Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-10-01

| 10 bear In the correction OF that great eyllI
The honorable Senator from Virginia, who
says it is unconstitutional to move any proyi.
sion in the Senate to prevent these frauds on
the Treasury, cannot shelter himself or the
\ Administration from their proper responsible
ty in relation TO this subject, by taking the
ground that remedy for these frauds can on
| ~ be brought forward in the House of Re
personalities. Why has no such measure
been moved by the supporters of the Admin
istration in the House of Representative? Why
has il been withheld there? Why has the Sc
| nator from Virginia, if he really thinks ihese
frauds ought to be corrected. failed to have
some measure for their correction brought
forward in the Honse of Representatives
through his friends in that body? Why has
not the Secretary of the Treasury or the Pre-
sident, or both. seen TO this business? They
are not so forbearing. so delicate in their
practices in this respect that they cannot in
terfere or lend their influence in carrying this
reform in the collection of the revenue
through Congress; nor ought they to shrink
| from the exercise of legitimate and constitu-
tional interposision in reference to a question
of great public interest like the present.
fear, sir, that the Administration and the
honorable Senator from Virginia. and those
who agree with him in his theories of politi-
cal economy, consider that if we corrected
| these frauds, and brought about wholesome
| reform in the collection of the customs rev.
enue. if would be a step backwards in the
march of free trade If any other explana-
! ton can be given to their conduct, l trust it
will not be withheld.
Every step taken by the administration
connected with this subject tends to bring me
to the conclusion that have been right in my
| apprehensiOns. If at such time as the pre-
| sent. the Administration, and the party which
| supports it. dare to pursue the course indicat-
ed in reference to this loan, what will they not
4 a.. Al. II
shall not be felt? Whittier is this Government
tending? What is, or what is to be, its set
tied policy? The honorable Senator from
! Virginia seems to take it for granted that his
views. and those of the Administration, are
sustained by the settled sentiment of the
| people of this country. They may be. for
aught know; but is this policy so firmly set
tied that he and his party may speculate and
| experiment upon the strength of the senti-
! ment which sustains them, to the extent they
| have undertaken to do in relation to this bill
and the amendment of the Senator from
! Rhode Island?
| Sir. am astoniShpd at the course of the hon.
orable Senator from Virginia and his political
friends upon this subject; nor has their course
| upon other grave questions tended to assure
! me that have been wrong in my impression.
! formed long since. that the old land marks set
| up by our fathers are likely soon to be utterly
/
the political honesty. which for a long time
| forced their observance. Sir. | regard our
! whole system OF free government as III immi-
| nent peril.
| At no period in the last thirty years have
! so many circumstances in the condition of the
/ country conspired to awaken inquiry and ere
| ate anxiety as to its future, There is a vague
but very general impression floating in the
| minds OF the thinking portion of the people
that we are Fastening to q crisis-to a change
! of the nature of which there is no well defined
| idea or conception. Possibly it may be ben
| eticial in its results; on the other hand it
may usher in an epoch marked and diStin-
| guished by great calamties and distractions
! TO the progress of civilization. The student
| of general history must have been struck by
! the fact that all those great movements and
revolutions which have changed the destiny
of nations and the social and political condi-
tons of their populations, sometimes rolling
! back the tide of Improvement and threaten
| ing the extinction of all that science and art
had achieved in preceding ages, and in other
| instances giving a new impetus to further
progress, have been preceded by some vague
perception or apprehension among the more
observing of the people to he affected of the
coming change. So at least contemporary his
torians will have it.
Whether any change which may take place
in the condition and affairs of this country
may rise to an Importance to be compared
with those great revolutions to which l have
referred, and which have left their impress
upon the world, l will not undertake to say,
nor am prepared to subscribe to the theory
that there is any preternatural or mysteri-
Gus cause operating in the moral world,
which sometimes gives warning of approach
ing change or CONFUSION. rather think that
the true solution of the apparent mystery in
volved in the common saying that coming
events cast their shadows before" is to be
found in the actual circumstances and ten
denotes of the Observation-Disclosures and ten
denotes which make but slight impression or
none at all upon the thoughtless, bat strike
the sagacious observer as most significant and
ominous.
That many Of the purest patriots and best
| Informed of the people of this country at this
time are disturbed and apprehensive ofChange
and CONFUSION cannot be denied but there
is no mystery in that Ample cause may be
found for this in the present social and pOliti-
cal condition of the country.
1t is remarkable that, coincident with this
feeling of uneasiness and insecurity in this
country, similar one is felt all over Europe,
though rising from different and in some re-
spects from opposite causes; and in both
countries tending strongly to postpone the
restoration of trade and industry to that de-
gree of activity by which they were but lately
distinguished, and upon the restoration of
which the Senator from Virginia relies to sup
ply the future wants of the Treasury.
The peace of Europe may be said to be sus
pended by hair The brittle thread of one
mans life snapped. and it seems to be conced-
ed that a revolutionary struggle must ensue
in one powerful State, which may, in its con-
sequences, involve all Europe in a sanguinary
war That life preserved and prolonged offers
no absolute security for the general repose.
Peace would still hold her sway by the slen-
der and uncertain tenure of one mans will.
Ia this fact alone may be found sufficient
ground for some apprehension; but there are
other causes of uneasiness. However well
disposed to peace the Emperor of the French
NAV be-hated and feared rather than loved,
as he is by the great Powers around him-he
NAV be driven by the necessities OF his posi-
ton 10 avail himself of the passion for militia
nv glory which distinguishes his subjects. and
seek to strengthen his dynasty by trying his
fortunes in war. Besides all these there tx
lists still another cause of uneasiness. The
spirit of liberty in Europe is repressed, but
not subdued 1t is still too formidable an ell
ement of disturbance to the established despo-
tisms of the Continent TO be overlooked in cal
culating the chances of peace. Like pent-
up giant it is ever restless, watchful, and
prompt upon opportunity To break its fet-
tiers.
Here in this country we have no despotic
Governments. general or local. All are
moulded in the most perfect forms of freedom
consistent with the preservation OF the great
md legitimate objects of civil society. Meth
ar by the theory nor by any OF the express pro-
visions of our political system is any one man
clothed with authority, even for term of
ears, To play the despot, to substitute his will
or the will of the people in deciding upon the
issues of peace and OF war, or to dictate the
policy of the country. domestic or foreign;
though in the practical operation of our sys-
TEN, we know, by experience, that a weak or
a had man may assume and exercise all these