I.L.tfi . kOKOViv - %4 4l YrtOr r
4# 4 4 1 :
To the Patrons of the Brio
porter.
Hereafter the pared of the s will k
nod on by my two sons. E. 0. &FI Ft i t ooflrii ii.--
All expenses of the establishment to bo borne by them, ,
tl anet3ttsl44,lFc2ineciFine. to 4 . pdd tothem.—.
In the mean time I retain a Control, (suPervi , ory at least)
qessliforisent, and shall occasionally -con•
- Iribute`t - o - ris eolnmris.
- . .
Towanda, Wednesday, Pee.
The near proprietor' are both preittlial pinta?", baring
worked in the Reportereifiee since its first establishment
They have been educated in a Democratic school, and
e41441.1114•141t.: *lear of: democracy as welt - freweboiee
education,,, The principles of the papef,will, of course,
,/:•• • - ••
undergo no change, while the fect.that the proptimonr
Releiy • ,upon the pulilic fot . an adequate remuneration
• -
for theiriridostry and exertionsatimulate - Abern to renew
- e 4; elial•incrvaso, energy .to win, and to• merit, not only
tbe approbation of their own poUtiail party, but also the
general approval of 2' reading community.
- retiring from the publication'department of thepa
, per, my atknowledgeMents are due to'many kind friends
wholiave-airled4ne by their • amnia!, their approval and
' a 'prompt disiberge of alt their liabilities to the Office,
ahi[e ham 'sorii to say, there 'are too many who hats
• entiiiely 'riseeked to Pay one .farthing upon dcmandi
ivhiib bare been'tiCCtiniulating for fire years and a half.
1 14fi . greatest regret in paifing with such. is that I shall
liecoinpeied min to disturb their repose on this subject.
,: Peceinbar 104,1845. E. S. GOODRICH.
The Preil6n.tls'Aessage.
-- The first teenage - of President Palk to the American
Cop6ress, will be (bind entire in bur columns this week.
Its greet 'length niersearily eicludes nearly all other
'reading alldws us only room to say that it is
well writien,42l..l arid clear in all its points, and in our
jtidgemenccorrect in all its views. His views upon the
'Tariff ate just what_waexpeeted,_and jut what we be
neve thetemocracY,will approve. are obliged to
omit any extended remarks until next, week—when we.
eiigato review that portion at least which relates tothe
Congress.
Tiie first session of the 29th Congress, commenced at
Waihiniton, on Itinday. The Vice President took the
chair in the Seaat e. , . .
Ifotisejchn (Dem.,) was
'electeC;:itlieaker on the first ballot, receiving 120 Valell.
Vinton of Ohio, (Whig) received 72 votes.
Oa Tuesday the Message• of the President was deli , .
eicd which will he found occcupying almost our entire
B. B. Far:Ten the late Clerk of the loose, ores
lauertimously , reelected.
• *Tema 45< Herse were'eleeted printers tb the House,
hating' received i 29 •;otes. Messrs. Flax & Dow re
ceived b 9, a tarige proportion being whits.
'Dr.-Line Was 're-elected Sergeant-at-arms, and Mr.
Je%niun Piiismaster ; Mr. Whituey, of Illinois, was
eleiOd Doartteepei.
MESSAGE OF TilE
rt.:UNCLE:4)I:D FROR FOURTH PAC.R.3
fiVe:Cettis per toll, as though they had been
Spanish' vessels ; and this. whether our vessel
arrive iti.Spain directly front the Umied States,
ortadirectly from any, other country. .•.Vi hen
Congress, by the act of the thirteenth of July.
1832, gave,etrect to this-arrangement hetween
the two governMents, they routine(' the reduc
tion of tonnage.duty merely to Spanish vessels
. ",corning from, a portin leaving the
former ihscruninatiuw.,difty to remain against
stiCh.vessele . coming rrsim a port, in any other
country. It is manifestly unjust that, 'whilst
American vessels, arriving in the ports of Spain
frotn other countries, pay no more duty than
Spanish vessels, Spanish vessels arrivin g in
the ports. of the United States from o ther
countries should. be .subjected to heavy dis
ern:rimming tonnage duties. This is neither
equality nor reciprocity, and is. in violation of
the arrangementconcluded to December. 1831,
between the two countries. The Spanish go
vernment hate made repeated and earnest re
monstrances against dos inequality, and the
fivorable attention of Vougress has been sever
al times invoked to the subject by my prode-.
censors. I recommend. as an act of justice to
Spate. that this inequality be removed by Cun
tress, and that the discriminating duties width
have.been levied under the act of the thirteenth
of July . . 1832. on Spairash vessels coming to
the 1) sited States from any other foreign coun
try, tie, refunded.. This recommendation does
not ; embrace Spanish vessels in the United
States from Cuba and Porto Rico. which will
still remain subject to the provisions of the act
of June 30th, 1831,, concerning tonnage-duty
on such, vessels.
By the act of the fourteenth of July, '1832,
coffse„wasexempted from duty altogether.—
This exemption was universal, without refer
eoce,to the.country where it was producad, or
the, national character of the .vessel in which it
was imported.. ,By- the. tariff act, of the' thir
teenth 91 August. 1842, this. exemption from:
duty was restricted to coffee imported in
American vessels from the .place of its produc
lion : whilst coffee imported under all other
circumstances was subjected to a duty of twiny.
ty.per ; cent. ad valorem. Under this act, and
our existing treity with the King of the Ne
therlands., Java coffee imported from the Euro
pean, ports of that kingdom into the United
States, * whether in Dutch or American vessels
•now, pays ‘ this rate of ditty. '
the., government of the Netherlands com
plains that such-a-discriminating duty should
hayi&• ; beeri imposed on coffee, the production
ofione-.9f)4..colopies, and which is -chiefly
• brought from-:lava to the ports of that kingdom,
and,exported from thence to foreign countries..
Ouretrede-with the Netherlands is highly benew
8941 to, high countries. and our :relations-with •
thmn, have.ever i been of4hettitlin friendly char
acter.;;,; Un fler.ajlphe circumstances of the ease.
I reeppmend
.that. this .discriminatimvehould
be a 4l4isbed, and ; that the -coffee of !mini.
posted, from the Netherlands be placed upon
the fame - footing with that imported•diremly
fro . ni,l4rilztl.*nd other countries where it is pro
donednz
MIR
,tLler-Ehp erg th section of Ithe..tarifi" iet of
the thirteenth of AugustvlB424.4. duty of fifteen
centsjlar,gallup
_was imposed-,on Part urine in
casks re4t - tykes of several other
conntri4..whezt.int ported in casks, a duty of
only p sizsenta per gallon was imposed. This
discrimination, so (avast :rustle the Port wine
of ~I.iptipgal,..wan,deemed.,a,viointiatt of atm
treaty with that Power, which provides that
No, iyigher nr Mines shall :he lin:paved
noke,,impntlatinn,i , lto. the
. Unite d States of
AnseOcasot any arlitiesibergrowthe prOdacei
or manufacture of tlie,,kingclore,.:4l4peetlelaisnil
'ior PortiiKiffeirsiretiaware or pave
ble on the like article being the growth. pro -1
duce, or manufacmre of_any , „9!her fprOgn,
citiptv.'ff, 1 ta ,ll
Ireoßo Y jt s
Ar#,S as tthlte t 1
itif proviso to thei r . rtfct at no
tl ein edittained oul be et?, eo trued as l / 4 to
itnksisti . -treaties"with foreign
nations, a treasury circular was issued on the
18th of July. 1844, which. among other things,
deelifeditie:duif rtrf wine'of Portfl
gal, in casks, under the existing laws and
treaty, to be - stx cents_ per gallon, and di
rected that the excess of dunes which had
been collected on such wine should be re
funded.
By virtue of another clause in the same sec
tion of the act, nig provided thatall ithitations.
of Port. or,aoy other wines,.•• obeli be .subject
to thp duty provided, for the genuine article."
Imitations al Port wine,. the production of
France, are imperted some extent into the
United States; and the government of , that
country now claims that, under a correct con
struction of the act, these imitations ought not
to pay , a higher duty than shat imposed:upon
the original Port wine of Pdaingal. It appees
to me to bd ifrequal and unjust, that French
imitations of Port wine should be subjected to
a duty of fifteen cents, while the more valuable
article from Portugal should pay a duty of-six
cents only per gallon., I therefore reemumend . l
to Congress such legislation as may be necessi-
ry to correct the inequality.
The late President, in his annual .message
of December last. recommended an appropria
tion, to satisfy the claims of the Texan ffovern
ment against the United States. which had been
previously adjusted. so far es the powers of the
Executive extended. These claims arose out
of the, act of disarming a body of Texan troops
under the command. Major-.Snively; by an
officer in the service of the United States, ae
_ling under thd orders of our government; and
the
. foreible entry into the custom-house at
Bryarly's landing, on , Red river, by certain
citizens of the United States. and taking away
,therefrona,the goods seized by the • collector of
the cuatoms as forfeited under the laws of
Texas. This was a liquidated debt. ascertain
ed to be due to 'l'exas when an independent
State. 'Her acceptaneeof the terms of annexa
tion proposed by the United States does not
discharge or invalidate. the claim. I . re
commend that provision be made for its pay
ment.
The commissioner appointed to China da
ring the special session of the Senate.in March
.last, shortly afterwards set out on his mission
in the United States ship Columbus. On ar
riving at Rio be Janeiro on his • passage, the
state of his health hid becomes° critical, that,
by the advice of his reediest attendants, he re.
turned to the United States early in the month
of October last. Commodore Biddle, com
manding the East India squadron. proceeded
on his voyage in the Columbus. and was
charged by the commissioner with the duty of
exchanging with the proper .authorities the
ratifications of the treaty lately concluded with
the Emperor of China. Since the return of
the commissioner to the United States, his
health has been much improved, and he enter
tains the confident belief that he will soon be
able oo proceed' im his mission.
Unfortunately. differences continue to rxi.t
among some of the nations of Smith America.
which, following our es ample, have estoohlislieff
their independence, while in others internal
dissensions prevail. It is ' , mural that our
sympathies should he warmly enlisted in their
welfare ; that we7should desire' that all poem.-
versies between them should be amiloodaly ad
justed, and their governments administered in
a manner to protect the rights, and promote
the prosperity of their people. It is contrary,
however, to our settled policy. to interfere
in their controversies, whether external or in
ternal.
I have thus adverted to all the subjects con
nected with our foreign relations, to which I
deem it necessary to call your attention. Our
pulicy is not only peace with all, but good-will
towards all the powers of the earth. While
we rre just to all, we require that all shall he
just to us. Excepting the differences with
Melte() and Great Britain, our relations with
all civilized - nations are of the most satisfactory
character. It is hoped - that in this enlighien•
ed age these differences may be amicably ad
jested.
The Secretary of the Treasury, in his re
port to Congress. will communicate a full
statement of the condition of our finances.—
The imports for the •fiscal year ending nn the
thirteenth of June last, were of the value of one
hundred and seventeen millions two hundred
and fifty-four thousand five hundred and sixty
four dollars. of which the amount exported was
fifteen mi.ltions three hundred and forty-six
thousand eight hundred and thirty dollars—
leaving a balance of one hundred and one tuit
ions nine hundred and seven thousand seven
hundred and thirty four dollars for domestic
consumption.
The exports for the same year were of the
Value of one hundred and. fourteen millions six ,
hundred and forty-six-hundred and six dollars,
of which; the amount of domestic articles was
ninety-nine millions two hundred and ninety
nine thousand seven hundred and seventy-six
dollars. The receipts into the Treasury du
ring the same year, were twenty-nine millions
seven hundred and sixty-nine thousand, one
hundred and thirty-three dollars and fifty-six
cents ; of which, there were derived from cus
toms. twenty-seven millions five hundred and
twenty.eigin thousand one hundred and twelve
dollars and seventy cents 4 from sales of pub
lic lands, two millions seventy-seven - thousand
and twenty-two dollars and thirty cents ; and
from incidental and miscellaneous sources.
one hundred and sixty-three thousand nine
hundred and ninety-eight: dollars and fifty-six
• The expenditures for the same period were
twenty-mne millions nine- hundred and sixty
eight thousand two hundred and six dolMrs and
ninety-eight cents; of which. 'eight millions
five , bundred and eighty-eight thousand one
hundred and fifty-seven dollars and sixty-two
cents.were applied to the, payment of the pub
lic debt.- The balance in the Treasury on the
first of July last. was seven .millinne• Mx hun
dred and fifty-eight thousand threehundied and
six violists and•.tweety.two cents.
'flirt amount oft* public debt reinainilfgren
puid'en thefirst of'Oetobter seventeen
mitlinns seventy-fivelhnustand (nnr" hundred
anil l forty.five dollars and fifty-two cents.. Fur
ther paythents of the pohlie debt would have
hen made. in•sidithrratihn of the fieriOd of its
reimbursement under the authhrity Confeire'd .
error! the Secretary cif* the Treasury; "¢¢y the .
acti July 4'841. •and of:April ifith.
1842:and' Nrarch9al, - 4842, Mid tint the•miSet
:lletr sung of oar retatibus nritbirleiito;menaied
„lpiktile,collisiop-withittat4A4M--ritYlete2Hoi ,
such a contingency,' it was - deineed'firodenTio I
reiain in the Treasury an amount unusually
at o r dinam.purposes. 1
A. w years
e Wo. our whole , ati .1 . I
g'o g : ofFle,lievolution th ''' a 4 f,• ,
I ith agtritain. was ex gui tl. . 2 1 11
jo
1
%,e 50101 ter4ie world the e a nage
,sPet... 4 cle Usk Opp and growing ze kel!itlio
tad - tally illischated every obligation. Sine
that time, the existing debt has been contract
ed; and small as it is. in coinpariton_with the.
Stadler burdens Of w6st"oifieie it ado iii, it Should
be extinguished at theearlier} practicable peril
od. Should the state Wine' cdUritrY permit.
and. especially. if our. foreign relations inter
pose uo obstacle. it is contemplated to, apply
all ;he 'monies in tbeVreasttiQ ait!theY 'accrue '
beyond what is required for the appropriation
'sy Ccrigress, to its liquidation. 'I eherish'the
hope of soon being able to congratulate the
country onLits recovering 'ones, 'snore Ilia lofty
position which- it so recently.occiipied... -Our
country. which exhibits to them - 134d the b'enie
:fits of self-government,- in. developing gall the
sources of national prosperity. owciCke man
kind the permanent example of a"nittirin,: free
from the bliglitinginfluenceiof•pdblic debt:
• The attention. of Congress is invited to the
impottance of making suitubler•;medifieations
andleductions-of the rates Of , duttei•iniposed
by our present tariff laws.' The object of im
posing duties on imports, should be to raise
revenue to pay the nececessaty expenses Of
' government. Congressinay, undoubtedly. in
the exercise of a'sound discretion, discriminate
in arranging the rates (if duty on different arti
cles : but the discriminations should be within
the revenue standard. and' bo made with the
view to raise money for the support of govern
ment. • .
•
It becomes important to understand distinct
ly what is meant• by is revetue'standard, the
maxiinum of which not be exceeded in
the rates of duty imposed. It is coneeded.and
experience proves; that duties 'may: be laid , rin
high as to diminish, or prohibit 'altOgether, the
importation of any given article, and thereby
lessen or destroy :the revenue 'which. 'at lower
rates, would be derived from its importation.
Such duties exceed the revenue rates, and are
not imposed to raise money for the support of
government.
If Congress levy a duty for revenue, of one
per cent: on a given article, it will produce a
given amount of money to the Treasury, and
will incidentally and necessarily afford protec
tion, or advantage; to the amount of one per
cent. to the home manufacturer of a - similar -or
like article, over the importer: If the duty be
raised to ten per cent., it will prodttce a greater
amount of money, and afford greeter protec
tion. If it still be raised to twenty, twenty
five, or thirty per cent., and if , es it is raised.
the revenue derived from it is found to be in-;
creased, the protection or advantage wilt else)
be increased; but if it be raised to • thirty-one
per cent., and it is found that the revenue pro
duced at that rate, is less than at thirty per cent.,
it ceases to be a revenue duty.
The precise point in the ascending scale of
duties, at which it is ascertained from experi
ence that the revenue is greatest, is the maxi
mum rate of duty which can be laid for the
bona fide purpose of collecting money for the
support of government. To raise the duties
higher than that point, and thereby diminish
the amount collected, is to levy them for pro
tection merely, and not for revenue. As long.
then, as Congress may gradually increase the
rate of duty on a given article, and the revenue
is increased by such increase of duty, they are
within the revenue standard.' -When they go
beyond that point, and, as they increase the
lilitiPP, the revenue is diminished or destroyed
the act ceases to have for its object the rai.,-ing
of money to support government, but is for
protection !merely.
It does not follow that Congress should levy
the highest duty on all articles of import, which
they will bear, within the revenue standard ;
(or such rates would probably produce a much
larger amount than the economical administra
tion of the government would require. Nor
does it follow that the duties on all articles
should be•at the same, or a horizontal rate.—
Some articles will bear a much higher revenue
duty than others. • Below the maximum oldie
revenue standard.•Congres.s may and ought to
discriminate in the rates Imposed, taking care
so ,to adjust them on different articles, as to pro
duce in the aggregate the amount which, when
added to the proceeds of sales of public lands,
may be needed to pay the economical expenses
of the government.
In levying a tariff of duties, Congress exer
cise the taxing power. and for"purpoes of re
venue may select the objects of taxation. They
may exempt certain articles altogether, and
permit their importation free of 'duty. On
others they may impose low duties. In these
classes sitinild he embraced such articles of ne
cessity as are in general Use, and especially
such as are consumed by the laborer and the
Nem as well as by the wealthy citizen. Care
-imuld he taken that all the gre4t interests of
the country. including manufactures, agricul
ture, commerce. navigation,, and the mechanic
arts, should. Is far as may be practicable, de
rive equal 'advantages from the incidental pio
tection which a just system of revenue duties
may .afford,: Taxation; direot or indirect, is a
burden, milt should be so imposed as to ope
rate as equally as may be, on all clasites, in the
•propertion of (heir ability to bear it. •
To make the tasirg, power an actual benefit
to one class, necessarily increases the burden
of the others beypi d their pr'opOrtion, and
would' be manifestly unjust. The terms 66 pro
tection to domestic industry," are 'of popular
import but they should apply• under a just
systent to all the various branches of industry
in our country. The farmer or planter who
toile yearly in his field's, is engaged in '6 do
mestic' industry,"' end teas much entitled, to
have his labor ..protected," . ,as &Manufactur
er, the man of commerce, the navigator, or the
mechanic, who are engiged also iii ",domestic:
industry . " in the ifyterent pursuits. Ilteinirit
labors of all clOsses constituni AIX sggregate of
the' 6. domestic industry,'' .iif„tho,9jniop„itud
they'are egnallyi entitled to this, ,naktnn7.ri 6.6 pry,- ..
tection." No one orgieM,Ferl lustiy..claim to
be the exclusive recipients of 6 6 Proteelion,",
which can, only be afforded by, increasing
burdens on the 6 6 domestic industry ":af, the
others. ..„
If theattviewe be correct, it remain . e to in;
q uire ltote''far the tariff eetinf is coneiq_
tent with theni. That MAY the provisioes
of that act are in violation of the cardinal prin.
eiples Here laid down, all Must concede. Tim
rates oftluty imposed by ion egme articles are
*Whiten., and on othere so . high as greatly
,to illththrsh ithportattons, and to produce a less,
'amount of revenue than be derived froth
'loWer '
rates. , - They Operate, as, “.protection
rnerely,o'
"to bi'anefl i of * ..deMeOlgintlastrY
ay_taum,.7:
otheiticaiteime
A.l3y4he initg*ticqmormjrtimiurlficp /11111102
gd - and - false values, and by the imposition of
specific duties. the injustice and inequality of
l c
i
ti,,
ct of4B42rin*trpr tic-noperations ou
ererti el4es afirl• re is, *seen liOd felt.,
1 1 • ni'of iliFylip - e , tietOmposnePty it
1 r; e - e orirati 1 f t -se 4nciplert, range
tiain '' e peflcen . tto--reot tl ' IWO, till red
pm! cell . „They are . ,prolt ito t t i rs op !rime us_
eir, partially so Writ - Fere. an bear most Ilea-.
oily on articles of common necessity, and but
, IVillyou _articles of luxitty, ,Itis framed that.
mielfilie greatest burden - which it imposes is
throwson labor and the.poorer classes who
are least able to bear it. while it protects capi
tal and-exempts the rich from paying theirjust
proportiog of the taxation required for, the sup
.port 'of gOvernMent. While it protects the
capital of tile wenlthy manufacturer. and in
-ireasel his picas; it does not benefit the opera
tives or laborers in his' employment, whose
wage&hare - not been increased brit.
' —Articles of prime rieeessity'or of coarse quali
ty 'and low' priee,-hsed by the Muses of the
people.'are. is niegy instances. stibjected by
it to heavy taxes, -while articles of finer
quality -and higher price, or of luxury', Which
can be used only by the opulent, are lightly
taxed. It imposes heavy and unjust burdens
on the farmer, the planter, the commercial man,
and those 'of all other pursuits except the capi
talist who had mnde his investments in rSann
factures. All'tlie great interests of the country
•are dot, :urgently as may be practicable, equally
protected by it. '" '
The government in. dietary knows no dis
tinction of persons, or classes. and should not
bestow upon some favors and privileges which
all others may not enjoy. It was the purpose
of its illuetrions founders to base the institutions
which they reared upon the great and unchang
ing principles 'of justice and equity, conscious
that'if administered in the spirit in which they
wereresanceived. they' would be felt only by
the benefits which they diffused, and would
l e- for themselves a defence in the hearts of
'abide, more powerful than standing ar
and all the 'means and appliances inven•
;sustain governments founded in injustice
ppressihn.
'leen
the
mien
ted
and j
e well known fact that the tariff act n
was passed by a majority of one vote 'in
enate, and two in the House of Repre en-
I•s, and that some of those who felt them-
1
rely s constrained under the peculiar circum
stances existing at the time. to vote in its - fa
vor, proclaimed its detects. and expressed their
determination to aid in its modification on the
first opportunity, affords strong and conclusive
evidence that it was not intended to be per
manent, and of the expediency and necessity of
its thorough revision.
In recommending to Congress a reduction of
the present rates 4)f duty, and a revision and
modification of the act n(18 , 12, i am far, from
entertaining opinions unfriendly to the manu
factures. .On the contrary. I desire to see
them prosperous, as far as they can tie so,
without imposing unequal burdens on other in
terests. The advantage under any system of
indirect taxation, even within the revenue stan
dard, must be in favor of the manufacturing
Interest ; and of this'no other interest will com
plain.
I recommend to Congress the abolition of the
minimum principle, or assumed, arbitrary, and
false values, and of specific duties, and the sub
stitution in their place of ad valorem duties, as
the fairest and most equitable indirect tax which
can he imposed. By the ad valorem principle,
all articles are taxed according to their cost or
value, and' those which are of inferior quality,
or of small cost, bear 4 only the just proportion
of the tax with those which are of superior
quality or greater cost. The articles consumed
b% all are taxed at the same rate.
A system of ad valorem revenue duties, with
proper discrimination and proper guards against
frauds in collecting them, it is not doubted, will
afford ample incidental advantages to the manu
facturers, and enable them to derive as great
profits as can be derived from any other regular
business. It is. believed that such a system,
'strictly' within the revenue standard, will place
the manufacturing, interests on a stable footing.
and inure to their permanent advantage; while
it will, as nearly as may be practicable, extend
to all the great interests of countiv the inciden
tal protection ' which can be afforded by our
revenue laws. Such a system, when once
firmly established, would be permanent, and
not be subject to the constant'complaints, agita
tiods, and changes which' must ever occur,
when duties are not laid for revenue, but for
the •• protection merely " of a favored interest.
In the deliberations of Congress on this sub
ject, it is hoped that a spirit of mutual conces
sion and compromise between conflicting in
terests ;pity prevail, and that the result of their
labors may be crowned with the happiest con
sequences.
By the constitution of the United States it is
provided, tnat " no money shall be drawn from
the treasury but in consequence of appropria
tions made by law." A public treasury was
undoubtedly contemplated and 'intended to be
created, in which the public money should be
kept from the period of collection until needed
for public uses. In the collection and disburse
ment of the public money, no agencies have
ever been employed by law, except such as
were, appointed by the government. directly
respeinsible to it, and under its control.
The safe keeping ofthe' public money should
be confided to a public treasury, created by
law; and'Under like responsibility and control.
It is not to he imagined that the framers of the
constitution could have intended that a treasure
should be treated as a place of deposit and safe
keeping of the public money which was irre
sponSible to the government. The first Con
gress under the constitution, by the Act of the
2d September; 1780. " to establish the Treas
ury Department," provided for the appoint
ment of a treasurer, and ?lade, it his duty "to
receive, and' keep the inoecys of the totted,
States,", and 1" it tilt :times to submit to - the
Secretary of the Treasury S and, the Comptroller
or either el thein, the inspection of the mon
eys
•'
„ e rn cationat _ or state,• could, pot have
been tittentled,ko used, as.a subetituic for the
treaeury spoken of in the constitution, as keep
er, of the public
money; is _manifest from the
fact, that at that time..there., was no national
bank, and but tliree.or four state banks of lim
ited capital existed in the country. Their em
niqylneil as depositories was al .first resorted,
to, to a limited,esient, huturiih tio.ayowed in
tention l of continuing thein permanently, in
place of the ,treasury Of the constitution.—
When they were afterwards from time to time
emp,l9 - yed, T ,,,il was from motives of supposed
convenience.. „
Our experience has shown that, when bank
ing pi:vocations, kaeg . .been, the keepers of the
public moneys, andtheen thereby made in ef
fect, the treasuryobe government can haye no
guarantee that it can
,enntaintul .the., use of-ite
own - monerfor int rpottes:. Thn late
Bank of the United States proved to be faith
less. The State banks Which were afterwards
ffrpinyed.wertslaithless. Buffle - Wir yelifs"
:ligoi. l iyitkitnikiip , as of:public Toney;in their
ik eeptpg. Vie injternenent was alkOst
,mii*rureyotrid the public cretin 7ly
, fiutis i
inipiw ,
iie4.l)ecahze of their inability oyindikipo
ok piiyoWdemand, to thetl.pulAtu_
tors, hithe only currenc' recognized by the
constitution.
Their failure occurred in a period of peace.
and great inconvenience ;and loss were suffer
ed by the public from it Had the country
been involved in a foreign war. that inconve
nience and loss would have been much great.
er, and might have resulted in extreme public
calathity. , The public money should not be
mingled with private funds of banks orindivid
nate, or be used for private purposes. When
iris placed in banks for safe keeping, it is in
effect loaned to therirwithout interest, and is
loa4ed by them upon interest to the borrowerii=
from them.
- The public money is converted into banking
capital, and is used' and loaned out for private
profit of bank stockholders ; , and when called
for, (as was the case in 1837.) it may be in
the pockets of the borroivers from the banks,
instead of being in the public treasury contem
plated by the constitution. Tile' framers of
the constition'could never have intended that
the money paid into the treasury should be
thus converted to privale . nse, and placed be
yond the control of the government.
Banks which'ho Id the public money are often
tempted, by a desire Of gain, to extend their
loans, increase the it circulation, and thus stiin..
ulate., if not produce a spirit of speculation.and
extravagance, w h ich -sooner or later 'must re
sult in ruin to thousands. If the public money
be not permitted to he thus used, but be kept
in the treasury and paid-out to the public cred
itors in gold and silver, the temptation atTurded
by its deposit, with banks to an undue expan
sion of their business, would be checked, w hile
the amount of the constitutional currency left
in circulation would be enlarged by its em, 7
ployment in the public collections and dis
bursements, arid the banks themselves would
in consequence, be found in a sater and sound
er condition.
At present State banks are employed as de
positories. Aim. without adequate regulation of
law, whereby the public money can be secured
against the casualities and excesses,revulsions,
suspensions and defalcations. to which, from
overissues, overtrading, and inordinate desire
fur gain, or other causes, they are constantly
exposed. The Secretary of the Treasury has
in all cases, when it was practicable, taken col
lateral security for the amount which they hold
by the pledge of stocks of the United States,
or such of the Shies as w ere in good credit.
Sonic of the deposit ban k have given this de
scription of security, and others have declined
to do so.
Entertaining the opinion that the separation
of the moneys of the government Irom banking
institutions is indispensable' for the safety of
the lunds of the government and the rights of
the people," I recommend to Congress that
provision be made by law for such separa
tion, and that a constitutional treasury be cre
ated for the safe keeping of the public money.
The constitutional - treasury recommended is
designed as a secure depository fur the ; public.
money, without any power to make loans or
discounts, or to issue any paper whatever as a
currency or circulation. I cannot doubt that
such a treasury as was contemplated by the
constitution, should be independent of all bank
ing corporations.
The money of the people should be kept in
the treasury'of the people created by-law, and
be in the custody of agents of the people-Iqm
sec by themselves, according to the - forms of
the constitution ; agents who are directly re
sponsible to the government, who are under
adequate bonds and oaths, and who are subject
to severe punishments for any embeizlement,
private use, or misapplication of the public
lunds, and for any failure in other respects to
perform their duties. •
. To say that the people or their government
are incompetent, or not to be trusted with the
custody of their money, in their own treasury,
provided by themselves, but must rely op the
presidents, cashiers, and stockholders of bank
ing corporations, not-appointed by thems nor
responsible to them, would be to concede that
they are incompetent for self-government.
In recommending the establishment of a
constitutional treasury, in. which the public
money shallbe kept. I desire that adequate pro
vision be made b ! , law for its safety, and that
all executive direction or control over it shall
be removed, except such as may be necessary
in directing its disbursement in pursuance of
appropriations made by law.
Under the our presettt land system, limiting
the minimum price at which the public lands
can he entered to one dollar and twenty-five
cents per acre, large quantities of lands of in
ferior quality remain unsold, because they will
not command that price. From the records
of the General Land Office it appears that, of
the public lands 'remaining unsiild in the sev
eral States and Territories in which they are
situated, thirty-nine Millions one hundred -and
five thousand five hundred and seventy-seven
acres have been in the market, subject to entry
more than twenty years ; forty-Jiine millions
six hundred and forty-four acres for more than
fifteen years : seveniy -three millions seventy
four thousand and six hundred acres fur more
than ten years; and one hundred and six mil
lions one hundred anti seventy six thousand
nine hundred and sixty-one acres: for more
than five rears.
Much the largest portion of these lands will
continue to be unsaleable at the miiiimum
price at which they are permitted to be sold,
so long as large territories of lands from which
the more 'valuable portions have not been se
lected are annually- brimght into market by the
goverunient With the view to the sale and
settlement of these inferior land's, I recommend
that the price be graduated and reduced below
the present, minimum rate, confining the sales
at the reduced prices to settlers and cultivators
in limited quantities.
If graduated and reduced in price for a lim
ited term to one dollar per acre, and after the
expiration ofthat period for a second and third
term. to lower rates, a larger portion of these
lands would be purchased. and many worthy
citiz,ens,,,;wlio are unable to pay. higher rates,
could purchase homes for themselves and their
homilies,
By adopting the policy of graduation and
reduction of price, these inferior lands will Le
sold-for, ,their real' value, while the States in
which they lie will he freed from the incouve.
nience, if not, the injustice, to which they are
sohjectedein.consequence of the United States
cootinuing l to own large quantities of public
lands within their borders; not liable to taxa
tion for the support of their local governatect.
• I recommend The coalintisifee (Witte
of granting pre-emption!), in its moat l i b e ' r
tent, to all those who have settled, or
treriaTferirdgle on the public lands, taheit
ifirleyed l or insurveyed, to which th e he .
gild mayl,have been extinguished at then:,
inttlemetit.. It has been found by ex periti
that in egnsequence. of combinations of
- oligsets•itilil other causes, a very small q tit
ty of the public lands. when sold at p ut
auction, commands a higher price tha n IL ,
minituum.rate eitablished by law. .The i it
tiers' on the public laMis are, however, t c
rarely able to secure thnir homes and ittipte t l
menta at the public sales at. that rate ; b ee . 4s .
these combinations. by means of the e ep i tt
they command, and superior ability. 10 p t.
chase, render it impossible for the settlers
compete with them itl.tbe market.—
By putting down all competition, these,
binationa or capitalisurand epeculatore art
ally enabled to purchase the lands, incite,
the improvements of the settlers, at the ta ,
mum price of the government, and either
them out of their hOmmi, or eltort-frote t t nt
according to , their ability to pay, do u bt,
quadruple the amount paid for them to
government. It is to the enterprise and p et
severance of the hardy pioneers of the IVe r ,
who penetrate the wilderness with their farm
lies, suffer the dangers, the privations a n d
hardships attending the settlement of i
country, and prepare the way for the bod e of
emigrants who,in the course of a few yeoma n .
ally follow them, that we are, in a r m ..
degree, indebted for the rapid extension std
aggrandizement of our country. -
Experience has proved that no portion c i t.,
our population are more patriotic than the tin.
dy and brave - men of the frontier, Or more Fr i .:
dy to obey the call of their Country, and to dr.
fend her rights and her honor whenever and '
by whatever enemy assailed. They shdold
be protected from the grasping speculator, and
secured, at the minimum price of the pulite
lands in the humble homes which they h am
improved their labor. With this end in vies,
all vexations or unnecessary restrictions impos
ed upon them by the existing pre-emmionlas i
should be repealed or modified. It is the true Ya
policy of the government to afford facilities in
its citizens to become the owners of small per.
none of our vast public domain at low and
moderate prices.
The present system of managing the miner.
al lands of the 'United States is believed to bi •. 7 4
radically defective. More than a million of
acres of the public lands, - supposed to contain
lead and other minerals, have been reserved
from sale, and numerous leases upon them
have been granted to individuals upon a still
lated rent. The system of granting leases ha •
proved to be not only unprofitable to the got.
ernmetit but unsatisfactory to the citizens who
have gore upon the lands, and must, if violin.
lied, lay the foundation of much future diffieul•
ty between the government and the lessees.
According to the official records, the amount ~
of rents received by the government for the
years 1841, 1842, 1843, and 1844. was $5,.
35d 74. while the expenses of the system co.
ring the same period, including salaries of ts
prrintendents, agents, clerks and incidental es
penses, were $26,111 11—the income being
less than one fourth of the expenses. To this
pecuniary loss may be added to the injury sus .
tamed by the public, in consequence of the de
tnu nun
./
of timber, and the careless and waste. -.
ful manner of working the mines.
The system has given rise to much litiga
tion between the United States and individual •
citizens, producing irritation and excitement
in the mineral region, and involving the gov
ernment in heavy additional expenditures. It
is believed that similar losses and embarrass
ments will continue to occur, while the pres
ent system of leasing these lands remains un
changed. These lands are now under the sti.
.pentitendence and care of the War Department
with the ordinary duties of which they have
no proper or natural connection.
1 recommend to repeal of the present system
and that these lands be placed under thew
perintendence and management.of the General
Land office, as other public lands, and be
brought into market and sold upon such term
as Congress in their wisdom may prescribe,
reserving to the government an equitable c ps
centage of the gross ainount of mineral product
and that the premption principle be extended
to resident miners and settlers upon them, It
the minimum price which may be established
by Congress.
I refer yuu to
.the accompanying report of
the Secretary of am. for inforination respect
ing the present situation of the army,
.and its
operations during the past year; the state of
our defences.; the condition of the Public
works; and our relations with the various In
dian tribes within our limits or upon our herd
ers. I invite your attention to the suggestion.
contairied in that report, in relation to these
prominent objects of national interest. '
W hen orders were given during the -Mt
summer for concentrating, a military force on
the western frontier of Texas, our troops were
widely dispersed, and in small detachments.
occupt_ing posts. remote from each other.—
The prompt and expeditious manner in which
an army, embracing:, more than half our peace
establishment, was drawn together on an em
ergenes so sudden, reflects great credit on the
tinkers who were intrusted with the exeunt's
of these orders, as well -as upon the .discipline
of the army itself.
'l'n be in Strength to protect and defend the
people and territory of Texas, in the event
Mexico should commence hostilities, or evade
her territories with a large . army, which she
threatened, I authorized the general assigned
to the command of the army of occupation to
niake requeitions for additional forces from
several of the States nearest the Texan territo.
ry, and which could most expeditiously fin , '
nish them, if in-his opir.ion, a larger force than
that under his command, and the auxiliary aid
which, under like circumstances, he was au
. thorized to receive from Texas, should be re
quired. contingency upon which the
exerciseof authority depended, has not ciecurnt
The cireumstance's under which two com
panies of State artillery from the city of New
Orleans were sent into Texas. and mustered
into the service of the United States..are folly
stated in the report of the Secretary of War. I
recommend to Congress that provision he
made for the payment of tt4se troops, as well
as a small number of Texan volunteers, whoa
the commanding general, thought it necessary
to receive or muster Into our service.
During the last summer; the first regiment of
dramions made extensive excursions through the
Indiau country ott our borders., a part of them
advancing nearly to the possessions.of the BO'
son's Bay Comp-my in the north, and a pang_
far ale, the South Paso of the Rocky Mountains , '
and the head waters of the tributary stream! of
the Colorado of the west. The exhibition of
Ibis military furce-amoug the Latham tribes in