Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-01-29
'fIice, over VIM. II. Bryarly's Store.
ssy- Every man who reflects, with pra,

wal PhiiVsOPhJt "POh '"S N"9y ~" P'""iO"
Of our government to the wants of the
people, whether social, political, or COM
mercial, is astonishod at the aggregation
Of evils which curse the whole country, in
all its great interests. It's commerce de-
pressed, its currency deranged, its domestic
peace disturbed by civil war and needless
sectional strife, its morals corrupt and its
honor furnished, the question presents
itself, is there no remedy? Yes, there is
a remedy, as eficacious as it is simple; but
who is to apply it2 To revive commerce
and guard it against sudden and extreme
revulsions, nothing is needed but stall lie
tariff, so adjusted as to afford, as true wis
dom and patriotism suggest, ample protec-
ton to American industry. To make the
currency sound and uniform in its value,
it must be national in its character the
circulating medium, whether of paper or
metal, must bear the government endorse
ment and that clause Of the Constitution
which forbids the issuance of bills of cred
it by the States, must be rigidly enforc-
cd.
The practice of reducing the tariff to the
wants of an economical administration of
the government, has failed as often as
tried-in every instance, as the records
show, bankruptcy has followed the expert
ment. The revenue has been invariably
increased, as long as the country could
stand the draft upon its means, and then
have followed the prostration ofindustrial
pursuits, and widespread embarrassment
The theory is wrong, and the practice,
ruinous. Then, let us reverse both, and
carry out the wiser doctrine, that the tariff
must be raised in order to reduce the reve-
nue. to the wants of an economical admin
istration of the government. To the sim
pie, this may seem a political paradox ;
But the experience of the country has de-
monstrated the truth of the doctrine and
the good of the practice. Such a policy,
backed by national mixed currency
good everywhere, and relieving the coun-
try from the payment of tribute, in the
shape of exchange, to leading commercial
cities, is all that is needed to give stability
to trade and healthy impetus to Ameri-
can industry.
To prevent civil war, in the territories,
the mischievious humbug-squatter SOW
reignty-must be exploded, and Congress
again govern them as the Constitution di-
reefs. Or if the new tangled theory of popu-
lar sovereignty, in the territories, is to be ad-
hered to go the whole length of the doctrine
and preserve peace within their borders,
by interdicting all federal interference. If
the people of a territory have the right to
govern themselves, as the people ola State,
what right has the federal ADMINISTRATION to
appoint officers to rule over them? or to
remove those officers at will? The people
Of the States choose their own officers, sub
ject to no control by the administration
at Washington and if the sovereignty of
the people of territory is as absolute, the
appointment of their officers by the fede-
raj government, is gross usurpation of
power, and an intolerablc interference with
the domestic institutions of a sovereign
people. This is so, or the whole theory of
squatter sovereignty is a most contempt
BILE cheat. Then we repeat, that, to main
peace within the territories, Congress must
govern them, as the Constitution requires,
or they must be vested with full powers to
govern themselves, subject to no mere
federal interference than is allowed in the
States.
To correct the other evils, enumerated
above, there are means, ample and efficient
all within the reach of the people ; but
will they apply them? Politicians arc
corrupt-evcn unto rottenness--and have
gradually become so, as the conviction
grew upon them; that hypocricy and false
hood are the surest means for promoting
their own selfish ends. From the univer.
sal use of these means for the accomplish.
ment of purposes as base, the people have
caught the contagion until the whole body
polite is afflicted with moral leprosy The
first important effect of such condition
of things, was to drive the wise and tho
good from State and national councils, ant
to fill their places with the cunning, sci
fish and debased who have neither integ
rity Of purpose nor love ofcountry to slim
ulato them to an effort, however feeble
TO elevate the moral tone of the people, OF
to advance the honor and prosperity of the
Republic From such leaders of such
people. il were fully 10 expeet wisdom q,