Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1857-03-17

ieuiuarrassment 10 70 appropriate the
snrplusinthetreasury to great nation
o. objects, for which Q clear warrant
is in the constitution. Among those
! might mention the extinguishment
Q. the public debt, . reasonable in
crease ofthe navy, which is at present
inadequate to the protection of our
vast tonnage afost, now greater than
that Of any other nation. as well as
ito 1.-The defense Of our extended sea-
icoast.19 IL dt52s ii ( i5z5aa
3 Its beyondpall question tho true
fpriDciple that no more revenue ought
to be collected from the people than
the amount necessary to defray the
iexpenses ofsaa wise, economical and
efficient administration of thegovern-
ment To reachthis point lit was re
cessary to resort TO q mod itication Of
the tariff, and this has, we trust, been
accomplished in such>a manner As to
do as little injury as may have been
practicable to our domestic lnanufac-
lures, especially those necessary to
the defense Ofthe country. Any de.
termination against j. particular
branch, for the purposeot beuefitting
favored corporations, individuals ; or
interests, would have been unjust to
1.-THE rest Of the community, and incou-
sistent with that spirit of fairness and
equality which ought to govern in
the adjustment ola revenue tariff. T.
But the .squandering ofthe public
money sinks into comparative insig-
niticance as temptation to- corrup-
ton when compared with the squau-
dering of the public lands. - ~ j
No nation in the tide oftime has
been bles sed with so rich AMI noble
an Inheritance as we enjoy in the
public lands. In administering this
important trust, whilst it may be wise
to grant portions Of them for the i'm
provement ofthe remainder, vet we
should never forget that it is our car
dinal policy to reserve these lands as
much "a may be for actual settlers,
and this at moderate prices. We
shall thus not only best promote the.
prosperity of the new States and Ter
ritories by furnishing them a hardy
and indepenc ent race Of honest anil
industrious citizens, but shall secure
homes for our children and our chill
dren's children, as well as for those
exiles from foreign shores who may
seek4in this country TO improve their
condition, an to enjoy the blessing
Of civil and religious liberty. Such,
emigrants have done much to promote
the growth and prosperity OF the
country. They have proved faithful
both in peace and in war. After be-
coming citizens, they ere entitled, un:
der the constitution and laws, to be
placed on a perfect equality withStile
native born citizen and in this char.1
acter they should ever Sbe kindly re-
cognized. \4. - t-r = , M
The federal constitution is q grant
from the States to Congress OF GER
tain special powers ; and the question
whether this grant should be liberal:
" or strictly construed, has, more or
less, divided political parties from
the beginning. Without entering
iatothe argument, | desire to state,
at the commencement OF my admin
istration, that long experience and
observation has convinced me that q
strict Construction, of the powers Of
the government isethe only true, IS
we'll as the only safe,theory ofthe7
constitution. Whenever, in our past
history, doubtful powers have been
exercised by Congress, these bayeI
never failed to procure injurious and
unhappy consequences, Many sGch
INSTANCES might be added. if this were
the proper secession. Neither is it
necessary for the public service TO
strain the language Of the constitu
.tion ; because all the great and useful
powers required for a successful nj.
ministration Of the government, both
in peace and in war, have been
granted either in express terms 0. by
the plainest implication, ..... =, III
While deeply convinced OF these trdths,
Il vet consider. Il cletr that under tie
war making power, congress may sppropriate
none y toward the CONSTRUCTION of military
road, ~hen this is absolutely necessary fyItLe
.defeace Of sRy State or Territory of the TN
ion against foreign invasion. Under the con
stitatlon congress has pawer "to declare VAR
"to raise a. support arrnies;" 'toa provide
and maintain a navy" and TO call fourth the
militia 10 ''repei inyasion. y Thus endowed
in an ample manner with the war-making
power. Che correspond Dg duty is required
that "the United States shall protect each OF
them fthe States1 ssainst inyasion." Now,
how is if possible 10 sford this prote ytion
TO California and our Pacific p sessions ex.
.eept by means Of q military road throueh the
TerritIrrs of.the United States, over which
men aod munitions Of war maybe speedily
transported from the Atlantic STATES TO meet
aud repel The ihvadeTii In the event Of war,
with q naval power much stronger than our
own, we should lhen hare no other available
access 10 the pacific coast; because such a.
power would instantly close the route across
the lsthmus of Central America. II is impos-
sible TO conceive that, whilst the consul
ton has expressly REQUIRED congress to defend
ell the STATES, il should yet deny to them. BY
any fair reconstruction. jtie only possible means
by which, one Of tnsse States can be dsfen-