Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-03-13

lnent suuers IN the estimation of the people
: inns is, IN itself, very great evil Tn,
national mode of relief from this embarrass
ment Is to appropriate the surplus in the
treasury to great national objects for which
a clear warrant can be found in the consti
tuition. Among these might mention the
extlnguishment of the public debt a rea.
sonable increase in the navy, which is, at
present, inadequate to the protection of our
vast tonnage atloat, now greater than that
OF any other nation, as well as the defense
OF our extended sea coast
1t Is. beyond all question, the true prin-
cipie, that no more revenue ought to be col
lcctcd from the people than the amount ne
cessary to dcfray the expenses of wise and
economical and efficient administration of
the government.
To reach this point, it was necessary to
resort to modification of the Tariff and this
has been accomplished in such manner as to
do as little injury as may have been rracti-
able to our domestic manufactures, especial
iy those necessary for the defence of the
country. Any discrimination against II
particular branch, for the purpose of benc-
ltinG favored corporations. individuals or
interests, would have been unjust to the
rest of the country, and inconsistent with
that spirit of firmness and equality which
ought to govern in the adjustment Of Re-
venue Tariff
Hut the squandering of the public money
SINKS INTO comparative cnsignifcance as
temptation to corruption, when compared
with the squandering Of the Public Lands.
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 ad-
ministcrlng this important trust. whilst it
may be wise to grant portions of them for
the Improvement Of the remainder, yet we
should never forget that it Is our cardinal
policy to preserve these lands as much as
may be for actual settlers, and this at mo-
derate prices.
We shall not only best promote the pros
| perity oil the new States, by furnishing them
hardy and independent race of honest and
Industrious citizens, but shall secure
homes for our children and our children's
children as well as for those exilcs from
foreign shores, who may seek in this coun-
try to improve their condition. and to enjoy
the blessings of civil and religious liberty.
Sncn emigrants 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 Constitution and
laws to be placed on perfect equality with
native born citizens. in and 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, whether this
grant shall be literally or strictly construed,
has, more or less, divided political parties
from the beginning. Without entering into
the argument, desire to state. at the com
mencement OF my administration, thlt long
experience and observation have convinced
ma hat Strt rt,t. T.
OF ithc government is the only true. as well
as the only safe theory of the Constitution,
henever,in our past history. doubtful
powers nave been exercised hy Congress,
they have never failed to Produce injurious
and unhappy consequences. Many such in
stances might be adduced if this were the
proper occasion. Neither is it necessary
Tor the public service to strain the language
o! the Constitution, because all the great
and useful powers required for successful
administration Of the government both in
peace and war, have been or tnted either in
express terms or by the plainest impicl-
ton Whilst deeply convinced of these
truths, y,t consider it clear that under the
war makinG-powrr Congress may upprOpri.
ate money towards the construction Of
military road, when this is absolutely nee.
essary for the defence Of any state or rcrr-
tory OF the Union against foreign iuyason
Under the S'oustitution. CONGRESS has
power TO declare war, to raise and sunport
armies. to provide and maintain n nayv.
and to call forth the militia to rarcl inyt
sion. Thus endowed in an annie manner
with the war-makinr power, the corrrs-
ponding duty is required, that the United
States shall protect each of them (tLe
otates) against invasion.
How is it possible to aff,rd nrotcction to
California and our Pacific possession. excont
by means of military road tbrouob uln
territory of the United States over which
men and munitions of war NAV be speedly
transported from the Atlantic States to
meet and rcpel the invaders In case nr -
war with naval mower much STRONGER thon
our own, we should have no other available
access to the Pacific coast, because such a
nover wo,lI instantly alas, tLo ro,,o o.,,'.,'
the Isthmus of Central Amorico +, ;s,
possible to conceive that whilst tho Con.ti
tuition expressly reouired Conrress to dnlonL
all the States, it should vet icnv Ia thcn
by anv fair construction the onfv nossiiIc
means by which one of these states con Ina
defended, Besides. the Govcrnmopt ovor
since its origin. has been in tha c,nston+
practice of CONSTRUCTING military roads It
might also he wise ia consijar wbe,hor t,o
love for the Union. which now oni,notos
our fellow ritizn,s on tbe p,o;Go onast ,ra,,
not be imnaired NV our no,,lnct or ror's;,
To nrovide far thow in tbe;r ro,,o,o anI
isolated condition. the onlv means hy ,,h;nL
the mower of the States on His s;de or tho
Rocky Mountains. can reach them in snfici-
ent time to protect them AGAINST Invasion
| forbear. for the nresent from ovnrcssin,
an oninion ma To tho r;sost onJ ,,,as, Nae ao',,Ie
o,nical mode in gvLich tho Conor,.',,,. oa,,
I