The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1872-12-12

ri Stia ~lt -as-ot arle55li-l rfls
t4 s5H't H sllt asf.5-s ralFs
ah iIFr6m the New York gIeFald.l
In the triumphant election Of
bGeHerd Grant to the Presidential
Succession. with a majority of the
States and a majority of the people,
(WHICH make ths event ohe Tof f4f
most remarkable and impressive ID
our. political history all PaFgies, rec
OgniZe him as the master of the pO-
Iirical4lield, and all, men APPRECIATE.
his enlarged advantages and oppor-
tunities tor gIandly successful ad-
ministration In the reconciliation
.Ofrthe South in. .geiyil service re
form; in such amendments of ear
/ I6pHncial system as experience has
Ishown to be needful; in the exten
sion of our Commercial facilities
and exchanges with foreign ma
tio4is upon each and all Of these
important questionsI he has an in,
viting task. before him; but upon
this still loTeTshadowipg question
Of. manifest destiny he has toaeona
slider not only IL e. grandest- posi-.
bilities of Success but the strongest
| temptations and the greatest dan
gers on the road toruin. sisas-sa
These temptations and dangers,
like serpents in bank Of flowers.
lie coiled up, in this American idea
of "manifest destiny" or the con-
tinuing absorption of the territories
of our suTropEl;ing ueighbors Up
on this momentous subject the Chi
cago Tribune tells US that ''it is Civ
en- out that the leading policy of
the government during the next
four years will be the acquisition of
foreign territory that ''this means /
aggression, war; expenditure, in
crease Of debt, the annexation Of
unwilling people and general dis
turbance and embrOilments.Y The
government programme, it is fbr-
ther intimated, does not for the
present embrace the British North !
American possessions, but may be
applied to the West indies, to Mex
leo and to Central America. Oar
Chicago contemporary then pro
ceeds to a general review of tire
subject, with 81 strong algument /
against further annexations, in /
most Of whichlwe concur, bat which 4
we here dismiss for certain refec- /
tions that have occurred to us in "A
glaitce at this attractive but peril
Gus policy Of territorial expansions /
from tie past to the present ana
the future.
The entering wedge to this policy
Of annexation was. applied by Presi-
dent jefferson in his treaty with the
First 9Napolebn-l8D2 s. for r rthe
acquisition of the vast territory Of I
Louisiana, which included the Mis
sissippi River and all the territory
on the west side Of it, from the Brit
ish possessions on the north to the
Gulf If Mexico, and to the Spanish
possessions of that day in the west
and southwest--a most desirable ac
quisition. Napoleon thus boasted
of this cessioa as a great achieve
ment for France: 81 would that
France should enjoy this une2peet-
ed capital f15,O00000-a great SUN
at chat epoch J, and that it may be
in works beneficial to her
marine" But Napoleon plumed
upon this transfer of an en-
pire for fifteen millions mainly upon
this ground-''T'his acquisition of
territory strengthens forever the
power of the United States, and /
have just given to England amari
time rival that will. sooner or later
humble her pride." Nor need any
Thing further be said to vindicate
-bis transaction on the part Of
France as a .Napoleonic idea.
Jefferson, however, had his doubts
ipon the subject. In-ans instructive
etter he remarks ''Fhe Constitur
ion hos Y,,e1a NO ,SrO4,ision fDr ottt
l6l1ilg' Foreign terFitorgg stili less
'orliheofp5rating foreign. natio-ls in
10 our UaioR. The-Executive, m
3eizing the fugitive occurrence
which so 'mueh advances the good I
IF their country, has done al. act be
yond the constitution But, in
.hrowing themselves upon the -coun-
Try, he believed that the course Of
lie President and Congress would
be approved. ''IYe shan not. he
said ''be idisEowed by the nation,
md their act of Indemnity viii con
irm and not weakea the constitution,
~ more strongly marking out its
ines5 But this.actof indemnify
n .contemp plated amendment efithe
was never made, JET
srson's example mas been regarded
IS sufficient authority for. every an
iexation since made or proposed.
fhus,t Aiohroe'st treaty with Spain
1879, by which we acquired the
eyritory Of Floriaa, was not copsid-
red as inyolyjng aRE question OF
,onstjtdtiouallty. Indeed, the pub
ic necessities and advantages on r
18th sides in regard to the eess:Ons T.
# Louisiana and Florida were hekpi
% be paramount and conclusive
But our next annexation, that iof
rexas, under President Polk
Marcia. I945), was widely differ
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