Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-03-12

me KIND Provldefiee which inspired our
athers with wisdom to frame the most
perfect form. of government and unioni
ever devised by man, will not suffer it
20 pe-ish until it shall have been peace
Iuutiy instrumental, by its example, in
The extension of civil and religious lib
erty throughout the world.
Next in Importance to the mainte-
nance of the Constitution and the Union,
is the duty of preserving the govern
ment free from the faint or even the sus-
picion of corruption. Public virtue is
the vital spirit of Republic, and His
ry proves that when this has dccayed
and the love of money has usnrped its
place, although the forms of government
may remain for q season, the. substance
has departed forever. e.
Our resent financial conditionis with
out parallel in History. No nation
has ever before been embarrassed from
too large a surplus in its Treasury.
This almost necessarily gives birth to
eXtravagant Legislation. 1t produces
wild schemes of expenditures, and be-
gets race of SPECTATORS and jobbers,
whose ingenuity is exerted in contri-
wing and promoting expedients to OBJ
tain the public money. The party
through its official agents, whether right
fully or wrongfully, is suspected, and
the character of the government suffers
in the estimation of the people.
This is IN itself a very great evil
The national mode Of relief from this
embarrassment is to appropriate the
surplus IN the treasury to great national
objects, for which a clear warrant can
be found in the constitution. ss
Among these / might mention the ex-
tinguishment of the public debt, reas-
enable increase Of the Navy, which is
at present inadequate to the protection
OF our vast tonnage afloat, now greater
than that of any other nation; as well
as the defence of our extended sea
coast. ~ -,., a.5. =.
It's beyond all question the true prin-
ciple that no more revenue ought to be
collected from the people than the a.
mount necessary to defray the expense
of wise, economical and efficient adj
ministration of the government.
To reach this point it was necessary
+toresort to a modification of the Tariff.
and this has been accomplished in such
q manner to do. as little injury as may
have been practicable to our domestic
manufactures, especially those necessa-
ry for the defence ofthe country.
Any discrimination against a particu-
lar branch for the purpose of benefting
favored corporations, individuals or in
terests, 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 adjust
ment OF revenue tariff But the sqnan-
dering of the public money sinks into
comparative insignifcance as tempta-
ton to corruption, when compared with
the squandering of the public lands. No
nation in the tide Of time has ever been
blest with SO rich and noble an inheri-
lance as we enjoy in public lands.
In administering this important trust
whilst 1t may be wise to grant portions
Of them for the Improvement of the re-
mainder, yet we should never forget that
it is our cardinal policy to reserve these
lands as much as may be for actual set
tiers. We shall thus not only best pro-
mote The prosperity of the new States, by
them hardy andindependen.
race of honest and Industrious citizens,
but shall secure homes for our children's
children, as wen as for those exilcs from
foreign shores who may seek in this |
country to improve their condition, and
to enjoy the blessing of civil and relig-
ious liberty. Such emigrants have done
much to promote the growth and pros.
pcrity ofthe country. They have proved |
faithful, both in peace and in war. Al |
ter becoming citizens, they are entitled,
under the constitution and laws, to be |
placed on perfect equality with native
born citizens, and IN this character they
should ever be kindly regarded.
The Federal Constitution is a 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 pol
itical parties fromthe beginning. With
out entering upon the argument, desire
TO state ut the commencement of my adj
that long experience and
observation have convinced me that q
strict construction of the powers of the
government is the only true as well a.
The onl y safe theory Of the Constitution.
Whenever in our past history doubt
full powers have been exercised by Con
gress, they have never failed to produce
injurious and unhappy consequences
Many such instances might be advanced
If this were the proper occasion. Nei-
Their is it necessary for the public ser
vice to strain the language, because all
the great and useful powers required for
a successful administration Of the gov
crument, both III peace and in war, have
been granted either in express terms or
by evident implication. While deeply
convinced of these truths, / yet consider
it clear that under the war making pow
CT, Congress may appropriate money to-
wards the construction Of military road
where there is absolute necessity for the
defence of any State or Territory of the
Union against foreign invasion.
Under the Constitution, Congress has
power to declare war, to raise and sup
port armies, to provide and maintain the
militia, torepelinvasion. Thus endowed
in an ample manner with the war making
power, the corresponding duty is requir-
ed, that the United States shall protect
each Of them, the States against inya-
sion.
How is it possible to afford this pro
lection to California; and our Pacific pos
sessions, except by means of military
road, through the territory of the United
States, over which men and munitions of
war may be speedily transported form
tho Atlantic States 10 neet and rnnnl tic