1'arborough, (Edgecombe County, JY 6J Saturday January 4, iS-10
Vol XVI JNVi I.
7J
Tarborough Press.
y GEORGE HOWARD,
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.
Fellow-Citizens of the Serin te
and House of Representatives:
Iregrettlml cannot on this ocoson
consulate you that the ptst year ha
been one of un dl n cd prosperity. Tlv:
avij of fire and disease have painful
: ill t-?d oth -iwise nourishing portions
of our era .try; an 1 serious e nbarrass
;n-.vits t derange the trade of many of o ir
cities. Hut n.)i A'itht Hidins; these adverse
ci.nVtmres that general prosperity
v
il uis uen neieiwi'jic
il. . A nC oil
he-'ov
u uoo:i us oy me auuivi u
r-,!, s;iU continues to call tor our warm
est gratitude. Especially have we r.-asiu
to1 rejoice in the exuberant harvests which
have" lavishly recompensed well directed
industry, and niven to il l U At ire reward
which vainly sought in visionary speculation.-.
1 cannot indeed view without
neciiiar satisf i-tion, the evidences affbrd-
e l by the mst season of the bmefi's that
coring from the sieady devotion of the hus
bandman to his" honorable pursuit. No
mans of individual comfort is more certain
and no source of national prosperity is so
sure. Nothing can -compensate a people
for ;i dependence upon others for the bread
they eat; and the cht-erful abundance on
wfciehthe happiness of every one so much
depends, is to be looked for nowhere
with such sure reliance as in the industry of
the agriculturist and the bounties of the
earth.
With foreign countries, our relations ex
hibit the same favorable aspect which was
presented in my last annual message and
afford continued proof of the wisdom of
the pacific, just, and forbearing policy ad
opted by the first Administration of the
Federal Governm n, and pursued by its
successors. The extraordinary powers
vested in me by an act of Congress, for the
defence of the country in an emergency,
considered so far probable as to require
thatthe Executive should possess ample
means to meet it, have not been exerted, j
They have, therefore, been attended with
no other result than to increase, by the con
fidence thus reposed in me, my obligations
to maintain, with religious exactness, the
cardinal princples that govern our inter
course with other nations. Happily, in
our pending questions with Great Britain,
out of which this unusual grant of authority
arose, nothing has occurred to require its
exertion; and as it is about to return to the
Legislature, I trust that no future necessity
may call for its exercise by tiiem, or its dele
gation to another departmentof the Govern
ment. For the settlement of our Northeastern
boundary, the proposition promised by
Great Britain for a commission of explor
ation and survey, has been received, and
a counter project, including also a provis
ion for the certain and final adjustment of
the. limits in dispute, is now before the
British Government for its consideration.
A just regard to the delicate state of this
question, and a proper respect for the na
tural impatience of the Slate of Maine, not
less than a conviction that the negotiation
has been already protracted longer than is
prudent on the part of either Government,
have led me to believe thatthe present fa
vorable moment should on no account be
suffered to passwitnout putting the question
forever at rest. 1 feel confident that the
Government of her Britannic Majesty will
take the same view of this subject, as I am
persuaded it is governed by desires equally
. strong and sincere for the amicable termin
ation of the controversy.
To the intrinsic difficulties of quesionsof
boundary lines especially those described
in regions unoccupied, and but partially
known, is to be added in our country the
barrassmcms necessarily arising out of
eConstitution, by which the General Go
vernment is made the organ of negotiating,
and deciding upon the particular interest
of the States on whose frontiers these lines
arei to be traced. To avoid another con
trovert in which a State Government
might rightfully claim to have her wishes
jujt'd, previously to the conclusion of
conventional1 .arrangements concerning her
rights of jurisdictiPn or territory, I have
thought it necessary to call the attention
of the Government of Great Hritain to j
anoiher portion of our conterminous do-!
minion, of which the division still remains
to be ad justed. I refer to the line from the
entrance of Lake Superior to the mostj
northwestern point of the Lake of thej
Woods, stipulations for the settlement of
which are to be found in the seventh arti
cle of the treaty of Ghent. The commis j
sioners appointed under that article by the
two Governments having differed in their
opinions made separate reports according to
its stipulations, upon the points of disagree
ment, and these differences are now to b.'
submitted to the arbitration of some friendly
sovereign or state. The disputed points
should be settled, and the line designated
before the Territorial Government, of
which it is one of the boundaries, takes its
place in the Union as a State; and I rely up
on the cordial co operation of the British
Government to effect that objeC.
There is every reason to believe that
disturbances like thDse which lately agiiated
the neighboring British Provinces will not
again prove the sources ofbjorder conten
tions, or interpose obstacles io the contin
umce of the good understanding which
it is the mutual interest of Giel Uiitain
and the United States lo prvS.rveand main
tain.
Within the Provinces thems Ives tran
quility is restored, and on our frontier
that misguided sympathy in favor of
wh it w.is presumed to be a gener.d effort
in behalf of popular rights, and which in
some iiist nircs misled a few of our more
inexperiencvd citizens, has subsided into
ntiond conviction strongly opposed to all
intermeddling with the internal affiirs
of our neighbors. The people of the
United States f el, as it is hop d they al
ways w. II, a warm solicitude for the suc
cess of all who are sincerely endeavoring
to improve the politic d condition of m m
kind. This sicnerous feel ins thev cherish
towards the most distant nations; and it
was natur.il, therefore, that it should be
awakened with more than common warmth
in behalf of their immediate neighbors.
Hut it does not belong to their character, as
a community, to seek the gratification of
those feelings in acts which violate their
duty as citizens, endanger the peace of their
country, and tend to bring upon it the
stain of a violated faith towards foreign na
tions. If zealous to confer benefits on oth
ers, they appear for a moment to lose sight
of the permanent obligations imposed upon
them as citizens, they are seldom long mis
led. From all the information I receive,
confirmed to some extent by personal ob
scrvalion, 1 am satisfied that no one can j
now hope to engage in such enterprises .
without incurring public indignation, in
addition to the severest penalties of the
1 a w.
Recent information also lrads me to hope cumstances which promise a speedy ratifi
that the emigrants from her Majesty's Pm-'cation; a result which 1 cannot allow my-
vinccs, who have sought refuge within our;se'l to doubt.
boundaries, are disposed to become peace
able residents, and to abstain from all at-
tempts to endanger the peare of that conn-jour Convention with Texas, for thedemar
try which has afforded them an asylum, j cation of the line which sepcrates us from
On a review of the occurrences on" both 'bat Republic. The commissioners of both
si dps n f the line, it is satisfactory to reflect. Governments met in New Orleans in Au-
that in almost every complaint against our
country, the offence may be traced to emi
grants from the Provinces who have sought
refuge here. In the few instances in which
they were aided by citizens of the United
States, the acts of these misguided men
wrere not only in direct contravention of
the laws and well known wishes of their
own Government, but met with the deci
ded disapprobation of the people of the U
nited Stales.
1 regret to state the appearance of a dif
ferent spirit among her Majesty's subjects
in theCau idus. The sentiments of hostili
ty to our people and institutions, which
have been so frequently expressed there,
and the disregard of our rights which have
been manifested on some occasions, have,
I am sorry to say, been applauded and en
couraged by the people, and even by some
of the subordinate local authorities, of the
Provinces. The chief officers in Canada
fortunately have not. entertained the same
feeling, and have probably prevented ex
cesses that must have been fatal to the
peace of the two countries.
1 look forward anxiously to a period
when all the transactions which have grown
out of this condition of our affiirs, and
which have been made the subjects of com
plaint and remonstrance by the two Gov
ernments respectively, shall be; fully exa
mined, and the proper satisfaction given
where it is due from either side.
Nothing has occurred to disturb the har
monv of our intercourse with Austria, Bel
gium, Denmark, France, Naples, Portu
gal, Prussia, Russia, or Sweden. The in
ternal state of Spain has sensibly improv
ed, and a well grounded hope exists that
the return of peace will restore to the peo
ple of that country their former prosperity,
and enable the Government to fulfil all its
obligations at home and abroad. The Go
vermnen'Jof Portugal, I have the satisfac
tion to state, has paid in full the eleventh
and last instalment due to our citizens for
the claims embraced in the settlement
mdae with it on the third day of March,
IS37. . i
I lay before you the treaties of com-j
merce negotiated with the Kings of Sardi
nia and of the Netherlands, the ratifications
of which have been exchanged since the
adjournment of Congress. The liberal
principles of these treaties will recommend
them -to your approbation. That with
Sardinia is the first treaty of commerce
formed by that kingdom, and it will, I
trust, answer the expectations of the pre
sent sovereign, by aiding the development
of the resources of his country, and stimu
lating the enterprise of his people. That
with the Netherlands happily terminates a
long existing subject of dispute, and re
moves from our future commercial inter
course all apprehension of embarrassment
The King of the Netherlands has also, in
further illustration of his character for jus
tice, and of his desire to remove every
cause of dissatisfaction, mads compensation
for an American vessel captured in 1800
by a French privateer, and c.irried into
Curaoa, where the proceeds were appro
priated to the use of the colony, then, and
for a short time after, under the dominion
of Holland.
The death of the late Sultan has produ
ced no alteration in our relations with Tur
key. Uur newly appointed Minister Ke
sident has reached Constantinople, and 1
have received assurances from the present
Ruler that the obligations of our treaty,
and those of friendship, will be fulfilled by
himself in the same spirit that actuated his
illustrious father.
I regret to be obliged to inform you that
no convention for the settlement of the
c'aims of our citizens upon Mexico has yet
been ratified by the Government of that
country. The first convention formed for
that purpose was not presented by the Pre
sident of Mexico for the approbation of its
Congress, from a belief that the King of
Prussia, the arbitrator in case of disagree
ment in the joint commission to be ap
pointed by the United States and Mexico,
would not consent to takr upon himself that
friendly office. Although not entirely sat
isfied with the course pursued by Mexico,
I felt no hesitation in receiving in the most
conciliatory spirit the explanation offered,
and also cheerfully consented to a new con
vention, in order to arrange the payments
proposed to be made to our citizens, in a
manner which, while equally just to them,
was deemed less onerous and inconvenient
to the Mexican Government. Relying
confidently upon the intentions of that Go
vernment, Mr. Ellis was directed to repair
lo iwexico, ana uipiomauc intercourse nas
een resumed between tne two countries.
Tne new convention has, he informs us,
been recen'ly submitted by the President
of that Republic to its Congress, under cir-
Instructions have been given to the
Commissioner ol the United Mates under
iriict lief 'l'lir ir5it rrm mismn wna nr.
ganised, and adjourned to convene at the
same nlace on the twelfth of October. It
is presumed to be now in the performance
of its duties.
The new Government of Texas has
shown its desire to cultivate friendly rela
tions with us, by a prompt reparation for
injuries complained of in the cases of two
vessels of the United States.
With Central America a convention has
been concluded for the renewal of its for
mer treaty with the United States. This
was not ratified before the departure of
our late Ciiarge d' Affaires from that coun
try, and the copy of it brought by him was
not received before the adjournment of the
Senate at the last session. Iiv the mean
while, the period limited for the exchange
of ratifications having expired, I deemed it
expedient, in consequence of the death of
the Charge d' Affaires, to send a special
agent to Central America, to close the af
fair, of our mission there, and to arrange
with the Goxernment an extension of the
time for the exchange of ratifications.
The commission created by the States
which formerly composed the Republic ol
Columbia, for adjusting the claims against
that Government, has, by a very unexpec
ted construction of the treaty under which
it acts, decided that no provision was made
for those claims of citizens of the United
States which arose from captures by Co
lumbian privateers, and were adjudged
against the claimants in the judicial tribu
nals. This decision will compel the Uni
ted States toapply to the several Govern
ments formerly united for redress. With
all these New Granada, Venezuela,' and
Ecuador, perfectly good understanding ex
ists. Our treaty with Venezuela is faithful
ly carried into execution, and that country,
in the enjoyment of tranquillity, is gradu
ally advancing in prosperity under the
guidance of its present distinguished Pres
ident, General Paez. With Ecuador, a li
beral commercial conventioa has lately
bdn concluded, which will be transmitted
to the Senate at an earl v day. "
With the great American Empire off
Brazil our relations -continue unchanged
as does our friendly intercourse with '(he
other Governments of South America-
the Argentinp Republic, and the Republics
of . Uruguay, Chili, Peru and Bolivia. The
dissolution of the Peru-Bolivian Confeder
ation may occasion some temporary incon
venience to our citizens in that quarter,
but the obligations on the new Govern
ments which have arisen out of that Con
federation to observe its treaty stipulations
will no doubt be soon understood, and it is
presumed that no indisposition will exist
to fulfil those which it contracted with the
United Sia'es.
The financial operations of the Govern
ment during the present year have, I am
happy to say, been very successful. The
difficulties under which the Treasury De
partment has labored from known defects
in the existing laws relative to the safe
keeping of the public moneys, aggravated
bv tiie suspension f snecie payments by
several of the banks holding public depos-
: :...i.Li...i ... rn , .. , l
nes, or mueoieu io puunu uiiicera iui uuus
received 'in piymeul of public dues, have
been surmounted to a very gratifying ex
tent. The l irge current expenditures have
been punctually met, and the faith of the
Government in all its pecuniary concerns
has been scrupulously maintained.
The nineteen millions of Treasury notes
authorized by the act of Congress of 1837,
and the modifications thereof, with a view
to the indulgence of merchants on their
duty bonds, and of the deposite banks in
he payment of public moneys held by
them, have been so punctually redeemed
as to leave less than the original ten mil
lions outstanding at any one time, and the
whole amount unredeemed now falls short
of three millions. Of these the chief por
tion is not due tui next year, and the
whole would have been already extinguish
ed could the treasury have realized the
payments due to it from the banks. If
those due from them during the next year
shall be punctually made, and if Congress
shall keep the appropriations within the
estimates, there is every reason to believe
that all the outstanding Treasury notes
can be redeemed, and the ordinary expen
ses defrayed, without imposing on the
people any additional burden, either of
loans or increased taxes.
To avoid this, and to keep the expen
ditures within reasonable bounds, is a duty,
second only in importance to the preserva
tion of our national character, and the pro
tection of our citizens in their civil and po-
litical rights. The cication, in time of
peace, of a debt likely to bicome perma
nent, is an evil for which there is no equiva
lent. The rapidity with which many of
the States are apparently approaching to
this condition, admonishes us of our own
duties, in a manner too impressive to be
disregarded. One, not the least impor
tant, is to keep the Federal Government
always in a condition td discharge, with
ease and vigor, its highest functions, should
their exercise be required by any sudden
conjuncture of public affairs -a condition
to which we are always exposed, and
which may occur when it is least expect
ed. To this end, it is indispensable that
its finances should be untiammelle 1
and its resources, as far as practicable, un
incumbered. No circumstance could pre
sent greater obstacles to the accomplish
ment of these vitally important objf-cts,
than the creation of an onerous national
debt. Our own experience, and also that
of other nations, have demonstrated the
unavoidable and fearful rapidity with
which a public de bt is increased, when the
Government has once surrendered itself to
the ruinous practice of suppl) ing its suppo
sed necessities by new loans. 1 he strug
gle, therefore, on our part, to be successful
must be made at the threshold. To make
our efforts effective, severe economy is
necessary. This is the surest provision
for the national welfare;'and it is, at the
same time, the best preservative of the
principles on which our institutions rest.
Simplicity and economy in the affairs cf
State have never failed to chasten and in
vigorate Republican principles, while these
have been as surely subverted by national
prodigality; under whatever specious
pretexts it may have beeu introduced or
fostered.
These considerations cannot be lost up
on a people who have never been inatten
tive to the effect of their policy upon the
institutions they have created for them
selves; but at the present moment their
force is augmented by the necessity which
a elecreasing reveuue must impose. The
check lately given to importations of arti
cles subject to duties, the derangements in
the operations of internal trade, and espe
cially the reduction gradually taking place
in our tariffof duties, all tend materially
to lessen our receipts; indeed it is proba
ble that the diminution resulting from the
loct finsp olnnp will not fall short of fivB
millions of dollars in the yearjggfcg. I
final reduction of aJ!H"i'" -
cent. tejaJ"" ...
nue then accruing from the sales of. public:
land, if riot -more, -will undoubtedly bo ;
wanted to defray the necessary expenses. nf
tie Government! nder the most niudcht
administration of its affairs. "'These aie
circumstances that ' imposo-.the necessi-y
ty of rigid economy, and require its prompt
and constant exercise. With 1 he Legisia?
tore rest the power and duty of so- adjus-j
ing the public expenditure astto promote .
this end. By the provisions of t: e Oon-1
stitutiouj it'is only in cons1 quencc of ap
propriations made by - lawy that money can!
be drawn from the Treasury; no instance
has occurred since the establishment of the
Government in which the iNeeutive, .
though a component part of the Legislature ;
power, has interposed aa objection to an ;
appropriation bill on the sole ground. of its
extravagance. His duty in ihis respect h iS
been considered fulfilled byr questing such..
appropriations only as the public service may
be reasonably expected to require.. In thei.
present earnest direction of the-public
mind towards this subject, both the Execu
tive and the Legislature have evidence of
the strict responsibility to which they will
ho tirl4 inl wl-iito I am rni;fmr!! nf n i t
beheld; and while I am conscious of my
own anxious efforts td perform with fidcli- -
ty this portion of my public functions, it is
a satisfaction to me lo be able to count on a
cordial co-operation from you. '
At the time I entered upon my present
duties, our ordinary disbursements--without
including those on account of the pub
lic debt, the post office, and the irust funds .
in charge of the Government had been
largely increased by appropriations for the
removal of the Indians, for lepelling In
dian hostilities, and for other less urgent
expenses which grew cut of an overflow
ing Treasury. Independent of the redemp
tion of the public debt and trusts, the gross
expenuuures oi seventeen anu eigmeeu
millions in 1S34 and iojo nan, oy inese
cauacs, swelled to tweniy-mne minions in .
1S36; and the appropriations for 1S37,
marl nrp.uinnslv to the fourth of March.
caused the expenditure to rise to the very
nnnrttmf rtf li hraa nri ill i nnfl Wo
lil I gU UUiUUlll Ul lllll WJf -iiuiv. uiiuiuiu-'i .tw
were enabled during ihe year 1838, not
umi l-mtonrtinor thp onni i nn.innp of nnr Indian
. . ..v... fa
embarrassments, somewhat to reduce this
amount; and that for the present year,
1S39, will not in all probability exceed
twenty-six millions or six millions less
than it was last year. With a determina
tion so far as it depends on me to continue
this reduction, I have directed lm esti
mates for 1840 to be subjected to the seve
rest serutiny, and to be limited to the ab
solute requirements of the public service.
They will be found less than the expendi-
turcs of 1S39 by over five millions of dol-
lar
s.
The precautionary measures which will
be recommended by the Secretary of the
Treasury, to protect faithfully the public
credit under the fluctuations and contin
gencies to which our receipts and expendi
tures are exposed, and especially in a com
mercial crisis like the present, are com
mended to your early attention;
On a former occasion vour attention was
invited to vaiious considerations in support
of a pre-emption law in behalf of the set
tlers on the public lands; and also of a law
graduating the prices for such lands as had
long been in the market unsold, in conse
quence of their inferior quality. The exe-1
cut ion oi me aci wnicn was passeu on ine
fitst snhifMt. hfis hefin nllp.rulpfl with the
happiest consequences, in quieting titles,
and securing improvements to the indus
trious; and it has also, to a very gratifying,
extent, been exempt from the frauels
emption laws. Il has, at the same timc,
as was anticipated, contributed liberally
during the present year to the receipts of
the Treasury.
The passage of a graduation 4aw, wi'h
the guards before recommended, would al
so, 1 am persuaded, add considerably to
the revenue for several years, and prove in
other respects just and beneficial.
Ytur early attention of . the subject Js, ,
therefore, once more earnestly requested..-.
The present condition of the difenrcs of
our principal seaports and navy yard--, rs
represented by the accompanying t epoit of
the Secretary of War, calls for the. eaily
and serious attention of Congress; and, as
connecting itself intimately with this sub
ject, I cannot recommend too strongly to
your consideration the plan subudited by
that officer for the organization of the mi
litia of the United States.
In conformity with the expressed wishes
of Congress, an attempt was made in the
spring to terminate the Florida war by ne
gotiation. It is to be regretted hat these
humane intentions should have been frus
trated, and that the effort to bring these
unhappy difficulties to a stisfacioiy cor-
elusion should have failed. But,' after .n-
nts wiih the
Commanding General, tne inaiaaQ re
out any provocatdojifaTTerritory ren
acts of trejjythat 1 should recommend
- . r. .i i
61 your favorable consiaerauon ine piu
which will be submitted to you by the
i
' ,
A
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