Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-03-12

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| We at present enjoy free trade through
out our extensive and expansive country, such
as the world never witnessed. This trade il
conducted on railroads and canals, on noble
rivers and arms of the sea, which bind togeth
er the North and the South, the East and the
West of our noble confederacy Annihilate
this trade, arrest its free progress by the geo.
GRAPHICAL lines of jealousy and hostile States,
and you destroy the prosperity and onward
march of the whole and every part, and in
vOlve the whole in one common ruin.
But such considerations important as they
are in themselves, sink into insignificance when
we reflect on the terrific evils which would re-
suit from disuuion to every portion of the Con-
federacy-to the North not more than to the
South, to the East not more than to the West.
These | shall not attempt to portray, because
feel an humble confidence that the kind Pro-
violence which inspired our fathers with wis
dom to frame the most perfect form of govern
ment and union ever devised by man, will not
su9er it to perish until shall have been peace
fully instrumental. by its example, in the ex-
tension of civil and religious liberty through
out the world.
Next in Importance to the maintanence of
the Constitution and the Union, is the duty of
preserving the Government Public virtue is
the vital spirit of Republics, and history
proves that when this has decayed and the
love of money has usurped its place, although
the forms of free government may remain for
a season, the substance has departed forever.
Our present financial condition is without q
parallel in history. No nation has ever before
been embarrassed by too large a surplus in its
VII, 1, L.
to extravagant legislation 1t begets wild
schemes of expenditures and produces set of
spectators and jobbers, whose ingenuity is ex-
erted in contrlving and promoting eXpedients
to obtain the public money. The party, thro'
its official agents, whether rightfully or wrong
fully, is suspected, and the Government suffers
in the estimation of the people This is in
itself very great evil. The natural mode of
relief from this embarrassment is to appropr-
ate the surplus fund in the Treasury to great
national objects for which clear warrant can
be found in the constitution Among these /
might mention the extinguishmcnt of the pub
lie debt, a reasonable increase of the Navy,
which is at present inadequate to the protec-
ton of our vast tonnage ahoat-now greater
than that of any other nation, as well as the
defense of our extended sea coast 1t is be-
yond all question the true principle that no
more revenue ought to be collected from the
people than the amount necessary to defray
the expenses of wise economical and efficient
Administration of the Government To reach
this point it was necessary to resort to mod
iiicatiOn of the tariff, and this has been ac-
complished in such manner as to do as little
injury as may have been practicable to our do
mestic manufactures, especially those necessa-
ry for the defense of the country. Any dis
elimination against particular branch for the
purpose of benefting favored corporations, in
dividuals, or interests, 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 adjustment of reven-
ue-tariff-but the squandering of the public
money sinks into comparative nsignifcance as
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 inheritance
as that we enjoy in the public lands. In
administering this important trust, while it
may be wise to grant portions of them for the
Improvement of the remainder, vet we should
never forget that it is our cardinal policy to
reserve these lands as much as may be for ac-
tual settlers, and this at moderate prices We
shall thus not only best promote the proSperi-
ty of the new States, by furnishing them q
hardy and independent race of honest and in
dustrious citizens, but shall secure homes for
our children and our chdren's children, as well
as for those exies from foreign shores who
may seek in this country to improve their con-
tiition and to enjoy the blessings 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 in war After becoming citizens,
they are entitled under the Constitution and
laws, to be placed OF perfect equality with ma
tive born citizens, and in this character they
should ever be kindly recognized.
The Federal Constitution is grant from
the States to Congress to certain specific pow
ers, ami the question whether this grant shall
be liberaly or strictly construed, has, more or
less, divided political parties from the begin
ming. Without entering into the argument,
desire to state at the commencement of my
administration, that long experience and OBJ
servation have convinced me that strict con-
struction of the powers of the Government is
the only true as we'll as the only safe theory
of the Constitution Whenever, in our past
history, doubtful powers have been exercised
by Congress, they have never failed to produce
injurious and unhappy consequences. Many
such instances might he adduced if this were
the proper occasion. Neither is it necessary
for the public service to strain the language of
the Constitution, because all the great and use,
full powers required for successful administra,
ton of the Government, both in peace and in
war, have been granted either in express terms
or 10y the plainest implication. While deeply
convinced of these truths, | yet consider il
clear that under the war-making power Con
gress may appropriate money toward the con
struction of a military road when this is abso
lutey necessary for the defense of any State
or Territory of the Union against foreign in
vason. Under the Constitution Congress has