The Hillsborough recorder., 1857-03-11

gives birth to extraysgaht legislation. AZ pro-
duces wild schemes ofexpenditure, and begets
race III spectators and jobbers, whose in-
genuity is exerted in contriying aud promo |
ting eApedients 70 obtain public money. Ihe 1
purity o official agents, whether rlghtlully
or wrongfolIy, il suspected, and tlle char
actcr Of the government. suffers N the esil- 4
nation Of the people. This Is ia itself avery
great evil.
The natural made OF relief from this embar
rassment is to appropriate THE surplus in the
treasury TO great national objects, for which
clear warrant can be found IN the constitution.
Among these might mention the estinguish-
ment Of the public debt, reasonable increase
Of the navy, which is at present inadequate
70 tie protection of our vast tonnage aiioat,
now greater than that Of any other nation. as
well as TO the defence Of our extended sea-
coast.
Ii is beyond all question the true principle
that 40 more revenue ought to be collected
from the people than the amount necessary 70
delray the expenses of wise, economical,
and elicien Of the government.
To reach this point, it was necessary to resort
to modification Of the tariff, and this has,
trust. been accomplished IN such manner
as TO do as little injury as may have been
practicable 10 our domestic manufactures.
especially those necessary for the defence OF
tile country. Any discrimination against
particular branch, for the purpose oi benellt,
ting corporations, individuals or interests,
would have been unjust 10 the rest OF the
community and inconsistent with that spirit
Of fairness and equality which ought 10 gov
ern In the adjustment of revenue tariff.
But the fquaudering Of the public money
sinks into comparative inslgnihcance as
temptation to corruption when compared
with the squsndering Of the public lands.
No nation in the tide of time has ever
been blessed with so rich and noble an ~.
heritance as we enjoy in the public lands.
La administering this important trust. whilst
il may be wise TO grant portions ui them Tor
the improvement OF the remainder, yet We
should never forget that il Is our cardinal
poIley to reserve these lands. as much a. may
be, for actual settlers, aud this At moderate
prices.. We slisll thus not only best promote
the prosperity Of the new States and Terri.
tories BY furnishing them hardy aud ,nde-
pendent race Of honest and industrious cits
zens, but shall secare homes for our children
aud our children's children. as well ss Tor
those exles fron foreign shores who may
seek in this country 10 improve their con-
dition, and to enjoy the blessings Of civil aud
religious liberty. such emigrants have dove
much TO promote the growth and prosperity
Of the country. They have proved faithful
both in peace aud IN war. Alter becoming
citizens. they are entitled under the c0nstl.
tuition aud laws, TO be placed on a perlec
equality With native born citizens; and q
this character they should ever be kindly re-
cugnized.
The federal Constitution is grant iron
the States 20 Congress 0l certain speeihc
powers and the question whether this gran
should be literally or strictly construed, has
more or less. divided political parties iron
the beginning. Without entering into th
Argument. desire to state. at the commence
ment of nv administration, that long expe
rirnce and observation have convinced m'
that a strict construction OF the powers o
the government is the only true. as we'll a
the oni, sate. theory Of the constitution
Whenever, IN our past history, daubuu
powers have been exercised by Congress
these have never failed TO produce hIarna
and unhappy consequences. Many sueli %
stances mIgi.t he prUdacrd, II THIS were Il
ufoper seession Neither Is It necessary IL
the publlc service 20 strain the language ,
the constitution; because all the great an
useful powers required for a successful ad
m,uistra,ion Of the government, both IN peae
and 10 war, have bes granted, either
express terms 0r by the plalnest implication
whilst deeply convinced sf these truths,
vet consider il clear that, under the VA
making power. Congress may approPiia
manry towards the construction oi a mllItar
road. when this Is absolutely necessary I
the defence Of any State or Territory oI q
Union sgains: Iorejn invasion. Under u
constitution Congress has power " TO decla
war;" ito raise and support armies,
provide and maintain q navy" aud to ca
forth the militia 10 " repel insasions.' Ih
endowed. 10 an ample m.nner, with the wa
making power, the corresponding duty
required that " the United states shall pr
tect each ol them the States against inv
sion" Nov, how Is il possible 70 aliard q
protection to California and other PacI
possessions. except by mraBs oi militia
road through the rerritories IL the Uait
states, over which men aud munitions q y
may be speedily transported from the Aila
tic States TO meet aud TO rrpel the invade
In the event ol a war with naval poN
much stronger Than our own. we should u
have no other available access to the Pacl
coast, because such power would lnsian
clvse The route across the isthmus 81 Ceat
America. IL Is impossible TO conceive q
whilst the constitution has expressly requll
Congress To defend all the States, u shot
vet deny to them, by any fair construcii
the only possible means by which one oi III
States eail be defended. Besides, the g
erupent, since itsorigin, has been 10 the g
slant practice VI constructing military roa
II might also be wise TO consider whether
love lor the Union which now aninaies
felluw citizens on the Pacific coast may
be Impaired by our neglect OF refusal e. Z
vide for them. 10 their femote aud IsoIa