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GAZETTE.
OURS ARE THE PLANS OF FAIR DELIGHTFUL PEACE, UNWARp'.D
ry,
vk
PARTY RAGE, TO LIVE LIKE BROTHERS."
voii. xxxiv.
FRIDAY. DSCBTVIBilR 14 1832.
NO. 5.
- ?. :
Ml
l : , ;
HIE UGTSU
is'roBtisHEl) EVKHrrniDAT,
Raleigh, North-Carolina.
TEEMS. J
THKi::DotiAKS per aHnum; one halt m advance
i t
Tliojse who do not.eitherat the time of sub- could not press upon it the renewal ot ne
8cribing,or snbsequently, yi notice of their gociations which had been unfortunately
wish tohave the Paper discoBtjinued at the ex
piration of their yearwill be presumed as de
siring its continuance until countermanded.
ADVERTISEMENTS,
Not exceeding sixteen lines, will be inserted
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the;number of insertions be not marked on
thert, they will be continued until ordered
out, and charged accordingly.
Of tire President of the United States, to the
Senate and House of Representatives, at the
opening of the Second Session of the Twenty.
second Cowgress.
Feiiaw-citizens of the Senate
i and House vf Representatives e
It iives me. pleasure to congratulate
fyou upon your return to the Seat of Go
vernment, for the purpose of discharging
yourj duties to the people ol the United
States. Although the pestilence, which
had traversed. the Old World, has entered
oar limits, and extended its ravages over
much of our laao it has pleased Almighty
God to mitigate its severity, and lessen
the number of its victims, compared with
those who have fallen in most other coun
tries over which it has spread its terrors
Notwithstanding this visitation, ourcoun-
trv hresents. on every side, marks of
prosperity and happiness, unequalled,
jjerhaps, in any other jjortion of the world.
If we fciily appreciate our comparative
. condition, existing causes of discontent
will appear unworthy of attention, and
with; hearts of thankfulness to that Divine
Beins who has filled bur cup of prosperity
we shall feel our resolution strengthened
to preserve, and hand down to posterity
that liberty and mat--union woicn we nave
received from ;Otir Fathers, and which
coosti-trafc the sources and the shield of all
The relations of our country continue
to present the same picture of amicable
intercourse that I had the satisfaction to
hold up to your yiew at the opening :of
' i mi ' f i
your, last session.- lne same tnendiy
. profession, the same desire t participate
in- our Nourishing .commerce, the same
disposition to refrain from injuries, unin
tentnaily offered, are, with few, excep
tions, evinced by all nations with whom
we have any intercourse. This desirable
state of things may be mainly ascribed to
our undOriating practice of the rule which
has long guided, our national policy, to
require no exclusive privileges in com
merCf, ar.d to grant .nwe.. It is daily
producins itv 'beneficial effect in the. re-
- K . " i . r n . . , i-
gpect shown to our nag, me protection 01
tnir citizens and their property' abroad,
and in the increase of our navigation, and
' the extension of our mercantile operations.
The; returns which have been made out
fsince we last met, will show an increase,
luring tiie last preceding year, of more
than 80,000 tons, in Our shipping, and ot
neat! forty millions of ,!ollars tn the aggre
gate8 ol our imports and exports.,
Nor have we less reason JLo felicitate
ourselves on the position of our political
than our commercialxoncerns. They re-
h mailt in the state in which they were when
I last addressed you a state of prosperity
and jpeace the effect of a wise attention
to the parting alyice of the revered Father
? of his country on this subject, condensed
into' a maxii for the use of posterity, by
i one of his raost distinguished successors,
to cultivate free commerce and honest
friendship with all nations, but to make
entangling alliances with none! A strict
adherence to this policy, has kept us aloof
from the perplexing questions that now
agitate the "European world, and have
more than oncel deluged those countries
with blood. Should those scenes unfor--tunaitely
recur,tthe( parties to die c mtesj
may , count on a faithful performance of
the duties incu.mbent-.up6n us as a neutral
nation, and our own citizens may equally
rely on the firm assertion of their neutral
rights.
With the jnation that was our earliest
friend and ally in .the infancy" of our po
litical existence, the most' friendly rela
tions have subsisted through the late re
volutions of its ; Government, and!, from
the Events of the last, promise a perma
nent duration. It has madesan approxi
mation in some of its political, institutions
to our own, and raised a monarch to the
throne who preserves, it is said, a friendly
recollection of the period during which
lie acquired among Otir citizens the high
consideration that could then have been
produced by his personal qualifications
alone: . iC': f f
Qur commerce with 'that natioriis
gradually assuming;a mutually beneficial
character, and the adjustment ot the
chdms of our citizens has removed the
tnly. -obstacle there was to an intercourse,
fot only lucrative, but productive of lite-
From (Great Britain I have the satisfac
tion to'inform you that I continue to re
ceive assurances of the most amicable dis
position, which-have, on my part, on all
proper occasions, been promptly and sin
cerely reciprocated. The attention of
that Gove rnm wit ha9 latterly been so
much engrossed by matters or a deeply
interesting domestic cnaracier tnai we
1 1 i ..a i i k .j l c
uniivcii oil uy iiic uucajjcicu ictai ui uji
Minister, who had commenced them with
some hopes of success. . My great object
was the settlement of Questions which,
though now' dormant, mi'uht hereafter be
revived, under circumstaiices that would
endanger the good understanding which it
s the interest of both parties to preserve
inviolate, cemented as it is by a commu
nity of language, manners, and ocial
habits, and by the high obligations we owe
to our British ancestors for many of our
most valuable institutions, and for that
system of Representative Government
which has enabled us to preserve and im
prove them.
The question of our North-eastern
boundary still remains unsettled. In my
last annual message, I explained to you
the situation in which I found that busi
ness on my coming into office, and the
measures I thought it my duty to pursue
for asserting the, rights of the United
States before the Sovereign who had been
chosen by my predecessor to determine
the question; and also the manner in
which he had disposed of it. A special
message to the Senate, in their executive
capacity, afterwards brought before them
the question, whether they would advise
a submission to the opinion of the Sove
reign arbiter. That body having con
sidered the award as not obligatory, and
advised me to upon a further negotiation,
the proposition was immediately made to
the British Government ; but the circum
stances to which ! have alluded have hi
therto prevented any answer being given
to the overture. , Early attention, how
ever, has been promised to the subject,
and every effort on my part will be made
for a satisfactory settlement of this ques
tion, interesting to the Union generally,
and particularly so to one of its members.
the claims ot our citizens on spam are
not yet acknowledged. On a closer in
vestigation of them than appears to have
heretofore taken place, it was discovered
that some ot these demands, however
strong they might be upon the equity of
that Government, were not such as could
be made a subject of national interference.
And faithful to the principle of asking
nothing but what was clearly right, addi
tional instructions have been sent to mo
dify our demands, so as to embrace those
only on which, according to the laws of
nations, we had a strict right to insist.
An inevitable delay in procuring the do
cuments necesary, for this review of the
merits of these claims, retarded this ope
ration until an unfortunate malady, which
has afflicted III? Catholic Majesty, pre
vented an examination of them. Being
now for the first time presented in ari Un
exceptionable form, it is confidently hoped
the application will be successful.
I have the satisfaction to inform you
that the application I directed to be made
for the delivery of a part, of the archives
of Florida which had been carried to
the Havanna. has produced a royal order
for their delivery, and that measures
have been taken to procure it execution.
By the report 'of the-Secretary of State,
communicated to you on the 2oth June
last, you are informed of the Conditional
reduction obtained by the Minister of
the United States at Madrid,? of the du
ties on tonnage levied on American ship
ping in the ports of Spain. The condition
of that reduction having been complied
with on our part, by the act passed the 13th
of Jily last, 1 have the satistacuon to in
form you that our ships now pay no higher
nor other duties in thecontinental ports of
Spain than are levied on their national
vessels
The demands against Portugal for ille
gal captures in the blockade ofTerceira,
have been allowed to the full amount of
the accounts presented by the claimants,
arid payment-was promised to be made in
three instalments. The first of these has
been paid ; the second, although due,
had not,' at the date of our last advices,
been received ; owing, it was alleged,
to embarrassments in theiinances, conse
quent on the civil war in which that nation
is engaged, i
The payments stipulated by theconven
tion witfi5Denmark have bejeu punctually
made& the amount is ready fordistribution
ampng the4 claimants as soon as the Board
now sitting shall have performed their
functions.
I regret that, by the last advices from our
Charge d' Affairs at Naples, that Govern
ment had still delayed the satisfaction
due to our citizens ; but at that date the
effect of the instructions was not known.
Despatches from thence are hourly ex
pected and the result will be communica
ted to you without delay.
With the rest of Europe, our relations,
political and commercial, remain unchan
ged. Negotiations are going on to put on
a permanent basis, the liberal system of
commerce now carried on oeuveen usanu
the Empire of Russia. The treaty cou-
eluded with Austria is executed by His
Imperial Majesty, with the most perfect
good faith ; and, as we have no diploma
tic agent at his court,he personally inquir
ed into, anJ corrected a proceeding of
some of his subaltern officers, to the in
jury of our Consul in one of his ports.
(Jjr treaty with the Sublime rorte is
producing its expected effects on our com
merce. New markets are opening for our
commodities, and a more extensive range
for the employment of our hips A flight
augmentation of the duties on our com
merce, inconsistent witn the spirit or tne
treaty, had been imposed ; but on the re
presentation of our Charge d'Aftaires, it
has been promptly -withdrawn, and we
now enjoy the trade and navigation of the
Black Sea, and of iA I the ports belonging
to the Turkish Empire and Aia, on the
most perfect equality with all foreign na
tions.
I wish, earnestly, that in announcing
to you the continuance of friendship, and
the increase of a profitable commercial in
tercourse with Mexico, with Central A
mericaand the States of the South, I could
accompany it with the assurance that they
all are blessed with that internal tranqui
lity and foreign peace which their heroic
devotion to the caue of their indepen
dence merits. In Mexico, a sanguinary
strugsle is now carried on, which nas cau
sed some embarassment to our commerce.
but both parties profess the mostiriendly
disposiuon'towards us. To the. termina
tion of this" contest, we look for the esta
blishment of that secure intercourse so ne-
cessarv to nations whose territories are
contiguous. How important it will be to
us we may calculate from the fact, that.
even in this unfavorable state ot things,
our maritime commerce has increased,
and an internal trade, by caravans, from
St. Louis to Santa Fe, under the protec
tion of escorts furnished by the Govern
ment, is carried on to great advantage,
and is daily increasing. The agents pro
vided for by the the treaty with this Pow
er, to designate the boundaries which it
established, have been named on our part,
but one of the evils of the civil war now
ragingthere has been, that the appoint
ment of those with whom they were to co
operate has not yet beerfannounced to us.
The Government of Central America
has expelled from iAts territory the party
which, some time since, disturbed ' its
peace. Desirous of fostering a favorable
disposition towards us, which has, on
more than one occasion been evinced by
this interesting country, I made a second
attempt in this year, to establish a diplo-j
matic intercourse with them ; but the
death of the distinguished citizen whom
I had appointed for that purpose has re
tarded the execution of measures, from
which I hoped .much advantage to our
commerce. The union of the three States
which formed the Republic of Colombia
has ben dissolved ; but they all, it is be
lieved, consider themselves as separately
bound by the treaty, which was made in
their federal capacity. The Minister ac
credited to the Federation continues in
that character, near the Government of
New Grenada, and hopes were entertain
ed that a new union would be formed be
tween the separate States, at least for the
purposes ot foreign intercourse. Our Mi
nister has been instructed to use his good
offices, whenever they shall be desired,
to produce the re-union so much to be
wished, for the domestic tranquility of
the parlies, and the security and facility
of foreign commerce.
Some agitations, naturally attendant on
an iufant .rcigo, have pretauled in the em
pire of Brazil, which have had the usual
effect upon commercial operations'; and
while they suspended the consideration, of
claims created on similar occasions,' they
have given rise to new complaints on the
part of our citizens. A proper consider
ation for calamities and difficulties of this
nature has made us less urgent and per
emptory in our demands for justice, than
duty to our fellow-citizens would, under
other circumstances, have required. But
their claims are not neglected, and will,
on all proper occasions, be urged', and it
is hoped with effect.
I refrain from making any communica
tion on the subject of out;affairs with Bu
enos' Ayres, because the negotiation com
municated to you in my last annual mes
sage was, at the date ot our last advices,
still pending, and in a state that would
render a publication of the details inex
pedient. A treaty of amity and commerce has
been formed with the Republic of Chili,
which, if approved by the Senate, will be
laid before you. That Government ap
pears to be established, and at.peace with
its neighbors ; and its ports being the re
sort of our ships which are employed in
the highly important trade of the fisheries,
this commercial convention cannot but be
of great advantage to our fellow-citizens
engaged in that perilous but profitable bu
siness. Our commerce with the neighboring
State of Peru, owing to the onerous duties
levied on our principal articles of export,
has been on the decline, and all endea
vors to procure an alteration have hither
to proved fruitless. With Bolivia we
have yet no di'plomatic intercourse, ,and
the continual contests carrira'On between
it anil Peru have made irt defer, until a
more favoratie period, the appointment of
any agent fo that purpose.
An act of trocious piracy having been
committed o one of our trading ships by
the inhabitant of a settlement on the west
coast of Sumatra, a frigate was despatch
ed, with ord nfto demand satisfaction for
the injury, f those who committed it
should be foifjul members of a regular go
vernment, capable of maintaining the usu
al relations with foreign nations ; but if,
as it was supposed, and as as they proved
to be, they wre a band of lawless pirates,
to inflict sucla chastisement as would de
ter them and titers from like aggressions.
This last wasrlone, and the effect has been
an increased Respect for our flag in those
distant seasaud additional security for
our c6mmerc-U
Ijfthe.'vie-ji have given of our connex
ion "with -tore!, gn powers, illusions liuve
been made totheir domestic disturbances
r'..- . x . ji' i ,
lureigu yr.rs, 10 meir -revolution or
'.
uissenuons.; ?limav-ne nroner to (i ki-i vp.
that this is (me -solely in cases where
those events alle ct. our political relations
with them, o.to show their operation on
our com in e ire. Further than this, it is
neither our.' 0 1 icy nor oiir right to inter
fere. Our h,;st wishes on all occasions,
ur good oflicVs when required, will be af
forded, to prtlnotathe domestic tranquil
ity arid'-foreign peace of all' nations with
whom tfe liayg any intercourse. Any in
tervention in lieir affairs further than this,
even by the expression of an official opin
ion, is contrary to our principles of inter
national policy, anJ will always be a
voided. ' '
The Report which the Secretary of the
Treasury will, in due time,' lay before
you, will exhbit the national finances in
a highly prosperous state. Owing to the
continued success of our 'commercial en
terprize, whivh'as enabled the merchants
to. fulfil tlyir Engagements with the Gov
ernment, the receipts from customs dur
ing the year ) 'ill. exceed the estimate pre
sented at tlxi-last session, and with the
other mea'ns i f the Treasury, will prove
fully adequa not -only: to" meet the increased-
expenditures resulting from the
large appror Rations made by Congress,
bur to'providi for the payment of all the
publicdebt vhich is at present redeema
ble.. It is n jfw estimated that the cus
toms wiW yi4tl to the Treasury, during
the present yrjir, upwards of twentv-eiht
millions of cflars. The public lands,
however,-haviproved less productive than
was anticipated- t and, according to pre
sent inform a ton, will not much exceed
two millions. '
'I'he jexpen litures for all objects other
than the publ,i debt, are estimated to a
inount, durii r the year, to about sixteen
mil linns and i half, while a still larger
sum, viz. ei ghteen millions of dollars,
will Jiave' be n applied to the principal
and interest f the public debt
It is expected however, that in conse
quence of the. reduced rates of duty which
will take ehVct after the; third of March
next, there wjfl be a considerable falling
off in the revenue from customs in the
year 1853. ' will, nevertheless, be am
ply sufficient; b provide ior all the wants
of the public service, estimated even up
on a liberal sr'ale, 'and for the redemption
and purchase ftt the remainder of the pub
lic debt. OjJ-ihe first of January next,
the entire ptfjuc debt of the U. States,
funded and unfunded, will be reduced
within a fract on to seven millions of dol
lars ; ot whlc i,tvvo millions two hundred
and twenty-s yen thousand three hun
dred and six' y.-three dollars are not of
right redeemable until the first of Janua
ry, 1834, amf. four millions seven hun
dred and thi;y-five thousand two hun
dred and nihtty-six dollars, not until the
second of January, 1835. The Commis
sioners of the. Sinking Fund, however,
being invested'with full authority to pur
chase the del. j; at the market price, and
the means of the Treasury being ample,
it may be ho jed that the whole will be
extinguished ithin the year 1833.
I cannot -too K!rdially congratulate Con
gress and my lllow-citizena on the near
approach of fchtt memorable and happy e
vent, jthe extinguishment of the public
debt of ill is gr at nation. Faithful to the
wise and' pittf Kotic policy marked out by
the Legislator. .of the country for this ob
ject, the preset Administration has de
voted to it auhemeans which a nourish
ing commerce' has supplied, and a pru
dent economy 'preVerved, for the public
Treasury. Vi.thin the four years for
which the people have confided the Exe
cutive powetd, my charge, fifty-eight
millions of do fars will have been applied
to the paytnef of the public debt. That
this has been f'c-omplished without stint
in?? the expehi ifures for all other proner
objects, Will ie $een by referring to the
liberal provisi jfl-imaue during the same
period for the.-iupport and increase of our
means of: ma ttme and military defence,
for internal.fi iprjpvement, of a national
character, fot the removal and preserva
tion of the 1 ians, arid, lastly, for the
gallant veterans of the Revolution.
The final removal of Ihis great burthen from
our reurces, Vk Twrds'the means of further pro
vision for all:thobjects of, general welfare and
public defedcVithJch the Constitution authori
zes, and prdseni.tiie occasion for such further
reduction iruth T.everaue as may not be required
far ihern- Fro he report of the Secretary of
the;Treasury, if will be seen that, after the pre
1t-111 am. 1 1 rfuuenon may re mnde to a
considerable extent, and, the sn'bject is earnestly
recommended to the consideration of Congress,
in the hope that the combined wisdom of the
representatives of the people will devise suyh
me:ms of effecting- that salfitary object, as may
remove those burthens which shall be found to
fdl unequally upon any, and as may promote the
great interests of" the community.
.Long and patient reflection has strengthened
the opinions I have heretofore exprssed'to Con
gress on this subject ; and I deem it my duty on
the present occasion, attain to ure them upon
the attention of the "Legislature. The soundest
maxims of public policy andjlye principles upon
which our republican institutions are founded,
recommend a proper adaptation of the revenue
to the expenditure, and they also require that
the expenditure shuH be limited to what, by a:i
economical administration, shall be consistent
with the simplicity of the C )vernmcn, and ne
cessary to an eflicient public service. In effect
ing this adjustment, it is due in justice to Jhe
interests ot the difTvtvnl St itos, and even to the
preservation of the Union itself, thai the protec
tion afl'nrded by existing: law to anv branches
of the national industiy should not exceed what
may be necessary to' counteract the regulations
ffore'gn nations, uHd to - secure a sii(p!y of
those articles of manufacture 'essential to the na
tional independence and safety in time of war:
If, upon investigation, it shall be found, as it is
believed it will be, that the legislative protection
granted to any particular interest is greater than
is indispensably requisite for these ohjects. Ire
commend that it be gradually diminished, and
that, as far as may be consistent .with these ob
jects, the whole scheme of duties be reduced to
the revenue standard, as soon as a just regard to
the faith of the Government and to the preser
vation of the large capital invested in establish
ments of domestic indu-try, will permit.
That manufactures adequate to the supply of
our uomesuc consumption would, mthe abstract,
be beneficial to, our country, there is no reason to
doubt ; and to effect their establishment, there
is, perhaps no American citizen who would not,
tor a while, be Willing to pay a higher price for
them. Hut, for th.s purpose, it is presumed
that a tariff of high duties designed for perpe
tual protection, has entered into the minds of but
,i w of our Statesmen. The most they have an
iicipated is a temporary and generally. incidental
protection, which," they m.intain, has the efTVct
to reduce the price by domestic competition,
below that of the former article. Experience,
however, our b- st gu de or this 9 on other
subjects, makes it doubtful whether the advan
tages of this system are not counterbalanced jfV
many evils, and whether it dots not tend to be
get in the minds of a large portion of our coun
trymen, a spirit of discontent and jealousy, dan
gerous to the st ability of the Union.
"What l hen shall be done? I.trge -interests
have grown up under the implied pi' dire of our
national legislation, Which it would seem a vio
laiion of public faith sud lerdy to abandon,
Nothing could justify it but the public safetv,
which is the supreme law. - Hilt those who have,
vested their capital in m.inufa tin-ng establish
ments, cannot expect that lha people will con
tinue permanently to pay high taxes f..r their be
nefit, when the money is not required for any
legitimate purpose in the administration of the
Government. Is it not enough that the higt
duties have been paid as long as the money ari
sing tromfthem could.be applied tothe Common
oenetit in the extinguishment of the public deb' ?
Those Who take an enlarged view of the enn
dit'on of cur country, must be satisfied that the
policy of protection must bp ultimately limited
to those articles of domestic "manufacture whico
are indispensable to our safety in time of war.
Within this scope, on a reasonab'e scale, it is re
commended by every consideration of patriotism
an i duty, which will doubtless dways secure to
it a liberal and efficient support. Hut beyond
this object, we have already seen the operation
of the system productive of discontent! In se-me
sections of the republic its influence is depreca
ted as lending to concentrate .vealth into a few.
hmds, and as creating thoe germs ot depend
ence and vice, which in other countri-s have
characterized the existence of monopolies, and
proved so destructive of liberty and the general
goou. a large portion ot tne people in one sec
tion of the republic declares it not only inexpe
dient on these grounds, but as disturburg the e
qual relations of property by legislation, and
therefore unconstitutional and unjust.
Doubtless, tnese effects are, in a great degree,
exaggerated, and may be ascribed to a mistaken
view of the considerations which led to the
adoption of the Tariff system ; but they are
nevertheless imp rtant in enabling us to review
the subject with a more thorough knowledge of
all its bearings upon the great interests of the
republic, and with a determination to dispose of
it so that none cairwith justice complain.
It is my painful duty tosiate, that, in one quar
ter of the United States opposition to the reve
nue laws has risen to a height which threatens to
thwart their execution, if not to endanger tthe
integrity of the Union. Whatever obstructions
may be 'brown in the way of the Judicial Au
thorities of the General, Government, it is hoped
tiiey will be able peaceably to. overcome them
by the prudence of their own officers and the
patriotism of the people, But should this rea
sonable reliance on the moderation and good
sense of all portions of our fellow-citizens be dis
appointed, it is believed that the laws themselves
are fully adequate to the suppression of such at
tempts as may be immediately made. Should
the exigency arise, tendering the execution of
the existing laws impracticable from any cause
whatever, prompt notice of it will be given to
Congress, with a suggestion of such virws and
measures as may beseemed necessary to meet it.
In conformity with principles heretofore .ex
plained, and with the hope of reducing the Gen
eral Government to that simple machine wl.tjh
the Constitution created, and of withdrawing
from the States all other influence than that ol
its universal beneficencein preserving peace, af
fording an uniform currency, maintaining the in
violability of contracts, diffusing intelligence,
and discharging unfclt its other superintending
functions, I recommend that provision be made
to dispose of all stocks now held by rt in corpo
rations, whether created by the General or
State Governments, and placing the proceeds in
the Treasury. As a source of profit, these stocks
are of little or no value : as a means of influence
among the States, they are adverse tn the purity
of our institutions. The whole principle on which
they are based is deemed by many unconstitu
tional, and to persist in the policy which they
indicate, is considered wholly inexpedient.
It is my duty to acq laint y.ou with an arrange
ment made by the Bank of the United States
with a portion!tf the 3 percent, stock, by which
the Government will be deprived of the use of
the public funds longer than "was anticipated.
Uy this arrangement,-which will be particularly
explained by the Secretuy f the Treasury, a
suricnder ot the certificates of this Stock may
be postponed UMil October, 1831 j and thus the
lubjh'y oi the Goyevnrncnt, alter it ability tut
W.harg-Thf debt, naaybe continued, by the
ta dure of the R .nk to perform its duties. , '
Such measures ss are tvtthih the nch nf th
Secrft-ary of the Treasury have beerf taken to - '
enable him to ir, dire whet her the nuhfiedetinrnfM -I.
n that institution m y be regarded "tnfhVly
safe; but Vs his limited power may prove inade- --,'",
qu ite to this object, I recommend the subject
' it -ntion ot Congress, under the firm be
lief that it is worthy of their srious investiga
tion. An enquiry into the transactions of the
institution, embracing the branches as well s
the principal Bank, seems called for by the cre
dit which is 'given throughout the country to1
many serious cha-gcs impeaching its character,
and which, if true, may justly excite the appre
hension that i is no longer a safe depository of
the money of the peoplp.
AmoMg theiinterests which merit the conside
ration of Congr. ss, after the payment of the pub
lic debt, One of the most important, in my view, .
is that of the public 1 m Is. Previous to th- for
mation of ojirpresent Constitution, it was r com-uv-nded
by Congress that a portion of the waste
Snds .wived by the States should be ceded'to
die United States, for the purpose of general
harmnny, and as a fund to meet the expenses of
th'i war. The recommendation was adopted,
and at different periods of time, the States of
-Massachusetts, New-Vork, Virginia, North and ,
South-Caml'ina, and Georgia, granted theijL va
cant soil for the uses for which they had been :j
asked. As the lands may now be considered as
relieved from this pledge, the ohject for which
they were ceded having been accomplished, it
is in the discretion of Congress to dispose of
them in such away as best to conduce to the qui e', '
harmony, and general interest of the American
people. In examining this que tion all local
and sectional feeling should be discarded, and
the whole United States regarded as one people,
interested alike in the prosperity of. their com
mon country.
It cannot be doubted that the speedy settle
ment of these lands constitutes the tmelnterest
of the republic. The vo:dth and strength of a..
country are its population, and the best part of
that population are the cultivators of the soil
Independent fanners are every where the basis
of sh ;-iety ami true friends of liberty.
In addition to these considerations, "question's
have already arisen, and may oe expected here
after to grow out of the public lands, which in
volve the rfghts of new States and the powers cf
the General Government : and unless a liberal
policy be now adopted, there is danger that these
questions m-ty speedily assume an importance not
now generally anticipated. The influence of a
great sectional interest, when brought into full
action, will be found more dangerous to the har
mony and union of the States than any other
cause of discontent ; and it is the part of wisdom
and sound policy to foresee its approaches, and
end.avor, if possible, to counteract them.
Or t ie various schemes which have been hither
to proposed in regard to the disposal; of the pub
lic lauds, none has yet received ihe entire appro
bation pf the-National Legislature. Deeply im
pressed with the importance of a speedy and sa
tisfactory arrangement of the subject, I deem it
my duty on this occasion, to urge it jupon your
consideration, ami, to the propositions which
have been heretofore suggested by others, to
contribute those reflections which have . occurred f
to me, in the Iwpe that they, may assist you in
your future deliberations.
It. seems to me to be our true policy, that the
public lands shall cease as soon -as practicable to
be a source of revenue, ami that they be soM to
settlers, in limited parcels, at a price barely suf
ficient to reimburse to the United States the ex- f
pense of the present system, and the cost arising
under our Indian compacts. The wlvantages of
accurate surveys and undoubted titles, now se
cured to purchasers, seem to forbid the abolition
of the present system, because none can be sub
stituted which will more perfectly ac omplish
these important eiid3. ft is desirable, however,
that in convenient time, this machinery be wfth
drawu fi-om the States, and that the right of soil
and the future disposition of it be surrendered to .
1 the States respectively in which it lies. 1
I he adventurous and hardy population of the
West, besides contributing their equal share of t
taxation under our impost system, have, in the
progress of our Government, for the lands they
occupy,' paid into the Treasury a large proporti
on of forty millions of dollars, and 5f the revenue
received therefrom but a small part has been ex
pended amongst them. When, to the disadvan
tage of their situation in this respect, we add the
consideration that it is their labor alone which
gives real value to the lands, "and that the pro
ceeds arising from their sal; are distributed chief
ly among States which had not originally any
claim to them, and which have enjoyed the un
divided emolument arising from the sale of their
own lands it cannot be expected; that the new
States will remain longer contented) with the pre
sent policy after the payment of the public debt.
To avert the consequences which may be appre
hended from this cause, t6 out an end forever to
jail partial and interested legislation on this sub-
ject, ana to attora to everyunerican cnizen or
enterprise the opportunity of ' securing an inde
pendent freehold, it seems to me, therefore, best
to abandon the idea of raising a future revenue
out of the public lands.
In former messages I, have. expressed my con
viction thatihe Constitution does not wan-ant the
application of the funds of the General Govern
ment to objects of Internal - Improvement .which
are not national in their character ; and both as a
m ans of doing justice to all interests, and put
ting an end to a course of legislation eafciiLitcd
to destroy tlie purity of the iiovernmenV Kve
urged the necessity pf. reducing the whole sub
ject to some fixed and certain rule. As there ne
ver will occur a period, perhaps, more jirophious
than the present to the accom Ushment ofthT
object, I beg leave to press the subject again uj(--on
your attention. J :
Without some general an4 well defined prin
ciples ascertaining those objects of Internal Im
provements to which the mean- of the nation may
lie constitutionally applied, it is obvjous that the
exercise of the power can never be satisfactory.
Besides the ilanger to which it exposes Congress
of making hasty appropriations to works of the
character afj which they may" bcrequently igno- '
rant, it promotes a mischitrvou and corrupting
influence upon elections;' by holding out to the
people the fallacious hope - that the -ccew of k f
certain candidate will make iiavigable thneigh
boring crceai or river, bring i commerce W ither 5
doors? and increase the value of their property;' :
It thus favors combinatiOTis to sqa ler the trea
sure of the country upon a multita ofiocftl.ob
jects, as fataRd just legisbtion'as tjth,; jHtfity
of nublic men.
-X
If a system compatiblewith: th4t3pltttoa
Cannot be distsd; which VfrceXroW&ud ten
flpnf.iM. we should recollect that thft instruweftt .
provides within itself the mode of it anlidnCv"-"'4'!
and thatthei-e is,, therefore, ,ndr exeunt? for thflr -
.JB . 1 ' 1-1. .'-.' - ' .. 1
assumption oi uoudtiu powers -oy Vicnrral . ,
il
to
:avy ana scientinc improvemeut.
(