Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-03-12
that men have undertaken to calculate the

reasoned eStlmateS nave Deen presented
of the pecuniary profits and local advanta-
ges which would result to different States
and Sections firm its dissolutions, and oI
the comparative injuries which such an
event would infict on other States and Sec
tions. Even descending to this low and
narrow view of the mighty question, all
such calculation are at fault. The bare
reference so a single consideration will be
conclusive on this point.
We at present enjoy free trade through
out our extensive and expansive country,
such as the world never witnessed. This
trade is conducted on railroads and canals
on noble rivers and arms of the sea, which
bind together the North and the South
the East and the West of our confederacy
Annihilate this trade, arrest its free progress
by the geographical lines of jealous and
hostile States, and You destroy the pros
perity and onward march of the whole and
every part, and involve all in one common
ruin.
But such considerations important as
they are, sink into insignificance when we
reflect on the terrific evils which could re-
suit from disunion to every portion of the
Confederacy-to the North not more than
to the South, to the East not more than to
the West. These l shall not attempt to
portray, because feel an humble confidence
that the kind Providence which inspired
our fathers with wisdom to frame the most
perfect form of Government and Union ev-
er devised by man, will not suffer it to per-
ish until it shall be peacefully instrumental
by its example, in the extension of civil and
religious liberty throughout the world.
Mex, in importance to the maintenance
of the Constitution and the Union, is the
duty of preserving the Government free
from the taint or even the suspicion of cor
ruption. Public virtue is the vital spirit Of
Republics, and history proves that when
this has decayed and the love of money has
usu, ped its place, although the forms Of
free government may remain for season,
the substance has departed forever. Oul
parellel in history. No nation has ever
before been ever before been embarrassed
from too large surplus in its Treasury
This almost necessarily gives birth to ex-
travagant legislation. 1t produce swild
schemes of expenditures and begets race
of speculators and jobbers whose ingenuity
is exerted in contriving and promoting ex.
pedients to obtain the public money. The
party, through its official agents, whether
or wrongfully, is suspected, and
the character of the government suffers in
the estimates of the people. This is in it
self a very great evil. The natural mode o.
relief from this embarrassment is to appro
pirate the surplus in the Treasury to great
national objects for which clear warrant
can be found in the Constitution. Among
these, l might mention the extinguishment
of the public debt, reasonable increase Of
the Navy, which is at present inadequate to
the protection of our vast tu, mage ahoat
now greater than that Of any other ma
ton, rs well as the defense of our extended
sea coast. 1t is beyond 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
q wise economical and efficient Admins.
tration of the Government. To reach this
point it was necessary to resort TO a modifi-
cation of the tariff, and this has been accom-
plished in such a manner to do as little inju-
ry as may have been practicable TO do our
domestic manufactures, especially those
necessary for the defense of our country
Any discrimination against particular
branch for the purpose of benefiting favored
corporations, and individuals, 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 ofa revenue tariff
but the squandering ofthe public money
sinks into comparative insignifcance, as a
temptation to corruption, when composed
with the squandering fo the public lands.
No nation in the tide of the time has
ever been blessed with so rich and noble
an inheritance as we enjoy in the public
lands. In administering this important
trust while ii may be wise to grant por-
tions of them for the improvement of the
remainder, yet we should never forget that
it is our cardinal policy to 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 ard Independent race of honest and
industrious citizens, but shall secure homes
for our children and our children's children,
as for those exiles from foreign shores who
may seek in this country to improve their
condition 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 Constitutions and laws, to be
placed on perfect equality with native-born
citizens, and in this character they should
ever be kindly recognised.
The Federal Constitution is grant from
the States to Congress TO Ger tain specie
powers, and the question whether this
grant shall be literally or strictly construed,
has, more or less, divided political parties
from the beginning. Without entering in
10 the argument, | desire to state at the
ofmy administration, that
long experience and observation have con-
vinced me that strict construction of the
powers of the Government is the only true
rs well as the only safe theory of the Con-
Whenever, in our past history,
doubtful powers have been exercised by
Congress, they. have never failed to produce
injurious and unhappy consequences
M,n,, ;nst,pcas ninht add If this were the