I have sworn upon the Altar of God, eternal lioBtlllty to every form oV Tyranny over the Mind of Man." Thomas Jefferson.
MINTED AND, PUBLISHED BY II. WEBB.
Volume TLV.
BIjOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY, FA. SATITRBAY, DECEMBER 19, 1840. Number 34.
SKSS2332
OFFICE OF THE DEMOCRAT,
Oprosrrx St. Paul's Chuucii, Main-st.
gBBwretiwsig
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From the President of the United Slate,
to the two Houses of Cougress, at the
commencement of Second Session of the
Twenty-Sixth Congress.
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate
and House of Representatives:
Our devout gratitudo is due to the Su
preme Ueing for having graciously contin
ued to our beloved country, through tho vi
cissitude ol another year, tho invaluable
blessings of health, plenty, and peace.
Seldom hai this favored land been so gen
erally exomptcd from the ravages of disease,
or the labor of tho husbandman more amply
tewarded; and never'beforo have our rela
tions with other countries been placed on a
more favorable basis than that which they
so happily occupy at this critical conjecture
in the affairs of the world. A rigid and
perscveting abstinence front all interference
with domestic aud political relations of oth
er States, alike due to tho genius and dis
tinctive character of our Government and to
the principles bv which it is directed; a
faithful obsorvanco, in the management of
our foreign relations, of the practice of
speaking plainly, dealing justly, and requir
ing truth aud justice in return, as the best
conservatives of the poace of nations; a strict
impartiality in our manifestations ol friend
ship, in the commercial privileges we con
cede, and those we require Irom others:
these, acompanied by a disposition as prompt
to maintain, m emergency, our own right
as we are from principle averse- to the inva
sion of those of others, have given to our
country and Government a standing in the
preat family ol nations, ol which we have
just cause to bo proud, and the advantages
of which are experienced by our citizens
throughout evory portion ol the earlh to
which their enterprising and adventurous
spirit may carry them. Few, if any, re
main insensible to the value of our friend
ship, or ignorant of the terms on which it
can be acquired, and by which it can alone
bo preseived.
A series of questions of long standing,
difficult in their adjustment, and important
in their consequences, in which tho rights
of our citizens and tho honor of tho coun
try were deeply involved, have, in the
course of a few years, (the most of them
during the successful administration of my
immedialu predecessor,) been brought to a
satisfactory conclusion; and the most impor
tant of those remaining are, I am happy to
believe, in a fair way of being speedily and
satisfactorily adjusted.
With all tho Powers of tho world our re
lations are those of honorable peace. Since
your adjournment, nothing serious has oc
curred to interrupt or threaten this desira
ble harmony. If clouds have loweied above
the other hemisphere, they have not cast
their portentous shadows upon our happy
shores. Bound by no entangling alliances,
yet linked by a common nature and interest
with the other nations of mankind, our as
pirations are for the preservation of peace,
in whoso solid and civilizing triumphs all
may participate with a gunorous emulation.
Yu'l it behooves us to bo prepared for any
event, and to be always really to maintain
those just and enlightened principles of na'
tional intercourse, for which this Govern
ment lias ever contended. In the shock of
contending empires, it is only by assuming
a resolute bearing, and clothing themselves
with defensive armor, that neutral nations
can maintain their independent riglits.
Tho excitements which grew out of the
the tenitorial controversy between tho Uni
ted States and Great Britain having in a
great measure subsided, it is hoped that a
fayorablu period is approaching for its final
settlement, lloth Governments must now
be convinced of the dangers with which tho
question is fraught; and it must be their de
sire, as it is their interest, that this perpet
ual cause of irritation should ba removed
as speedily as practicable. In my last an
nual message you wore informed that the
proposition for a commission of exploration
and survoy promised by Great Britain had
been received, and that a counterproject, in
cluding also a provision lor tho certain and
final adjustment of limits in dispute, was
then bclorc the uritish Government for its
consideration. The answer of that Gov
mcnt, accompanied by additional proposi
tions of its own, was received, through its
minister here, since your separation. These
were promptly considered; such as were
deemed correct in principle, and consistent
with a due regard to the just rights of the
United States and of the State of Maine,
concurred in; and tho reasons for d.ssentine
irom ino resinuc,-wiii) nn auuittonat sugges
tion on our part, communicated by the Sec
retary ol btate to M r. v ox. 1 hat minister.
not feeling himself sufficiently instructed
upon some of tho points raised in tho dis
cussion, felt it to be his dutv to refer tho
matter to hi own Government for its fur-!
thcr decision. Having now been for some
time under its advisement, a speedy answer
may be conudentlv expected. From the
character of tho points still in difference,
and the undoubted disposition of both par
ties to tiring the matter to an early conclu
sion, 1 look with entire confidence to a
prompt and satisfactory termination to tho
negotiation. Threo commissioners were
appointed shortly after the adjournment of
Congress, under the act of the last session
providing for the exploration and survey of
the line whicV. separates the states m Maine
and New Hampshire fiom the British Prov
inces; tliey have beon actively employed
until their-progress's was interrupted by the
inclemency of the season, and will -resume
their labors as soon is practicable in the en
suing year.
It is understood that their respective ex
animations will throw new light upon the
subject in controversy, and serve to remove
any erroneous impressions which oiay have
been made elsewhere prejudicial to the
rights of the United States. It was, among
other reasons, with a view of preventing
the embarrassments which, in our peculiar
system ol government, impede aud compli
cato negotiations involving the territorial
rights of a State, that I thought it my duly,
as you have been informed on a previous
occasion, to propose to the British Govern
menl. through its minister at Washington-
that early steps should be taken to adjust
the points ol diliercnce on the line of boun
dary from the entrance of Lako Superior to
the most northwestern point of the
Lake of tho Woods, by the arbitration
pf a friendly Power, in conformity with the
seventh article of the treaty of Ghent. No
answerlias yet been returner) by the British
Government to this proposition.
With Austria, France, Prussia, Russia,
and tho remaining Powers of Europe, I am
happy to inform you our relations continue
to bo of the most friendly character. With
Belgium, a treaty of commerce and naviga
tion, based upon liberal principles of recip
rocity and equality, was concluded in March
last, and, having been ratified by tho Belgi
an Government, will bo duly laid before the
Senate. It is a subject of congratulation
that it provides lor the satisfactory adjust
ment of a long-standing question of contro
versy; thus removing the only obstacle
which couid obstruct the friendly and mutu
ally advantageous intercourse between the
two nations. A messenger has been des
patched with the Hanoverian treaty to Ber
lin, where, according to stipulation, the rat
ifications arc to be exchanged. I am happy
to announce to you that, after many delays
aud difficulties, a treaty of coinmorco and
navigation, between the United States and
Portugal, was concluded and signed at Lis
bon, on the 2Gth of August last, by the plen
ipotentiaries of the two Governments. Its
stipulations arc founded upon those princi
ples of mutual liberality and advantage
which the United States have always
sought to make the basis of their intercourse
with foreign Powers, and it is hoped they
will tend to foster and strengthen tho com
mercial intercourse of the two countries.
Under tho approbation of the last session
uf Congress,, au agent has been sent-io Ger
many, for the purpose of promoting the in
terests of our tobacco-trade.
Tho commissioners appointed tinder the
convention for the adjustment of claims of
citizens of the United Slates upon Mexico
havirjg met and organized at Washington,
in August last, the papers in the possession
of the Government, relating to those claims
were communicated to the Board. The
claims not embraced by that convention arc
now the subject of negotiation between the
two Governments, through the medium of
our minister at Mexico.
Nothing has occurred to distuib the har
mony of our relations with the different
Governments of South America. I regret,
however, to be obliged to inform you that
the claims of our citizens upon the late Re
public of Columbia have not yet been satis-
fied by the separata Governments into
which it has been resolved.
The charged affairs of Brazil having ex
pressed the intention of his Government not
to prolong the treaty ol 1828. it will cease
to be obligatory upon cither party on the
I2lh day ol December, 1841, when the ex
tensive commercial intercourse between the
United States and that vast empire will no
longer be regulated bv express stipulations.
It affords me pleasure to communicate to
you that the Government of Chili has enter
ed into an agreement to indemnify the clai
mants in the case of the Macedonian, for
American property seized in 1810; and to
add, that information has also been ieceivcd
whiclrjuslifics the" hope tif an narly adjust
ment of the remaining claims upon that Go
vernment. The commissioners appointed in pursu
ance of the convention between the United
Slates and Texas, for marking the bounda
ry between them, have, according to tho
last rr.puit received from our commissioner,
surveyed nun established tho whole- extent
ol the boundary north along the western
bank of the Sabine river, from its entrance
into the Gulf of Mexico to the thirty-second
decree of north latitude. The commission
adjourned on the 10th of June last, to rets
eemblo on the 1st of November, for the
purpose uf establishing accurately the inter
section of the thirty-second degree of lati
tude with the western bank ot tho balune,
and meridian line thence to Red river. It
js presumed that the work will be concluded
in the present season
The present sound condition of their ft
nances, und the success with which embar
rassments in regard to them, at times appa
rcnlly insurtnountnble.have been overcome
are matters upon which the people and Go
vernment of the United States may well
congratulate thcmsolvits. An overflowing
treasury, howe-er it may ba regarded as au
evidence of public prosperty,is seldom con
ducivc to the permanent welfare of any pco
ple;and expeuence has demonstrated its in
compatibility with the (allilary action of po
litical institutions like tioac uf tho United
States, Our safest re'.ianen for financial
efficiency and independence has, on the
contrary, been found to consist in ample re
souices unencumbered with debt, aud,
in
this respect, the Federal Government occu
pies a singularly fortunate and truly t eiivia
ble position. 1 " ' "' 1 '
When I entered upon the discharge of ray
official duties in March, 1837. the act fo
distribution ol the surplus revenue was in
course of rapid execution. Nearly twenty
eight millions of dollars of the publ c mo
neys, were, in pursuance of its provisions
deposited with the States 'in tho months
January, April, and July, of that year.
May there occurred a general suspension o
specie payments by the banks, including,
with very few exceptions, those in which
the public moneys wcro deposited, and upon
whoso fidelity the Government had unfortu
nately niado itself dependent for the reven
lies which had been collected Irom the pen
pie, and were indispensable to the public
service. 1 his su; pension, and tho excess
os in banking and commerce out of which
it arose, and which were greatly aggravated
by its concurrence, marie, to a great extent
unavailable the principal part of the public
money then on hand; uispemled the collec
tion of many millions accruing on merchants
bonds;and greatly reduced the revenue aris
ing from customs and the public lands.
These effects have continued to operate, in
various degrees, to the present period; -and
in addition to the decrease in the revenuo
thus produced, two and a half millions of
duties have been relinquished by two bien
nial reductions under the act of 1833, and
probably as much more upon tho importation
of iron for railroads, by special legislation.
Whilst such has been our condition for
the last four years in rolation to revenue, we
have, during the same period, been subject
ed to an unavoidable continuace of large
extraordinary expenses necessarily growing
out of past transactions, and which could
not he immediately arrested without great
prejudice to the public interest. Of these,
the charge upon the Treasury, in conse
quence uf the Cherokee treaty alone, with
out adverting to others arising out of Indian
treaties, has already exceeded five millions
of dollars; that forthe prosecution of mea
sures for the removal of the Sem'molo Indi
ans, which were found in progress, has been
nearly fourteen millinns;and the public buil
dings have required the unusual sum of
nearly three millions.
It affords me, however great pleasure to
be able to say that, from the commencement
of this period to the present day, every de
mand upon the Government, at home or a
broad, has. been promptly met. This has
been dune, not only without creating a per
manent debt, or a resort to additional taxa
tion in any form, but in the midst of a stea
dily pregressive reduction of existing bur
dens upon tho people, leaviug still a consid
erable balance of avaiUble funds which will
remain in the Treasury at the end of tho
year. Tho small amount of Treasury notes,
not exceeding four and a half millions of
dollars, still' outstanding, and less by twenty
three millions than the United States have
in deposite with the Slates is. composed of
such only as are not yot due, oi have not
been presented for payment. They may
be redeemed out of the accruing revenue, if
tho expenditures do not exceed the amount
within which they mar, n is thought, be
ept without prejudice to the public interest
and thv icvciiue shall prove to be as large
as may justly be anticipated.
Among the rellcctions arisine from the
contemplation of theso circuetanccs, one,
not the least gratifying, is the consciousness
that the uovernment had the resolution aud
ability to adhere, in every "emergency, to
the sacred obligations of law; to execute all
its contracts according to the requirements
of the constitution: aud thus to present.
when most needed; a iallvinsr-noint bv
which the business of tho whole country
might he brought hack to a sale and unva
rying standard a result vitally important
as well to the interests as to the morals of
the people. There can surely now bo no
difference of opinion in regard to the incal
culable evils that would bavo arisen if the
Government, at that critical moment, had
suffered itself to be deterred from upholding
tho only true standard ol value, cither by
the pressuro of adverse circumstances or
the virulence of unmerited denunciation.
The manner in which the people sustained
the performance of this duly was highly
honorable to their lortttude and patriotism.
It cannot fail to stimulate their agents to ad
here, under all circumstances, to the lino of
dutv; and to satisfy them of the safety with
which a course really right, and demanded
by a financial crisis, may, in a community
like ours, be pursued, however apparently
severe its immediate operation.
1 he policy of the Federal Government,
in extinguishing as rapidly as possible, the
natioual debt, and, subsequently, in resist
mg every temptation to create a new one,
deserves to he regarded in the same favora
ble light. Among the many objections to a
national debt, the certain tendency of pub
lic securities to concentrate ultimately in tho
coffers of foreign stockholders, is one which
is every day gaining strength. Already have
the resources ol many ot tho Slates, and
the luture industry ot their citizens, been
indefinitey mortgaged to tho subjects of
European Governments, to the amount of
twelve millions annually, to pay the con
statu accruing interest on borrowed money
a sum exceeding halt the ordinary reve
nue of the whole United Stales. The pre
text which this relation affords to foreigners
to scrutinize the management of our domes
tic affairs, if not actually to intermeddle with
them, presents a subject for earnest atten
tion, not to say of serious alarm. Fortu
nately, thel-ederal Government, with the
exception of an obligation entered into in
behalf of tho District of Columbia, which"
must soon be discharged, is wholly exempt
Irom any such embarrassment. It is also as
is believed, the only Government which,
having Uilly and faithfully paid all its cred
itors, has also relieved itself entirely from
debt. To maintain a distinction so desira
ble, and so honorable to our natioual cha
racter, should be au object of earnest solici
tude. Never should a free people, if it be
possble to avoid it, expose themselves to the
necessity of having to treat of the peace, the
honor, or the safety of the Republic, with
the Governments of foreign creditors, who
however well disposed they may be to cul
tivate with us in general friendly relations,
are nevertheless, by the law of their own
condition, made hostile to tho success and
permanency of political institutions lil eours.
Another objection, scarcely less formidable
to the commencement of a new debt, is its
inevitable tendency to increase in magnitude
and to foster nrtional extravagance.
He has been an unprofitable observer of
events, who needs at this day to be admon
ished of tho difficulties which a Govern
ment, habitually dependent on loans to sus
tain its ordinary expenditures, has to en
counter in resisting tho influences constant
ly exerted in favor of additional loans; by
capitalists, who enrich themselves by Go
vernment securities for amounts much ex
ceeding the money thoy actually advance
a prolific source of individual aggrandize
ment in all borrowing countries; by stock
holders; who seek their gains in the rise
and fall of public stocks; and by the selfish
importunities of applicants for appropria
tions for works avowedly for theaccommo-
dation of the public, but the real objects of
which are, too frequently, the advancement
of private interests. Tho known necessity
which so many of the States will bo under i
to impose taxes for the payment of the in
terest on their debts, furnishes an addirional
and very cogent reason why the Federal
Government should refrain from creating a
national debt, by which tho people would
be exposed to double taxation for a similar
object. We possess within ourselves am
ple resources for every emergency; and we
aiay be quite sure that our citizens; in no
future exigency will be unwilling to supply
the .Government with all the means asked
for the defence of the country. In time of
peace there can, at all events, bo no justifi
cation for the creation of a permanent debt
by the Federal Government. Its limited
range of constitutional duties may certainly
under such circttraoiances, be performed
without such a resort. It has, it is seen
been avoided dining four years of greater
fiscal difficulties than have oxisted in a sim
ilar period since the adoption of tho consti
tution, and ono also remarkable for the oc
currence of extraordinary causes of expendi
tures. But to accomplish so desirablo an object,
two things are indispensable : first, that the
action of tho Federal Governmet be kept
within the boundaries prescribed by its foun
ders; and, secondly, that all appropriations
lor oujecis aumuieu to be constitutional, and
the expenditure of them also, be subjected
to a standard of rigid but well-considered
and practical economy. The first depend
chiefly or. the people themselves, the opin
ions they form of the true conslructien of
tho constitution, and the confidence they
repose in the political sentiments of those
they select as their representatives in tho
Federal Legislature; the second rests upon
ine uuemy wun wnicn their more lmmeui-
ate representatives, and other public func
tionaries, discharge the trusts committed to
them. 1 he duty of economizing the ex
penses of tho public service is admitted on
all hands; yet there are few subjects upon
wnicn mere exists a wiuer diilerence of o
pinion than is constantly manifested in re
gard to the fidility with which that duty is
dischaiged. Neither diversity of sentiment,
nor even mutual recriminations, upon' a
point in respect to which the yuilic mind
is so jusuy sensitive, can well tie entirety
avoided; and least so at periods of great po
litical excitement. An intelligent people,
however, seldom fail to strive, in the cad,
at correct cbnclusions in such a matter.
Practical economy in the management of
public affairs can have no adverse influence
to contend with more poweuful than a largo
surplus revenue; and the unusually large
appropriations for 1837 may, without doubt,
independently of the extraordinary requisi
tions for tlip public service growing out of
the state of Indian reation, bo, in no incon
siderable degree, traced to this source.
Tho sudden and rapid distribution of ttio
largo surplus then in the Treasury, and tho
equally sudden and unprecedently severe
revulsion in the commerce and business of
the country, pointing with unerring certain
ty to a great and prfltracted reduction of tho
revenue, strengthened" the proprioty of the
earliest practicable reduction of the public
expenditures.
But, to change a system operation upon
so large a surface, and applicable to such
numerous and diversified intorests and ob
jects, was more than tho work of a day.
The attention of every department of the
Government was immediately, and in good
faith, directed to that end; and has been so
continued to tho present 'liomenl. The es
timates and appropriations for tie year 1838
(tho first over which I had any control)'wora
somewhat diminished. Tho expenditures
of 1830 were reduced six millions of dol
lars. Those of 1840, exclusive of dis
bursements for public debt and trust claims,
will probably not exceed twenty-two and a
half millions; being between two and threa
millions less than those of 1837. Nor has
it been found necessary, in order to produco
this result, to resort to tho power conferred
by Congrcss.of postponing certain classes of
the public works, except by deferring ex
penditures for n short period upon a limited
portion of them; and which postponement
terminated some time since, at thn moment
the Treasury Department, by further re
ceipts from the indebted banks, became ful
ly assured of its ability to meet them with
out prejudice to the public service in other
respects. Causes arc in operation which
will, it is believed, justify a still furthor re
duction, without injury to any important
national interest. Tho expenses of sus
taining the troops employed in Florida have
been gradually and greatly reduced, through
the persevering efforts ef the War Depart
ment; and a rcasonablo hope may bu entor
lained that the necessity for military opera
tions in that quarter wjU soon cease. Thn
removal of the Indians from within our set
tled borders is nearly completed. The pen
sion list, one of the heaviest chargos upon
the Treasury, is rapidly diminishing bv
death. The most costly of our public
buildidgs are either finished, or nearly so;
and we may, I think, safely promise our
selves a continued exemption- from border
difficulties.
Tho available balance in the Treasnry on
the 1st of January next is estimated at ono
million and a half of dollars. This sum,
with tho expected receipts from all sourcei
V