The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-10-28
The state neb,.

more pressing topics, that comparatively lit
| tie has been said or thought OF the amends
menls 10 the. Constitution submitsd 10 the
Constitution submitted 10 the people in the
election day or Two ago. As genes al
rule, Il is true that little is gained 10 the peo-
pie By much iinkering of The Constitution.
But all will feel the importance of any mea-
sure that can effsclually restrain the State
from lhe possibility o! ever again having
another State debt.
AS 10 The question of the best way OF get
ting rid of its present obligations, that need
not here be discussed. The erea, objection
| 10 State debt may, in pan, be though 10
apply TO The complicated mechanism Of a
sinking fund, but only 10 part. II cannot be
counted tha, all public fuads, no matter 10
whom committed, are the greatest source OF
corruption imaginable, II is pulrid carcass
that draws the eagles together. II is always
dangerous for even the best men 10 fsmil-
arize themselves with handling and negoia-
ting large sums Of money not their own. On.
ly men OF great mercantile intellect and skill
can be trusted Is such matters, and these see
at once thousand openings by which such
money can be turned TO private advantage,
while no one has sufficient personal inleres,
in looking after such funds, TO see that they
are managed with tie most implicit honor
and fidelity. The recent embezzement of
The State funds in Ohio amply illustrates this
point.
Then, TOO, the Slate patronage which PUB
lie works and extensive accounts confer, is
constant source of corruption. II vote on
any money has 10 pass the Legislature, not a
few ol the members will seek how il can be
made TO turn 10 their personal advantage. If
an officer is TO be elected TO manage these
funds, the one question with many is how
he can serve them in return. In some States
which borrowed money largely 10 go into
the banking business, the members of The
Legislature conttivsd 10 elect such bank Off
GERS as would discount their noies with men
of straw for security. Millions we're thus
squandered before the banks was stopped.
The only Legitimate objects oi government
are much fewer and simpler than are COM
monty supposed, and The more closely S,aes
confine themselves 10 these, the greater will
be their prosperity. The chief object of gov.
eminent is simply 10 defend The weak from
The aggTessions of The strong, by maintaining
the equal right OF all. II is not for govern
menl 10 make itself into a bank, or canal, or
railroad company, or all combined, any more
than ii is TO assist one sect of religion 10 es.
tablish itself at the expense Of oil others
But it's aim should he simply 10 remove all
distractions, and allow every grand and use.
ful institution TO develope itself and grow
freely by its own inherent energies unmo
lesled. Whatever really tends 10 promote
the interests OF the community will have this
kind OF vitality of lis own. But whatever
has not got this sell-susiaining power is moi
wanted by the community at that stage OF it's
| existence. Improvements that will not pay
for themselves under private companies,
where self.interest watches against fraudu-
len, and exlravagant expenditure are certain
to be orly sources of debt and disaster, where
paid for ont of The public purse. No one has
any sufficien, interest 10 watch in these ca
ses and there must even be thousand sour
ces oil leakage, extravaganza and defalca.
tion. Nor is there any source Of public gain
tha, private indlvidualscannol secure. Eyel
in The free school system it will be found to
prosper hest exactly in proportion as the as
sisionce afforded by the Stale is so conferred
az 10 stimulate the citizens of each precinct
or township 10 cherish education eameslI,
among themselves.
10 absolute governments, everything is I'M
derlaken by the Slale power, from the sale o
tobacco TO the construction of a railway. But
under such system, the people invariably
lose their interest on such things and thei
enterprise ofsprii. II there is religion es.
lablished by law. all duties are performed
in a hireling and per fnnc,ionary manner
and that universal self culture of the rsliui
ous spirit dies out-al,hough upon the uni
versatility of this hangs The life Of nations. So
If government lakes the people 10 consiruc
railroads or canals, the people will leave
these things 10 The government, and lose the
energy and enterprise SO necessary 10 carry
these works on successfully.
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