The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-03-21

public mind have passed away and are now
nearly forgotten. But this question of domes-
tic slavery is of far graver Importance than
any mere political questions, because, should
the agitation continue, il may eventually en-
danger the personal safety of large portion
of our countrymcn where the institution exists.
In that event no form Of government. however
admirable in itself, and however productive of
material benefits, can compensate for the loss
of peace and domestic security around the
family altar Let every Union.loving man,
exert his best influence to suppress
this agitation which, since the recent legisla-
ton Of Congress, is without any Legitimate OBJ.
ject.
1t is an evil omen of the times that men
have undertaken to calculate the mere matcri-
al value of the Union. Reasoned estimates
have been presented Of the pccuniary profits
and local advantages which would result to
different States and sections from its dissolu-
ton and of the comparative injuries which
such an event would inilict on other States
and sections. Even descending to this low
and narrow view Of the mighty question oil
such calculations are ut fault. The bare refer
encc TO a single consideration will be conclu-
sivc on this point. We at present enjoy q
free trade throughout our extensive and ex-
pnnding country such as the world has never
witnessed This trade is conducted on rail-
roads and canals, on noble rivers and arms of
the sea, which bind together the North and
the South the East and the West of our con-
federacy Annihiate this trade, arrest its
free progress by the geographical lines Of jeal-
ous and hostile States, and you destroy the
prosperity and onward march Of the whole and
every part, and involve all in one common
ruin. nut such considerations, important as
they are in themselves, sink into insignicancc
when we reflect on the terrific evils which
would result from disunion to every portion of
the confcdcracy--to the North not more than
TO the South, TO the East not more than to the
West. These / shall not attempt to portray,
because feel an humble confidence that the
kind Providence which inspired cur fathers
with wisdom to frame the most perfect form Of
government and union ever devised by man
will not suffer il TO perish until it shall have
been peacefully instrumental, by its example,
in the extension of civil and religious liberty
throughout the world.
Next in Importance 10 the maintenance of
the Constitution and the Union, is the duty of
preserving tic government free from the faint
or even the suspicion of orruption.-Public
virtue is the vital spirit Of republics and his.
tory proves that when this has decayed and
the love Of money has usurpcd its place. al
though the forms OF free government may re-
main for season, the substance has departed
forever.
Our present financial condition is without
parallel in history. No nation has ever be-
fore been embarrassed from too large a sur
plus in its Treasury This almost necessarily
gives birth TO cXtrayagant legislation 1t
produces wild schemes of expenditure and
b'gcts race Of spectators and jobbcrs
whose ingenuity is cXericl in contriying aud
promoting oXprlicnts TO obtain public money.
The purity Of official agents whether right
fully Or wrongrully, is suspected, and the char
artcr Of the government suffers in the estima.
tion Of the people. This is in itself very
great evil
The natural mode of relief from this cmbar-
rassmcnt is TO appropriate the surplus in the
treasury 10 great national objects, for which
clear warrant can be found in the Oonstitn-
ton Among these might mention the ex-
lingniahmout Of the public debt; Il reasonable
increase Of the navy, which is at present mad
eqllate to the protection Of our vast tonnage
ahoat, now greater than that of any other ma
tion, aS well us TO the defense OF our extended
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 WISE economical and
efficient administration Of the government. To
reach this point it was necessary to resort to
II modification Of the tariff; and this has, /
trust been accomplished in such Il manner as
to do as little injury as may have been prac-
ticabIe TO our domestic manufactures, especial
ly those necessary for the defense Of the coun-
try, Any discrimination against n particular
branch, for the purpose Of benelttng favored
corporations, individuals or interests, would
have been unjust to the rest of the community,
and inconsistent with that spirit of fairness
and equality which ought to govern in the ad-
juStment of IL revenue tariff.
Bat the squandcrng of the public money
sinks into comparative nsignlileance as q
temptation to corruption when compared with
the squanderng Of the public lands. No ma.
ton 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 important trust, whilst it may be wise to