HUNTINGDON MIL Iffnome No. 166.1 TERMS OF TOE MINTINCMOII :0t711.11.6.L. The "Journal" will be published every ;Vednesday morning, at two dollars a year if paid IN ADVANCE, and if not paid within ix months, two dollars and a half, 'Every person who obtains five subscribers nd forwards price of subscription, shall he irnished with a sixth copy gratuitiously for ne year. r4o subscription received for a less period /an six months, nor any paper discontinued :ail arrearages are paid. i . All cummuhications must be addressed to Rho Aditor, post paid, or they will not be ,isitended to. L 'Advettisments not exceeding one square ball be inserted three times for one dollar for every subsequent insertion, 25 Scents per uquare will be charged:--if no detnite orderd tare given as to the time an adverisment is to se continued, it will be kept in till ordeed; bat. and charge accordingly. MESSAGE. Fan' THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TO THE TWO HOUSES OF CON- IikEESS, AT THE COMMENCEMENT •OF THZ TWENTY FIFTH COIIGRF.S3. FELLOW CITIZENS OF TOE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPiIESENTATIVES. I congratulate you on the favorable cir cumstances in the condition of our coun try, under which you reassemble for the performance of your o ffi cial duties. Ehough the anticipations of an abundant harvest have not every where been real ized, yet, ou the whole, the labors of the husbandman are rewarded with a boun tiful return; industry prospers in its va rious channels of business and enterprise; general health again prevails through our vast diversity of climate; nothing threat ens, from abroad, the continuance of ex ternal peace; nor has any thing at home impaired the strength of those fraternal and domestic ties which constitute the only guarantee to the success and per manency of our happy Union, and which formed an the hour of peril, have hitherto bean honorably sustained through every vicisitude of our national affairs. These blessing - 9, which evince the care and ben eficence of Providence, call for our de vout and fervant gratitude . We have not less to be grateful for other bounties bestowed by the same mu nificent hand, and more exclusively our own. The present year closes the first half century of our Federal institutions, and our system—differing from all others in the acknowledged, practical, and unlim ited operation which it has for so long a period given to the sovereignity of the people—has now been fully tested bi ex perience. The ;constitution devised by our fore fathers as the frainewca and bond of that system then. untried, has become a set-, tied form of Government not only pre servingland protecting the great principles upon which it was founded but wonder. luny promoting individual happiness and private interests.—Though subject to change and entire revocation, whenever deemed inadequate to all those purposes, yet such is the wisdom of its construction and so stable has been the public senti ment, that it remains unaltered, except in matters of detail, comparatively unim portant. It has proved ample sufficient for the various emergencies incident to oar condition as a nation. A forminable foreign war; agitating collitions be tween domestic and, in some respect, rival soverignties; temptations to inter fere in the intestine commotions of neigh horing countries , the dangerous influence that arise in periods of excessive prosper ity; and the anti-republican tendencies of associated wealth: these, with other trials not less formidable, have all been en countered, and thus far successfully re sisted. It was reserved from the American Union to test the advantages of a Govern ment eetirely dependent on the contin ual exercise of the popular will; and our experience has shown that ,it is as benef icent in practice as it is just in theory. Each successive change made in our local institutions has contributed to extend tho right of suffrage, has increased the di rect influence of the mass of the commu nity, given greater freedom to individual exertion, and restricted more and more, the powers of Government; yet the intel• ligence, prudence, and patriotism of the people have kept pace with this augmen ted responsibility. In no country has education been so widely diffused. Do mestic peace has nowhere so largely reign ed.—The close bonds of social intercourse have in no instance prevailed with such harmony over a space so vast. All forms of religion have united, for the first time, to diffuse chastity and piety, because, for the first time in the history of nations, all have been totally untrammelled, and ab solutely tree. The deepest recesszs have been penetrated—yet, instead of rudeness in the social condition consequent upon such adventures elsewhere, numerons communities have sprang up, already un rivalled in prosperity, general in gence, internal tranquility, and the wis dom of their political institutions. Inter nal Improvement, the fruit of individual enterprise, fostered kby the protection of the States, has added new links to the confederation, and fresh rewards to prov ident industry. Doubtful questions of do policy have been quietly settled by mutu al forbearance; and agriculture, com— merce, and manufactures, minister to each other. 7 axation and public debt, the burdens which bear so heavily upon all other countries, have pressed with com parative lightness upon us.—Without one entangling alliance, our friendship is priz ed by every nation; and the rights of our citizens are known to be guarded by unik ted, sensitive, and watchful people. To this practicitl operation of our in stitutions, so evident and successful, we owe that increased attachment to them which is among the most cheerful exhi bitions of popular sentiment, and will prove the best security, in time to come, against foreign or domestic assaults. This review of the results of our institutions, for halt a century, without exciting a spirit of vain exultation, should serve to impress upon us the great prin- 1 ciples from which they have sprung; con stant and direct supervision by the peo ple over every public measure; strict tore bearance on, the part of the Government from exercising any doubtful or disputed powers; and a cautious abstena nce from all interference with conceurs which prop perly belong and are best left to State regulations and individLal enterprise. Full information of the state of our for eign affairs having been recently, on two different occasions4submitted to Conga ess I deem it necessary now to bring to your notice only such events as have subse quently occurred, or are of such impor tance as to require particular attention. The most amicable dispositions condo ne to be exhibited by all the nations with whom the Government and citizens of the United States have any habitual intercourse. At the date of my last an• t.ual mess ge, Mexico was the only na tion which could not be included in so gratifying a reference to our foreign re lations„ I am happy to be now able to inform you that an advance has been made to wards the adjustment of our difficuies with that republic, and the restoration of the customary good feeling between the two nations. This important charge has been effected by conciliatory negotiations that have resulted in the conclusoion of a treaty between the two Goverments, which, when ratified, will refer to the ar bitrament of a friendly power all the subjects of controversy between us grow ing out of injuries to individuals. There is, at present, also, reason to believe that an equitable settlement for all Os puted points will be attained eithout fur ther difficulty or unnecessary delay, and thus authorize the free resumption of di plomatic intercourse with our sister Re public. With respect to the north eastern boon dary of the U. States, no official cures pondence between this Government and that of Great Britain has passed since that communicated to Congress towards the close of their last session. The offer to negotiate a convention for the appoint. went of a joint commission of survey and exploration, I am, however, assured will be met by her majesty's Government in a conciliatory and friendly spirit, and in structions to enable the British Minister her to conclude such an arrangement will be transmitted to him without needless delay. It is hoped and expected it will be of a liberal character, and that. this nego tiation. successful, will prove to be an important step towards the satisfactory and final adjustment of the controversy. Here then follows a reiteration of his views, as respects the war in Canada, as given in his proclamation,—with some farther remarks, as to the interferance of our citizens. Russia, he says, has declined a renewal of the articles of convention, giving our vessel, privileges upon certain coast, the reason assigned is, that our• traders sup, ply the Indians with spiritous liquors & fire arms to the injury of that nation. The President regrets, the continuation of the Blockade on the Mexican coast--- The convention for making the boundary line between Texas and the United States was concluded, and ratified—The appli• cation of Texas for admission into the Union is withdrawn. "ONE COUNTRY, ONE CONSTITUTION, ONE DESTINY." A. W. BENEDICT PUBLASTIER AND PROPRIETOR. HUNTINGDON, PENNSYLVANIA, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19, 1838. Here then follows an exposition of the fiscal affairs of the country. and a short history of the :conduct of one of his Sub Treasures. An exposition of the fiscal affairs of the Government, and of their condition for the past year, will be made to you by the Secretary of the Treasury. The available balance in the Treasury on the Ist of January next is estimated at $2,765,342. The receipts of the year, from customs and lands, will probably amount to $120,815,593. These usual sources of revenue have been increased by the issue of Treasury notes—of which less than eight millions of dollars, inclu- I interest and principle, will :vie int stading at the end of the yeai--and ty I the sale of one of the bsnds of the Bank of the United states, for $2,254,871. The aggregate of means from these and other sources, with the balance on hand on the first of January last, has been ap plied to the payment of appropriations by Congress. The whole expenditure for, the year on their account including the redemption of more than eight millions of Treasury notes, constitutes an aggregate of about forty-millions of dollars, and will still leave in the Treasury the bal lance before stated. Nearly eight millions of dollars of Treasury notes are paid during the com ing year, in addition to the ordinary ap propriations for the support of Govern ment. For both these purposes, the res sources of the Treasury will undoubtedly be sufficient if the charges upon it are not ; increased beyond the annual estimates. ; No excess, however, is likely to exist; nor ca■ the postponed instalment of the surplus revenue be deposited with the States, nor any considerable appropria tions beyond the estimates be made, with out causing a deficiency in the Treasury. The great caution, advisable at all times, of limiting appropriations to the wants of the public, is rendered necessary at pre sent by the prospective and reduction of the tariff; while the vigilant jealously, ev idently excited among the people by the occurrences of the last few years, assures us that they expect from their representa tives, and will sustain them in the exer- cise of the most rigid economy. Much can be effected by postponing appropria tions not immediately requ.red for the ordinary public service, or for any pres sing emergency; and much by reducing the expenditures where the entire and immediate accomplishment of the objects in view is not indispensable. When we call to mind the recent and extreme embarrassments produced by ex cessive issues cf bank paper, aggravated by the unforeseen withdrawal of much foreign capital, and the inevitable de rangement arising from the distribution of the surplus revenue among the States as required by Congress; and consider the heavy expenses incurred by the remo val of the Indian tribes; by the military operations in Florida; and on account of the unusually large appropriations made at the lust two annual sessions of Com gress for other objects, we have striking evidence, in the present efficient state of our finances, of the abundant resources of the country to fulfil its obligations. Nor is it less gratifying to find that the general business of the community, deep ly affected as it has been, is reviving with additional vigor, chastened by the lessons of the past, and animated by the hopes of the future. By the curtailment of paper issues, by curbing the sanguins and ad venturous spirit of speculation; and by the honorable application of all available means to the fulfilment of obligations, confidence has been restored both at home 1 and abroad, and ease and facility secured to all the operations of trade. The agency of the Government in pro ducing these results has been as efficient as its powers and means permitted. By witholding from the States the deposite of the fourth instalment, and leaving sever al millions at long credits with the banks, principally in one section of the country and inure immediately beneficial to it; and, at the same time, aiding the banks and commercial communities in other sections, by postponing the payment of bonds for duties to the amount of between four or five millions of dollars; by an is.. sue of Treasury notes as a means to ena ble the Government to meet the conse quences of their indulgences; but afford ing at the same time, facilities for remit tance and exchange; and by steadily de clining to employ as general depositories of the public revenues, or receive the notes of all Banks which refused to re deem them with specie: by these meas ures, aided by the favorable action of some of the banks, and by the support and co operation of a large portion of the' community, we have witnessed an early resumption of specie payments in our great commercial capital, promptly fol lowed in almost every part of the United 'States: This result has been alike salu tary to the true interests of agriculture, commerce, manufacturers; to public mor als, respect for the laws, and that confi dence between man and man which is so essential in all our social relations. The contrast between the suspension of 1814 and that of 1837 is most striking, The short duration of the latter; the prompt restoration of business; the evi dent benehts resulting from an adherence by the Government to the constitutional standard of value, instead of sanctioning the suspension of the receipt of irredee mable paper; and the advantages derived from the large amount of specie introdu ced into the country previous to 1837, aflbrd a valuable illustration of the true policy of the government, in such a crisis, nor can the comparison fail to remove the ,impressiiti that a 'rational hank is neces -1 sari , in such emerzentlea. Not only . were specie payments resutiltd witZn' t its aid, but exchanges have also Duo: more rapidly restored than when it exis ted; thereby showing that private capital, enterprise and prudence are fully ade quate to these ends. On all these points experience seems to have confirmed the views heretofore submitted to Congress. We have been saved the mortification of seeing the distresses of the community, fur the third time, seized on to fasten upon the country so dang erous an insti tution; and we may also pe that the bu siness of individuals will hereafter be re lieved from the injurious effects of a con tinued agitation of that disturbing sub ject. —The limited influence cf a national bank in at erting derangement in the ex changes of the country, or in compelling the resumption of specie payments, is now not lees apparent than its tendency to in crease the inordinate speculation by sud den expansions and contractions, its dis position to create panic and embarrass ment for the promotion of its own designs, its interference with politics, and its far greater power for evil than for good, ei• ther in regard to the local institutions or the operations of Government itself. What was, in these respects, but apple hension or opinion when a national bank was first established, now stands confir med by humiliating experience. The scenes through which we have passed, conclusively prove how little our com merce, agriculture, manufacturers or fi nances require such an institution, and what dangers are attendant on its power; a power, I trust, never to be conferred by American people upon their Govern. went, and still less upon individuals not responsible to them for its unavoidable abuses, My conviction of the necessity of fur ther legislative provisions for the safekee ping and disbursement of the public mo neys, and my opinion in regard to the measures best adapted to the accomplish ment of those objects, have been already submitted to you. These have been strengthened by recent events. and, in the fall conviction that time and experience must still further demonstrate their pro priety, I feel it my duty, with respectful deference to the conflicting views of oth ers, again to invite yonr attention to them. With the exception of limited sums de posited in the few banks still employed under the act of 1838, the amounts re ceived for duties, and, with very incon siderable exceptions, those accruing from lands also, have since the general suspen sion of specie payments by the deposite banks, been kept and disbursed by the Treasurer, under his grierallegal powers subject to the superintendence of the Secretary of the Treasury. The proprie ty of defining more specifically, and of regulating by law, the exercise of this wide scope of executive discretion, has been already submitted to Congress. A change in the office of collector at one of our principal ports, has brought to light a defalcation of the gravest charac ter, the particulars of which will be laid before you in a special report from the Secretary of the Treasury. By this re port and the accompanying documents, it will be seen that the weekly returns of the defaulting officer apparently exhibi ted, throughout, a faithful administration of the affairs entrusted to his management. It, however, now appears that he com menced abstracting the public moneys shortly after his appointment, and contin ued to do so, progressively increasing the amount, for the term of more than seven years, embracing a portion of the period during which the public moneys were de posited in the Bank of the United States, the whole of that of the state bank depos its system, and concluding only on his retirement from office, after that system had substantially failed, in consequence of the suspension of specie payments. The way in which the defalcation was so long concealed, and the steps taken to indemnify the United States, as far as practicable, against loss, will also be pre sented to you. The case is one which imperatively claims the attention of Con gress, and furnishes the strongest motives of the establishment of a more severe and secure system for the safekeeping and RNAL. disbursement of the public moneys than' any that has heretofore existed• It seems proper, at all events, that, by an early enactment, similar to that of oth er countries, the application of public money by an officer of Government to private uses, should be made a felony, and visited with severe and ignominious pnn ishment• This is already, in effect, the law in respect to the m'nt, and has been productive of the most salutary results. Whatever system is adopted, such an enactment wonld he wise as an indepen dent measure, since much of the public moneys must, in their collection land ul timate disbursement, pass twice through the hands of public officers, in whatever manner they are intermediately kept. The Government, it must be admitted, has been from its commencement cern oaratively fortunate in this respect. But the appotinz power cannot always be well aaV . iged in its se:Cf tiOns, and the ex perience of every cOuntiT has shown that public officers are not at all timesproof against temptation, It is a duty, there. fore, which the Government owes, as well to the interests committed to its care as to the officers themselves, to provide every guard against transgressions of this char acter that is consistent with reason and humanity. Congress cannot be to jeal ous of the conduct of those who are en trusted with the public money; and 1 shall at all times be disposed to encourage a watchful discharge of this duty. It a more direct co-operation on the part of Congress, in the supervision of the con duct of the officers entrusted with the custody and application of the public money is deemed desirable, it will give me pleasure to assist in the establishment of any judicious and constitutional plan by which that object may be accomplish ed. You will, in your wisdom, deter mine upon the propriety of adopting such a plan, and upon the measure necessary to its effectual execution. When the late Bulk of United States was incorporated, and made the depository of the public money, a right was reserved to Congress to inspect, at its pleasure, by a commit tee of that body, the books and the pi o ceedings of the bank. In one of the States whose banking in stitutions are supposed to rank among the first in point of stability, there are subjected to constant examination by com missioners appointed for that purpose, and much of the success of its banking sys tem is attributed to this watchful surper vision. The same course has also, in view, of its beneficial operation, been ad opted by an adjoining State, favorably known for the care it has always bestow ed upon whatever relates to its financial concerns. I submit to your consideration whether a committee of Congress might not be profitably employed in inspecting, at such intervals as 'might be deemed proper, the affairs and accounts of officers entrusted with the custody of the public money. The frequent performance of this duty might be made obligatory on the committee in respect to those officers who have large sums in their possession, and left discretionary in respect to others. They might report to the Executive such defalcations as were found to exist, with a view to a prompt removal form office un less the default was satisfactorily accoun ted for; and report, also, to Congress, at the commencement of each session, the result of their examintions, and procee dings. It does appear to me that, with a subjection of this class of public officers I to the general supervision of the Execu tive, to examinations by a committee of Congress at periods of which they should have no previous notice, and to prosecu tion and punishment as for felony for ev ery breach of trust, the safekeeping of the public money, under the system proposed,' might be placed on a surer foundation than it has ever occupied since the estab lishment of the Government. The Secretary of the Treasury, he says will give further information on the subject. Then follows some of the old twaddle about "imprudent expansions of, the bank credit"—"money power," &c. &c., and he finally winds up, by holding out his hand to the State Banks, in the following friendly tone. He certainly must have forgotten his promise to "tread in the,' ootsteps," of the "old monster kil -1 ler." It will not. lam sure, be deemed out of place for me here to remark, that the declaration of my views in opposition to the 'policy of employing banks as depos itories of the Government funds, cannot justly be construed as indicative of hos tility. official or personal, to those iusti. tutions, or to repeat in this form, and in connection with this subject, opinions which I have formerly entertained, and on all proper occasions expressed. Though always opposed to their creation in the form of exclusive privileges, and as a State magistrate aiming by appropriate legislation to secure the consequences of [ VOL IV, No. 10. yet ever wished to see them protect ed i n the exercise of rights conferred by law their occasional mismanagement, i i a ~ and have never doubted their utility, when properly managed, in promoting the interest of trade and, through that channel, the other intereets of the com munity. To the General Government they present themselvi a merely as State institutions having no necessary connec tion with its legislation or its administra tion. Like other State establishments. they may be used or not in conducting the affairs of the Governinent, as public policy and general interest of the 'Un . on may seem to require. The only sate or proper principle upon which their inter course with the govetnment can be regulated, is that which regulates trieir intercourse withlthe private citizen--the conferring of mutual benefits. When the Government can accomplish a 'financial operation better with the aid of the banks than without, it it should be at liberty to st , 'Ac that aid al.it would the services of a private banker, or other capitalists or a gents, giving .'le preference lo those who will serve it on the best terms. Nor can there ever exist an interest in the officers of the General government, as such, in ducing them to embarrss or annoy the State banks, any more ithan to incur the hostility of any other class of State insti tutions, or of private citizens . It is nil: in the nature of things that hostility to those institutions can spring Irmo this source, or any opposition to thei.' kenrs6 of business, except whr n they themselvers depart from the objects of their creation: 'and attempt to usurp powers not confer red upon them, or to subvert the standard of value established by the Constitution. While opposition to their regular opera tions cannot exist in this quarter, resir. tance to any attemptlo make 'the Govern ment depend upon them for the success ful 'administration of public affairs, is a is a matter of duty, as I trust it will ever be of inclination, no matter from what mii tive or consideration the attempt may or-; iginate. , It is no more than just to the banks to say, that the late emergency, most of there firmly resisted the strongest temptation to extend their paper issues, when apparent ly sustained in suspension of specie pay ments by public opinion, even though in some cases invited by legislative enact ments. To this honorable course, aided by the resistance of the General Govern ' ment, acting in obedience to the COnsti tution and laws of the U. States, to the introduction of an irredeemable paper me dinm, may be attributed, in a great de gree, the speedy restoration of our cur rency to a sound state, and the business of the country to its wanted prosperity • The banks have but to continue in the same !safe course, and be content in their appropriate sphere, to avoid al? interfe rence from the General Government, and to dmis.'e from it all the protection and benetits which it bestows on other State establishments, on the people of the States, and on the States themselves. In this, t h eir true position, they cannot but secure the confidence and good will of the people and G ivernment which they can only lose when leaping from their legitimate sphere, they attempt to con: trol the legislation of the country, and petwert the operations of the Government to th6it ostn purptises: the following paragraphs are of nd great interest, or importance—The pre emption law: tobacco trade with foreign Countries; the necessity, for the passage of a law to take the next census; and the importance of some organization of the militia on our maratine, anti inland fron tiers, make up the whole. Then follows an excuse for thousand depredations . which Lave been made upon the poor "red men." One would suppose that th Indians were under great obligations to the "great medicine" of the pale faces, for humaaely providing them with "hap py hunting grounds," this side the grave . .Lo! the poor latlitin." It aft rds me sincere pleasure to be able to apprise you of the entire removal of the Cherokee nation of Indians to their new homes west of the Mississippi. The measures authorized by Congress at its last session, with a view to the long standing controversey with them, have had the happiest encts. By an agree= ment concluded with toem by the com manding general in that country, who has performed the duties assigned to him on the occasion with commendable energ y and humanity, their removal has been principally under the conduct of their own chiefs, and they have emigrated with out any apparent reluctance. The successful accomplishment of this important object; the removal also, of the, entire Creek nation, with the exception oe a small number of fugitives amongst the Seminoles in Florida; the progress alreatt'
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