrlving and promot ng ex-
pedlsnts 10 obtain the public money. The
party through its Official agents, whether
( rightfully or wrongfully, Is suspected, and
! The character Of the Government suffers in
The estimation or the people. This is in it.
s,lf very great evil. The national mode
/ Of relief from this embarrassment, is TO ap-
propriatc the Surplus in the Treasury to
: great nat onal objects for which clear war
. rant can be found in the Constitution
: Among these | might mention the extin-
guiehment Of the public debt; reasonable
/ increase Of the Navy, which is at present
inadequate to the protection Of oar vast
tonnage afloat-now greater than any other
. nation, as wei as the defence Of our cX-
tended sea coast. 1t is beyond all question
, the true principle that no more revenue
( ought to be collected from the people than
The amount necessary TO dc!rag the expenses
Of wise, economical and efficient admins
. tra;ioa Of the Government
To reach this point it was necessary TO
resort 10 a modification Of the tariff, and this
has been accomplished in such a manner to
DO as little injury as may have been praciI-
cable 10 our domestic manuflcturcs, espe-
cialiy those necessary for the defence of the
country. Any discrimination against a par
ticular branch, for The purpose OF beneiiiurg
favored corporations. individuals or interests
would have been unjust 10 the rest Of the
community. and inconsistent with that spirit
Of fairness and equality which ought to
govern in the adjustment Of 4 revenue tariff;
( bat the squaudeling OF the public money
sinks into comparative insignIfira rancc, as 4
temptation to corruption, when compared
with the sluande.ing Of the puJhc lands.
No nation III the tide Of time has ever been
blessed wi:h so rich and noble an Inheritance
as We enj : IN The public lands. Ia admins
iefing this important trust, whilst il may bC
wise to grant portions OF them for the i'm
proyemcnt OF the remainder. vet we should
never forget that it Is our cardinal policy To
reserve these lands much as may lie i1r
aetu,l settlers, and this AZ moderate prices .
~Wssball thus not only best promote the
prosperity Ct the ne~ States by furnishing
them hardy and independent race OF honest
and industrious citizens, bat shall secure
homes for our childgeu's children, as vel, -
for those eXiics from foreign shores who may
seek in this COUNT: to itipto-e thei- conGi .
lion and to enjoy the blessings Of civil crd
relisi .us liberty. Such cmgran's have done
much 10 promote the growth and prosperity
Of the county. They have proved faithful
both in peace and war. After becoming
citizens they are entitled, under the Cons,i-
tuition and laws, to be placed on perfect .
equality with native-born citizens, and in
this Character they should ever be kindly
recognized
The Federal Constitution is grant from .
the States Ia Congress Of certain specific
powers, and the question whether this grant
shall be literally or strictly construed, mas
more or less divided political parties from
the beginning. Withou; entering into the
argument, | desire to state at the commence
ment Of my administration that long expe-
rence and observation have convinced me
that strict construction Of the powers of
the Government is the only true as well as
the only safe theory Of the Constitution.
Whenever in our past history, doubtful pow
crs have been exercised by Congress, they
have never failed TO produce injurious and
unhappy consequences. Many such in
stances might be adduced. If this were the
roper occasion. Neither is il necessary for
the public scr:ice to strain the language Of
the Constitution, because all the great and
useful powers required for successiu! adj
ministrstion of the Government, both IN
peace and war, have been granted either IN
express terms or by the plainest implication,
Whilst deeply convinced oS THIS truths,
yet consider it clear that Under the war /
making power may appropriate money to-
NallS tilc CONSTRUCTION OF q military rcati,
when this Is absolutely necessary for the /
defense Of any State or territory of the /
Union against foreign invasion. Under the |
Constitution Congress has power to declare /
war; to raise and support armies, to provide /
and maintain a navy, and 10 call forth the /
military to rcpel invas on. Thus endowed /
in an ample mar ner with the making /
power, the corresponding duty is required /
that the United States shall protect each Of
them tthc States against invasion. How is |
it possible to afford this protection to Cali .
fornia and our Pacific possessions except by /
means of military road through the terri |
tory of the United States; over which men /
and munitions Of @aI may be speedily trans /
ported from the Atlantic States to meet and /
repel the invader. In case of a war with a !
naval power much stronger than our own, |
we should then have no other available ac
C SIS to The Pacific coast. because such a
power would instantly close the ronte across
the 1shmus of Central America. 1t is i'm |
possible to conceive that whilst the Consttu
ton has expressly required Congress to de- !
fend all the States, it should yet deny to
them, by any fair construction, the only
possible. means by which one of these States |
can bexkfended. Besides, the Government |
ever sutksi,s origin, has been in the constant
practicssof constructing military roads it |
might also be wise to consider whether the /
love for the Union which now anmatcs orr
fellow ei1isens on the Pacific may not be i'm
paired b our neglect or refusal TO provide |
for them IN their remote and isolated condi- |
ton the only means by which the power of
the States on this side of the Rocky Noun !
tains can reach them in sufficient time to
protect them against invasion. | forbear,
for the present, from expressing an opinion
as to the wisest and most economical mode
in which the government can lend its aid in