American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-03-14

attempt TO portray, because tecl an
humble confidence that the kind Prov
idence 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 un-
til it shall have been peacefully instru-
mental, by its example, in tho extern
sion of civil and religious liberty thro-
out the world.
Next In Importance to the maintcn-
ance of the Constitution and the Union,
is the duty of preserving the govern.
ment free from the faint, or even the
suspicious of corruption. Public vir-
tue is the vital spirit of republics; and
history proves that when this has de-
cayed, and the love of money has usur-
ped its place, although the forms of
free government may remain for sea-
son, the substance has departed fore
yer. a @ a.f F aHs .ga4
Our present financial condition is
without parallel in history. No ma
ton has ever before been embarrassed
from too large surplus in its treasu-
ry. This almost necessarily gives birth
to extravagant legislation. 1t produ-
ces wild schemes of expenditure, and
begets race of spectators and job
bers, whose ingenuity is oxerted in
contriving and concocting experiments
to obtain public money. The purity of
official agents, whether rightfully9 or
wrongfully, is suspected, and the char
acter of the government suffers in the
estimation of the people. This is in
itself very great evil. gm 'a
The natural mode of relief from this
embarrassment is to appropriate the
surplus in tho treasury to great nation,
al objects, for which clear warrant
can be found in the Constitution. A.
mong these might mention the extin-
guishment of the public debt, a reason
able increase of the navy, which is at
present inadequate to the protection
ofour vast tonnage aiioat, now greater
than that Of any other nation, as we'll
as to the defence of our extended sea
coast. s.u at.# W Hag
1t 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 ex.
/ pences of wise, economical, and eff.
cient administration of the government.
10 reach this point twas necessary to
resort to modification of the tariff, &
this has, | trust, been accomplished in
such manner as to do as little injury
as may have been practicable to our
domestic manufactures especially those
necessary for the defence of the coun.
try. Any discrimination against a
| particular branch, for the purpose of
benofiting favored corporations, indi.
viduals or interests, would have been
unjust to the rest of the community &
inconsistent with that spirit of fairness
and equality which ought to govern in
the adjustment of revenue tariff.
But the squandering Of the public
money sinks into comparative insignifi.
canoe as temptation to corruption
when compared with the squandering
of the public lands. ''0
No nation in the tide of time has ever
been blessed with so rich and noble an
inheritance as we enjoy in the public
lands. In administering this import.
ant trust, whilst it may be wise to
grant portions of them for the improve.
mcnt of the remainder, yet we should
never forget that it is our cardinal pol.
icy to reserve these lands as much as
may be for actual settlers, and this at
moderate prices. We shall thus not
only best promote the prosperity of the
new States and Territories by furnish.
ing them q hardy and independent race
of honest and Industrious citizens, but
shall procure homes for our children &
childrcn's children, as we'll as for those
exiles from foreign shores who may
seek in this country to improve their
condition, and to enjoy the blessings of
civil and religious liberty. Such emf.
grants have done much to promote the
growth and prosperity of the country.
They have proved faithful both in peace
and in war. After becoming citizens,
they are entitled, under the Constitu.
ton and laws, to be placed on a perfect
| equal'y WIFI natlFe poTn cllIheHSj ana
in this character they should ever be
kindly recognized.
The federal Constitution is grant
from the States to Congress of certain
specific powers, and the question whe.
Their this grant should be literally or
strictly construed, has, more or less,
divided political parties from the begin.
ming. Without entering into the argu.
mcnt, / desire to state, at the com.
mencemont of my administration, that
long experience and observation have
convinced me that strict construction
of the powers of the government is the
| only true. as we'll as the ONLY safe. the.