Newspapers / Carolina Watchman (Salisbury, N.C.) / Dec. 13, 1845, edition 1 / Page 3
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5 J1 - - . m ExiitlngVigLliiJufVvey rfopcan nation OioiiJd be respected i but jt is .liketoouM ifety and our interests that the ? nt DrotectiJn' of our laws should be exten ffLr aur whole territorial limits, and that it Inald he distinctly announced to the world as aettjed pokjt hat no future European colo ur dominion shall, with bur consent, be plant JJ of established 'on any 'parl of the Norj Ir A-'-'i-rfcitt continent, r A ;; ? " '"' -;' 7 ' i question has recently arisen under the fc-nth article of the subsisting treaty between Sc Uoitco States and Prussia., By this article, ibe consuls of tb& two countries havehe j-ight M iit as'jMdges 4hd arbitrators "in sucMiff'er L. s may aiisc between the captains and trcws of the repels be lob sin j to the nation without the taterleirnce of the local aulhorUies, unless tbeconduct of the cre ws or of the cap. ii 'should disturb the order or tranquility of M country ; or the said consuls should require .iuir assistance to cause their decisions to be , tried into effect or supported." - The Prussian I Consul at IScw Uediora, in jje, 1944, app! ed to Mr. JusticoJStory to car- VT.,, n ln:tn ,t.. I . v tlllTI ltllVen )- ff 111 IV ukVisiuu hiuvjx "j ...... lie captain and Krcw ol tho Prussian snip o. cassia nut toe request was rpujsru on m round j that, ,wirhout previous legislation by Congress the judiciary did not possess the pow rto girej eflvct to this article if the treaty. -TKe Prussian Government," through their Min ister here, have complained ofthis violatioiuof th ireafr. and hafe asked the-Government'of the United State toTailoptthe necessary area lares to prevent similar, violations hereafter,---'(ood faith to-Prussia, as well a$ to other na lions witty whom fw$, have similar treaty stipu. iatians,: requires thai these should be .faithfully observed. I ha e deemed it proper, therefore, ia uv the subject before Congress, and to re- comniendf such legislation as may bjvtiecessary to givejeflecf to ihese treaty obligations. ' 5 By virtue of an arrangement made between tie Spanish Got eromem and that of the Uoi- ted States, iu IXecember, 182K American ves sels, since the 20th of April, 1 832, have been idmitted to entry in the ports of Spain, includ. tog those of the Bolearic and Canary Islands, on payment! of ihe same tonnage duty of five cents per ton, a though .they had been Spanish rrsseis ; and this, whether our vessels arrive in Spain directly from the United States, or in directly from nil r other country When Con press, )y the aU of the 13th of July, 1832. , gave ,e fleet -'.to this arrangement between the tw,o Govern rite nt , they confined the reduction of tonnage J duii merely, to Sparsh vessels Scorning from aj port in ,6pain," leavinghe frmerdiscrlmii iiling duty to remain against such vessels, coriiog from a port hV any ther country,;- It is manifestly unjust that, whilst .American vessel , arriving, in the ports of Spain uvm oiner couijiries 'pay no more uuiv man I Spanish Vessels.iSpahisb vessels arriving in Ihe Sports of jhe iUnitetl States from other countries jbnuldjlie subjected, to heavy discriminating tonnage duties. 1 his is" neither equanty nor reciprocity, and inrnt concluded the two couhtrie is in violation ot the arrange. in December, 1831, between . The Spanish Government ed jnd earnest remonstrances lality, a ni the favorable atien Ihas been several times invok- fcare made repea gainst this gneri don of Congress! td to the subj e(t by my predecessors. I re. commend as an act of justice to Spain, that this mequality be removed by Congress, and that the discricninatinjx duties thatliavo been levied under the act of the 13th of July, 1832. on Soan ish vessels, com ig to the United States from toy other foreigr 'country, be refunded. This rocofnirmudixtuttt does not-- rniliracr Spanish tessels arriving i 1 theIbited States from Cuba and Porto Ricook'hieh will -Still remain subject -to the provisions of the act' of June 30, 1834, concerning tonnajge duty onsuch vessels. ; ? By the act bf ho 14th of July, 1832. coffee was exempted fri m duly altgetfier. This ex cmptiojn was universal, without referencejo the country where it ivas pndured, or the national character of thej vessel in which it was import, ed, By the tariff act of the 30th of Atigust, 1342, Ithis exemption ; frornduty was restricted tocoffee imporiecl iii Anieftcati vessels fro.n the flace tof iti production ; whilst coffee imprrted wndfrJaH other circumstantH's was suTyef.led to a duty of twenty par centl ad valorem. Under this act, and our Existing treaty with the King of thj Netherland.3, Javacofne imported from i Ihe European ports of that kingdom into tho LnitMl Urates, whether in Dutch or American Vessels. MOW navfc this r:iti of rluti LTlm Rhv." ernrnent ol ilu X therlands complains (ha! fuch tdisdriminatmg - ed on coflee t he piuty should have been imMs production of one jf its colo. ; nits, and which 1 hiefly brought from Java tor he pi.rts of ihat kingdom. and exported-from tUenc0 toTorein t cmintries. Uur trade with s highly beneficial to- both th Jfetherlaiids unifies, and ou ken of the most jrclal ions with them hare ever frietidlycltaracter. Underall me circumstances thiuthrsdiscrimliat ot the case, I recommend fit Inn chnnltlir nhnliefiArt nnr wat thdeonee of Java imported from the Neth riandsle placed upon the same footing with - Ihat impbrUd dii4clly from Brazil and other f fouJitriewherb itj is produced. - - - . Under the cig ith section of the tariff act of fte 30th of Augii sj, 1842, a duly of hficen cents PrgallfliJwas imposed on portvine in casks; We on the red wines of several other counr when I imported irr casks, a duty of only t Cftrts per callbn was imoosed. This di. uinatioij; so (hi as regarded the port wine of .'"W yas deemed a vfolatioti of our treaty h that power, which provides that " no high. r or other duties, shall ho imposed on the im. Fttatmn iuto tbfe United States of America of of t- T 1 ' Srt'win produce, or manufacture 1 Jt! ahd possessions of Portugal, than asr 0r shall be payable on tho like ar 5 'f Sjfle gMwtb, produce, or manufacture J. ! h(r foresn country," Accordingly, to r?eH?telfiflrea'y a well as .to the in. "iro! ong -ess, expressed in aproviso to tai act itMlf' lhal n"hing therein con. t il lHld 80 construed as to. interfere subsTsting! ieaties with foreign nations, a Ju!. . idf :!f ,rC"!Kr Ws is3ued ICth of i m m ui.fa u llttl .'tmdptt i prt wine of Portugal, in casks, v , mc CI StlWir stihz laws And tre.it v: tn K sir fi- . Li ,: no hlL8f V?n ?,ad directed jbat the excess of . - 'J f w w . . ihonU i " ,aa? neen colcted on such-ivine uit,-'1 i rn J ue oi anoioer clause the lti.IV e $W imported to some extent into eoonT;. !i ola.lnf and lhe Government of that nj: '-'?w 5WPM. hat, under "on tf cltdM la a duty -i ifT.".4T "v uioro yaiuaoio antCIO .Virion to leslit H im;i ' - m r "v aci " 18 provided mat U iSi T -'iPort or.any other wines - shall VtS i !blduty Provided for the genuine ticm.r, !,mi Pn port wine the Droduc' froiu Portugal; should pay .7a duty ut.iTx centi only per -galloiiA i I thereforo j recommend ' to f Congress such legislation as itfay, be necessary to correci ine iiiequauiy. . yh- ' vPbe'late. President, in his annual message of December last,' recommended an appropriation to satisfy the claims of the .Texan Government against the United State's;, which had been pre viously adjusted, so "far as thepbwenrbf the Executive extend. . These 'claims' arose out 'of the 'act of disarming 'a body of TeXan troops, under the coitanand, of iMajor jSntrely. by art of. ficer in the tervice.othe United States, acting under the orders' ol our Government ; "and - the forcible entry into the'custom.bousc at Briarly's landing. on Red river, by certain citizens of the I United States, and taking away therefrom the goods seized by the Collector f the. Customs as forfeited under the laws ofTexas.; This was a liquidated debt, ascertainecl to be due. o Texas when an mdependentState. ; Her acceptance of the terms of annexation proposed bv the Uni ted States does not discharge or invalidaie the claim, I recommend that provision be rr made for It payment. ' The Commissioner aooointed to China du ring the special session of the Senate in March last shortly afterwards set out on his mission in the United States ship Columbus. On arriving at Rio de Janiero on his passage, the' state of hi health had become so critical, that, by the advice of his medical attendants, be returned to the United States early in the month of Oct -be r fast. Commodore Biddle, commanding the East India squadron, proceeded on bis voyage in the Columbus, and was charged by the Com missioner with the duty of exchanging with the firoper authorities the ratifications of the treaty alely concluded with the" Emperor Of China. Since lhe return of tbe Commissioner to the United States, his health has been much im proved, and he enterlaitu the confident belief ihat he will soon be able to proceed on his" mis. sion.j y '-- ' -' " Urifortunatelf, differences continue to exist among sime of the nations of South America, which, following mir example, Tiave established their independence, while in others internal dis tentions prevail. It is natural that our sympa thies should be warmly enlisted for their web fare ; that wehould desire that all controvert sies between them should le amicably adjusted. and their Governments admipitered in a manner to protect the rights and promotehe prosperity of their people It is contrary, however, to our settled policy to interfere in their controversies, whether external or internal. I have thus adverted to all ihe subjects con nected with our foreign relations to which I deem it necessary to call your attention. Our policy is not. only peace with all, but good will towards all the Powers of the earth. While we are just to all, we require that all shall be just to us Excepting the differences with Mexico and Great Britain, our relations with all civil, ized nations are of the most satisfactory char acter. . It is hoped that in this enlightened age thene differences may be amicably adjusted. The Secretary of the Treasury, in his annu. al report'to Congress, will communicate, a full statement of the condition of our finances. The imports for the fiscal year ending on the. 30th of June last, were of the value of one hundred and seventeen millions two hundred and fifty-four thousand five hundred and sixty-four dollars, of which the amount exported was fifteen millions three hundred and fbrty-six thousand eight hun dred and thirty dollars leaving a balance of one hundred and one millions nine hundred and even thousand seven hundred and thirty-four dollars for domestic consumption. The. exports for the m year wr of lhe value f one hun dred and fourteen millions six hundred f. rty-six thousand six hundred and six dollars ; of which, the amount of domestic articles was ninety-nine millions two hundred ani ninety-nine thousand seven hundred and seventy-six dollars. The receipts into the treasury during the same year were twenty-nine millions seven hundred and sixty-nine thousand one hundred and thirty-three dollars and fifty-six cents ; of which, there were derived from customs. wenty-sei'en millions five hundred and twenty ight thousand one hundred and twelve dollars and scenty cents ; from sales of public lands, two millions seventy.sev en thousand and twenty-two dollars and thirty cents ; and from incidental and miscellaneous sources one hundred and sixty-three thousand nine hundred and' ninety.eight dollars and fifty-six cents. The expenditures for the same period were twenty-nine millions nine hundred and sixty-eight thousand two hundred and six dollars and ninety.eight cents ; of which, eight millions five hundred and eighty-eight thousand one hundred and fifty-seven dollars and sixty, two cents were applied to the payment of the public debt. The, balance in the, treasury on the first of July last, was seven millions six hun dred and fifty-eight thousand three hundred and six dollars and twenty -two cents. The. amount of the public debt remaining un paid on tin first of October last, was seveuteen millions seventy-five thousand four hundred and iorty-ifive dollars and fifty .two cents. Further payments of the public debt would have been made, in anticipation of the period of its reim. bursement under theauthority ' conferred upon the Secretary of the Treasury by the acti of July 211841, and of April 15, 1842, and March 3, 194sChad not tbe unsettled state of our re. lations with Mexico menaced hostile collision with that power. In view of such a contingen. cy, it was deemed prudent to retain in the trea sury an amount unusually large for ordinary pur poses. . A few years ago, our whole" national debt growing out of the Revolution and war of 1812 with Great Britain was. extinguished and .we presented to the world the rare and noble spec tacle of a great and growing people who bad ful ly discharged every obligation. 'Since that time, the existing debt has been contracted ; and small as it is, in comparison with the similar burdens of most other nations, it should be extinguished at the earliest practicable period; Should the state of tlie'country permit, and, especially, if our foieign relations interpose no obstacle, it is con. lemplated to apply all the moneys in the treasury as they acrue beyond what is required for the ap propriations by Congress, to its liquidation. I cherish the hope of soon being able to congratu late the country onHts recovering once; more the lofty position which it so recently occupied. Our country which exhibits to the world the benefits of self-government, in developing all the sources oi national prospei uy, owes i manxina ine per manent example of a nation free from the blight, ing influence of aibliclcbu W?'-! Tbe"attention of Congress is Invited to the im portance of making - suitable " modiScations and. reductions of the rates of t duty, imposed by otif present tariff JawV.: du ties' oti imports should btj to raiso revenue to pay the necessaryiexpeiis"ebf government, i Con gress ma rf undoubtedly, iq the e xe VciseT' of a sound discretion, disariinitiato in "arranging ihe rate of dutyW different articles lnt thediscri tniaattbns should bo withu) the rcrcauc sUadanl and bs mide with the yie w to Vutse Si'jney ibr the' support of government,. ' I -.. y't J- J - . - It becomes important to understand dislinctly what is meant by a revenue standard, the maxi mum of which should not be exceeded in the rates of.duty imposed. It is conceded and experience proves, that duties may be laid on so -high as to dimin ishi or prohi bit alt oget heir, the import at ion of any given article; and thereby lessen or des troytho revenue which, at lower rates, would be derived from its? importation.' Such duties ex Ceed the reVenue rates, and are not imposed to raise' money for the support Of government. 1- If Congress levy afduty, fir revenue, of one per ct. oh a given article, it will produce a given amount' of money to the Treasury, and will incidentally and necessarily afford protection or advantage to the amount of one percent, to the home manu facturer of a similar or like article over the im porter. If I he duty be raised to ten per cent;, it will produce a grejiter amount of money and af ford greater protection. Il it be still raised to twenty, t wenty.fiveor thirty fier cent., and if, as it is raised, the revenue derived from it is found to be increased, the protection or advantage will also be increased ; but if it be -raised to thirty one per cent., and it is found that the revenue pro duced at that rate is less than thirty per cent, it ceases to be a revenue duty. The precise point in Ihe ascending scale of duties, at which it is as ceitained from experience that the revemte is greatest, is lhe maximum rate of duty which can uc laid for the bona fide purpose of collecting money fbr the support of government. To raise the duties higher than that point, and thereby di minish the amount collected, is to levy them for protection merely, and not for revenue. As long, then, as Congress may gradually increase the rate of duty on a given article, and the reve nue is increased by such increase of duty, they are within the revenue standard. When they go beyond that point, and as they increase the duties, the revenue is diminished or destroyed, the act ceases to have for its object the raising of money to support Government, but is for protec tion merely. It does not follow that Congress should levy the highest duty on articles of import which they will bear within the revenue standard ; for such rales would probably produce a much larger a niount than the economical administration of the Government would require. Nor does itTollow that the duties on all articles should be at the same or a horizontal rate. Some articles will bear a much higher revenue duty than others. Below the maximum of the revenue standard Congress may and ought to discriminate in the rates imposed, taking care so to adjust them on different articles as to produce in the aggregate the amount which, when added to the proceeds of sales of public lands, may be needed to pay the economical expenses of the Government. In levying a tariffof duties, Congress exercise the taxing power, and for purposes of revenue may select the objects of taxation They may exempt certain articles altogether, and permit their importation free of duty. On others they may impose low duties. In these classes should be embraced such articles of necessity as are in general use, and especially such as are consum. ed by the laborer and the poor, as well as by the wealthy citizen. Care should be taken that alL the great interests of the country, including man- ufactures,agriculture, commerce, navigation, and Ihe mechanic arts, should, as far as may be practicable, derive equal advantages from the in cidental protection which a just system of reve nue duties may afford. Taxation, direct or indi rect, is a burden, and it should be so imposed as to operate as equally as may be, on all classes, in the proportion of their ability to bear it. To make the taxing power an actual benefit to one class necessarily increases lhe burden of the others beyond their proportion, and would be manifestly unjust. The 'terms protection lo domestic industry " are of popular import ; but they should apply, under a just system, to all the various branches of industry in our country. Tbe farmer or planter, who toils yearly in. his fields, is engaged in "domestic industry," and is as much entitled to have his labor 44 protect ed," as tho manufacturer, the man of commerce, lhe navigator, or the mechanic, who are engag ed also in "domestic industry " in their differ cnt pursuits. The joint labors of all these class es constitute the aggregate of the " domestic in dustry " of the nation, and they are equally enti. tied to the nation's 44 protection." No one of theni can justly claim to be the exclusive recipU entxof protection," which can only le afford ed by increasing burdens on the 44 domestic in dustry" oftheothers. If these views be correct, it remains to inquire how far the tariff act of 1842 is consistent wiih Ihem. 1 hat many ot the provisions ot that uct are in violation of the cardinal principles here laid downfall must concede. The rates of duty imjmsed by it on Some articles are prohibitory, and on others so high as greatly to diminish im portations, and to produce a less amount of reve nue than would be derived from lower rates. Tbey operate as "protection merely" to one brancfi of " domestic industry," by taxing other branches. By the introduction of minitnums, or assumed and false values, and by the Imposition of specif ic duties, the injustice and inequality of the act of 1842 in its practical operations on different classes and pursuits are seen and felt. Many of the oppressive duties imposed by it under the op eration of these principles, range from one per cent, to more than two hundred per cent. They are prohibitory on some articles, and partially so on others, and bear most heavily on articles, of common necessity, and but lightly on articles of luxurv. It is so framed that much the greatest burden which it imposes is thrown on labor and the poorer classes who are least able to bear it, while ft Drotect3 capital and exempts the rich " M 4 V 9 t from paying their just proportion of the taxation required for the support of Government. While it protects tho capital of the wealthy manufactur er, and increases his profits, it does not benefit the operatives or laborers in his employment, whose wage have not been increased by it Articles of prime necessity, or of coarse quality and low price, lused by the masses of the people, are, in many instances, subjected by it to heavy taxes, while articles of finer quality and higher price, or of luxury, which can be used only by the opulent, are lightly taxed. It imposes heavy and unjust burdens on the farmer, the plauler, the commercial manand those of all other pur suits except the-capltalist who has made his in vestments in manufactures. Ail the great in terests of the country are not, as nearly as may 1 be practicable, equally protected by it. " ' ; , The Government, in theory, knows nodistinc tion of persons or classes, and should not besto w uixm some 'favors i and privileges which all others may not enjoyv;;It was the pHrpose bfjts iltus-J triou founders7 td base me insiiiuuons wntcn they reared upon the great and unchanging prin cipfer of justice and equity, administered in'tbespirit -In which they were cnceivedrtfiey; would felt only by the bene. 1ils which the themselves adefence 7n:theshWrtsr of 4ho peo- plcj more powerful thato sUndmg armipsj n4 all the inean v and.-appliances in vented Jo - ustaiu Governments founded in injustice and opprcs. $irtn.t: -V ' '"A r- r.; The ; well-knoxyn fact , that lh tariff act of 1842 was passed by a majority .of one vote, in the Senate, and two in the House of Represen tatives, and th"alsom"eofflbose who felt them selvescobJfrained, under thetuliSir circumi stances existing at the time, to rote in its favor; proclaimed its defects, and expressed lheir "'de terminatioO to aid in 'its tnodification on the first opportunity, afllirds strong and conclusive evi dence that it was not intended to be permanent, and of the expediency and necessity of its thor ough revision.';.?: .f-iw-u V;--- ; t:-' f - In recommending to Congress a reduction of the: present rates if duty, and ,a revision and .modification of the act of 1812, 1 am far from entertaining opinions unfriendly to tbe manulac iurers t on the contrary, I desire to" see them prosperous, as far as t hey can be so, without im posing unequal burdens on other interests. The advantage under any system of indirect taxa tion; even within the revenue standard, must be injfavnrof tbe manufacturing interest, aud of this no other interest will complain. I recommend to Congress the abolition of the minimum principle, or assumed, arbitrary, and ; false values, and of specific duties, and the sub-1 stitution in their place of ad valorem duties as the fairest and most equitable indirect tax uh'cb can le imposed. By the ad valorem principle all articles are taxed according to their value, and those which are of inferior quality or small cost,4eSr only the just proportion of the tax with tfiose which are of superior quality oi greater cost. The articles consumed by all are taxed at the same rate. A system ot ad valo rem revenue duties, with proper discriminations and proper guards against frauds in collecting them.Jt is not doubted will afford ample inci dental" advantages to the manufacturers, and enable them to derive as great profits as can be derived from any other regular business. It is believed that such a system, strictly within the revenue standard, will place the manufac turing interests on a stable footing, and inure to their permanent advantage, while it will, as nearly as may be practicable, extend to all the great interests of the country the incidental protection whiph can be afforded by our reven ue laws. Such a system, when once firmly established, would be permanent, and not Ik subject to"the constant complaints, agitations, and changes which must ever occur when du ties are not laid fbr revenue, lmt for the pro tection merely ' of a favored interest. - In the deliberations of Congress on this sub ject iris hoped that a spirit of mutual conces sion and compromise between conflicting inter ests may prevail, and that the result of their la bors may be crowned with the happiest conse quences. By the Constitution of the United States it is provided that no money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of appropria tions made by law." A public Treasury was undoubtedly contemplated and intended tobe created, Tin which the public money should be kept, from the period of collection until needed for public uses. In the collection and disburse ment of the public money no agencies have ever been employed by law, except such as were appointed by the Government, directly respon sible to it, and under its control. The safe keeping of the public money should be confided to a public Treasury created bylaw, and under like responsibility and control. It is not to be. imagined that the framers of the Constitution could have intended that a Treasury should be created, as a place of deposite and safe-keeping ot tho public money which was irresponsible to the uoTrrnment. lhe nrst Congress under the Constitution, by the act of the 2d Septem ber, 1789, " to establish the Treasury Depart ment," provided for the appointment of a Trea surer, and made it his duty "to receive and keep the moneys of ihe United States," and 44 at all limes to submit to the Secretary of the Treasury andComptroller, or either of them, the inspection of the moneys in his hands." The. banks. National or State, could not have leen intended to be used as a substitute fbr the Treasury spoken of in the Constitution as keep, ersifthe public money, is manifest from the fact that at that time there was no National Bank, and but three or four State banks of limi ted capital existed in the country. Their em ployment as depositories was at first resorted to lo a limited extent, but-no avowed intention of continuing ihem permanently in place of lhe Treasury of the Constitution. When they were afterwards from time to time employed, it was j from motives of.supposed convenience. Our experience has shown that when bank ing corporations have been the keepers of the public money, andj been thereby made in effect the Treasury, lhe Government can have no guaranty that it can command the use of its own money for public purposes. The late Bank of the United States proved to be faithless The State banks, which were afterwards employed, were faithless. But ar few years ago, with millions of public money in their keeping, the Government was brought almost to bankruptcy, and the public credit seriously" impaired, lie cause of their inability or indisposition to pay on demand to the public creditors in the only cur rency recognised by the Constitution. Their failure occurred in a period of peace, and great inconvenience and loss were suffered by the public from it. Had the country been involved in a foreign war, that inconvenience and loss would have, been much greater, and might have resulted in extreme public calamity. The pub lic moqey should not lie mingled with the pri vate funds of banks or individuals, or be used I for private purposes. .. When it is placed in hanksfivfexkecping, : it is in effect loaned to them without interest, and is loaned by them upbn interest to the borrowers from them. The public money is converted into banking capital, and is used and loaned out for the private pro fit of banlr stockholders ; and when called fbr, as was the case in 1837, it may be in the pock ets of the borrowers from the banks, instead of being in the .public treasury, contemplated by the Constitution. The framers of the Consti tution could never have intended that the money paid into the Treasury should be thus contro verted to private use, and placed beyond the! control ot the (jrovcrnment. Banks. whjch hold tbe public money are often tempted by a desire of gain to extend their loans, increase their -circulation, and thus stim ulate, if not produce, a spirit of speculation and extravagance, which, sooner or later, must re- suit in jruin io inousands. It tne puinic money be not permitted to be thus used, but be kept in the Treasury,' and ' paid out to the public creditors in gold and silver, the temptation af. ' forded by its deposite with banks to an undue expansion of their business would ibe checked, 'while the 'ttmounf of the constitutional currency left in circnlalion would be enlarged by its era. ployment in'the publio collections and disburse ments; atid the banks theiyiselves would in con sequence ,be found .in a-safer and rounder ccn litOtt" At present, State banks arc employed as de. positories, but without adequate .regulaj ion of law, whereby the public money can beecured against the casualties and excesses, revulsions suspehsionsvand -defalcations to whichj, from overissues, overtrading; an inordinate desire fbr gain, or other, causes, they are constantly ctr posed, v The Secretary of t he Trea su ry has, in alt .cases, whehTit : was practicable; takeu.colla tfiral securitjr f r the -amount which they hold, by the pledge xf stock of the United States or such oft the ; States - as ?were in f good T creduY Some of the deposite banks have given this de. script ion of security, and others have declined to do so. 7..-( u ' , i Entertaining the opinion that - the separa t ion ?f -1 he moneys of. t he G o ye rn mnt fn im baiikingrinstituti saff ty of the Cindi oT the Government and the rights of the nenjet" I recommend to Congress ihat provision li made by law f r such separa tion, and that a constitutional treasury be crea ted for tho safe-keeping of the ptiblic money. The constitutional treasury recoinrnended is designed as a secure depository for the public money, without any power to make loans or discounts, or to-issue any paper whatever as a currency or ciicutation. I cannot doubt that sjucn a treasury as was rontempiaiea ny ine C)Qstitution should tie independent of aU bank ing corporations. The money of the people should be kept in the treasury of lhe people created by law, and be in the custody of agents of the people chosen by themselves, according to the forms of the Constitution; agents who aredirecily responsible to the Government, who are under adequate bonds and-oaths, and who are subject to severe "punishments for any em bezzlement, private use, or misapplication of the public funds, and for any failure in other respects to perform their duties. To say that the people or 'their Government are inromjMJ tent, or not to be trustedwith the custody of their own money, in their own treasury, provi ded by themselves, but must rety on the presi. dents, cashiers, and stockholders of banking corporations, not appointed by them, nor re sponsible to them, would-be to concede that they are incompetent for self-government. In recommending the establishment of a con. stitutional treasury in which the public money shall be kept, I desire that adequate provision be made by law for its safety, and that all Ex ecutive discretion or control over it shall be re. moved, except such as may le necessary in di reeling its disbursement in pursuance of appro priations made by law. Under our present land system, limiting the minimum price at which the public lands can be entered to one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, large quantities of lands of inferior quality remain unsold, because they will not command that price. From the records of the General Land Office it appears that, of the public lands remaining unsold in the several States and Territories in which they are situa ted, thirty-nine millions one hundred and five thousand five hundred and seventy spven acres have been in the market, subject to entry, more than twenty years ; forty-nine millions six hun dred and thirty-eight thousand six hundred and forty-four acres for more than fifteen years; seventy-three millions seventy-four thousand and six hundred acr8 for more than ten years j and one hundred and six millions One hundred and seventy-six thousand nine hundred and six-ty-one acres for more than five years. Much the largest portion of these lands will continue to be unsaleable at the minimum price at which they are permitted to be sold, so long as large territories of lands from whieh the more valua ble portions have not been selected are annu ally brought into, market by the Government. With the view to the-sale and settlement of these inferior lands, I recommend that theprice be graduated and reduced below the present minimum rate, confining the sales at the re duced prices lo settlers and cultivators, in limi ted quantities. If giaduated and reduced in price f r a limited term to one diJlar per acre, and after the expiration of that period for a se cond and third term to lower rates, a large por tion of these lands would be purchased, and many worthy citizens, who arc unable to pay higher rates, could purchase homes for them selves and their families. By adopting the pol icy of graduation and reduction of price, these 'infetior lands will be sold fbr their real value, while the States in which they Jie will be freed from the inconvenience, if not injustice, to which they are subjected, in consequence of the United States continuing to own large quantities of public lands within their borders, not liable to taxation for the support ofjtheir local Governments. I recommend the continuance of the policy of granting preemptions, in it's most liberal ex. tent, to all those who have fettled or may here, after settle on the public lands, whether sur veyed or unsurveved, to which the Indian title may have been extinguished at lhe time of set. tlemcnL It has been found by experience that, in consequence of combinations of purchasers and other causes, a very small quantity of lhe public lands, when sold at public au,clion,coin mands a higher price than the minimum rate established by law. Tbe settlers on the pnb lic lands are, however, but rarely able lo se cure their homes and improvements at the pub lic sales at that rate ; because these combina tions, by means of the capital they command, and their superior ability to purchase, render it impossible for the settler to comete with them in the market. By putting down all competi. lion, these combinations of capitalists and spec ulators are usually enabled to purchase the lands, including lhe improvements of the set tiers, at the minimum price of lhe Government, and r if her turn them out of their homes, or ex tort from them, according to their ability toi pay, double or quadruple the amount paid fbr them to the Government. It is to the enter, prise and perseverance of lhe hardy pioneers of the West, 1 who penetrate lhe wilderness with their families, suffer the dangers, the pri. vations, and hardships attending the settlement of a new country, and prepare the way for the body of emigrants who in the course of a few years usually follow them, that we are in a great degree indebted for the rapid extension and aggrandizement of our country. Experience has proved that no portion of our population are -morei patriotic than the. hardy and brave men of the frontier, or more -ready to obey 4he call of their country, and to defend her rights and: her -..honor, whenever ., and by i whatever enemy-assailei;rhey' should be protectea irora me grasping speculator, y cured, at the - minimum price t of -the public lands, in the humble . homes which aney nav improyed by their labor. " With this, end in view, all vexatious or unnecessary restrictions imposed upon thcro by the existing pre-emption laws should lie renealed or modified. It Is the true : policy of the Government to" afford facili ties to. its icitizens'td became the.ownprs ef mall portions ofwir vast pdblic domain at Jow and roodera to rates "i STbe present system ofnanaging the niine rat lands of the United Statesjs bettered to In. radically :defective, More than a -million of acres of the 'puhlit:land, snoscd ifo contain load and other mineral!. have, beW "reserved . from salO, and numerous leases itpori Ihem bay been granted to individuals 'upon a: stipulated ' vv rent.' The y stem of granting leases has proved -y to be not only f unprofitable flu the Government,,,, but unsatisfoctory to the citizen who havoone v r UDoit the Jand and must, if continued, lay the ' foundation it rnticti tuture oiracuuj oeiween ui . . - . ... .".,l i 1Kit4.' r lecrdmli ihrt official records, the amount of rcid jecei ved ;. by the Government fur the year l841,-l42, . 1843, and 1844. was six: thousand, Ihrga hup. dred and : fifty-fouV dollars nndoyeniyfour cents; wbtte the expenses of the System duripg; was riiriiiia n a 11 a atatw a?. a, - r - - - - - - the same period, incjuding salaries ot suptrriu. . tendents, agents, clerk, aiid incidental expen, se, were twenty-six thousand one hundred and , eleven dollars and eleven cents-thcMncome-X - being less than one-fimith ol thtexpenses. lo , " sustained by the , public in consequence of the , destruction of timber,; and thcv catelcss - nmf xvastefd manner f; working" ihct inincs. jTho; system has gien ris9 toi.inucb4tigation tween the Unibd States and individual citizen?, producing irriiatbm arid excitenipnt.iii.tho niin-- eral region, and involving the uovernmenii in . e. .vt. i..!;,,..i. that similar losies amt embarrassments wur - . continue to occur, while" the; pre serd system of- tU . - .a " -l " 1" " a . It leasing these lands retnuius unchanged." lheee , lands are now under lhe superintendence arid care ot tne ar uepanment, wu uu orouwij. duties of which they have no proper-or JWt u'ra"U . connexion. 1 recommends ) wpeMfUh.; I present system, and lhatlhtVc lands bo place'd the General Land Office, asojher puic lanas, -and Imj brought into mat kef and sold ujvinsucU terms as Congress in tVwisdom may prK scribe, reserving torlhe Government "nri Vqiiita- ble per rentage of lhe gross a mount, ot mineral. v product, and that lhe pre-emption principle bo-, rf ra-a. irk rn,,liit mi nir 'tltlA Kftt I Xl'.t tinOIl .' them, at the minimum price whicb miy be cs- J, I 1 IfUi. VJ l ' ' 9 aTia. a ... ...a ' " M-aa-.-- " T I tatdished by Congnss. v -'?v- .-' I refer you to the accompanying report of the Secreta ry of War fir information rrpccting.thn present situation of lhe army, and. its operations during the past year; lhe slate of our defences;, the condition of ihe public works ; and our re lations with lhe various Indian tribes jvithiii our limits or upon our borders. I invito, your . attention to the suggestions contained, in that;, report in relation to these prominent objects of" When orders were given during, the; paste v KIllIlITliar lllaT I'llllt-I'lll I.IIIIl'r a. II lllll aaV 1 W IU1LU Ua. . f . jaHAAHl.tl i.ua n mililn att i.rt' r1 . ' the western fmntier rfTexaj9, our troops werV widely dispersed, and in smalldetachmcnts, oc-: cuDvinj? posts remote from eacb 'othcr. -Tho - prompt and expeditious manner in , which; an , . I ! - lL.aa'k.'liraail. tll .1 ) aft t . - ' army, einoracm murw uiau u i.niui w i - tablishment, was drawn' together on ixn. emeWti' gency so sudden, reflects greatvCredil ; "od-jhe officers who were entrusted with the executioh oftheso orders; as well as. upon the discipHnV of the army itself. Torle in-STre-nglh to protect X. and defend the people and territory of Texas, in'the event Mexico should commcnco'hostili ; f latin rw Intrail tiot tArrifiiriue Willi ft lUrttt A Tin ft - m r . - which she threatened, I atrthorized the General .1 assigned to the command of the army of occupa tion to make requisitions fir additional forces" from several of lhe States nearest jhe .TexanV territory, and which could most expeditiously . furnish them, if, in his opinion, a larger force: -than that undtir his command, and the anxiliay..-. . .... ' .1 t?1 J., I,, aa J " authorized to receive frini 'J'esas, shotild .be re. quired The contingency upon which the ex'-f ercise of this authority depended has" not cecuri red. The circumstances under which two cOrrj-. . panies of State artillery from the city of New-' Orleans were sent into Texasja'nd mustered 4' into tho service of the United States, arefiill Ktntprl iii the rpnri-t of the Secretary of War. ;1 - recommend lo Congress that provision be ruide r fbr the.payment of these troops, as well as a,'-v small number of Texan volutiteers, whom the commanding General thought it t necessary ;tb t receive or muster into our service. X ; . During lhe last summer the first regiment of dragoons made extensive excursions-througfi . th rndiain count rv on our borders a'Vnart of" hem advancing nearly to the possessions o(lje Hudson's Bay Company in the north; and a" . narts far as. the South Fass of the Kocky. . Mountains, and the head water. of the tHbuta.'. ry streams of ih Colorad of the WVst. Tho.; -exhibition of this military fuce among the; InV dian tribe's in. those distant regiorisarid the". 5 councils held with tf.em by lhe cmmatders.-of; the expeditions, it is If fi&Acd, will have a saJii- lary influence in rei-traininjj tbefll from .hostili.' . .l i -i.r . ..:...a.:i-r.!.Jr' lies among incois"ivcsLuiiu iii.imj:.iiimi u iphu; -IV relations between them and the U. States.- . An interesting account of one of these excuN-' snns accompanies the report of the Secretary of War. Under the directions of the War De : . partment. Brevet Captain Fremont, of the corps of topographical engineers, has been employed since 1842 in exploring the country wesfof the i' Mississippi, and beyond the Rocky Mountains. Two expeditions have already been brought fifr a close, andtbf reports of that scientitifx'and, enterprising officer have furnished imurb inter esting and valuable inGu-mation- He isJnuw' engaged in a third ejjiediiion ; but.it4S not ex pected that, this arduous service will, bo com ntoirl in Mim lo enable me to comm'jn'icato , the result to Congress a", the present session, , ... ... -.. - - . - -.- Our relations with ihe Indian tnbes are ol ft v. 111, I lll'IU kUQ I 11 V"' -' - J." - ''TV a ihem to a country designed fiir their plrm.inent residence, west of the Mississippi 'and without the limits of the organized States nnd 7 ernt'o-v:. . . a.'. ries. isjetier apprectaieu uy inctn man ii-a? a few years ago ; while education is now at-- tended to, and the babitar civilized life are gaining prininu aiuini iiicm. x' fSerioiis difllcatties of !on? standing conunae jodistract tbe several paries into. which. jbe Ctierokees sre unhap..' pity divided. The etTorts of the Govfrnment to djust' jt lhe difficulties betwen them bate beretolore proved un- successful; and there ieinainsoo '"probability, that thi desirable object can be accomplished without tbe aij of further legislation by Congress. I will, at an early pe-.-riod of yoor sewion, present the subject for your conde--M ration, accompanied with an epowtioaofihe complauus , and claims of tbe several parties into which the nation ;i is divided, with a view to the adoption of soch measures k. rnrres as miiy enable the Executive to do justice , to them retpectively. and to put an end, if possible, to Ibe dissensions which hare long prevailed, and still pre;. mil. amons-tbem. -1 .i ' ' . . i t- J - ' ' ; 1 refer yoa to ihe report of lheTSecretary of the Navy - far the presenteondition of that branch of the jnotional -defence, and for grave n?e6t ions, having for ibeir ob--ject jtberincrease ";of itfefBciency, and a greater economy in iis managppeht. iPvns the past year the officers v and men have performed their doty in a satisfactory maa- ner IThe'orders which have beengivfn have been ex . rented with promptness and fidelity.-1 '-A- larger force than has often formed one uadroo tinker our nag waa -reidily concentrated in tbe (JBlf of Mexico and pra- rentlv witbont onasual effort. It js especially to be ob- - i .t th union ol fu conniufri. l!eaforee,nodctwocomuiiited thatwn lhejealousy r t.;.,..i pAwer could conptrueas on act of aggresr won ;aiJ lhal . the commander of the squadron ant his 1 - office! in suict toaformiry with their instructions, hold- I' "a. 4 4 j
Carolina Watchman (Salisbury, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 13, 1845, edition 1
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