' t - . o- - - t . : - - , . . y . ; " - ' , .
' - . -r . . " . ' .. - ' ' '.' ' " ' " , J ' ... ' ' V ' ' ".-
SSSST" ' ' ' . . WfE IS OSTLY TO BE VALUED AS rrjs, USEFULLY XMfLOYLO. , , t ' . ? '
fIZ . . JlK. - " ASPEYHJiE.JQRTH CABOLINA. FRPAOlifflMi PECEMBER 2 1840? ' ' . NUMBER 23-
it
4.
it
11 -rrrrwiAr, .
kpahliihMBt iwo
"l!, ,nd Twenty-Fire Cent.. foe
1 ,
mut be pot paid.
4 TITR PlASA. " .i v
1:A, BtMDrofois. ...
of the United States, not even
Jl4r:...ftha Hudson, can vie, in
KW.ic 'y.with the bluff.
nf the river, often
fti one side of the river, often
yu&w
f rrl L .hiJieicht of aorae hundred
I . u nnnnaifn shore ia a
Si or prairie, ofacveral rmkain
Sfing to wmilar bluff tlTamiw
Ljy vith the river. . ,
a- of these ranges commences at Alton
JaWds.with few intervals, for miles
Jtolk bank of the Illinois. In de
fLibe river to Alton, the traveller
frrt between that town and the
aoAoi the IllinoU, a marrow ravine,
3d hieh a small strewn discharges
Sintothenssi9sippurThat stream
Ae Fasa- I name is Iudian, and signi
iM language of thojlUni, " bird
fawn wun.- w "lc I,luul" JUU
lai.on the smootn ana perpcnuiciuor
of the bluff, at an elevation which no
- L mil K fimtw nf An
aaia in can reat", ", - ;
wnnmi bird, with its wings exienaeo,
, t wAt, iW-t immi TOirf vntg. was
IM by the Indians the Piasa, and frort
pa derived the name of the stream.
Tto tradition or the l'iasa is sun current
mt all the tribes of the Upper Missis.
rf the Illinoie and is briefly this:
MMaov'tiiousand moons before thaarri-
y rfthe pate-iaces, wiien megreai Hingo.
t-rt ind masudan. whose bones are dug
.t .
kwsro still Iking 10 this land ot green
tsiriM. there existed a bird of such dimen.
tas that he could easily carry off, in his
ikms. a full srown deer." LiavinK obtained
uste of human fleshj from that time hir
nuld nrev .UDon nothing else. He was
kful as be was Bowcrfui: would dart sud
nly upon an Indian, bear mm ou into one
the caves in the bluff, and devour him.
jndmli of warriorsjittcmptcd for years
i iestroy him, but without success.' Whole
ilkjs were nearly sepopulated, end con.
lunation spread throughout all the tribes
Ittellliai. At length, Ouatoga, a chicr
Ihose bom as a warrior extended even be.
IMS' the great lakes, separating himself
Em the rest ef bis tribe, lasted in solitude
'tl space of a whole moon, and prayed
tie Great Spirit the master offe
Hie would protect his children lrom the
fm. On the last night of his fast the
mtm sura appeared to h!
ind directed him to select twentv of his
prion, each armed with a bom and poi:
ned trrow, and conceal tnera ifl a desig
fclrffflot,. Near the place of their con.
NmcDt, another warrior was to stand in
pa view, as a victim for the Piasa , wliich
hj mint shoot the instant that he pounced
ino ou prey, w nca tne cnicr awoge in
e roomins, he thanked the Great Spirit.
W thea returning to his tribe ho related
mem tus dream. X
The warriors were ouicTdv seTcedTrtid
fwed in ambush, as directed. Ouatoga
f(KQ Himself as the victim, lie was will-
ffto die for his tribe. Placing himself in
ho view of the bluff, ho soon, saw th
j m perched on the cliff, eyeing his prey.
Mt, and plantinir "his feet firmlv UDon the
Ni, began to chant the death song of a
fJTIWf " A moment after; llie Piasa rose
p fte air", and swia as a thunderbolt he
down upon the chief. Scarcely had
e reached his victim, when every bow was
and every arrow sent to the feather
jo bis body. The Piasa uttered A wild,
wfu! scream, that resounded far "over
opposite side of the river, and expired.
'Atoga'was saTe.Not, an arrow nor
the talons of the hird lml
N- The Master oflifc, in admiration of
-rneroua aecd of Ouatoga, had held
w him an invisible shield. In memory
this event, the image of the Piasa was
graved on the bluff- -
Such is the Indian tradition. Of course
not vouch for its truth. This much
erer is certain: the figure of a large
Jttmtothe solid rock, is stiU there,
J height that is perfectly inaccessible.
Zt f?r wbat PuTw it was madei I
are for others to determine. Even at this
Ma Indian never passes the spot ia his
ET tang his gun at the figure of
r .Tbemarksof balhionwe rock
fv ino mnumerable. ' - ' -Iear
the cke or March, of the present
1.7 1 V9 "WKed to visit the bluffs below
Cr0fJllil,oi8 above thatof
ttA. ., """"""J woj principally
SaJ he examlnaUoh of.a 'cave con.
-" With fka .L. jr.,
Nc. r . . irauiuons, as one ol
to wtuVJi k u.j j ,
IX" Prece br an inteUigent
carried a spade, I set out on rny
ofsnLi ' cavc waa extremely dim
,ce8ai nd at one point of our pro.
l Stood a -I .: ..
, "u miu uirneu am nu-
- w ciomioo w more man
p-wizw and fifty ttt on the fuce of
L.
.
the bluff, with barely room to sustain one
foot The unbroken wall towered above
fne, while below was iho rivet. After
long apd perilous clambering we reached
the cave which waa about fifty feet above
the river. By the aid of a long pole placed
on tho projecting rock and the upper end
touching the mouth ofthe cave, we succeed
edin entering it Nothing could be more
impressive than the view from the entrance
of this cavern. The Mississippi was roll,
ing in silent grandeur beneath us : high
over our heads a single cedar bung its branch-!
esover tbecutt,on the top of which was
seated a bald eagle. No other sound or sign
of. life was near us. A sabbath stillness
rested upon the scene-r-not a cloud-was ill
the heavens not a breath of air was stir.
ring.The broad Mississippi lay before us,
calm and smooth as a lake. The landscape
presented the same wild aspect as it did be
fore it met the eye of the white man. ' '
The roof of the cavern was vaulted, the
top of which was hardly less than twenty,
five feet in height The shape ofthe cave
was irregular, but so far as I could judge,
the bottom would average twenty by thirty
Feet. The floor of this cavo through its
whole extent , was a mass of human bones.
Sculls and other bones were "mingled to.
gether in the utmost confusion. To what
depth they extended I am unable to decide;
we due to the depth of three or four feet in
every quarfer , of the cavern, and still wo
found only bones. 1 lie remains of thou.
sands must have been deposited here.
How; and by whom and foij what purpose,
ll is unpossiuie w conjecture.
J. R.
' From the Carolina Planter.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N. C.
Flat Rock (so called from a bare flat
granite rock in the neighborhood) is a t
tluiwirt onterhighest -part of -tlier-Blue
Ridge on tho public road to Asheville. As
a summer sesort for invalids, especially
those who suuer from nervous auoctions,
or such cases as are attended with languor,
debility and enfeebled action, no atmosphere
probably in the United States is better adapt
ed. The air is light, elastic and bracing,
dry and cxluurating, and possessing an
influence on many which is positively de.
lightful. - To those aflected with dyspeptic
disorders, exercise constantly in such an
atmosphere is of more importance than tlte
usual routine of medicines which suffering
humanity is willing to undergo.
"1 row nalura tumus ad uaslram pernu
eiem" is applicable to the dyspeptic dispo
sition to be physicked Doctors are abused
for giving pbjsicy and charged with all tlie
evils which medicines produce, while almost
all dyspeptics are trying the prescription of
this or that friend who has been similarly
nfTr.tivi They nn ipoping about, eating
what is indigestible and consulting every
one for some remedy, while tho most pow.
erful tonic qualities of air and exercise are
usually not noticed. Mr. Abcrnethy's di.
I rection to 4 live on sixpence a day and
ears it, was a good one, provided bodily
labor be used ; hard working folks who
am their daily bread bycorporial exertions
yspeptic.'- It is cliiefly those
who pass a sedentary life; or are preventtfd
froin taking regular and habitunrTrxercisej
or live luxuriously, that suffer, with this
protean malady.; Bodily exercise alone will
1
not give relict tne mind must also oe in
terested if a man will walk five miles for
excrcuej, it will not give relief the mind
must also be interested if a man walk five
miles for exercuc, it will be of little service
to him give him a pun or let him botanize
or Audubonize in the woods, and what was
a task will soon occdine a pleasurei4e
writer of these desultory notes fon four years
" followed wrens and snow birds , for the
hides and feathers," as a gentleman once
said in ridicule of his pursuits but be
found in his enthusiasm after small game,
besides pleasurable occupation of the, mind
a share of health that fully atoned for the
tedium of tangling through the woods after
red-headed woodpeckers, &c lt-evenu
dyspeptic would take one twentieth part of
the physic which he usuaily is trying (and
generally he may do with none) and would
spend more time in walking exercise, jtc
strict his diet, and have his mind occupied
with something which will keep his atten
tion off from jlis disorder, he will gain in
health and more rapidly if he will breathe
the pure air of the neighborhood of Flat
Rock. " -'
It is surprising that tho mountains of
Buncombe, the Switzerland of the United
States, should not be a more favoured resort
for invalids. . The accommodations for
travellers who are not fastidious, are very
fair, and the substantial fare ofthe country
good enough for even captious stomachs.
That improvements in cookery to the style
of a city life should be found through the
mountains, is hardly in reason to be expect.
ed many of the house keepers have not
credit for their exertions to please, and
sometimes become careless when they find
their efforts to give satisfaction meet with
exaggerated reports against their houses.
1 he improvements in the houses of enter
tainment in ten years that we have known
them, are certainly marked but French
cooks and votes desfoti grot are not yet in.
trodoced. Jesting apart, we really think
injustice is done to worthy people by unre
flecting visitors who expect too much, and
are soured by disappointment We have
been at tables well kept and furnished witn
neatness and variety, and found many pres
ent who were constantly grumbling and
lrequently one inveterate grumbler will
tincture a whole party, so liable are we ia
this world to join in with a pack in runnins
down any tiling.
The neighborhood of Flat Rock is be
coming more thickly settled every" year,
and beautiful residences are springing up
on the adjacent mountains in all directions.
For persons who are disposed to change the
air in the' summer, thetop ! of the Blue
Ridge is as pure an atmosphere as can be
found. There has been very little compa.
ny in the mountains this season, the times
are so hard, and many who have been in
the habit of resorting to this delightful coun.
try have the consolation of the apothecary
(in Romeo and Juliet,) in remaining at
home, " my poverty and notmy will con-
Having spent a day at Flat Rock wc de.
parted after dinner to Asheville, and never
have we enjoyed a more delicious airing.
The sun was. bright as it . ever shone the
air was balmy, and sweetly soft tho breeze
from the mountains gentle, and steady, and
the pleasure ofthe ride was much enhanced
by the fine road over which we passed.
, Within our view, on'the left , the Moun.
tain range was beautifully extended, and
the far blue 'outline of the distant groups
strikingly Interesting. The descent to the
valley of the Swannanoe near "Asheville is
one of the richest landscapes we have ever
seen. TThe verdurcis remarkably exhuber-
ant, tho shades of color of every varied
hue. and the tince of vellow of approach
ing Autumn gives a change to the early
fading leaf which is pleasant lo the eye.
We returned to Flat Rock on Tuesday,
Mini iuuiiu an iiivuuuou 19. uie oinii-uuv
liall of the lady of4he Alduntain Lvodgc,
Here we Were agreeably-surprised to find
a large assembly of fair Mountain ladies.
The gentlemen were quite attentive, and
the spirited exertions of the old tiddler soon
set in motion the life of the party, i be co-
Ullionr ihcrecl, the country daaco and the
waltz, having been enjoyed to a late hour
"a change came oer the spirit of the
dreamland a sumptuous entertainment at
the supper table gave a zest to the pleasures
of the evening, which was quite refreshing.
The proud tenant of the park had furnished
his contribution to the feast, and the pheas
ants of the mountain branches were con
spicuous on the. board. 1 no enjoyments
of the evening were appreciated by all and
our company retired from this most sociable
meeting delighted with the elegant hospital.
lty of the mountains.
Uur excellent host insisted on our re
maining another day to do execution to the
remaining nauncn ana couia ine anuercu
monarch of the park have foreseen, that
over his mortal remains, there would be
collected so worthy a company, he would no
doubt have felt honored and yielded willing.
ly his body for so generous an occasion.
the representative ot England s wjueen,
'.1 r .!. 'i.r.. v:. n :
tho Consul of the Citizen king,
Fresi.
dent of the Rail Road Company,
one of
our favorite Judges, with a number of gen
tlemen lrom the mountains, and lastly, the
EditorNif the Carolina Planter, who has a
taste Tor natural science, did full justice to
the merits of the noble buck. Ihougli
many may prefer to. w itness tho gambols
&M excfcT5Dn3rTne"T)iiyrul auunat mnoii:
tlie shrubbery and beautiful grounds of the
4-roounlampark . vet in this ultiutanan
age
there ore some of us who are satisfied with
the quiet repose of the smokinc dislix And
when next our respected friend shall cele
brate another natal day, (may they be
many :) with " the feast of venison, and the
flow of wine," may we have a good excuse
to visit the mountains, merely as an Editor,
to see whether there can be found another
stag of equal deserts. '
From the Albany Cultivator.
Berkshire vs. common Hogs, It is of
ten asserted that the difference in breed 4s
more in the difference of keeping than any
thing else ; in fact I belieye I have tried
hard to make myseli believe this doctrine;
but experience,4hat good old teacher, has
entirely eradicated the error. The Berk
shire pigs that I procured this summer from
A. B.. Allen, of Buffalo, which, when deliv
ered in my yard, cost me $32, 1 would not
Eive lor thirtv-two common pigs 01 me
same age ; and yet I will give them freely to
any believer in the popular error, ' that the
difference is all in keeping," if he will pro
duce a pai of the common kind -of-equal
age and equal keeping, tht equal these in
anv particular. The fact is. the point mast
be given up, that there is 'J a proper sue 01
. . ...
odds" in the broods of hogs. "A hog is a
hog," is the end of argument with some hog
gish arcufiers. So is a sheep a sheep, but
Xdefy any and all men to tjnake acoarse
wool sheep fine by feeding or breeding,
until all the coarse wool blood is bred out.
A dog is a dog too, yet I suppose no one
will attempt tq argue that there is no dif
ference in them. He might just as well
argue that, as that there is little or no-difference
in the breed of hogs. In this case
" seeing is believing," and feeling is know
ing. It is a fact that speaks" loudly in favor
ofthe Berkshire, that Sail who buy them
are satisfied with the improvement - So
much for Berkshires. Though I do not
mean to exclude every other variety, be
cause I fullyJjclieie. that In some respeetsJ
the Irish Graziers, Woburn, thina, c
are eoual to the Berkshires : but I would
earnestly advise every owner of aligators
and landpikes to procure "an improved
breed of hogs" Immediately.
r '
A few milee sooth of Bevroot ia a eararansera,
called the khan of Onia or Jonaa according to tra
dition the potwhero the prophet jjru wallowed
by the whale.'1 :
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
( "f - - llMnm
FROM TArf RESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
TO THE TWO BOUSES Of CONGRESS.
At th? commencement of the Second Session of
tne TwenlyiithCvniTew.
FeUtm-CitixtmrnftlmSemU . '
mmd Hatut Reprmentativa :
Our devout gratitude is due to the Su
preme Being for having graciously contin
ued to our beloved country, tlirough the
vicissitudes of another year, the invaluable
blessings of health, plenty, and peace.
Seldom has this favored land been so gen
erally exempted fsom the ra vages of disease
or Jhejaborot the husbandman been more
amply rewarded ; and never before have
our relatioss with other countries been pla
ced on a more favorable basis than that
which they so happily occupy at this critical
conjuncture in the affairs of the world. A
rigid and tersevcring abstinence from all
interference with the domestic and political
relations of -olhcr States, alike due to the
genius anc distinctive character of our Go
vernment ind to the principles by which it
is directel ; a faithlul observance, in the
management of our foreign relations, of
the practice of speaking plainly," dealiiu-
justly, and of requiring truth and justice in
return,, ts the best conservatives of the
peace of nations ; a strict impartiality in
our nunifestations of friendship, in the
commercial privileges we concede, and
thost we require from others : these, ac
companied by a disposition as prompt to
ma i j tain, in every emergency, our own
righs, as we are from principle averse to
the i vasionjif those of others , have gi ven
to oo- country and Government a standing
in tie great family of nations, of which
we hWe just cause to be proud, and the ad.
vantages of which are experienced by our
citizais throughout every portion of the
earthto which tliefrli JventurousSid enter
prisinj spirit may carry them. Few, if
any, remain insensible to the value of our
frienqmippr ignorant of the terms on
which U can be acquired, and by which it
can, alone be preserved.
A jeries of questions or long standing,
difficult in their adjustment, and important
in thr consequences, in which the rights
of ouicitizens and the honor of the country
were peeply involved, have, in the course
of a fjw years, (the most of them during
the successful administration of my imme
diate jrcdecessor,) been brought to a satis
factory conclusion ; and the most important
of thoc remaining are, I am happy to be
lieve, in a fair way of being sjieedily and
satisfactorily adjusted.
With all the powers of ihe world our re
lations are those of honorable peace. Since
your adjournment, nothing serious has oc
curred to interrupt or threaten this destra-
blebaanoE
"ctouds havelowered abvefembraced bjr-thi
the -offer hemisphere, tliey have not cast
their rtentous shadows upon our happy
shores Bound by no entangling alliances,
yet linked by a common nature and interest
with the otlier nations of mankind, our as
pirations are" for the preservation of peace,
in whose solid and civilizing triumphs all
4
Yet it behooves us to be prepared for any
event, nnd to be always ready to maintain
those just and enlightened princlptesTifTinc
tional intercourse, for which this Govern-
ment has ever contended. ; In tlie shock of
contending empires, it is only by assuming
absolute bearing, and clothing themselves
with defensive armor, that neutral nations
can maintain their independent rights.
The excitement which grew out of the
territorial controversy between Great Brit,
ain and the United States, having in a great
rnefere subsided pitis hoped -tbai-a 4ivor-
ablc period is approaching for its final set
tlement lioth Governments must oc now
convinced 01 me aaugcrs wun wnicu me
question is fraught, in my last annual
message you were informed that the propo
sition for a commission of exploration and
survey promised by Great Britain had been
received, and that acounterproject, includ
ing also a provision for the certain and fina
adjustment of the limits in dispute was then
before the British Government for its con
sideration. Theanswcrof that Govern
ment, accompanied by additional proposiT
tionsof its own, was received, through its
minister here since your separation. Tliese
were promptly considered; such as were
deemed correct in principle, and consistent
with a due regard to the just rights of tlie
United States and of the fetate of Maine,
concurred in ; and the reasons for dissent
ing from the residue, with an additional sug
gestion on our part, communicated by the
Secretary of State to Mr. Fox. The min
ister, not feeling himself suthciently in
structed upon some of the points raised in
the discussion, felt it to be bis duty to refer
the matter to his own' Government for its
further decision. Having now been for
some time under its advisement; a speedy
answer may be confidently expected. From
tbc character ofthe points still in difference,
and the 'undoubted disposition of both par
tics to bring the matter to an early conclu
sion, I took with eritire confidence to a
prompt and satisfactory termination of the
negotiation. Three commissioners were
appointed shortly after the adjournment of
Congress, under the act of the last session
providing for the exploration and survey of
the tine which separates the States of Maine
anil New Hampshire from the British Pro
vinces ; they have been actively employed
until their progress was interrupted by the
inclemency of the season, and will resume
their labors as coon as practicable in the
ensuing j car. -' -
It is understood that their respective ex
aminations will throw new light upon the
subject in controversyrand serve tore move
any erroneous impressions which may have
been made elsewhere prejudicial to the
rights of the United States. It was , among
other reasons fcwith a view of preventing
the embarrassments which, in our peculiar
system of Government,- impede and com-
plicate negotiations involving the territorial
rights of a State, thai ! thought it my duty
as you have been lntormed on a previous
occasion, to propose to the Uritish Govern
Tment, through its minister at Washington,
that early steps should be taken to adjust the
points of difference on the line of boundary
from tne entrance of Lake Superior to the
rrtc norm western point of the Lake of the
Woods, by the arbitration of a friendly
Power, in conlormity with the .7th article
of the treaty of Ghent No answer has
yet been returned by the British Govern
mcnt to this proposition.
With Austria, France, Prussia, Russia,
and the remaining powers of Europe, I am
happy to inform you our relations continue
to be ofthe most friendly character. With
Belgium, a treaty of commerce and navi
gation, .based upon liberal principles of re.
ciprocity and equality, was concluded in
March last, and, having been ratified by
the Belgian Government, will be duly laid
before the senate. It is a subject of Con
gratulation that it provides for the satisfac
tory adjustment of a long-standing question
of controversy t thus removing the only
obstacle which could obstruct the friendly
and mutually atlyantageous intercourse, be
tween the two nathans. A messenger has
been despatched with thellanoverian treaty
to Berlin, where, according -to stipulation
tlie ratifications are to beexchanged. I
am happy to announce to you bat, after
manv delays andl difficulties, a treatv of
commerce and navigation, between Hhe
UnircdStates-and Portugal, was tondudeir-
and signed at Lisbon, on tlie 26th of Au
gustlast, by tlie Plenipotentiaries of the
two Governments, ts stipulations are
founded upon those principles of mutual
liberality and advantage which the United
States have always sought to make the basis
of their intercourse with foreign Powers,
and it is hoped they will tend to foster and
strengthen the commercial intercourse of
the two countries.
Under the appropriation of the last ses
sion of Congress, an agent has been sent
to Germany for the purpose of promoting
the interests of our tobacco-trade.
The commissioners appointed under the
convention for the adjustment of claims of
the United States upon Mexico having met
and organized at Washington in August
last, the papers in possession of the Gov.
eminent relating to those claims were com.
municalcd to the board. The claims not
an are now the
subject of negotiation between the two Go
vernments, through the rncuNunol our Min
ister at Mexico.
Nothing has occurred to disturb the har
mony of our relations with the different
Governments of South America. I regret,
however, to be obliged to inform you that
ia of- our citizens upon the late lie-
fiublic of Columbia have not yet been satis
icl hy the separate Governments into
whrchif has been rcsolved-
Tho charge d'affaires of Brazil having
expressed the intention of his Government
not Jo prolong the treaty of 1828, it will
cease to bo obligatory upon eitlier party on
the 12th day of Dec. 1841, when the ex.
tensive commercial intercourse between
the United States and that vast empire will
no longer be regulated by express stipuln.
tions. . V . ' :
It-aiTords me pleasure, to communicate to
you that the Government of Chili has ehier.
ed into an agreement to indemnify the
claimants in tbe case of the Madeconian,
for American property seized in 1810 ; and
to add, that information has bj?cn received
which justifies the hope of an early adjust
ment of the remaining claims upon that
Government.'
he commissioners appointed in pursu."
anceof the convention between the United
States and Texas ,for marking the boundary
between them, have, according to the last
report received from our commissioner ,sur.
veved and established the whole extent of
the boundary north along the western bank
of the Sabine river, from its entrance into
the Gulf of Mexico to the thirty -second de
gree of north latitude. The commission
adjourned on the 16th of June last, to reas
semble on the 1st of November, for the pur.
pose of establishing accurately theintersec
tionof the thirty-second degree of latitude
with the western bank ofthe Sabine, and
the meridian line thence to Red River. It
is presumed that the work w ill be concluded
in the present season.
Ihe present sound condition ot their
finances,and the success with which embar
rassments in regard to them, at times appa
rently insurmountable .have been overcome,
are matters upon which the people and Gov.
ernment of the United States may well con
gratulate themselves. An overflowing
Treasury, however it may be regarded as
an evidence of public prosperity, is seldom
conducive of the permanent welfare of any
people ; and experience has demonstrated
its incompatibility with the salutary action
of political institutions like those of the U.
States. Our safest reliance for financial
efficiency and independence has, on tlie
contrary, been found to consist in ample re
sources unencumbered with debt ; and, in
this respect, the Federal Government occu
pies a singularly fortunate and truly envia
ble position. 1
When I entered upon the diScharce of
my official duties in March, 1837, the actk
for the distribution of the surplus revenue
was in a course or rapid execution. IN early
twenty-eight millions of dollars ofthe public
moneys were, in pursuance of lis provisions
deposited with the States in the months of
January, April and July of that year. In
May there occurred a general suspension of
specie payments by the banks, including,
with very few exceptions, those in which .
tho public moneys were deposited, and upon
wnosc naeiny me Government had unfortu
nately made itself dependent for the reve
nues which had been collected from the
people, and were indispensible to the public
service. 1 tus suspension, and the excess
es in banking and commerce out of which T
it arose, and which were greatly aggravated
by its occurrence, made, to a great extent,
unavailable the principal part of the public
money then on band ; suspended the collec
tion of many millions accruing on our mer
chants' bonds ; and greatly reduced tho
revenue arising from customs and public
lands. These effects have continued to op
erate, in various degrees, to the present pe
riod ; and, in addition to the decrease in the
revenue thus produced, two and a half mil.
lions of duties have been relinquished by
two biennial reductions under the act of
1833, and probably as much'more upon the
importation of iron for railroads, by special
legislation. 0
Whilst such has been our condition for
die last four years in relation to revenue, we
have, during the same period been subjected
to an unavoidable continuance of large ex
traordinary expenses necessarily growing
out of past transactions, and which could
not be immediately arrested without great
prejudice to the public interest' Of these,
the charge upon the Treasury, in conse
quence of the Cherokee treaty alone, with,
out adverting to others arising out of Indian
reaiies, nus uireuuy esceeueu 11 ye minions
orsjoiiars; that tor the prosecution ormea.
wrthe removal of the Seminole In
dians, which were found in progress, has
been ncarhfourteen millions ; and the pub.
libuildingvhave required the unusual aura
of nearly threemillions.
. It affords me, however, great pleasure to
be able to" say that , xrom the commence,
ment of this period to the present day, eve.
ry demand upon tlie Government, at home
or abroad, has been promptly met This
has been done, not only without creating a
permanent debt, or a resort toNadditional
taxation, in any form, but in die midst of a
steadily progressive reduction of existing
burdens upon the people, leaving still aeon,
siderable balance of available funds, which
will remain in the Treasury at the end of
thd year. Tlie small amount of Treasury
notes, not exceeding four and a half mil.
lions of dollars, still outstanding, and less
by tweuty-three millions thuF the United
Biaies nave in aeposite with the estates, is
composed of such only as are not yet due,
or have not been presented for payment
They may be redeemed out of the accruinff
aevnue, if the expenditures do not exceed
the amount within which they may, it is
thought, be kept without prejudice to the
to be as large as may justly be anticipated.
Among the reflections arising from the
conteihplaiioh of these circumstances, one"
not the least gratifying, is the consciousness
that the Government had the resolution and
tlie ability to adhere in every exigency to the -sacred
obligations of law ; to execute all its
contracts according to the requirements of
the constitution ; and thus to present, when
most needed, a rallying point by which the
business of the whole country might be
brought back to a safe and unvarying stan.
darda rultjitally irn porta nt .as well Jo.
the interests as to the morals of the people. '
mere can surely now be no diUcrcnce of
opinion in regard to the incalculable evils
that would have arisen if the Government,
at that critical moment, had suffered itself
to be deterred from upholding the only
true standard of value, cither by the pres
sure of adverse circumstances or the vio.
lence of unmerited denunciation. The '
manner in which the neonle sustained the
performance of this duty ' was highly hon.
orablc to their fortitude and patriotism. It
cannot fail to stimulate their agents to ad.
here, under all circumstances, to tho line of
duty ; and to satisfy them of the safety with
which a course really right, and demanded
bv a financial crisis, may, in a community
like ours, be pursued, however apparently
sevcre'its immediate operation.
The policy of tho Federal Government
in extinguishing as rapidly as possible the
national debt, and, subsequently, in resis.
ting every temptation to create a new one,
deserves to be regarded in the same favora.
ble light Among the many objections to
a national debt, the certain tendency of pub
lic secdrities to concentrate ultimately in
coffers', of foreign stockholders, is one
which is every day gathering strength. A L
ready have the resources of many of the
States, and the future industry of their ci
tizens, been indefinitely mortgaged to the
subjects of European Governments'; to the
amount of twelve millions annually, to pay
tlie constantly accruing ' interest on bor
rowed money a sum exceeding half the
ordinaryrercnueof the whole United States.
The pretext which this relation affords to
foreigners to scrutinize the management of
our domestic affairs, if not actually to in
termeddle with them, presents a subject for
earnest attention, not to say serious alarm.
Fortunately, the Federal Government, with "
the exception of. an obligation entered into
m behalf of the District ol Columbia, which
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