The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1858-11-25
JACKSON STANDARD.

more of the evils and expressions of Eu.
rope, than any other causes.
In our own country it is not possible to
preserve all the mytery as to governmen.
tai affairs which has so prevailed inEurope
But there is still much art and secresy
practised and attempted which ought moi
to be. The purposes of Government, as
to the acqisition of territory, the fitting
out of expeditions, and the plans Of fl,
nance, ought all to be known before and
not after the act is done. The Govern.
ment is continually putting the people in
the light ofwhat lawyers call acceSsorS at
Ter The fact, instead of being the princi.
pal, the originators, and motive power ol
the whole action. We had a memorable
example of this in the annexation of Tex
as. The whole thing was done secretly
by the Administration, and the people
never did act on it directly. 1t was true,
/. the idea was before the people, and enter
ed into political discussions But the trea.
ty was before the Senate, and its terms
entirely unknown, and would have re-
manned unknown but for the bold step oil
Senator Tappan Contrary to all rules,
and all usage of the Senate, that Treaty
wan sent to a New York paper, and pub
ished, while under discussion. Thus, the
fannexstion of a vast Territory (Which, to
This day, has been nothing but a bill Of
expense) } was secretly intrigued for--se-
crttly bargained and secretly carried out
--u ader the influence of Southern con
spiracy to extend Slave territory. Now,
if the American nation had been openly
consulted, and the ad CH1'-T 80 ssagress giy-
en- for this measure. (and II Ia ~ shave
been. done who could have complaln0,.
What agitation could grow out oft! But,
as it did occur, first concocted by con-
spiracy, and then carried out in secrecy,
it was one of the main causes of the sub
'sequent agitations, and sectional contro-
versies on the subject Of extending slave
Territories. We are about to have proba-
bly, another case of this kind. Letter wri-
ters and rumors inform us, that the Presi-
dent is intent on buying Cuba. at the most
extravagant price; and this without con-
S~lting the people, Why not propose his
plan openly to the House of Representa-.
tiYs? Why not refer the question directly
td the peoplel If the people Of the Uuited
States really want Cuba, can they not say
sSl 1t is contrary to the whole spirit,
and genius of our government to carry on
agigantic enterprize of this description, in
secret? What right, according to the the,
ory ofour Government, has The President
t9 bargain for, and add to this country a
new State, without consulting the people?
Hehas the Constitutional right to appoint
Ambassadors, instlct them, and sign trea.
ties; but, is it in the spirit aud nature of a
Republic to have this all done m secret,
land if two thirds of the Senate can be
persuaded, or Suborned, TO such purpose
have new State of negroes, creoles, and
SRaniards added to this country, without
thk knowledge or consent of the people?
ls'there any need of it? Not the least
fthe public sentiment really favors such
a scheme, it can be easily ascertained.
So, too, we have an example in the
Paraguay Expedition. How many people
in.the U. States really know what is the
cause, the motive, or the object OF that
expedition! We are asked the question
continually, ana must answer to the best
of our information, but certainly not ac.
cording to any official knowledge the Gov.
ernment has given us, This Paragua Ex
pedition will cost four, five, or six mil
lions Of dollars--why not have submitted
the proprety of it to Congress7 Do the
Ministry of Great Britain send out fleets
and armies without consulting govern,
ment! Let us do away with all SecereSy
and mystery, except in the operations o
war, and consult the people boldly, on all
great enterprises. Gin. Gazette.