Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-03-12

duty OF preserving the government from the
taint, or even the suspicion, of corruption
Public virtue is the vital spirit of republics;
and history proves that when this has de-
cayed. and the love of money has usurped
its place, although the forms of free govern
ment may remain for season, the substance
has departed forever.
Our present financial condition is without
parallel in history. No nation has ever
before been embarrassed from too large
surplus in its treasury. This almost neces-
sarily gives birth te extravagant legislation.
II produces wild schemes of expenditure,
and begets race of spectators and iobbers,
whose ingenuity is exerted in contriving
and promoting expedients to Iobtain public
money. The purity of official agents,
whether rightfully, is suspected, and the
character of the government suffers in the
estimation of the people. This is in itself
a very great evil.
The natural mode of relief from this en-
barrassment is to appropriate the surplus in
the treasury to great national objects, for
which a clear warrant can be found in the
Constitution. Among these | might men,
ton the extingushment of the public debt,
a reasonable increase of the navy, which is
at present inadequate to the protection of
our vast tonnage afnat, now greater than
that of any other nation, as we'll as to the
defense of our extended seacoast.
1t is beyond allquestirn the true principle
that no more revenue ought to be collected
from the people than the amount necessary
to defray the expenses of a wise, economic
al and efficient administration of the govern
ment. To reach this point it was necessary
to restore to modification of the tariff, and
this has, | trust, been accomplished in such
a manner as to do as little injury as may
have been practicable to our domestic man
ufactures, especially those necessary to the
defence of the country. Any discrimina-
tion against particular branch, for the
purpose of benefitting favored corpo.atinns,
individuals, or interests, woIll have been
unjust to the rest Of the community, and in
consistent with that spirit of fairness and
equality which ought to govern in the ad
justment OF a revenue tariff.
But the squandering of the public money
sinks into comparative insigni6cance as a
temptation to corruption, when compared
with the squandering of the public lands.
No nation IN the tide of time has ever
been blessed with SO rich and noble Inherit
ance as we enjoy in the public lands. In
administering this important trust, whilst
it may be wise to grant portions of them
for the improvement of the remainder, yet
we should never forget that it is our cardln-
al policy to reserve these lands as much as
they may be for actual settlers, and this at
mudera'e prices. We shall thus not only
bes, promote the prosperity of the new
States and Territories by furnishing them
hardy and independent race OF honest ard
Industrious citizens, but shall secure homes
for our children and our children's children,
as we'll ,as for those exiles from foreign
shores who may seek in this country to i'm
prove their condition ,and TO enjoy the bless
ings OF civil and religious liberty. Such
emigrants have done much to promote the
growth and prosperity of the Country. They
have proved faithful both in peace and war.
After becoming citizens. they are entitled,
under the constitution and laws, to be placed
on perfect equality with the native-born
citizens; anG in this character they shou ID
ever be kindly recognized.
The federal Constitution is grant from
the States to Congress of certain specific
powers; and the question whether this grant
should DE literally or strictly constructed,
H.. la, bividot p,,litiro1
from the beginning. Without entering in
TO the argument, | desire to state, at the
commencement of my administration, that
long experience and observation has con-
Vi1ced me that strict construction of the
powers of the government is the only true,
as well as the only safe, theory of the Con-
s,itution. Whenever, in our past history,
doubtful powers have been exercised BY Con-
gress, these have never failed 10 produce in
jurious and unhappy consequences. Many
such instances might be added, If this were
the proper occasion. Neither is it neces-
sary for the public service to strain the
language of the Constitution; because all
the CRATE and useful powers required for q
successful administration of the government
both in peace and in var, have been granted
either in express terms or by the plainest
implication.
While deeply convinced of these truths |
yet consider it clear that, under the war
making power, Congress may appropriate
money towards the construction of mil
tary road, when this IS absolutely necessary
for the defense OF any State or Territory oi
the Union against foreign invasion. Under
the Constitution sCongress has power "lo
declare war; sto raise aad support armies;
"to provide and maintain a navy" and TO
call forth the militia TO "repel invasion."-
Thus endowed in an ample manner with the
war-making power, the corresponding duty
is required that ''the United States shall
protect each of them Uhe States) against
invasion" Now. how IS it possible to afford
this protection to California and our Pacific
possessions, except by means Of a military
road through the Territories of the United
States, over which men and munitions o.
war may be speedily transported from the
Atlantic States to meet and rePel the in
vsder, In the event of a war with naval
power much stronger than our own, We
should then have 10 other available access
to the Pac fic coast: because such Pow er
would instantly close the route across the
Isthmus of Central America. IL is mpos-
sible to conceive that, whilst the Constitu-
tion has expressly required Congress to de-
fend all the States, it should yet deny to
them, by any fair construction, the only
possible means by which one OF these States
can be defended. Besides, the government.
ever since its origin, has beel.in the con-
slant practice of constructing military roads.
1t might also be wise to consider whether
the love for the Union which ROW animates
our f.llow-citizens on the Pacific coast may
not be impaired BY our neglect or refusal to
provide for them, in their remote and is
olated condition, the only means BY which
the power Of the States on this side of the
Rocky Mountains can reach them in suf