Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-03-13

vlsed by man, VIII not sutier II TO perish
until il shall have been peacefully instru-
mental by its example, in tho extension Of
civil and religious liberty throughout the
world.
Next in Importance 10 tho maintainance
Of the Constitution and the Union is the
duty Of preserving the Government free
from the taint or even the suspicion Of cor
ruption. Public virtue is tho vital spirit Of
Republics, and history proves that when this
has dccayed aud the love Of money has
usurped its place, although the forms Of free
government may remain for season, the
substance has departed forever. Our pres
ont financial condition is without parallel
in history. No nation has ever before been
embarrassed from too large surplus in its
Treasury. This almost necessarily gives
birth to extravagant legislation. 1t produ-
ces wild schemes of expenditures and be-
gets race of spectators and jobbcrs whose
ingenuity is oxerted in.contriving and pro-
noting expedents to obtain the public moE-
ey. The party, through its official agents,
whether rightfully or wrongfully, is suspec-
ted, and the character Of the Government
suffers in the estimation of the people,
This is IN itself very great evil. The nat
ural mode Of relief from this embarrass-
ment is to appropriate the surplus in the
Treasury to great national objects for which
clear warrant can be found in the constitu-
tion. Among these l might mention the
extinguishment of the public debt, rea.
sonable increase of the Navy, which is at
present inadequate to the protection of our
vast tunnage aioat, now greater than that Of
any other nation, rs well as tho defense Of
our extended sea coast. 1t is beyond al
question the true principle that no moro
revenue ought to be collected from the peo-
plo than the amount necessary to defray ex-
penses of a wise economical and efficient
| Administration of the Government. Tc
reach this point it was necessary to resort
to modification of the tariff, and this has
been accomplished in such manner to dc
as little injury as may have been practica.
bic to our domestic manufacturers, especially
those necessary for the defense of the coun-
try. ANY discrimination against a particu-
lar branch for the purpose of benefting ia
vored corporations, individuals, or interest,
would have been unjust to the rest of the
community and inconsistent with that spir.
it of firmncss and equality, which ought
to govern in the adjustment of revenue
taritf--but the squandering Of the public
money sinks into comparative insignifcance
as temptation to corruption, when compar
cd with the squaudering of the public lands
NJ h. &c
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 then
for the improvement of tho remainder, ye
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 mode
rate prices. We shall thus not only best
promote the prosperity of the new State
by furnishing them hardy and indepen
dent race of honest and industrious citizens
but shall secure homes for our children anC
our children's children, as well as for thos'
cxiles from foreign shores who may seek il
this country to improve their condition anc
to enjoy the blessings of civil and religion
liberty. Such emigrants have done mucl
to promote the growth and prosperity o
the country. They have proved faithful
both in peace and in war. After becoming
citizens, they are entitled, under the Consti
tuition and laws, to be placed on perfec
equality with native-born citizens, and il
this character they should ever be kindly
recognized. The Federal Constitution is
grant from the States TO Congress to certain
specific powers, and the question whethe
this grant shall be literally or strictly con
structed has more or less, divided politica
parties from the beginning. Without en-
tering into the argument, l desire to state a
the commencement of my administration
that long experience and observation hav
convinced me that strict construction Q
the powers of the Government is the onl,
true as well as the only safe theory of th
Constitution. Wherever in our past histo
nv, doubtful powers have been exercised b
Congress, they have never failed to produc
injurious and unhappy consequences. Man
such instances might be adduced if this wer
the proper occasion. Neither is it necessa
~ for the public service to strain the Ian
guage of the Constitution, because all tn
great and useful powers required for suC
cessful administration of the Government
both in peace and war, have been grante
either in express terms or by the PLANES
implication. While deeply convinced G
these truths, yet consider it clear that unde
the war-making power Congress may apprc
pirate money toward tho construction of
military road when this is absolutely neces
sary for the defense of any State or Terri
tory Of the Union against foreign invasion
Under the Constitution Congress has pow
er to declare war, to rise and support a
mes, to provide and maintain a navy, an
to call forth the militia to repel INVASION
Thus endowed in an ample manner with tn
war making power, the corresponding dut
is required that the United States shall pr,
tect each of them (the States) against il
vasion. How is it possible to afford tn
protection to California and our Pacific po
cssion except by means of a military roa
/, through the territory of the United State
over which men and munitions of war ma
be speedily transported from the Atlant
States to meet and repeal the invader9
case of war with naval power much stro
| ger than our own, we should then have I
: other available access to the Pacific coas
$ because such power would instantly clio
the route across the Isthmus of Centr
{ America. 1t is impossible TO conceive th
. while the Constitution has cxplessly requi