I!
"
8
0,03,6 E OF THp PRESIDENT OF, THE
ffi,*TATES, TO THE TWO HOUSES
'ONGRESS, AT,,THE COMMENCE=
' MENT.OFAIIH, , ,sEcoiND.sEssIOk OF
THE TWENTY-SIXTH pONGAE§S
relieve-citizens of the Senate .
and House Of Representatives: •‘:. •
Oar devout gratitude is•due to.the SuPreine Be
' Ing for having gracionslycontinued to : our beloved
country, through, the iticissittples of, another year,
the invaluable blesaings of health', plenty and Peace.
Seldom has this favored land been so generally ex
empted trom . the ravages of disease, or the 'labor
of: husbandman more amply rewarded ; and
• . never before have our iikitiPris - ivith -Other -coup-
• tries been:placed on a more . favorable basis than
. that which they:so happily occupy - at `'this critical
conjuncture in the affairs of the world._ A ' rigid
and•persevering abstinence from: all interference
with the- domestie•and political• relations of _other
States, alike due to the genius and distinctive cha
" 'raeter of our government and to the principles by
which ii is directed ; a faithful obServance, tri the
`management of 9111' foreign relatiOns, of the,prac
•_ of, speaking.plainly, dealing justly, and requi
ring fruiliitildf justice in return, as - ffic - best•conw
• servatives . of the peace of nations . ; -a strict impar
• tialiky in our manifestations of frieritiship,ln /the
commercial privileges we concede, and- these We
require from others ; these, accompanied by a dis
-------••liasition.as.prompt to, maintain, inovery•emergen
. — cy,• our own' rights ; as
"AO the' invasion of those of others, have, given to
our,country'and government a standing in the
• - • - • - •" — merit irtraily of naTio - ns, -- of which.- we have -just
• • cause, to be proud, and the advantages of which
are experienced 'by our citizens throughout every
• portion of the earth to which their' enterprising
' and adventurous spirit may carry them. Few, if
• any, remain insensible - to the value• of out fijend- '
ship, or ignorant pf_the_._terma.on tvhich it efin_be"
acquired, and by which At can alone be preserved.
• A-series of questioiii of long standing, difficult
---. 4n-theiradjustment, and.-important - in - their conse
quences, in which thO rights of our citizens and
• the honor of the country wore deeply involved,
have, in the course of a few years, (the roost of
- • them during the-successful administration of my
inireediat&predCcessor,) been brought to a satisfac,-
tory eonelnsion • :and the most important of iliose
' • remaining are, I am happy to say, in a fairway of
• being speedily and satisfactorily - lidjusfed.
With all the Po - Wers . of the world, our relations
• are-those& honoiable peace. Since your adjourn
' ment;nothing serious,bas occurred to interrupt or
threaten - this - desirable-harmony.--If-elouds-have•
lowered above the other hemisphere, they have-not
cast their - portentious el adqws upon our )lapiiy_
, shot*. Bound by no• entangling • alliances, Vet
• '"linked - byn nominon nature and.' interest mith . tho
"'other nations of mankind, our aspirations arc TOr
the preservation of peace, in whose solid and civi
lizing. triumphs all may participate with a genet , .
ous - emulation. Yet it behooves us to be prepared i
-for any event, and 'to be always ready to Maintain
just imd .enlightened principles of national
intercourse, - for • which ilifiz 7 government-lESTOWF
- contended. In the shock of contending empires, -
it is only. by • assuming il.resototo bearing, and
clothingithem . selizes with defensive' arthor,lhat neu
• nations can Maintain thcir - independeht rights._
The _excitement which,grew out of the territo
_,*---rial_controversy "between. the-United' States-and
- irra greati -s
neasureubsidCd,
' it is hoped.that afavorable period is approaching
- - for its final settlement. --- Both ..
now be convinced.of the dangers with which the.
- question is fraught; audit must be their desire, as .
• . it is their interest, that this perpetual cause of Irri
-:---tation shouldheremoved as - speedily as practicable..
- In my *last annual messige you were informed that
. . the proposition for a commission of exploration
and survey promised by' Gieat Britain, had teen
received, and that a counter-project, including also
- - a provision for. the eerMin and final adjustment of
. the limits in • dispute, , was then before the British
. Government for its consideration. -
The - answer, of that Government, accompanied
' by rulditional propositions of its own, was received
through, its minister here since your separation.—
These were promptly considered; such as were
deemed correct m principle, and consistent with a
due regard to the just rightsof the I.inited States,
and of the state of Maine, concurred in; "and the'
reasons for dissenting front the residue, with an
additional suggestion on our part, - . communicated
by Secretary , of State to Mr Fox. That min
. ister, not feeling himself sufficiently instructed up
on some of the points raisedln the discussion,folt
it to be his duty to refer the matter to his own
Government for its final decision. Having now
• • been for some time under its advisement, a speedy
•
answer may be confidently 'expected. From the
character of the points still in
-difference, and the
undoubted disposition of both parties to bring the
; matter to an early . conclusion , I look with entire
• - : .---cenfidence.to a_prompt and satisfactory. termination
..
of the negotiation. Three cothmissioncrs were
• 'appointed shortly after the adjournment of Con
gress, under the act of• the last
. seseion, providing
. for the exploration and surveyof the line which
separates the states of Maine_ . and New Hemp
• - shire from the British Provinces; they have been
. actively employed 'until their progress was inter
rupted by thir inclemency of the season,. and will
resume . their labors as soon as practicable in the
ensuing year. It is understood that their respective
examinations *ill throw new lights upon the sub
----,--luctin,controversyTtaiffserve-to-rerntrva-timr err.-
. neous impressions which may have been made
' 'elsewhere-prejudicial-to the-United : Statesr-It-was ;
among other reasons, withLa view of preventing
, the embarrassments which, in onr:peculiar system
of govarriment,' impede and ,complicate negotia
- - tions 'involving the territorial rights of a state, that
lihought it'mY duty, as you nave been informed,
on a previous occasion, to propose to the . British
Government, through its Minister at Washington,.
that early steps should be taken to adjust the points
of; difference on the line of boundary from the en
- trance' of Lake Superior to the most northwestern
"point of the Lake of the Woods, by the arbitration
of .a friendly Powcr,in conformity_with the seventh.
. article of the treaty of Ghent. No answer has
yet been returned, by the British government to
- '
With Austria, FranCe, Prussia, Russia, and the
„ remaining,Powers of. Europe, I t em happy' to in
.._ form-ron,oar...relations_centinue._4be_oLtho_mest_
- friendly character. With Belgium, 0 treaty of conk
merco and navigation, based upon liberal princi
ples of reciprocity and equality, was concluded 'in
March last, and, having been -ratified by the Bel
gian government, will be duly laid before the Sen
a subject bf congratulation that it pro- 1
vides for the Satisfactory adjustment of . a long',
ef controversy ; .I..buts removing
the only ebidacle which could:cibstritet - the - friandly
...ands mutually advantageous, intercourse bitween
the two. nation's: . . •
A tniseengerhee been \despatched with the Ha
noVeriarlreaty-teßeigni-whereisccording-to-sti-
rli7thirratifications - are tole-exchanged-nun.
--happy to~annaunce to you that;_after,manydejapLi
• • and difficuities, a trenty of
.commerce aruLnaviga-,
• . ilie•United States and Portugal;wal
. conolAile4,4nd signed at' Lisbon,. on the 26th of
August 1414,:tiy -the vienipoientiaries , of "the two
governments: Ate Stipulations • are founded upon
' 0 ;those , prirteiptiitt Of matte' liberality and advantage
-which theTniteffStates - lave' always 'fought to
make the basis: of their intercourse with foreign
rowers,,toia kis htiped they will tend to faster and
stieitigth*thilintercourseof. - thiSIWO
- -countries.
• •
,
li#4o,Jie,ftpproppation the. : last session of
• Ccitignani - anigent his been sent to Germany, for.
the rrixiiie',ollo:*tipg the interests of our to.
' • •
The do,tnnsseionere' l apfminbisl under the con.,
. • 'ventionf
_or ti.)o..,oljp4tme , qt of.clainu**
of Nene of
'the tinited'•Statee - nia4',Weiieblittying met and
organizer at ' 1090;' 111 '.' , .tingist:'last, th e , t ia .
thOliostieSSion of ; pe:GovernMent; relating
to thosit.claims; *ere Ominitnieeted. , „ticake, li 9o 4 j.
..‘The cfainii not, ernbrietst ..by that , convention.: are
the-'sithjee.t 4isf- negotiation bete/Oen the :'.two'.
GlAreniiiientS;thrOugh the niOluM - af our minister'.
g` ICtit
t?!, 11 51.2 as. oft, ,to or harmony
'bf - our rebitiOne with the.'dillbrent Goienitimnts Of
South: howelier; to be . obliged
inforni Ymithat khe Claims of our citizens upon
the late
.Repubhg . of Grolorribia,have not yet- been
,satisfied by the sepanite'Govenuneets into which
it his been reiolvitd.7 ;..,
7 5 0,41 4r./ 1 0 . 4'0, 1 4me0r 43 :0 1 ' haiing' exieim ' d
..t
$211.;
mam ,
lUMM
Vs Message. ,
.
tuition of the surplus revenue was in a course of
rapid execution . - Nearly twenty-eight millions of
dollars of the public moneys were, in pursuance
of its provisions, deposited with the States in the
Months of 'January, -April, and, July of that year:
In May, there 'occurred At general suspension of
specie payments by the banks, including with very
few exceptions, those in which the public money
was deposited, and upon whose 'fidelity the - Qoy--
ailment. had unfortunately, made it.ss4 dependent
for the revenues which had been collected from
-the-poople r tmd-4craindispensable lo the public
service.-_
_., .
- This 'suspension, and the excesses hi banking
and commerce -out of which it arose and Which,
yveretreatly., aggravated bylts. : uesurrenee, JP MIQ AO_
a great extent, unavailable, the principal part .of
. the public money - then on hand; stispended-the
collection "of party ',millions accruing on bier
bonda, and greatly reclikecl fhe reycnue
Sing from customs and the , public lands. The'se
ellitcts 'hare continued — to operate -in various - de
rg - iies, Mille present period;
d cease in the'reveime thus , produced; two and a
half 3nillions of duties helve licertrelinqiiishecl. - by
-two liicnninl reductions s undcr the_aet of 1833,ands
'prObati'ly as 'much. more upon the. importation of
iron fin railroads, by'speCial
Whilst , such. -heti-been-Our Tond ifion-for. the' last
.
.
four-years-in . relatton to •revenue,--welia,,yeAluring
the same period,-been,subjected to n`u ' uiil Ov~itiablc
.COhtinuartec oflargb - exiiaordinary expense neees
earily growing out of past transactions, and which
could not be- immediately arrested ~without great
prejudice to the public interests Of . - these the
charge upon the Treasury, in corisequence,of the
Cherokee treaty alone, without adverting to others
arising out of Indian treaties, has already- exegeded
five milions ofadollars; that for the prosecution of
measures for the removal of the. Seminole Indians,
which were foUnd in progreSs, has "been nearly
fourteen and the pitblie..huildings• have I
required the unusual skim of nearly three millions.
It allbrds me, however, great pleasure to bo-able
to say, that, from'the commencement of "tllii„peri
od to the pre: eat day, evbry demand upon' the
g,overtunent,• at home or abroad, has been prompt- 1
ly -met. 'T its has been (lobe, not only without'
„creating a permanent debt, or a-resort to additional
taxation in any form; but in the midst or a steadily
'progressive .. reduction - Of existing
.burdens upon
the people leaving still a considerable balance of
available funds which will remain in the Treasury
at the end of the year: The small amount of
Treasury notes, not exceeding four ande hdtf mi .
lions of dollars, still outstanding, less
twenty-three millions than the United States have
in deposit° with' the States, is composed of such
only as are not yet due, or have not yet been pre
sented for payment. They may be redeemed out
of the accruing' revenue,• if the expenditures do
not exceed the amount within' which they may,
is thought, be kept, without Prepilice to the pidle,
interest, and the revenue shall prove t° be - as large
as may justly tie anticipated. - .
.11 - mong the reflections arising, froni the contem
plation of these circumstances; one, not the least
gratifying, is the Consciousness 'that the Govern
ment had the resolution and the ability to adhere,
in every emergency, to the sacred obligations of
law; to execute all its contracts according to the
requirements of the conStitution ; and thus to pre
sent, when most needed; a rallying point , l)y.which
the business of the Whole country might be brought
tack-to-a—saferithilThiWaryitirstandardrei3nit
vitally important as well to - the interests as to the
morals of fife peopleG - ' -
There can surely now be no difference of °pin:
ion in regard to the incalculable evils that would
have arisen if the government, at that Critical m -
111C4 had suffered itself to be deterred from up•
holding the only. trite standard of value; either by
the pressure of adverse circumstances or thO vio-
!once of unmerited denunciation_ .The manlier in
which the people sustained the performance of this
duty was highly honorablo , to their fortittideand
'patriotism. Iratitioritill to stimulate their agents . ,
to adhere, under all dKeinnstances, to. the line 'of
duty; and , to .safigy — thcm."Of the safety with
which a course—realight, an demanded by a
financial crisis, may, in.a community like ours, be
pursued,- however apparently severe, its immediate
operation.
The policy of
. the Federal' Government; in ex-
Ainguishing_as. rapidly as possibleahamationairiebt,
and subsequently, in resisting every temptation to
create a new7ono; deserves to he regarded in, the
-same favorable light. Among the many objections
to 'a national debt,. the certain -tendency of public
securities to concentrate-ultimately in the coirers
of-foreign stockholders; iauwav,itiAle„ is every - day
gatheringitrength. Already havelhe resources of
twinyi of the States and e future industry of tbnir,
D i
dons;n - i
MUns; ,beenifknitely - Lrigaged--to- Ito-sub
jects
jects of European Governmen , o the - ou - nt of
twelve millions annually, to pay, th condo tIY ac
cruing -interest on borrewed money—a sum ex
eeeditig-lutlf - the - oidinarr revenues of :thit.wiitt i.
.United tales._. Thepretext - .whieli fliglelitien
Affords tp_foreigners toncrutiniie - the iiiifiiement
of our domestic affairs, if notactaally tp interme&
'tile with their, presents a subject for earnest atten
tion, net to say of serious alarm.' , - •• ' •
, , iortunately;the Federal Government, with the
exception of an obligation 'entered ;nib in behalf
of the District' of ',Columbia,,vihich Aid' seen bn''
diicharged, is wholly exempt from any, •Mick em
barrassment. • It is also, as is believed, the„ only
_FoKornment which, having fully and faithfully paid
all A. creditors, has also,relieved itself entirely
;rem 'debt; To Maintain a distiiiition so desirable,
sand•so
,hOncirable to our national character, shotild
be'an - object of ornest solicitude. :Never should
tifrie people ; if it be possible to avoid it, expose
themselves to the necessity of havingto treat of the
peace,- the honor, or the safety of the Republie,
with. the governments of foreign" Creditors,' "who,
however ell,disPosed.'. they May • be" to cultivate •
with in-genet:al friendlY relations, are'nevcrth6,-:
less by the law of the,ir own coridition, - inade hos
tile to the 'ittecess of .peintimency nf political in
iitittitioint like' mirs. „Moat immiliating may' balite
embarmeinnontscimacqueotuptonsneh a coechlion,
Anotherilkepticin, scarcelyless, formidable, tolhei
cointitenCerrestitof newdebOisltsinevitable ten: ,
deny to increase in •Magnitude,' and to •faster na-.
Vona! extravagance.:--Ho hart' been'imuorirolltable
observer of events,whe•needs it this 43T ta ittr.
M onished athe "'difficulties ,which a, government,
habits illydependent on 'loans to Sustain its ordin-
ary'expenditures; has to encounter in resisting.the
Anfluencee continually exerted in favor of additior
ot lorst by. capitalists, who ottrieh tbemseries by
gevettanentseenritieafor*Ountp itinch exceeding
the intention of his Government' not to prolong
Lthe treaty of 1829, It. wilrecarn to be obligatory
lip - en — either - party on—the-12t1Lilay . .af December,
1841, when the extensive Commercial, intercourse
between the United Statee 'and that ; vast empire
will no longer be regulated by express stipulations.
afterdivnie,ploasure Ao commtinicate, to you
thaerne. Govethnieni. 'of Chili. lies.l : Aire& into' an
of the Macedonian., for - AmeriCan4roperty seized
in 1819 . ; and to add,. that: infonhation - has also
been received .which' justifies the hope . of aw early
adjustment, of' the; 'rnmaining---clifinis - : - ppmQhat
-Government • • • ' ''.l
The Connhissionern appointed inin - Trikrariee of
the convention . bet Weer; the... United , States, .and
Texas, fOr marking the: lionilary:heiWeen:,them,
have, according to,the last report our
commissioners, surveyedand eStriblishedthe',whole,
hxteriLef; thn boundaryKorth •elong.tho.western
bank of the Sabine .
the Gulf: of Mexich to the thirty-second degree of
_north latitude. The cominiSsirm najourned ein , fire
lfith of June last, •to re-assemble on the - Ist )if
NoVember, for ; -purpose of establishing, accu
rately the intersection of the thirty-second degree
of latitude with the westernbank,- : of the ,Sibirie,
and the.ineridian line thence to Red river. 'lt is
presumed that the Work will he concluded in the
present season. • • " .
The; present sound, condition-of their-finarices,
and the success With which embarrassments in re
gard'to them, at : times apparently insurmountable,
have Ireerroyercome, arc matters 'upon_. which the
people and Government of the United, States may
well congratelate themselves. An overflowing
treastra,lowever,lt,..m.be . ..regarcled as an evi
dence of , publit prosperity, is • seldoniSiiiiWeTie o
the permanent-welfare of 'anY'freel . ple; and experi
encn has dertionstrited itninernirpatibility - With - thh
Salutary action 'cif political institutions like those
of thcrUnited.States., Our safest rolianch fin finan
cial efficiency'and independence has- on the con
trary, been found' o consist in ample resources un
encumbered with debt; •and, 'in this respect the
.Federt.lGovernment .occupies 'a singularly forth.
nate and truly enviable position.
-When I onteredepon.the_disebarge of my-offi
cial duties in March, 1837, the act for the distri-
~.;
,_-,,,
. .
the money they 'actijally ad vanco—O prolific source
of "individual - aggrondizement in all borrowing
"countries; by stockholders,
_who seek,;their gains
selfish himorturcities of applicants for" appropria
tions for works avowedly for the acConnuodation
of the publie, ['pit the real object of which are, too
frequently l2 thoadvancenteut of privata,_interests. , -,
I
StitUilmrill bp:under to impose biseifor thelMY
ment of thn . interest on , their,,debts, furnishes an
additional and 'verY.migeht reason why thix Fe:denil
Governinent-ShOuld'refrain frOM'ereating a patiozi
til..debf; by ivbiallibijimopleiivoil4 bLexpitsetl-tp
dquble taxstion'fora ,Oitnile:r*jeet.- , Vo'.Mossess,
within ourselves ample:, resources for bi , ery iiiiier
geney; and We may'be' quite. •sure our
zenh ' in no future :4iiigeney,.:will be unwilling , ' , to
tillpplY'the geverriment with 'all, the 'means, asked
for the &kneed the:Country. Ili' time of peace
tireiorearvat-nli'eventer-be , ne: , ji.istificatiOn_-:forAlip„
creation of Permanent'debt by 'the rederhlgov-
Ormuent, .Its' limited range •of '.oonstitutionid du
ties may certainly, under such eircuinstances,4o
performed ; •tit,hout, such a' resort. It has,. it is
seen; been avoided during .fonr years of greater
&eat difileultieslhan have mtisted in a similiir.por
riod since . the adoption of the constitution; and
one also remarkable for the .occurrence of extra=
ordinary causes.of expendittires.
--Bat° ae..gonplish_ so desirable an. object; two
things are indispensable: first, that the action of
the Federal Government be kept within.the boun
daries prescribed by its founders ; . and, secondly,
that. all appropriations for objects admittedto be
constitutional,, and the 'expenditure of them also,
besubjected to a standard of rigid but ,well-con
sidereirtiiiirftWettOit etOrtentr - - -3'he-.first-depends- 1
-chieflynn the people themselves, the opirtionif they
- IbriMof the - free construction, of the constitution,'
and the confidence they repose in-the political Sett;
timen's of those they select as their representativei
in the Federal Legislaturet 'the second rests' upon
the fidelity with which their more immediate rep
resentatives, 'and other-public functionaries, dis
charge the trusts committed-to then.
The duty of economising the expenses, of the.
public serv,ice is admitted .on all hands; yet there
are few subjects upo . : - :" which there - exists a:wider
difference of opinion than is constantly manifested
in regard to the'lidelity with which* that iltitY 'is
discharged. Neither diversity . of sentiment, • nor
even mutual recriminations, upon a point in res
pect td.which the public mind is so justly. sensitive,
call well he entirely' avoided; and least so at pert;
odti of great. political excitement., Au intelligent
people, however, seldom failiciarriVe; hi the - entl; -
at correct conclusions in such a mutter.' Practical
economy in the management of public;allitirs . cau
have 'no adverse influence. to contend with I . IIOFO
powerful. than a large surplus. revenue; and the
, ttiusually-large appropriations -for I 837rmay,
out-doubt, independently•of the .extraordinery .re
quisitions for the public service groWing out of the
.statentotic_lndtan-rolations,lbe,-iii--no-ineopsider
able degree,, traced to this source. The sudden
and rapidilistributititi-of-the-large surfilus-then.4ll
- Treasury„ mat the equally sudden and . iMpre
cedentedly severe revolution in the comincree -and
business •
of the country, pointing with tilieking
„certainty to a great and 'proirieted•reduction of •the
Teit - mic, - strengthened the _proprietyof the earliest
practicable reduction of tin) 'public expenditures.
- 41 it, changea system operating upon so large
a surfaCe, and applicable to such numerous and di
versified interests and objects, was morn .thati the'
work of a• tlay. The attention.of every depart,
inert of the - govarrineiirwaa - (6'1(114 .
good , faith, ilireeted-M tliat-end;-and—ltas oc. .so_
eiintintedin-theTresent, inoment.tithates
- andapproPriations fur the year 1.939 - (the firsrofer
which I had- any control) were somewhat . dimirt-,
•
The- expenditures of 1939 were reduced"six
millioma of - dollars. Those of 194t1, exclusive of
disbursements_ for public debt and trust-clainisovill
probably not exceed twenty-two and a half mil
lions being between ,
two and - ffiree-Millians less
than thoSe . of the preceding year, and nine or ten
millions less than those-of 1937. „Norhas it been
found necesSarykinorder to produce this result, to
reObrtio the power conferred by Congress, Of post.
porting certain classes of'the public Avoiks,eXc , ept
by deferring expenditures for a short period upon
a-limited portion of them; and whillh postpone
ment. terminated some time since, at the moment
the Treasury Department-by thither receipt from
the indebted banks, fully assured of its ability:to
meet them Without prejudice to the public, service
in other respects. Causes are in operation which
will,dt is believed, 'justify - a still further reduction,
without injury
..to - any important national interest;
The expenses of sustaining the troops employed
in Florida hav been gradually and greatly reduced,
-through the persevering „ends of the War•Dc
pertinent, and a . redsonable hope may be entertain.
eit that the necessity'for military operations in that
quarter will soon cease: The removal of the In
dians from *within our settled-borders is nearly
completed. The pension. list, one of the heaviest
charges upon the Treasury; is rapidly. diminishing
by-.death... The most Lostly , of otir_public_buitk.'
ings are either finished, or nearly so, and we May,
1., think, safely promise ourselves a continual ex-,
emption from border difficulties.
Tlthavailabfe balance in the Treasury on the Ist
of January ne*t is estimated at one million and a.
half Ordollars.'. This' sum, with the expected re.
.ceipts froth all sources during the next year, will,
.it is believed, lie sufficient to enable the CoVern
ment to meet every engagement, and lease a suit
able balance in the Treasury ., at theend of the year,
if. the 'medial measures. connected with...the cus
loins and - thepitb fel ainrcheTelijffit -. .e
shrffibe adopted, and the• new appropriations by
-04tgreis-shall-not-.earzy—the-expenaitures-beyond
the official estimates.
. .
The new system established by ,CongresS fdr
the safe keeping of , the public money, prescribing
the kind of currency to be redeivdd for the - italic
revenue, and providing - additionaQuards and se.:
curities against . losses, has now been. several-
Months in operation.. Altheugh it might be pre.
mature, upon an experience oP suoh limited dura-
..
don, - to fordo definite opinion in regard to the
extent of its influence in correcting many. evils
under which the Federal Governinent and the
country. have hitherto suffered—especially those
that have grown outof banking expansions, a dep
reciated currency, and official defaleations; yet it
is but right to say that nothing - has , occurrtt in
thopractical operation'of the system to weaken in
the slightest ; degree, but rrittekptn• strengthen,
the....eonflent_anticipatiosatt_ofJOiands. :The
'grounds of these have been heretofore.so fully ex
plained as to require no recapitulation. la respect
to the fecility and convenience it affords in con
ducting the public service, and: the ability of the
Government to discharge throughitangcncy every'
duty attendant on the collcctitin, transfer and dis
bursement of-the pliblic money with promptitude
'and success, I can say, with Confidence, that the
apprehenSiens of those.whO felt it to be their duty
to oppose its adoption have - prOieil — tr:Cbe - Tinfoliff; ,
ded.., On the contrary, this branch of.tbe fiscal
affairs of the Government has been, mid it is be-
bWthus earriFd on with every
desirable fecility and' security. A few changes
am] imprerits — in — tli - e - . -- details : ;of - the—systeriA
without affecting any principles iitwolved injt,
will be submitted to you by the B'eeiciii - rir of the
Treariply, ' and will, I am sure receive at, your
'hands that attention - to Which they may, on exam
ination be fotind to be entitled. ,
I have deemed this brief summary of our fiscal
affairs necessary to the due performance of a duty
specially enjoined upon me by the constßiltion:
It will serve, also, to illustrate Moro fully the
principles by which I have been guided in. refer
onch to two 'contested points in our public policy,
which wore earliestin their developthent, and have
been, more itnporbint in their consequences, than
any, that arose under our complicated and difficult'
yet admirable, system of Government: I allude Oa
national debt; ;and a national bank. It was in
these, that the political coritestabY which the coun
try has been agitated ever . pince • the 'adoption; of
the constitution; and irvagioifineasuro, "origina,
led; and there is, too mucli ',reason' to apprehend.
that the conflicting interests and opposing princi
plea thup marshalledcontinuo, ae heretofore,;
to'produCe.siiejlar, if not aggravated,. cohieirion
. . • .
cos
CoMing,infe office the declared 'enemY limb,
thave earnestly endeavored to, prevent a resort : to
r•, - .
conaidatitioo' that,,a;lario :public " 'debtor
foida apology, and produces, snine 'xiegiecr,
Inreasity also- ; fciiroorting to a aystani and ex-
terit•of taxation -- not only 9ppreisivp thtougliont e
bat likewise so apt, to lead in the end,. to the corn
mission of thatmo4 'odious of all dlrenceipagaingl
thO 'of rimblico
prestitution
, ,
Of ‘ political, 'power Conferred ter the
gerimil benefit to the aggrandizemefipof particular
Classes ; and the 'gratificatiorref individual cupidity
--is-aloint-Sufficientrindepondently,Of-theweigh
ty objections which : have already been urged,- - to
render its creation and existence- the, sources of
bitter.and unappeasable discord. -
we add to, this, its inevitable tendency. to pro
ditert nrid-',lrader lextrayagarit expenditures .of. the
putilib itarieY; by which, a nocessitiireereated for
new leans and 'hew 'burdens , thee peciplei and
itrially;if ive refer . tif the exampleti Of Ovary goy-,
.ernMent which has existed, for proof how seldom
it is that the 'system when .once tadopted and. im
planted:ln:the. policy of a country has-failed to
expand public credit was exhausted,
and the people were no longer ableM'endure: its
increasing weight, it seems impossible to resist the
conclusion; that ,no benefits resulting; front' its ca
reer, no of tent of conquest, no accession of wealth
to*rticular classes, 3torany, nor all.ita combined
'ad - vantages Can counterbalance its. ultimate but'
certain,, , results 7 -4 splendid, goVernment 'and - an
impoverished people.. ' , • . .
If a 'national bank was, as is undeniable, repu
diated, by the framers of the constitution as incom
patible.with the rights 'of the States and the, lib
erties orthe'People; , if from the beginning it has
'been regarded by large portions of our citizens as
coming in direct collision with that great and'yi
tat aritendinent of the constitution:which - declares
that all pciwers not 'conferred by that instrument
on the
,General Government are reserved to the
States and to the people; if, it has been viewed
by them as the first great step in the march' of
latitudinous construction, which unchecked, would
render that sacred instrument of as litttle value as
'an-unwrittemconstitution F deponfient,otijkwenlil
alone be, 'for its inetinit2g,,on the intereatedimer,
lrreEtiert 'of a dominant party,. and affording no
security to the rights of the minority; if.such is
Undeniably the case, what .rational grounds could
have: been conceived , for anticipating aught but
determined opposition to such en institution at the
present day T :
--- -Could a different result have beenexpected,
when the consequences which have
flowed ffern
its creation, and particularly . from its struggle's to
perpetuate its existence,--had confirmed, in so
striking a manner, the "apprehensions of its earli
est opponents; when it had 'been so clearly•de
monstrated that a ediWentrated money 'power,
wielding so-vast a capital and combining such in
calculable means of influence, may. in these pecu
liar eonjunctures to which this government is mat-
Vonlably exposed, prove an overmuch Or the po
litical'
.
power of - the - ;people-themsehra-rithen-the
true character of- its eapaeity to-regulate, according,
to its will'and its interests, and the interests - of its
favorite, the, value and pi-eduction, of the labor
and property of every mail in this extended coun
try, had been so fully and so fearfully developed;
when it was notorious that all classes of this grlxtt
community had by-means of the- power and Mlle- .
mice -it-thus--possesses, -- berarinfeeted -- to - rhadness
with a spirit of heedless spe - cithition . ; when it bail
been-seen-that r seettre..in-the—supportoLthe..cout,
bination of influimbe by which it wao surrounded,
it could violate its charter • and set at defiance- the
laws with „impfinity ; and
_:wheni had
come most apparent that to believe that such an
qccuninlation of powers eau' ever be granted with-,
outthe certainty of being abused, was to indulge
irthiTatal • - •
.
To avoid the neresSity'lot a permanent debt and
its inevitable- consequences, J have advocated and
endeavored to carry into efl ct thep6lley,uf con-.
appropriations, forthe public service to
such objects_only_as:arLelearly_withiwthe_e_onsti-L
tutional authority of theYederal Goverment ; of,
exeltidWlthinita - e x penses thwiiwimproviikat told
n
uauthorized grantZ ef public money hit- works of ,
internal iniprovem4d. Whieh were, so wisely arrest;
ed by the constitutional interpOsition of my pre
decessor, and which if they had not been so check
et-woUld-loog-hefile,thistinteltave-involvedi-the-
finances -of the General Government in. embar
rassments tar greater than th'oe which are now
experienced for' any of flle States ; of liMitiinfall
- our, eXpenditures to that simple, unostentatious,
and econemical administration - of public allairk
tvbich is metre consistent with the ebaracter °four
institutions of ecilleetio; annually from the etts
tono, and the sales, of public lands, it revenue ful
ly adequate to defray all the expenses thus incur-1
•reth.but under no pretenen whatever, to impose
taxes upon the people to a greater amount than
was actually niTessary to the ptiblic service, con
ducted.upon the principles I have stated. '
In lieu of a national bank, or a dependence on
banks of any description, for the inanagemeut of
our fiscal alliiirs; I reeomniended the adoption of
the system which is now in successful operation.
That system affords every requisite facility for the
transaction of the pecuniary concerns of the Gov
ernment ;- will, it is confidently anticipated, pro
duce in other respects many of the benefits tthiell
have been from -time to time expected from the
creation 'of a national hank, but which have nevor
been realized ; avoid the manifold evils insepapi--
ble from such an institution; - diminish to a' great
er. extent than.couldhe accemplished, by. any other
measure of refoim, the patronage of the Federal
Government—a wise policy in all Governments,
but more especially so dim like ours, Which
works well only in proportion us it is made to rely I
for its support upon the unbiassed and unadulter
il
ated opinions of its constituents; do away forever
all dependence of . corporate' bodies, either in' the
raising; collecting, safe keeping or disbursing ilia
public revenues; and placate government equally
above the temptation of fostering a dangerous and
lunconstitutional at home, or the neces
ill(fOr'ida—p-ting litTolieTr
terests..of a still:name formidable money power
ttbroil;"'
It is by adopting and carryliiiant these princi- ,
ples, under circumstances the most, arduous and
discouraging, that the attempt has been made, thus
farsuccessfully, to demonstrato..to, the people of
the United States, that a national bank at all times,
and - national.debt,•except.it be incurred eta perfect
when the litinor and 'safety. of the nationdemand
the temporary sacrifice of a Rolle) , which should
only be abandoned: in ..such eitigenCies,.are -not
merely unnecessary, but in and deadly hos
tility to the principles of their govenint, and to
their own.permanent,welfare.
The progress medarin, the -developeinent of
these positions appears in the preceding aketelr of
the - past history-and presentstate-of the-financial
concerns of the Federal Government. The facts'
there stated fully authorize the assertion, that all
the purposes for which this Government wa's in
stituted, have been accoMplished duringfeur years
of greater pecuniary embarrassment than wore
eferFefore experienced in time of peace, and in
the face of opposition as, fohnidable any.that
was ever- behma A arrayed against the policy, of an
administratkon : that this has been done' when the
'ordinary rev'enues of
,the government Were • gene
rally decrenSing, as well from the- operation of the
laws, as the condition of .the country ; • without the
- creation-of- typerinattent-pnblicAcht, or incurring
any liability; outer thitn sticli as the ordinary re.;
sources of the Government will speedily disoliate,
rWthillall
If this view of the proceedings of the govern-
Ment - for-the--peried-it_emliraces, be war:rented
_by .
thefaeth - risthey' are known, to exiittTikilie r ttimy
and navy have been sustained to the full eXtelit
authinized bk,law, and which Congress deemed
sufficient for the defence of the country and - the
protection - of its rights - and:its honor; if, its. civil.
and diplomatic service has bean equallY.sustained;
if ample provision has made for the Wilda-.
,istration Of-justice and the execution of the,laws;
if the drama :upon nubile gratitude in behalf -of
the soldiers of the Revolution:have been_prOmptly-
Met, and faithfully diselnu - ged• • if there have been
no failures in defraying tite-'very, largo expendi
tures growing out of that
,long continued and sal
"ltaly policy• of peacefully removing tho Indians
to re r gions of comparative safety and prosperity;
if the public faith has at all times and every where
been most , scrutiulously, maintained, by a prompt
discharge of the nnmerous, extended; and diversi
fied claims on the Treasury ; 7 —if all these great
and permanent' objects; vilth many ' others that
might be stated, have for, aseries of years, marked
by peculiar obstacles and'dipidties, been succesti
fully oecomplished witbouVikreisort to a.permanant
debt, or the aid ,of a national bark' have we nerd]
right "to 'expect that a policy, sheolirec,i`Of Web ,
has been to sustain ~ thfpnhlic,serviee ;indepen
dently of either Of, , sources of ,dis
cord, will receive tha9iiiii
whisse unbiassed triid;fairry eiicited judgment Upon
Wino nftiirkrio never ultimately, wrong,. =_
That 'embarrassments in the , pecuniary concerns
of individuals, of unexampled extent and duration,
have recentlitkexisted in this as ii othor.‘,oonnnOciel
nations ie , undoubtedly true. , ;'':',l7o qupppse ppm
' ' • 'L
MeaMiseaft
sary "new to trace these reverses to their - sourcee,l atheitior Call wile iinliserpiently appointed to
would:1Mo reflection' on the intelligence Of my - fel._ conduct it suintner cainpaign, and at the closii,of it,
low:Citizens, . Whatever may have been the °Wen-. Was, replaCed.:bi,Genetitt_Jestip._ ,These.,ftWentir.
ritY-in *Well this subject was_ invttilved ditririgllie ' and - changes'iouTc 7 iilade7under the' adatinistratiori
earlier stages of the revulsion, third cannot now -of my predecessor. •
be many by whom the wholUquestion le not ftilly • Nothwithstanding the exertions - of the -experi
understood. " -
Not deeming it within the constitutional Powers. months, on entering, - upon. the administration of
. ,
of the' General-GOvernmei,l: . ttoleitair private ; lessee ;:t4-governmerit I. found the Territoryof. Floridan
en - stained by reversesintiusniess having no Coiineir,fllrey• to, ndian atrocities. , A 'strenuous effort Was,
ion with, the public Service either by' irect' appro,i - bitnaediatelym "to to bring 'these hostilities to It,
priations frOm the Treasury; or by special legislal - chise and the
,Army,.,under GenerarJesup, Wes
tion designed to secure exclusive privileges or MI-, reinforecd until it amountedto ten thousand men,
inunities to indiViduals or classes in preference to,land furnished with ! abandatat supplies of every de
and at, the expense Of, the great majority neCesso.•!: seription. In this compaign a greatnilinber,,Of the
Oily debarred, from any participation in them; MY at= - enemy wore Captured and destroyed;hut the char
tempt to do so has been either made, recommended; aster of the - Contest:only was:, changed: The, •In
or encouraged by the present Executive. , . ~ -,: diens, having been defeated. ini,every . engagement;;
. -It is believed, however, that' the great purposes l dispersed in small Venda throughout the country,
for the attainment of which the Federal Govern- 1
and became on enterprising, formidable; and ruth-
itiontwas_instituted.have not_been_lost_sightof,_Hlesi_liatiditthi . General . ,Taylot; who succeeded
Trifidateireillyri - vith 76efliiiilitnited-PoWer-sTettlitil Generalddesii . -Jesup. - hest - sexeititinS'tni - subdue
ously enumerated, distinctly ,ifecified; atiffdefined then, and was-seconded in his; efforts by the al,
with a preeisioriand clearneis which Would: seem vets under his:'eommand; but he, - too, - failed 'to
to defy miseonstruetion,lt has been:my' constant Protect,the Territory, from their depridations;, By
aim to confine myself within the limits, so clearly an act of signal and cruel treachery, they.broke the
marked out, and so carefully guarded. :.- . trace made with them by General Maciiiiili„Viliti
Having always been ,of opinion that the best was sent from' Washington for the purpose of car;
preservative-of-the-Union of the -States is to be ryirig into effect the expreSsed wishes of Congress,
found 'in a total abstinenee from the, exercise Of all and have continued their devastations ever since.
doubtful powers on the part Of the Federal GOvern- _General Armistead, who' 'was, in
. Florida when
inent, rather than by attempts to,assumo them by Penertil Taylor left the army; by permission,•as
a loose construction of the constitution, or an- in- sinned the command, and, after active summer op
genious perversion of its words,Thave endeavored perations, was met by propositions for peace; and,
to avoid recommending any measure which I had from the fortunate -coincidence of the arrival to
reason to apprehend would oven-in the opinion of Florida, at the same period, of a delegation from
a considerable miner* of my -fellow-citizens, lie the Seminoles who are happily 'settled West of the
- .regardeiLtuCtieriellitritilelrights_of_the_Slates, Mississippi, and tiro now anxieustrepersuade their
.or the_iproviaiMis_of_the_halloweffinstrument oV_couitiyfileif FOT - joiriTilieni.• ffiericfliiificilliTare - for
our Union; Viewing the aggregate powers of the some time entertained that 'the Indians might he
Federal Government as a *Voluntary concession of induced to leave the:Pen:it - my without further: dif
theStates, it seemed tri. me that such Only. sheuldt ficulty, These hopes have proved fallacious, and
be exercised as were at the time - intended to be hostilities . have been ,renewed throughout the
given. . : .. , - , whole of the Territory. That this contest has al
.
. I have been - strengthened, too,- in the propriety dined . so long, is-to be attributed to causes beyond
of this course, by the. conviction that all efforts to the eontrileftlio,Government. ExPerieneed gen
go beyond this, tend only to prOduce dissatisfaction orals have had the command of the troops; officers
and distrust, to - excite jealousies, and to provoke re- and soldiers have alike distinguished themselves
sistance. Instead of adding strength . to the Fede-, for their activity, patience, and endurlig:courage;
cal GoVerninent,even - when successful, they must the army has beeneonstantlYfutnished .With sup
ever prove a source of incurable weakness; by all- plies of every. description ;- and We must look for .
enating a portion of those whose adhesion is indis- the causes which have so long procrastinated the
.
pensable to the great aggregate of united strength, issue Odle contest, in the'vast extent of the thee
and whose voluntary 'attachment is, in my estima- tre' of hostilities; the almost insurmountable obsta
tion,Tar more
: essential to the efficiency of a go ; cies presented by the- nature of the country, the
vernment Strong iii the best of all possible strength climate, and the wily character-of the savages.
- ss-Aftemonfiderice-arid-attaelinteneofsallpose-who __ , The,sitesyformnirinelestedaig,o.n..ilte_risers_arid
make up its constituent elements. ' ', , . • hikes,. which - I - wits authorized. to select and cause
. Thus believing, it has beeo my - purpose, to se- to be purchased, have all been designated; but, the
'cure to the whole people, and to every member of 'appropriation not proiring Sufficient; Conditional ar
, the confederacy; by :general, Salutary, -- and equal rangements only have hemmed° for their acquisi
laws alone, the benefit of _those republican histitu- don; •It• is for congress to decide whether those con
, tints which it was,the end. and•ann'of the consti- ditional purchases shall be . sanciiimed, and the' hu
tution to establish, and the impartial influence Of mane intentions --`of: -la'of: the w be carried into full
I Vliiell - N - int - iiy - jailgrifelitiffidespondlile to - tfiCin effect; ---- ' 6 7" ----- : - . --- ----- --- ' ----7-.-- . .
preservation.• I cannot bring myself, to believe The navy. as will appear from the accompany
.that the lasting livpiness_of the people. the Miry; has been usefUlly and
i parity of the States, or the . _ permanency' of fillieTWill i cTrrifiroilfcorn=
I tido!), can he maintained by giving preferenc or the Mediterranean, the Pa
priority to•any elass of citizens in - the distribution rifle, on the coast of Brazil; and .in the 'Gulf of
of benefits on privileges, or by the adoption . o f Mexico. Ast nail squivhon, coifsistiiig of the frig
lineasures'which enrich one portion - of the Union - ate Constellation and - the Sloop-of-war Boston,
at the expense of another; nonean.l seem the :ill. under Com. Kearney, is. iimi on its way to . the
,tetlineirce - ot t the - FetleratGovernirient.ivith - the lo- , China and Inditin - seas,for the ptirpose attending to
cal legidation, ;and reserved rights (lithe States a our interests int that quarter; and COrinnander Au
reniedy fot present, or a ,seetrity;against future, lick, in. the sloop-of-war Yorktown, _has been in
.imigera.,- _ _.. _ -
. • ' styuctefto visit the Sandwich ondSociety_lslande;
The first, and M.:slimily not the least, important the coasts of
.New 'Zealand and Japan, together
_stepAawards_relievinvlicieetiittiV from thesiintli- ivitli other polls and islands frequented by our,
tion into which it had been plunged-by excesses iii 1,,,, 1
faiii-shiff, - filFtlie piirpose of giving tlidin coun
' trade, banking; and eretlit; of all kinds, was to pla ce tenaiic&arid protection; should they - be - req,uired.
the basiness trinisaetion,t of - the Government itself ..other•snialler vestielsliaveheenoind still - are; -- em ,
:on ii solid •basis t , giving and receiving i n a ll c ii s 6 ployed in,prosecutingthe surveys of-tlie-eorist -of
value- for value,'and neither c,ountenancing nor en-. .the United States, dirbeted by - various acts of Con,
e , .suratting in otherg that-deltisive system of credits gross; mid thase which litilM - been completed will,
from -which-it-has-been-found SQliiiiieUlt. to es'cape; shortly be laid before , yen.
and which hies left nothing behind it but the wrecks The exploring expedition, - at the latest date, viuts
.
which Marl; its tidal career.: • • f -Islands, NeA , 1 Zen ,
That the financial ailliirs of the'governnaent are land, in further prosecution Of objects which have
now, and have been during the whole period of thus - far, •• been-successfully,. accomplished. The
those Wide-spreading diflieulties,condticted - ivith a discovery of a new - -continent by :Lieutenants
strict and itivariulde regard 'to this great mid fnds. Wilkes and - Hudson, for an extent of eighteen
Mental principle, and that by the assumption and- hundred miles, but on which they were prevented
strict maintenance of the stand thus taken on the from landing by vast bodies of icd which encom
yery threshold of the approaching crisis, more titan Passed it, is one of the henorable results of the en
by ally other cause or causes whatever. thevoininu- terprise. Lieut.. Wilkes bears testimony to the Zeal
nity at lame etas been shielded froth the incalcula- and good conduct of his officers and men ; and it
ble evils of a general and indefinite suspension of is but justice to.that officer to state that he appears
specie payments, and a consequent annihilation, for to have performed the duties assigned him with all
the whole period it might have lasted, of a just ardor, ability and perseverance, which give every
and invariable standard of value, will, it is believed, assurance of anhonorablc issue te'the undertaking.
at this period, scarcely' be qneStiiintld. • • • '; -.-- ••- The report of the Postmaster-Gen-doh-herewith
' A steady adlierenee,• orithe•part of the Govern- transmitted, Will exhibit the serviedof that depart
ment, to the policy vrhielt has produced such salu_ mein the past year, and its present condition. The
tory results, aided by judicious State legislatiod; transportation has been Inaintained during theyear
and, what- is is fid lest; Milton:nit, by the. industry, to the full atom authorised - s the existing laws;
enterprise, perseverance, and economy of the A. some improvements have been effected, which the
ineriCan people, (mina - rate raise the whole coun- public interest seemed ufgently to demand, but not
try, at an early period, to a state of seriitand endm: involving any Material additional expenditure; the
ring, Prosperity, net suNeet to be again overthrown contractors have 'generally performed their engage
by the suspension of banks or the explositin'of a orients with fidelity ; the postmasters,' with few ex
bloated ertalit:. system.: It is.for Alm people, -and ceptions, have rendered their accounts and paid
their representatives - , to decide, whether or not the their quarterly balances With promptitude; and the
permanent . welfare of the country. (which all good whole service of the department has • maintained'
citizens equally desire, however' widely they' may the efficiency for which it hia for several years been
differ as to the means of its accomplishment,) shall cliFttiYlgnished• .
,
be in this way secured ; or
.whether the manage- The acts of Congress establishing new mail
melt of the pecuniary concerns - of. the GoVern- routes, and requiring more expensive services on
inept, and, by consequence, too great extent, those others, and the increasing wants of the - country,
of individuals also, shall be ferried back to a con- have, for three years past, carried the expenditures
dition of things whielc - fotered those contractions something beyond the accruing:revenues ; the ex
and expansions of the currency, and those reckless ces having-been met, until•the past year, by. the
alnises of credit, from the baleful of of which surplus which had previously accumulated. That
tralCiiiiiiii - y - lies so deeplY stifferell=ii - lertfrirtlifirsaplasiravitirticeirexhaustokand - the - anticipm=
can promise in
_the 'end, no better results than te tedincreaso4the revenue not havingbeen i r e - 4104;
reproduce the clmbarrassmerits the - Government has owing-to-thmdepression-in2-the--commercial-busi
experienced ; and to remove froni the shoulders of ness of the country, the 'finances of the depart
the present, to those of freeii yietims, the bitter meld exhibit, a small deficiency at the cloSe of the
fruits of that • spirit of speculative enterprise to last fiscalybte. Its resources, however, aro staple;
-which our Countrymen nil sccliable„ and. upon and,the ' reduced rates of compensation for. the
which the lessons of experience are so min:Veiling. transportation service, which may be expected on
The: choice is an ciiimortant one, and I sincerely the future lettings, from the general reduction of
hope that it rimy lie wisely Made, prices; with the increase of revenue that May rea-
A report from the Secretary of War, presenting sontifily be anticipated from the revival of .com
a detailed - view of • the-affairs of that 'department, notelet . activity, must•soon place the finances -of
accompanies this communication. " • the department in a prosperous condition.
.. The-desultory tfutiei connected with' the lento s - Consideting the unfavoralde arcumstances - which
val of the Indians, in which the army has been con- have existed . during the.past year,. it is.a gratify
scantly engaged on the northern and western iron- big result that - the revenue has not declined, as
tiers, and itiFlorida, have rendered it impractica- compared with' the preceding year, but, on the
ble to cony into fultetlitet.the planyecommended contrary,eihibits a - small increase, thecireumstan
by the Secretary for improving its discipline. In, ces referred to having had ke other effect than to
every instance where the regimentshaim becri con- check the expected income''' . • - •
centrated;they have made great progress; and the It will be sects that the POstmaster Genend sug
best results may be anticipated from a continuance gests certain improvementsit the establishment,
of this system. During the last, season, a part of designed toteducethe Weight of the Mails, cheap
the troops have been employed in removing In- en the 'transportation, ensure greater r6gillarity in
dians ' from the interior to the, territory assigned the service, and secure' a considerable reduction in
them in the west—a duty which they have per• the rates - of letter-"postage—'an object highly desi s
formed efficiently, and with praiseworthy humani- ruble. The subject is one of general interest to the
ty; anti that portion of them which - has been eta- ,community, and is respectfully' recommended rto
tioneff inPlorida continued active operations there Toni - tonsideration. '
throughout the' beats of summer. ' The suppression 'of the Africiuri slave trade
_
The policy of the United States i the n regard,to has received the continued attention of a Gov,.
ihtiffidians, driVltieliaaticinet --- uccountsiss-given- , ernnient.--The-brigT - Delphin-riiid - the schooner
in my message of 1838, and of the wisdom and ex- Grain - pus haVe been employed during the last sea=
-- p . ediency of wiliChTram - iiilly satisfied, liar been Sim orilhe coast of Africa; for the - purpose of pre
"continued its active operation thoughout the whole venting such portione - of. that trade as was -said ,
period Of my administration. Since the spring of to be.preseauted under the American flag. • -Atter
1837 - flier() then forty - thonsainFinillans_ha - Tiribeco_cnibiing Oil - those parUreetlia-troasrmost-usually
remeved to their new home's west of the AI ississip- resorted to by slavers, untilllie - tommeneeinent -of
pi ; and I am happy to add, that all accounts eon- the rainy season, those . vessels returned to the
cur in - representing the result of this, Measure es United States for supplies, and have since been
eminently beneficial-to thatpeople. " -.. ' - despatched on ix smiler service. '
The emigration of the Seminoles elone_liti.4 been From the reports of the - commanding officers, it
attended with serious difficulty; and occasioned appearoithat the, trade is now principally carried
hhiodshed; hostilities having been commenced by on under. Portuguese. cokes; and theyy, express the
the Indians in Florida, -. under the
.apprehension opinion dint the. apprehension of their presence en
thin. they would be.compelled„ by force, to comply the slove,coast has, in a-great degree; arrested, the
with their treaty stinulationo. - The execution of prOsiitution of 'the Anierican flag - to-this inhurean
the treaty of PayneTs' Landing, signed- in 1832, purpose. It ischoped that, by continuing to main-
Mit not ratified until 1834., was postponed, at the Min this force in thatquarter,and by the exertions
1-ilieitation of tho Indians, until ; 1830, When they. of the officers in command, much will be done to
again renewed the agreement to remove peaceably
to their new • homes in the.Wtis.h...L . 4 •
In the face of this solenanand renewed cornpact,,
they broke their faith, and commenced hostilities.
by the massacre of. Ilfajor 'Llade's Ceinmand, the
murder of their Agent, General Thompson, and
ether acts of crael treachery, When, this alarm
ing and unexpected::intelligence reached" the seat
ofGovernment -every . effort‘ - appears to, lnivebeen
Made to reinforge_General Clinch; who 'Commanded
the troops then Florida : Geneiel ,Eustis.was
despatChed with reinforcement!' 11.Oin CharlestcM . ;
troops were 'eulled.put fihnf Alabama, Tenness'69; •
andGcorgia ; and General ScottWairsene to . take
the, - collimate!, with ample .:icoWirs'. and ample
Means. At the first alarm, .Gencrul Gbins:organi-:
zed afforce at.Neiv'Orleans; and,' without waiting
for orders, landed •• in Florida, where he delivered
over the troops hark liroMpik,witliatiin to:0WD!
put a stop.to whatever portion of this traffic , may
have been iririfeil on uptler the American , flag,
and to prevent its use in a trade which, while it
violates the law, is equally an outrage on the rights
'of others and the feelings of humanity.
The efforts :or the several. Governments who are
anxiously seeking to suppress this •truffle, Must,
hotveder, he directed against the facilities. afforded
by what are now recognized ailiigitiiiiateeCininter;
currpursuits,lmforo that 'object can be fully, (meal&
!dished.
,;Supplies, of proyisipn, iveterserisliii, - Mer•
chandise; and articles connected With the. prosecu
tion of, thii-elave trade; arei v ,itle - :liriderstood, ' free
ly; carried by :vessel s. Of differ‘nknations :•to the
slave, fietories ;t and 'the', eireOts'ef tlai '.'raoprii:: are
tratisppried opeajy...o,4s!*oad:l4aya , ,:caiitiaa.*, an-
ottfoy 2 pitii9ut li,i,terniptiOa-* 'punishment , iiirj , ei-'
titer of, the nations to which they engaged'
in the
,00nnerco r of-that; regiOn,; 1,. submit to ,
.ohr , Zoi 3 e 4l o . ‘MiOrt $ 1 46,9001*0:1401. 4
,;;:Af . -;k1c41::::::tz,4?-1:;,,,,A44,04.,..'.0,d4.4,,-:t4,1.,g6q^.4.w
MMlSlaffmmal2wommmim
ipg been the iist4o.prohibit, by adeqtrate
ties, the Wive tradeg. , -the first to declare it, piracy '
2.-should not.be the first.also, . to forbid to its citi ,
zeris 'all trade with thq slave fact6ries on the coasts
of Africa, giving an example to all nations in this
respect, which, if-fairly followed, cannot fail to pro ,
duce. the most effective results in breaking up those/,
dens of 'thiquity.,
'W.triurarritorr; ileemirnin 5,'1'840‘
North Carolina.
'. OFFICIAL •,: ,
. ,
1940. Ptesiderit Nov. •Governot, 'Aug.-
Har. • Vi - B. (W.) . . (L‘ F.Y
Anson, , 1194 • °asp nos.. 422
Ashe, ' 578 . 460 501 •- .• 634 .
Beaufort, : 961 - • sot) , .--- , 846 '• - , ;'-363 ?.:
Bertie, 496 385 - 483' . '
, ::_468,
Widen, 346 414 329 • • 451
"Brunswick, .., 350 230 352 247
Buncombe •
,• .'' •
& 1486 ' 452
Henderson, • • -.
Burke, 1623 ' 809 1555 : 367
Cabarrus, 891 ' 354 ;840 ' ',' 395
Camden, 612.• 100 . 2' 526' , • 91.
Carteret, " 454 . • 186 ' 442'. :-, -287]
Caswell, ' . 276 1169 270 ' nay:
,Chatham, ' 1127: ' 568 ' 1075 - r ':' 603
Chowan, 330 158 - .. 292 .' ' 203 '
Columbus; 204 315 • ' 242 . - ' 288
Craven, • ' -663 . 640 ' 671 • 0.43
Cumberland, 612 950 . 621 , 952
Curritick, '
.142 468 BO 525
Blerokco;...-414 - 1 13_-. ..•_29.2 . - , .---.439.,-:-'•'.-
DaVidsen, - , 1 - 40 390 '1409 -,-, 470
Duplin, 250 • 806 234 • 766
Dclgecombe,. 135 • 1374 . 111 1298
Franklin, 374 689 .. 383 , 655 •
Gates, '378 328 ' 381 '392
Manville, 933 , 778 873 760
Greene, . 297 ;215' .. • 308 • . 258 •
Guilford, 2300 414 2211 ' 469',
Halifax, 604 356 022* .446
Haywood, 431 221 ' . 438 • . 242
Hertford • 396 199 • 394 -. 231
Hyde, • 431
Iredell,. 1780
.rohnson, 597
Jones, • 243
Lenoir,* .
Lincoln, 1000
Martin, .291
Mecklenburg,-1000 --
Montgomery, 1.136 • .
WWl], 529 .
MaCon, 433
Nash, , 78
- 1246- -984 - - 1201 -
. 105' 1102.. 163
495 - 660 •
168 . 431 203
797. . 73 782
Now Hanoizer,293 .
Nortlmmptpn, 660:
_Onsfow,--- .143- -
0 ran g e, 1639
693
.Petquimons,__s96_,
Person,' .
Pitt, 627
1042 .220 , , 899
383 '543 , 619
---490- 683 .-
1448 1662 1549:
149 - • 660 - 222
-...124-
597 274_ •553'
'391 625 619
Randalph, — • 1344
Richmond, 820
Rowan licf
Davie 1 630 •
,
Robeson,
Rockinglimit; 547
Rutlierfor g , 1802 ' 540
'553 - 141
okep, L 212 -1361
Sam*,
Tyrrell, __
Wake,:
aso ' 83_ _42/* • _44
_ 1149 1030 ' 1157
Warren,
'Wahinglon, 432 54 319'
Wayne, . 300 • - 734 - '262 "-
OEM
1450
yancey,
MI
46,376 33,782 44,508 36,428.
33,782 36,428
Har. maj. 12,594
Morehead's 8,080
Har. gain, . 4,514
Returns not reeei'ved
Louisiana... - -
• OFFICIAL.' • ' .
• . ..
: • .... •• • ---- A Harrison: Vali Buren,
Placpiamine, • - • .. 40 . 250
St, Bernard, " ' : 173 . 91
Orleans, . . - 2681* 1748
Jefferson ' 252 86.
St. Charles, 69 . * 33
St. John - the Baptist . 133 • . .45 .
St. James,. • 379 • 37 •
A scansion,' ' • - ' • ''' . 218 - • 218
Assumption;- i - 289. 340
Lolourche - inferior, 538
~ . 44
Terrebonae, • ' .. •., -
'. 313
Iberville, 204 182
West Baton Rouge, 183. 84
East Baton Rouge, 324 2OB,
East Feliciana, • 360 • , 430
West Feliciano, • •, 253 • 286
St' Helena,,• .- • • 172 • . 238
Livingston,. • . ' • ....127 . ••, 207 ,
Washington, ' • 15G . 134
St. Taninui:ny, . 204 . -.-80 .
Point Coupe°, • 147 139 '
- Str -- Martini----,-------463--- 1 -7-------103
St.' Nary, . . 308 • 87
-Layfayette (no-retums)-
St..L'andry & Calcaisien,
Avoyclles, • ' ,
Rapides, '
'Natchitoches & Caddo,
Claihorne(no returns)
Ouachita, •
Union, ! • •
Caldwell (no returns)
Catahaula,-
Concordia,
Madison,
Harrison's majority,
„IMMIGRATION.—The Report of the Barite&
Commissioners of New York states that the num. ,
ber of passengers at that port from foreign ports,,
from"the Ist of January to the Ist of November
1840,.a period of ten months, is,fifty-seven
sand_oirierhundred and nine.
The process of immigration is now conducted
with more systeni than fortnerly. There are so
many Europeans already settledin this country that
an extensive correspondence is kept up between ,
them and their 'friends and relatives on the other
side of the water—so that preparatory arrangements • .
are made, and locations - selected, in a multitude or
cases, for those who now swell the current of eini ! ” '
gration. The New York Courier mentions an in:
snuiee - in - wltith - anentire - eorrtmunity;ttrchuling . the----
spiritual pastor-and persons of _alltrades,came over
together and quietly took up their residence on the
Ohio. :c)
The introduction of steamers upon the ocean on' •
the great lines of communication behseenthis tourer
try anlEuropo, has been too eecent to cause any
sensible change in the average of emigrationk The
expenses of, passage are yet too , high to alloNthe •
new *mode of transportation to be generally availa
Me to.the great Mass of emigrants. But if it shottlsk
happen in the course of time that the appliCation
of stet= should be extended to the ordinary class ;
of trading Vessels, we might expect to, witness,
connection with that event, a great increase
gration from Europe to the United Statetk.
Great• Britain is endeavoring to direst the emus&
of emigratiorrfrom England, Itelanctind'Scotland
to her distant celonies in New South Wales, the.
Vest. Indies and ~the British 14x:winces .of North
Ameriela. It le probable thathar policy in title par
lesien the numbeithatwould otherwise.-L
seine 'Gni:that quarter CO the 'Gaited States. .
Germany has her multitudes to Send fer Weed 'she ,
has foreign. nelenies to receive theM,. ' The
migrations into this country ficen Germany htur been
steadily increasing of; late years. and it will probe,.
Hy go on to increases: 'Theyarq mostly an Indus.
thous, honest • and' pepple "Some otheni
bring 'with thorn centiderable amounts in g ol d. and.
'Sayer wherewith. to purchatie lands 'ins , the . , West,
and it generally happens , that they are, particularly :
successful'secupnglch'6lc,=,:.,tuoun4,..-P o**,3:
fi
1 3 3 0 \ 541
485
1678
569
212
89
928
549
132 a
179
331
617
121
265
1959 933
596 .4 244
386
2056
574
1287
672
946
79
1622 674
563
533 1001 Y
1662 646,_
-4 / 2 -
1163 . 1.190
705
95.
777
114 '1424
120
290
992
Eni
SAO
434
Mr
982
610
836
250
475
667
243
74
259
269
147
231
413
111
11,296-
7,596
7,596
3,700