Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-11-05

of domestic slavery, to adhere with irmness and |
pertnacity to strict construction of the Consttu-
ton, upou which rests the principle of non-inter
ference by Congress with domestic slavery either
IN the States or Territories"
Amidst the mutation and decay of parties. it Is |
gratifying to know that there is, and mas been from
the beginning Of the Government political or
ganization co extensive with the Union, which has
ever stubbornIy maintained, and still maintains the
doctrine Of strict construction, the cardinal tenet
of its faith and has resisted to the extent of its
ability every attempt at Federal usurpatiou
The present able and distinguished Chief Magis-
trate Of the Confederacy, taken from and elected
that organization, stands pledged to the maiuten-
auce of all the reserved rights of the States under
strict construction of the Constitution and to the
principle of mon intervention by Congress with
slavery, either in the States or Territories"
To that organization, in my judgment, are in
debted for the prosp sry of the past and the
| ity Of the present, and upon the great principles
which it maintains, rest the brightest if not the
only hopes of our Government for the future.
SHALL therefore, feel il to be my duty to coop.
crate cordially with the legislative and judicial de-
all the constitutional and lawful means with which
the Executive is entrusted, in their efforts to con-
/ fine the action of the State Government within its
well defined limits the one hand, and upon the
other, in resisting any encroachments upon her
served rights of sovereignty.
One Of the most serious objections to our Federal
| system, urged BY some of the wisest and most pa
trioc of its founders, the danger of its grad
ualY attracting to itself the powers and functions
| OF the State Governments by assuming their bur
dens and lavishing its bounties upon them. Such
means of overtbrowing the independence and alb
sorbng the sovereignty of the States is by far more
dangerous than bold and direct attempt at usurp-
alton. A brave and generous people my be
charmed by the alurements of a splendid munif-
into concessions, which external foes or phys
ical force could never wiring from them.
The policy of distributing among the States the
proceeds of the sales of the public lands is not in
my opinion warranted by the Constitution.
To cODcede this power and adopt the policy
would be to make the Federal Government the tax
gatherer for the States to that extent, and accus
tom them to look to that source from which tosup
ply the State Treasury and to defray tie expenses
of the State Government.
cit is manifest that this constituted of
the objects in the creation OF the Federal Govern
ment and to permit its exercise would be to reduce
the States to the degraded condition of subordinate
dependencies upon that Government, tending to
destroy their separate and independent sovereign
ty and to make the government of the Union, in
effect, consolidation {"
But if the power were conceded the policy is
WISE unequal and unjust for every dollar that is
distracted from the Federal Treasury for this pur
pose must be replaced by means of tariff of duties
upon the necessities of life, and thus raised
must necessarily be collected in unequal portions
from the people of the respective States. The ag-
| TcuIuTdl anu states must COuIIlUul6
much the larger proportions while to distribute &C
cording to population, the manufacturing State
being more populous, would receive the larger
share.
The inevitable effect of the policy would be grad
ualy, but certainly to transfer the wealth Of the
former to the Golfers of the latter
It would therefore be the most unWise policy in
the agricultural States such ours, TO attempt to
raise any portion of their revenues through the in
strumentality of the Federal Government or to en-.
| he RAISING Of nv he tariff
system than the amount absolutely necessary to
support the Federal Government economically ad
ministered.
Passing now. gentlemen, from these subjects, in.
vOlVing to extent, the rights, powers and du-
ties of both the the State and Federal Government
propose brief exposition of my views touching
domestic policy.
One of the highest duties devolving upon the
State Government is the preservation of public
credit.
Our citizens have embarked in an extensive, ant
in its inception, wise system of Internal Improve
ment, to develop the immense resources OF the
State, and in aid of those works the public credit
stands pledged to large amount. Such step
should be taken as will insure the prompt and ful
redemption of that pledge.
And while the most liberal policy consistent witt
the preservation of the credit of the State, SHOULD
be pursued towards those companies, justice tC
them as well to the State, forbids that the sys
TEN Of pledgng its credits in aid of those enterpr
|
The present deranged condition of the currenc!
of the State deserves serious consideration.
By the universal custom of civilized nations, gol
and silver recognized the standard OF exchang
and commercial balances are readily effected thro
their instrUmentality.
Their intrinsic value is such that they never ma
terialy huctuate, to destroy their utility
universal circulating medium, and the uniformity il
the amount of currency prevents those sudden ant
violent fluctuations in the value of property and
which tha IL updpr the OK
pansiOns and cOntractions of general banking sys
| tenn Yet the present condition of the country de
maDds that such reform may be adopted SHOULD
be sl0w and gradual in its operations, giving to thu
commercial and all other interests in the countr,
ample time to adapt themselves to the PROPOSED
change
And while the system of banking is continued
it should be so regulated and restricted (where tn
Legislature possesses the power to do SOY as t
? make their issues convertible into gold and sve
on demand, at the place where it is put into CIR
, culatou.
t Bank issues expel from general circulation tn
coin of the country, locking it up in Bank vaults o
employing it elsewhere in profitable exchange, an
while these institutions permitted to furnish tn
circulating medium of the country based upon
system of credit, they should be required to fuT
nish one equally as good as that which they dis
place.
The policy of general system of popular educa
ton, based it il, upon the principle that ever
lge3ce TO discharge, understandingly, the high du
ties devolving upon him, has justly received lars
share of public consideration.
, more efficient system of common school educa
ton is imperatively demanded if we regard tn
wants of the present. aud the highest interest OF fu
ture generations. Such system TO be efficient
should regard the moral well the iDtelectua
: training of the child. And be would be publ
benelactor indeed, who would devise plan of com
3 mon school education, which would be adapted &
! our moral, intellectual aud physical development
as a people.
The Importance of the subj ct demands, an
| should receive early and earnest attenton.
Having thus briefly indicated some OF the princ
Piles that will control my action in discharging To
{ high duties 70 which have been called by the pal
TALLY Of my country men, and earnestly invokin
j upon my humble exertions, and upon our be
loved State and country the Divine blessing, ents
upon the duties assigned me.
: Death of VIM. E. West.
w. Hi al