The Placer herald., 1857-04-04

SUBJECTS which but few years ago eXasper-
ated the public mind have passed away, and
are now nearly forgotten. But this ques
ton of domestic slavery is of far greater
Importance than any mere political question,
because should the agitation continue, it may
eventually endanger the personal safety of a
large portion of our countrymen where the
institution exists In that event, no form of
government however productive of material
benefits can compensate for the loss of peace
and domestic security around the family al
tar. Let every Union-loving man there
fore exert his influence to suppress this agi-
tation, which since the recent legislation
of Congress is without any legitimate object.
1t is an evil of the times that men have
undertaken to calculate the mere material
value of the Union.
Recent estimates have been presented of
the pecuniary profits and local advantages
which would result to the different states
and sections from its dissolution, and of the
comparative injuries which such an event
would inflct on other states and sections
Even descending to this low and narrow
view of the mighty questions, all such cal
culations are at fault. The bare reference
to single consideration will be conclusive
on this point We at the present enjoy q
free trade throughout our extensive expansive
country, such as the world never witnessed;
this trade is conducted on railroads and
canals, on noble river and arms of the sea
which bind together the north and the south
the east and the west of our confederacy;
annlhllate this trade-arrest its progress by
the geographical lines of Jealous and hos
tile states, and you destroy the prosperity
and onward march of the whole and every
part and involve all in one common ruin:
but such consideration, important as they
are IN Themselves sink into insigniticance
when we reflect on the terrific evils which
would result from disunion, to every portion
OF the contederacy-to the north not more
than to the south--to the east not more
than to the west These I shall not at
tempt to portray, because I feel an hum
bic confidence that the kind Providence
which inspired our fathers with wisdom to
frame the most perfect form of government
and union ever destined by man, will not
suffer 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
to the maintenance of the Constitution and
the Union, is the duty of preserving the
government free from the taint or even the
suspicion of corruption.
Public virtue is the vital spirit of Re
publics, and history proves that when this
has decayed, and the love Of money has
usurped its place, although the form of free
government may remain for season, the
substance has departed forever
Our present financial condition is without
parallel III history. No nation has ever
surplus in its treasury. This almost neces-
sarily gives birth to extravagant legislation.
1t produces wild schemes of expenditures,
and begets race of spectators and job
bers, whose ingenuity is exerted in contriv-
ing and promoting expedients to obtain the
public money. The party, through its Off
cial agent, whether ri ightfully or wrongfully
is suspected that the character of the gov
ernment suffers in the estimation of the
people. This is in itself very great evil
The natural mode of relief from this en-
barrasment, is to appropriate the surplus
in the treasury to great national objects
in the Constitution; among these might
mention the extinguishment of the public
debt, reasonable increase of the navy, which
is at present inadequate to the protection
Of our vast tunnage afloat now greater than
any other nation, as we'll as the defence of
our extended sea-coast; it is beyond all
question the true principle that no more rev.
enue ought to be collected from the people
than the amount necessary to detray the ex
penses of wise, efficient and economical
administration of government 70 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 practicable,
to our domestic manufacturers especially
those necessary for the defense of the coun~
try. Any discrimination against partc-
ular branch for the purpose of benefting
favored corporations, individuals or interests
would have been unjust to the rest of the
community, and inconsistent with the spir-
it of fairness and equality which ought to
govern in the adjustment of revenue tariff,
but the squandering Of the public money
sinks into comparative insgnifcance as
temptation to corruption, when compared to
the squanderng of the public lands.
No nation in the tide of time has ever
been blessed with so rich and noble an in
heritance as we enjoy in the public lands.
In administering this important trust while
it may be wise to grant portions of them
for the improvement of the remainder vet
we should never forget, that it is our cardi
nal policy 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
State by furnishing them hardy and in
dependent race of honest and Industrious
citizens, but shall secure homes for our
children and our children's children, as well
as for those exiies from foreign shores who