The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-04-28

ptriOuJ IOr Tic Ucre purpose Oi enrlpug COIL
tractors, bestowing largesses upon srile and
uninhabted districts of the South, ad acqui-
ring power, the expenditures have bes almost
doubled-run up to the enormous sunni twenty
millions of dollars-and the mail systn made
by-word and reproach. With new, blended,
and expensive routes, without correpouding
returns, sunk in fathomless debt, aye, 1ralyzed
by burdens its chief Justify cries for elp, and
piteously begs the sinews of PROLONGED NAL
feasance. But, upon whom does e call2
Upon those to whom the appeal is alwfs made,
when money, votes, soldiers, or other Effective
help, is required-upon the laboring thfty-the
mud-sills of the Eastern, NortherI Middle,
and Western States. 1t is consolingb know
we are good enough to pay, if not I'd receive.
We are at least able if not respectable. If
we have not chivalry, we have fields, aid farms,
and factories. Let US then, without fhimper-
ing, split the difference The F. FV.'s,, or
the F. F. T.'s,' shall take all the post of pat
ronage, and we will pay their debs. The
plan proposed, by which we shall do his, is
very simple one. We have only olpay five
cents, instead of three, on each letter We write,
abolish the present franking privilege, and,
consequently, cut off the Distribution of all
seeds and agricultural and mechalical and
political information from our peopb, and the
thing is in great measure accomplished. And
why not do this? To be sure, zoe more than
pay nop, for all our postal service, and these
documents are highly priced by US but do we
not know that the domestic institution is too
poor to pay, and too ignorant to read. We
seem to be prone eternally to forget that we
were made for hewers of wood and drawers of
water. If We would remember this fact, think
we could cordially unite with those who met
ho nj nd fOsn no
and praise to the new American Monarchy"
\ "To blind our sight Il its short
comings, to cover up its disgracehl defeats,
and to reconstruct its sinking fortunes, the Ad-
ministration now proposes, by virtue of trans
fer of the war-making power to itself, to visit
chastisement upon feeble States for imaginary
wrongs, and by the acquisition of Cuba to ex-
tend the area of Freedom gluttonized on Sla-
very. A man selfmade mad, and then self.
destroyed-a Lear in rags, and not in robes
having lost the sceptre by the weakness of folly,
clutches the flying air, and seeks to mount
again to power and influence. Vanity of vani-
ties there is no restitution for fallen great.
ness.
A few material inquiries may possibly pre-
sent themselves, when we come to consider the
propriety of the purchase of the vain and much.
praised Queen of the Antilles, and of bringing
her into our loving and lecherous embrace. In
what way, by what mysterious means, with
what magic key, will you draw the thirty golden
millions demanded by the President as earnest
money, and the hundreds of millions afterwards
from a strong box, empty as the heart of its
keeper, and which is more secure in locking
treasure out than locking it in? How far will
a wellregulated prudence determine US to go
in intrusting such vast amounts in the hands
L. L. IL
we have no confidence? BY what legal secret
will we be able to consummate purchase o.
Spain, who has determined not to sell A.? And
how can we better secure ourselves agains
those who, in league with the President, have
sought to humiliate US, by adding to their pow
er and extension, and by giving them the con
troll of the Gulf Of Mexico as they may have il
over the Mississippi? 1 think 1 can schoo
myself to love my enemies, but not better thar
myself. l can willingly admit my brother tc
an equal enjoyment of a common inheritance
but | cannot, when he does me violence and
injustice, strengthen his arm so as to enable
him forcibly to take it all. So can and will
love my Southern neighbor. l will freely allow
him an equal participation of all the fruits o.
our generous system. / will divide with him
the temple of Liberty. / will shield him from
the evil-doer. But when he denies to me what
l am willing to grant to him, and that which
my title covers, 1 will not stultify myself, and
place weapons in his hand for my destruction
and l will never pay tribute for either his kind
ness or forbearance. Cuba may be important
to the Union will admit that it will be SO
when we have just and equal laws, and honest
officers but before we acquire it, desire to
to be informed whether any legislation can
possibly be had as beneficial to Pennsylvania
as the purchase would be to Tennessee or
Georgia; and above all shall l seek to know
how, thenceforward, we are to be treated. For
if | am traitor-an unconscious and unre
warded one-to either thirty-three or fifteen
States, will not add to the enormity of my
offence by extending the number of States
against which my guilt must operate"