The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-02-23


We concur with him that any comparison with
the expenditure of twenty, or even ten, years
ago would be altogether fallacious. The in
crease of the country in extent and population
involves new sources of expense, but If all that
is comprised under the word government be
more costly, there are large numbers and great
er wealth to divide and bear the burden. An
augmentation of the ordinary revenue is indis-
pensable and we can only wish that some other
means were recommended than tariff calcutta
ted to give ''incidental protection to the manu-
featuring interests" The manufacturers and
the iron-masters are to the United States what
the agriculturists were to England in days gone
by, and the community have not yet learned
that protection cramps the industrial energies
of the whole, and despoils the great mass of
the consumers. Turning from trade and f.
nance to internal politics, we see the country
tranquil and progressive. The Kansas ques-
ton has been set at rest, and with it, for the
present at least, 'the sectional strife between
the North and the South on the dangerous
subject of slavery" The principle on which
the settlement or reconciliation has been efec-
ted will not be regarded with entire satisfaction
in this country, or by the Abolitionists of the
Northern States The Supreme Court decided
that call American citizens have an equal
right to take into the territories whatever is
held as property under the laws of any of the
States, and to hold such property under the
protection of the Federal Constitution so long
as the territorial condition shall remain. y
Slaves are 'proporty," and Kansas is yet but a
From Kansas, the President turns his view
to Utah, which only year ago was in a state
of open rebellion. The insolence of Brigham
Young has been chastised, and the Mormonites
have been brought under subjection to the law.
This object has been achieved with equal vigor
and moderation, and without bloodshed. ''The
governor and other civil officers of Utah are
now performing their appropriate functions
without resistance the authority of the Con-
stitution and the laws has been fully restored,
and peace prevails throughout the territory"
The wretched dupes who had been deluded in
this country by the emissaries of Brigham
Young may now see, if their eyes are not hope
Iessly closed, on what an evanescent basis their
expectations were founded. The Gentiles rule
in Utah, and the Empire of the Saints" no
longer exists. We now come to the foreign
relations Of the great American Republic
There are open questions with ourselves, on
which the President remarks by way of pre-
face 49,
1T has been the misfortune of both countries, al
since the period of the Revolution, to have
boon annoyed by succession of irritating and dan
questions, threatening their friendly relations
This has partially prevented the full development OF
those feelings of mutual friendship between the peo
pie of the two countries, natural in themsevesand
conducive to their common interest. Any serious
States and Great Britain would be equally injurious
to both. In fact, two nations have ever existed
the face of the earth which could do each other
much good or much harm"
If the Governments of both countries would
keep these considerations before them, irritat-
ing controversies would never arise but
cannot admit that the fault is altogether
side. Some of our statesmen may have dis
played aristocratic csuperciiousness in their cor
respondencc with the American Government;
but, on the other side, there has been no lack
of republican arrogance: Our kinsmcn are
fiery and impatient, quick at taking offence and
imperious in demanding reparation. They are
always for "taking," and never for "giving,"
and it must be confessed that they have often
put our patience to severe trial. We have
Welded the right of visitation and search, and
by doing so, have wisely and prudently remov
ed one ground of quarrel. But still, no means
have been concerted for verifying the charac
ter of vessels suspected good grounds of
abusing the American flag to cover the odious
traffic in slaves. In compliance with the de-
mand of the United States we have abandoned
the only course hitherto found effective We
have asked them to propose a substitute, and
they decline to take the initiative. The presi-
dent waits for proposal from our Government,
but he does not hold out much encouragement.
He entertains strong opinion that "the occa-
sional abuse of the flag of any nation is an evil
far less to be deprecated than would be the es-
tablishment of any regulations which might be
incompatible with the freedom of the seas. =
We cannot see the force of this reasoning for
we think it less mischieyous that merchant
vessel should be occasionally hove-to for few
minutes, than that freebooters and slavers should
be at liberty to carry ON their nefarious traffic
without fear of molestation. President Bu-
chanan is s:inclined to believe that no plan
which can be devised will be free from grave
This is simply to say that
negotiation on the subject will be useless. The
honor of the United States, however, is more
nearly touched in this matter than our own.
If the Americans choose to lend their flag to
the miscreants of the sea cannot help it,
and we can only deplore their mistaken sensi-
tiveness. But the President has a solution of
the difficulty ready. The. United States have
large claims on Spain, which might be satisfied
by the cession of Cuba. He says =
The truth is, that Cuba, in its existing colonial
condition, is constant source of injury and annoy
ance to the American people 1t is the only spot in
the civilized world where the African slave trade is
and are bound by treaty with Great
Britain to maintain naval force on the coast of
Africa at much expense both of life and treasure,
solely for the purpose of arresng savers bound to
that island. The late difficulties betsceen the
United States and Great Britain respecting the right of
Search Rosc so hdPPty teTnafted, coHtd neoeT mare
arisen if Cuba had not afforded market for Slaves
As long this market shall remain open there Ge
no hope for the civilization of 6entghted frca. While
the demand for slaves continues in Cuba wars will
be waged among the petty and barbarous. chiefs in
Africa for the purpose of seizing SUBJECTS to supply
this trade In such condition of affairs it is i'm
possible that the light of civilization and religion
can ever penetrate these dark abodes''
Here, then, is way to put an end to the
slave trade, and all the disputes arising out of
the right of visitation and search of the high
seas. The reasoning may not be sincere, and,
there is something behind. The
United States have long desired the acquisition
of Cuba, which 'from its geographical position
cammands the mouth of the Mississippi, and
its immense and annually increasing trade,
foreign and coastwise, from the valley of that
noble river, now embracing half the sovereign
States of the Union" They are willing to
purchase, but, if Spain refuses to sell, they are
prepared, on the old rule of. might, to take and
to Keep We do not care to justify the Gov
ernment of the United States in this matter
An open and unprovoked seizure of any part