Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1857-04-02

adequate TO the protection OF our vast ton
mage n1out, now greater than that OF any
other nation, rs well as the defense of our
extended seu coast.
1t is beyond all question the true prin.
ciplc that no more revenue ought TO be
collected from the people, than the amount
necessary to defray expenses of a wise,
cconomichl and efficient administrative of
| the Government. To reach this, it was
necessary 10 resort 10 a modifc ton of the
tariff, aud this has been accomplished in
such I manner as to do as little injury as
may haze been practicable to our domest-
ic manufactures, especially those necessa.
nv ( r the defense Of the country. Any
discrimination against a particular branch
for the purpose of b%en6dihg, %faVorile cor
porations, individuals or inte esis, would
have been unjust to the rest of the commu-
nifty and inconsistcm with the spirit Of
fairness and equality which ought to gov
ern in the adjustment of a revenue tariff.
But the %squandering oflhe public money
sinks into comparative insignificance as n
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 an inherit
lance as we enjoy in the Public Lands
In administering this important trust,
whilst i may be wise to grant portions of
them for the mprovement of the remain
der, yet we should never forget that it is
our cardinal policy o reserve these lands
as much as may be for actual settlers, and
this at moderate prices. We shall thus not
only best promote the prosperity of the
new States by furnishing them a hardy
and independent race of honest and in
dustrious citizens, but shall secure homes
for our children and our children's chill
dren, as well as for those exiled from for
eign shores who may seek in this country
to improve their condition and to enjoy the
blessing of civil and religious liberty
Such emigrunts have done much to pro-
mote the growth and prosperity of the
country They have proved faithful both
in peace and in war. After becoming
citizens they are entitled under the Con.
s%;itution and laws 10 be placed on a per-
feet eql atty with native born citizens and
in this character they should ever be kind
ly recognized.
The Federal Constitution is a grant
from the States to Congress of certain
specific powers and the question whether
this grant shall be literally and strictly
construed, has more or less divided polit-
ical parties from the beginning. Without
entering into he argument, / desire to
state, at the commencement of my admin
is,ra,ion, that long experience and obser-
Walton has convinced me that a strict con-
Y struction of the powers of the govern
men, is the only true, as well as the only
: safe theory OF the Constitution. When
e ever, in our past history, doubtful powers
have been exercised by Congress, they
have never failed to produce injurious and
o unhappy consequences. Many such instan.
e ces might be adduced if this were the
proper occasion. Neither is il necessary
4 for the public service to strain the Ian,
guage of the Constitution, because all the
great and useful powers required for TIE
@ successful admin tration of the govern
II ment, both in peace or in war, have beer
granted, either in express terms or by the
~ plainest implication. Whilst deeply con
h WINGED of these truths, | yet consider i
clear, that under the war-making power
Congress may appropriate money toward
the construction of a military road, whel
this is absolutely necessary for the de
d fence of any state or Territory of the Tn
ID ion against foreign invasion.
lie Under the Constitution Congress ha
power 10 declare war, to raise and sup
st port armies, to provide and maintain
IL navy and to call forth the militia to repe
SIS invasion. Thus endowed in an ampl
s. manner with a war making power, tn
ty corresponding duty is required that tn
ry United States chull protect each of tn
n. States against invasion. How is it pos
~ sible 10 afford this protection to C|aliforni
re and u Pacific possessions except b
III means of military roads through the ter
r. ritories Of tie United States over whic
OF men and munitions of war may be speed
re lily transported from the Atlantic State
PIT to meet aud repel the invader? In cas-
n of a war with a naval power stronger tha
our own we should have no other availa
he bic access to the Pacific coast, becaus
nd such a power would instantly close tn
f. route across the ISthnus Of Central Amer
e. lea. 1t is impossible to conceive it.
ne The constitution has expressly require
~ Congress to defend all the States.
should not deny to them by any fair Col
ce slruction the only possible means b
he which n Of these States can be defend
m ed. Besides, the Government, ever sine
its origin, has been in the constant prac
b. tice of constructing Military Roads.
as might also be wise to consider whethe
r. the love for the Union which now an
ee mates our fellow citizens on the Pacif
ne coast, may not be impaired by neglect {
ur refusal TO provide for them in their re
a mote and isolated condition, the onl
mnnns hv Avhirh The nnrver nf The Sintl