__ i 5-T
i in-u._
PRESIDENT’S IVIESSAGE.
Fellow Citizens of the Senate, .
and Ifoztsc of Rcprcscmatzrcs:
In pcrforniiiiig my duty at.t.lie opening of your
present session, it gives me pleasure to coi_igrat—1
ulatc you again upon the prosperous condition of
our beloved country. Divine Providence has
favored us with general health, with rich re-
wards in the fields of agriciiltuic and in every
branch oflabor, and with pczlcc t0 CL1l1i\’«’1le and
exteiitl the various resources which employ the
virtue and enterprise of our citizens. Let. us
trust that in siirveyiiig a scene so flatteriiig o
. our free institutions, ot.ir joint deliberations to
5-‘ preserve. them may be crowned with success.
Our foreigii relations continue, with but few
exceptions, to i‘iiaintait't the favorable aspect
which they bore in iriy last annual iiiessage, and
promised to extend those advatitages which the
,...
principles that re.giilate our llll.t‘l'C{)lll‘$.‘C with odi— _
er nations are -so well ealt-ulated to scciire.
The question of the l1t)l‘ll1t,‘2lSlCl'l1 lioiiiiilary is
still pending with Great I_if'll.1lltl, and the propo-
sition niadc in accordaiice with the resolution of
the Senate for the cstabli.<liiiieiit of a line ac-
cording to the treaty of lf/S3, lias not been ac-,
cepted by iliat. govt-t'iniient‘. l3clic\'iiig that ev-
ery disposition is felt. on bot.li siiles to adjiist this
PC-1‘])l(.“.?\'ll1f_f(]IlCS|lOtl to the sttti.-f:ii-iioti ofall the
parties interested in it, the hope is yet iziiltilgcil
hat it may be effected on the basis of that prop-
sitioii.
,\Vit.l1 the govcriiiitents of .-Xustria, Ilttssizi,
Prussia, I'It)ll:llltl,S\‘.'(l()l1{1l1(l Deiiiiiark, the best
understandiiig exists. Coiniiierce, with all, is
fostered and protected by reciprocal good will,
under the sanction of liberal, convciitioiial or le-
gal provisions.
In the midst. of her iuteriial iliflicttliic:-', the
Queen of Spain has ratifietl the. (Joiiveiitioii liir
the pavmciit of the claims ofour citizens since
1819. ‘I11 the cottrse cif'ex(-.ciitioii on her part.
and a copy of it is now laid before you for such
legislation as may be found iiei-cssai‘y to enable
those interested to derive the l)t,‘l'lttlll,S of it.
Yielding to the force ofcirciiiristaticcs, and to
the wise counsels of time and experience, that
power lias finally resolved no longer to occupy
the umiatiiral po.~_:itioi.i in whicli she stood to ilie
‘xv govertimciit cstablislied in this liciiiisplir-i‘e.
l1Z1’\i"C the great satisfactioii of statin gr it vou tlia.t
I pi-ep:_ti‘itig the \v:i_v for the re:<torati , ofli:ii'-
onv between those who ll:l.\'t‘. spruiig front the
m5 £1I1CC:'l.0t'S, who are allitd by coiniiion iii-
"este, profess the saute l‘t‘llf_’.'l()ll, and .‘sp<'Lik the,
me laiiguage, the United States litl‘\“c‘ l.lt_‘t,‘ll .-it.-- ,
tely iiist.rt.iiiieiital. (_)iir cliiirts to ell-':et llils
od work will be pcrse\'e2‘eil in while they are
emcd useful to the pai'tii-s, and our eiitire dis-
teredness continues to be felt aiiil tuidcrstooil.
he act of Congress to cotiiitcrvail the discrimi-
iting duties, lC;\'lt:tl to the prejudice of oitr nav-
ation, in Cuba and Porto liiict), lias been traiis-
itted to the Minister of the Uiiited Suites at
i just division oftlieobligations contractei
'\vhi-ti tiiiiteil tinder one govoriitnent.
i
l
1
BY VVRE. G. HYER.
PRINCIPLES AND MEN.
$2 PER ANNUM.
‘ vet... is.
l
NGRWALEQ, FREEBAY, nut}. 12, nsaa.
N0. .5
i .,
l
all cases, represciitatioiis have been, or will be
made, aiid as soon as their political affairs are
in a scttletl positioii, it. is expected that our
fi'ii'-iidly rcinonstraiiccs will be followed by ade-
tjt.tI.'t'C i‘edt'css.
The (_i()K‘(:l'1lD1('I1[ of Mexico riiade known in
Dct.-eiiilii_-i‘ last, the appoiritiiicnt ofCoiniiiission-
crs atid tl Sttrveyor, on its part, to rtiii, iii criti-
junction with ours, the boiindary line between
its territories and tliose oftlie United States, and
excti.-zzctl the delay for the reasons aiitieipated—-
the prevalcrice ofcivil war. The Coiniiiission-
crs and survc_voi‘s not liaving met. within the
time stipulated by the tretity, a new arraiigc-
iiient l)t:('LllT1t' iicccssary, atid our Cliargc d’A f-
faires was tliereliire iiistrttcted, in .latii.iary last,
to iiegotiate, in Mexico, an article :idditiona.l to
the pre-cxistiiig ti'eat_y. This iiistructioii was
ackttowlctlged, and no ditlieulty was appreliciid-
ed in the accomplislintent of that object. By
iiiforiiiatiot'i just reccivctl, that atlditiotial article
to the trcatv will be obtained, and traiistnittctl to
tliis coiiiiti'y, soon as it can receive. the ratifi-
cation ofthe Tilexicziii C‘-oiigress.
The re-niiioti of the tlii'ci;- States of New Grati-
ada. \'cn-;:-zucla, and l§qiiai_lor, foriiiiiig the re-
public of Colombia, seems to becotne every day
int-re iniprob:ible. The Coiiiiiiissio-tiers. of the
two first. are ll11tl(,'}'>‘~ltIt)tl t.o be now iiegotiatitig a
l by them
The civil
\\’;lt'lli lflqiiador, it is bi-licved, has prevented
even the appoint.iriciit of a Ceii‘i1i'iissioiie1’ on its
; part.
I propose at an early day, to submit. in the
proper ll)i‘lll, the tiopoiiittiieiit of a diplontatic
agent to Vi-iii-zitelzi. The iiiiportance of the
coii1ii'iei'ce of that coitntry t.o the United States,
atid the large claims of our citizens upon the
goveriimciit, arising before and since the division
of Columbia, rendering it, in my judgment, im-
proper longer to delay t.lit.s step.
adrid, to be coiiiiiiutiii':itcil to the Cioveriiiaieiit
es reaclied the .I)epartiiit:-tit of State.
resent eonditioti of the cottiiti‘y periiiits the (le-
erniiicnt to ii'i:ike a cart-ful and (-iil:ii'gt_~il ex-
minat.ioti of the true interests t)','tliesc iitiporttizit
aortions ofits doiiiitiioiis, no doubt is t"lllt*l‘i1Illft‘tl
fiat their future iiiti.-i‘t-oiti‘.-‘tr wiili the lfiiited
States will be placed Upoil a more just and lib-;_~-
al basis.
The Florida {'tl‘(,'lll\'t3S_‘- li:-.ve 11’it yet l.‘(,!i"Il se-
lected and delivr;-red. lieceiit iiriler.~;: have
con sent to the zigciit of the Uiiiteil States
Ha.\aiia, to rett_irii with all that. he can obtain,
) that they may be in \Vasliiiigtoit belbrc the
.ssion oftlie Siiprciiic Court, to be used in the
gal questions there peiidiiig, to which the Go-
ernnient is a party.
Internal tranquility is liappily restored to Por-
tgal. The distracted state of the country ren-
cred unavoidable the postpiiiiciiteii! of a fiiial
aymcnt oftlie just claims of our citizens. Uur
iplomatic relations will be soon resiinii.-d, and
ie long subsistingfrieiidship with that power
l'liJ1‘(l.s‘ the strongest gL1Lll‘£1!ILC|'» tlutt, the -l—'ill«.tttci:
ue will receive prompt attention.
The first iiistaliiiciit due utidt.-r the conventioii
f lt]'.lC11111ll.y with the King of the two Sicilies,
3 extinguish the whole by a prompt. pa_vtii:‘*nt—-
11 offer I did not consider iii_v.<elf Ill1l.llI)t'l2/.C‘t_l to
.eccpt'; t'.1SIl1Clt1t.l(:l1lI1ll'l':t‘tll()ll provided is the ex-
litsive property of iiidividual citizen:-; ofthe U.
'tates. The origittztl ai.ljiistiiieut: ofotir clztinis.
ind the anxiety displayed to fulfil at oiice the
‘llp‘Lllt‘tTl0l1.S made for the payinciit. of t.liem, are
ilghly honorable to the goveriiiiii.-at of the 'l_‘wo
jtcilies. \Vhcn it is recolli;-ctei_l that tliev were
.he result of the injiisiit,-e of an intrusive power,
cmporarily (loiriiiiaiit. in its teri'itor_v, a repiig-
nanee to acknowledge and to pay whit-li would
have been neitherunnatural nor iiiicxpcctcd, the
circuirist.aiices cannot fail to exalt its (‘.ll(ll‘ilC‘[(:l'
or justice and g()0.',l faitli iii the eyes of all ita-
tions.
The Treaty of Amity and Coiiiiiicice be-
tween the United States and Belgiitiii, broiiglit
to your notice in my last aiitinal iiics:sa_'_r_c, was
sanctioned by the St’.'1'l£ll(:, but the ratific.-itioii:- of
hich ltad not been excliatigeil, owing to a de-
y in its reception at l3riisscls, and a stil):-:e-
cnt absence of the lielgltln filinister of For-
gii Affairs, has been after iiiatiire dclibi-i'ation.
iially tlisavtiwed by that Govcrnuicnt as incon-
steiit with the powers atid itistriictioiis given to
e minister who riegotiatetl it. This disrvowal
'as entirely unexpected, as the liberal principles
tnbodicd in the coiiventioii, and which form the
round-work of the objections to it, were perfect-
satisfactory to the Belgian representative, and
were supposed to be not only witliiu the pew-
ers granted, but exprcssl y coiifoniiable to the iti-
strpctions given to him. An offer, not yet ac-
epted, has been made by ffielgiuni to renew ne-
otiations for a treaty less liberal iiiits provisions,
ni questions. of general inaratiine law. Our
ewly establislied rclatioiis with the Stibliine
’orte, pieinises to be iiseful to our (‘0]nn]Q1‘(;Q,
rid satisfactoi'y in every respect to this goverii-
ctit. Our inf.c1‘cottr.'se with the Barbary Pow-
rs continues without iinportatii. cliangc, except
that the present. political state of Algiers has iii-
.tlnccd me to terminate the residence there of a
salaried consul, and to sitbstitiitc an ordinary
l.‘OllStll€l.l(':, to rt;-main so long as the place eoiitiii-
tics in the possession ol'Fi'aiicc. Our first. t.rea-
_Iy with one of these powers-—the Ifiinpcror of
l\Iorocco, war-; forinctl in .l'/Sb", and was limited
to fifty years. That. period has aliiiost expired,
I shall take Int‘it'lSLl1‘L'?s' to J't"Ht?W it with the gi'eatci'
szttisfaetioii, as its stipttlatioiis are jttst, and mm-
ml, and have been, with nint.u:tl fidelity Il.l]t,l re-
ciprocal ailvantage, st.-rttpnlottsly fulfilled.
lfllC.'s'l.ll)ff divisioiis have too fl'C’lllC!llly occi.ir-
red to mar the pro.sperity, interrupt the coin-
inerce, and tlisti'act the govct‘tiinciit,s of niost of
ill” natioiis ofthis lieiiiisplii.-i'e, which lia.vc sepa-
rated tliciiisr:lvcs frotri Spain. \Vlir-ii a firm
and pr.-i'iiiaiie:it tinrlerstatidiug with the parent
iroutitry shall liavc proilticerl a liirtiial acknowl-
"t‘l_'.§f1lIl!:l'tl. oftlieir iiidepeiideiicc, and the idea of
daiigcr from that qiiarter can be no lotigei'cnter-
tU1l1‘3‘«la_ “"3 l‘I‘lt.'tItl.s' of freedoii'i expect tliat tliose
""'.U11W-‘-‘>'. -50 fuvorcil by nature, will be distin-
guislicd for their love of'just.ice :iiid their devo-
tion to the pt;-accfttl arts, tlic assitlioiistailtivation
of Wltlt.'l1 confers honor it ion natioii.- - t tr’
valiit; to litiiiiaii life. I111 the ll'tf:1tl1Sllf1lIt]:llbtlzlif
lidently hope, that the appreliensioiis ciit.ci‘t.:ii;.-
‘lftl that sonic ofilic people of t.liesc liixiiriatit, i‘(;-
' ',t:(ioi'is may be tcinpted, in a lTl0llt(3l'll. ofunwortliy
distrust ot their o\vii czipac-i_t.y for the eitjo_yii;oiit
lioverniiiciits, aiiil with that of lira’/.i|, no ittiex-_..
peeicil cliaiiges in our relations have oi:t:tti‘i‘t-J,’
fluriiig the present. year. l"i'eqitciit. causes o/l
.|lI.’~‘l. coiiiplaiiit liavc ariseii tipoii the part of ti‘! e
i:iti'/.ciis of the l.niti-il St.ate.s—.'soiiit-times fi‘o:',.-1
,:uttliot‘itir-s oftlit: mttritiiiic rcgioiis, and SUI’
‘E-iflll-‘i ztgaiiist. the t;stablislictl govcriiinciit,
:
t
j
.1
‘the Queen. l\VOlillUlll\1:§t,‘lli"C of its receipt has,
lf the
as been dtilv received, and an ollirr been iiiatli_- I
the ll'l't‘,;{l'tl1ll' :l,t:ll()l1t)l'llti', i:otist.iti.iteil sttbt_.rdin.'/ no
, ‘ .ir:- Fraiice on behalf of its citizens, that. the st.iin of
:_, iiim-s front the fr-atlcrs or partizans of those a; in one million live litintlrctl tlionsaiid france should
In l he paid to Govt.-rniiient of France in six annual
Our representatives to Central America, Peru
1 and Brzizil, are citlier at, 01' on their way to,
llitrli‘ i'e.spet'ti'.'i: post.-.
Front the ;‘ii'gi:iitiiic .l?.epiiblie, from which a
3iiiii.~.tiir was expect:-tl to this Govcrtiiiietit, no-
tltiii_i,: l'ni'tlici‘ lias been liezird. (Jccasioti has
l“(.‘iL‘Z1.‘.;:i~.i‘l‘1 “at the d:i'l‘ui‘t.iire ofa new Coiisiil to
i.illt'l‘t<).'s’ ..\vrc::, to i'ei;iiiitl that Goveriiineiit that
=it.-' long tli-l::vt~t.l l‘«l.iiti.~,.ti-i‘, wliosc appoiittment
had iiceii iiiaile l-Lriowii to us had not arrived.
It l;t:t~oiii:..-s my iitipli,-tisaiit duty t.o inform you
that this pat-ilic and liighly gi'at.il'yiiig pictttre of
our liirtxigii rcl:ttioi'is, does not include those with
Fraiice at this time. It is not possible that. any
Govt;-riiiiicnt. and people could be more siiicerely
desirous of conciliatiiig ajttst and friendly iiiter—
coitrse with another nation, than are those of the
United States with their ancient ally aiitl friend.
Tliis tlispositioii is foiindcd as well on the ]11t).‘~_‘l.
gratcfiil and honorable rceollectiotis associat.ed
with our stttiggle for iiidepeiitlcnce, as upon a
well groiiiidcd conviction that. it is coiisonant
witlt the true policy of both. The people of the
United States could not, therefore, see without
the deepest regret, even a temporary intcrrupt.ioii
ofthe frieiitllxi relations between the two coi_iii--
tries.;-—a i'C::i'.*l ‘.‘.'hieli wnul-ls I H111 5'—”"‘-‘v l’° 1-’."‘-‘at’
ly £11I.'%’l‘:i.\'(‘il,Ull if there stiouiii 152131 Out 1'0 l)C’ EH1)’
l‘(1:t>3'.(I)X'l21lilC ground for attributing such a result to
.41\'l()ll (Ill Ollf ])t'.ll‘l.
‘aiiv act of oiiiissioii or coiniiii
I derive. tliei‘ef-.>rc, the liigliest satisfhctiou froi'ti
iieiiig able to assitre you tliattlie whole course of
this (_it)\'L‘l‘Il!I1t‘.1ll has been cliaractcrised by a
spit‘if. so coiiciliatory and forbearing as to make
it iiiipiissible that our jiist.ice atid niodcratioii
:-'l'.ottltl be qiicstioned, wliatever iiiay be the con-
seqiieiices of a longer perseveraiice on the part
ofthe French lfiovcrniiiciit in her oiiiission to
stiiisly the coiiceded claims of our citizeiis.
Tlie liistory of the accitiiitihttctl atitl iitipro—
vol-;ed aggressioiis upon our (:(')ll'ltll€l’(‘.C, commit-
ted by atiilioi‘it_v of the existing (lloverunictits of
Ft'i'iice, lictwccii the years 1600 and lSl7. has
l)t".t,‘I1 rcnd.r»red too painfully faiiiiliar to Ameri-
cans to make its repetition either iiecessaiy or
desirable. It will be" stifficieiit here to reiiiark,
that there lias, for inarifi years, been scarcely a
single ailiiiiiiistratioii liy the Frcncli Govern-
ment by wlioiii the justice and legality of the
_(7l:lll1l.~‘- of our citizens to iiideiniiity, xvere not, to
a very coiisitlcrable extent, admitted: and yet
near a quarter of a century lias been wasted in
lltt.‘lll?(‘lll2tlllt"g()lli1[lOllS to secure it.
.l)c(-ply sensible of the iiijui'iotis effects result-
l iiig alone frotii this state of things, upon the
l iiitercsts and character of both iiatiotis, I regard-
ed it as aiiioiig my first duties to cause one more
ell.7ii't t:o be made to satisfy France that ajnst
and lilicral scttleinent of otir claims was as well
due to her own honor as to their owti iiicoiitesti-
blble validity. The negotiation for this purpose
was coiiitiieticed with the late Governineiit of
France, and was prosecuted with sucli success,
as to leave no reasoiiable ground t.o doubt, that a
settleini:iit of a character quite as liberal as that
which was subseqi_ient.ly made would have been
effected, liatl not the revoltttioii, by which the
negociatioii was cut off, taken place. The dis-
cussions were rcsuined with the present govcrii-
ment and the result showed, that we were not
wrong in sitpposing, that. an event by which the
two governments were made to approach each
other so much nearerin their political priiiciples,
and by which the motive for the most liberal
atid frieiidly intercourse were so greatly multi-
plied, could exercise no other than a salutary in-
- flui-iice upon the negotiation. After the most de-
liberate and tliorougli exainiiiatioii of the whole
subject, a treaty between the two governments
was coiicliitled and signed at Paris oti the -ltli of
July, 163], by which it was st.ipulat.ed that “the
Frciicli Goveriiiiicnt in order to liberate itself
from all the reclainations preferred against it by
the citizetis of the I luited States, for unlav.'ftil
seizures, c'.tpti.ires, seqiiestiutioiis, COl'lf.lSCZ.lllt.mS,
or r.lest.rttr.-.tioii of their vessels, cargoes or other
propcrtty, eiigzigcs to pay a sum of twenty-five
millions of francs to the United States, who
shall diJ:,tribitti> it among those entitled, in the
tnanncr and accordiiig to the rules it shall dc-
teriniiit: ;” and it was also st.ipiilated on the
part of the .Fi'cricli Government, that this twen-
ty-fivt-“ millions offraiics sliould “be paid at Pa-
ris in six annual iiislaliiients of four millions one
liuiirl red and sixty—six tliottsatid six liuiidred and
sixty -six fi'a.i‘ics and sixty-six ceutiines each, into
the hziiiils ofsucli person or pcrsoiis as slia.ll be
aut'.ioi'i7.etl by the Govcriiiiicnt. of the United
St’ ties to receive it.” The first. instalment to be
p: id “at the e.\;pir'.it.ion of one year next. follow.-
l[.,.(_i" tho exeliaiige oftlie ratificatioiis of this con-
if t,-iiiioii, and the otliers at sttccessive iiitervals of
if if lilii-i'i_\_v, to (:t)JllH]ll, the too eoiniiioii error of’? I/I. year, one afti-r aiiotlier, t.ill the whole shall be
iiircliasing pi'eseiit repose by bi-stowiiig on some .‘i])(lltl.
. ztvtJI'llt; lr.-ailcrs the fatal gift of ii"i‘es:poiisilili: llI'|t:[‘|_[s slidil he ;i,tldcd iiiterost at four per cent.tim
- . c l -
[tUW<:!‘—-WIll not be realr/.eil. \Vitli all tlit.-so tliei'i.-iipoii, as upon the other titstaliiieiits tlten
To the airiount, of cacli of the said instal-
jri.-iiitiiiiiiig tiupuid, the said lI'll.('.l'CSf, to be com-
; putt-il froiii the day oftlie exchange of the pre-
l>.'0l]l. t.'Ull\'(.‘l‘lll()ll.”
j lt was also st.ipulat.cd on the part of the United
St:.i.tt-s for the purpose ofbeitig coinpletely libe-
l‘tllLt.l front all the ret.-laniatioiis presei'it.ail by
instalments, to be dedticted out of the annual
sums which France had agreed to pay, interest
thereupon being in like niatiiier computed front
the «lav of the excliaiige oftlie 1':1l.ll‘l(.‘tll.lOl1$. Iii
t.lt’ltllllt,lll to this stiptilatioii iiiiportaiit advantages
wers secured to France by the following article,
viz: “The wines of Fra.iice, from and after the
exeliaiigc-. oftlie ratificatioiis oftlie present Con-
\'CI]ll()l1:.’~'ll8ll be adniitted t.o coristtiiiptioii in the
States oft.lic Union, at duties which shall not ex-
cecd the. following rates by tli gallon, (such as
it is used at present. for wines in the U. St.ates,)
to wit: six cents for red wines in casks; t.cii cents
for white wines in easks; and twenty-two cents
for wines of all sorts in bottles. The proportions
existiiig between the duties on Freiicli wines
thus redticcd, and the gciicral rates of the tai'ill'
which went into operatioii the first .laii~.iary, 182.‘),
sliall be inaiiitaincd, ctise the Goveiniiieiit oftlie
United States should think proper to diminish
tliose general rates in a new tariff".
ln coiisiilcmtioii oft his stipulation, which shall
be binding on the United States for ten years,
the Frencli Goveriiiiiciit. abandons the reclama-
tioiis which it had formed in relation to the Stli
article oftlie treaty ofccssioti of Louisiana. It
etig-ages moreover to establisli on the long" slctplc
cottons of the Uititcd Stziti->2, wliicli, after the ex-
cliatigc of the ratiliiratioiis ofthc present Convert-
tioii, shall be brouglit dirct-tl_v thence to l=‘rai.icc
by the vessels oftlic United States, or by F1‘en<.‘i1
\'is::s:t:ls, the same duties as on .~'/tort Sf!/]z‘f(_‘ cottons.
This treaty was duly ratified in the inaniicr
pi'e.~:ci‘il)etl by the coiistitutiotis of both couiitrics
and the ratificatioii was excliatiged at the city
of \Vasliiiigton on the .'-.’d of Fcbi'iiai'_v, 'lt:'3:3.--
_On £:C(;OLl1ll ofits cotiiiiieri-ial stiptilatioiis it was,
I it live davs tliereaftcr laid before the Coiigress
of the United States, which proceeded to enact
such laws favorable to the coninierce of France
as were iieaessai'y to carry it into full execution ;
:.iiid France has, from that period to the present,
been in the unrestricted enjoyment oftlie valua-
ble privileges that. were tlu.ts secured to her.—
The faith oftlie Frencli natioii liaviiig been tlitis
soletiiiily pledged, tliroiigli its coiittitional orgziti,
for the liquiilaiion and iitiniate payint;-tit of the
loiig deferred clairtis of our citizciis, as also for
the adjiistmeiit of otlier points of great anal recip-
roeal benefits to bot.li coiiiitries, atid the I:llll.L‘(l
States having witha fidelity and proiiiptititde by
which their coiidtict will, i trtist, be always cltar-
aeterizcd, done every thing that was iieccssaiy
to carry the treaty into full and fair i-flier on
their part counted with the most perfect confi-
dence, on equal fidelity and promptitude on part
of the French G()'s'CI'U1i'lCl]l. In this i'casoiiable,
expectation we have been, I regiet to inform
you, wholly disappoitited. No legislative pro-
vision has been made by France for the execu-
tion of the treaty, either as it respects the indem-
nity to be paid,~or the (.‘()I1'lII10l‘(:lill benefits to be
secured to the United States, and the relations
between the United States and that power, in
consequence thereof, are placed in a situation
tlireateniiig t.o interrupt the good 1_iii(lc-i'st.ainliiig
whict, has so long and so happily existed tic-
twccii the two nations.
Not only has the French Government been
wanting in the perforinance oftlie stipulations it
has so solemnly entered into with the U. States,
but its oinissions littvc. been marked by circum-
stances which would seem to leave us without
satisfactory evidences that such performance will
certainly take place at a future period. Advice
of the excliange of ratificaiioiis reached Paris
prior to the 8th _e\ pril, lS3.‘2. The French Cham-
bets, were then sitting, and coiitinued in session
until the 21st of that; ‘month, and altltough one
itistalmeiit of the indeinnity was payable on the
2d of Febriiary, 1832, one year after the ex-
change of'ratificatioi‘is, no application was made
to the Cltatnbers for the required appropriatioth
and in coiiseqiience of no appropriation having
tlten been niade, the draft of the U. States Gov-
erniiient. for that instalincnt was dishonored by
the hiiiiister of Finance, and the United States
thereby involved in inucli controversy. The
next. sessioii of the Cltatnbers com menccd on the
l.‘}tli ofNovember, 1832, and coiitiniied until the
25th April, 1833. Not.witli.s-taiiiliiig the omission
to pay the first instalincnt had been made the
sbttject ofeai'ne.st i‘eiii(iiisti'tiiit:e on our, part, the
treaty with the United States, and a bill iiiaking
the 1ieccssai'y appropriations to execute it, were
not laid before the Clianiber of Deputies ttntil
the (3th of April, nearly five months after its
nieeting, and only nineteen days before the close
oftlie session. The bill was read and 1‘Cf()l’l‘C(l
to a coiiimittee, but there was no further action
upon it. The next scssioii of the Chaiiibers
cotnmcnced on the 26th of April 1833, and con-
tinued ttniil the 2(5tli 0f.Iuiie following. . A new
bill was iiitroditeed on the 11th of June, bitt
nothing important was done in relation to it_du-
ring the sessioti. In the month of April, 153-.1,
nearly three years after the signature of the trea-
ty, the final action oftlie French Cliambers tipoii
the bill to carry the treaty into cll'ect was obtain-
ed, and resulted in a refusal of the necessary
appropriations. The avowed grounds upon
which the bill was rcjet,-t.e(l are to be found in
the pttblislicd debates of that. hotly, aiul no ob-
servations of iriine can be necessary to satisfy
Congress of their insufliciency. Altliougli the
gross amount of the claims of our citizens is
pl-0|,;,1,1y g1't,-2110.1‘ than will be ultimately allowed
by the Coiiiinissioiieis, stiflir-ieiit is, nevertheless,
shown, to render it absolutely certain that. the
iridemiiity falls for short of the actual ainotint of
our just dlaims, independently of the question of
(.l£.lfl'l1lfI(‘S and interest for the deteiitioii.‘ That
the seftleinentinvolved it sacrifice in this respect
was well ktiowii at the t.iine—a sacrifice which
was elieerfully acquiesced in by the tliflereiit
branches of the Federal Government, whose ac-
tion upon the treaty was required, from a sincere
desire to avoid fnrtlier collision upon this old and
disturbing subject, and in the confidctit expecta-
tion that the general relations between the two
cottiit.ries would be improved thereby.
The refusal to vote the appropriation, the news
of which was receivetl front ottr Minister in Pa-
ris, about the 15th (lay of May last, niiglit. have
been considered the final detcrminatioii of tlte
French government not to execute the stipula-
tioris of tlie treaty, and would have justified an
imiriediatc coiniiiunieation of the facts t.o Coti-
gt'css, with a recommenr.latioii of such ultimate
irieasiires as the inierest aiiil honor of the Uni-
ted States iriiglit. seem to require. Iiut with the
news of the refttsal of the Cliaiiibers to make
the appropriatioii, were cotiveyed tlie_regrc.ts of
the king, and a declaration that a national ves-
sel sliould be fortliwit.lisent.otit, with instructions
of the French Minister lo give the most ample
explaiiations of the past and the stroingest assu-
rances for the future. After a long pit->‘Si1§,'C» lllta‘
promised (lepatcli-vessel arrived. Tlicgpletlges
given by tlie‘;Fren_ch lVliiiister, tipon receipt of
his iiistriietions, were, that as soon after the elec-
tion oftlie new members as the cha_rt.er would
permit, the legislative Cl‘1«'m1bGTS Of FIBHCO
should be called togetlier, atid the proposition
for an appropriation laid before them; that all
the constitutional powers of the King and his
Cabinet should be exerted to accomplish the ob-
ject; and that the rcstilt should be made known
early enough to be coiniritiiiicateil to Cotigier-ss
at the coinitienccincnt of the present scssioii.--
il‘it“l_\_’l]’lg upon these bledgcs, and not doubting
that the acknowledged jusiice ofonr claims, the
proinised exertions oftl-ie Iiing and his Cabinet,
and, above all, thatsacred rcgtirtl for the nation-
al llllll'l and liotior for which the French charac-
ter has been so distinguislied, would secure an
t":tt‘-"_y ext-etitioii of the treaty in all its parts, I
did not deem it necessary to call the attention of
Coiigress to the subject at the last session.
I regret to say that the pledges made through
the I‘.fiiii.~'-ters of France have not been redecined.
The new Cltatnbers met on the 3lSl of July last,
and alilioiigli the stili_ii:et of fulfilling treaties
vva.-'aj t-.aled to in the speech from ll1L“‘-l]l‘Ollt.‘, no
atteinpt was niai.le by the Kiitg or the Cabinet
to pricure an appropriation to carry it into exe-
cution. The reasons given for this omission,
altlioitgli they iiiigt bo coiistdcred sufficient in
an ordiiiary cz.se, are not coiisisteiit with the ex-
pectzizioiis toiiiided upon the assuraiices given
here, for there is no cotistitutioiial obstacle to eti-
terintt into legislative lnisiiicss at the first. meeting
of the Clianiliers. This point, however, rniglft
lJil\'(.‘-l)('C'l] overlooked, had not the Clzambcrs, in-
stezid of being called to meet at so early at day,
that the result oftlzcir deliberations might be coiii-
li]lll]l(.‘fll.(’tl to me, before the ineeting of Cotigi'ess,
been piorogued to the .'£9tli of the presciit niontli
--a pcriotl so l:ite tliat their decission can scarcely
be made kiiowii to the present Congress, prior
to its disgsoliilioii, To avoid this delay, our i‘ilin-
ister in I’ai'i.-7. in virtue oftlie assttrztiice given by
the Frcttcli Ivlitiistcr in the United States, st.rong-
ly urged the convocation of the Cltatnbers
at an earlier day, but witliout success. It is
proper to reinark, however, that this refusal has
been aceoinpaiiied with the most positive assur-
ances, on the part oftlie Executive Ci'overinnent
of France, of their intention to pi'css the appro-
priation at the ensuing scssioii of the Clianiliers.
The C‘I\'(‘.C11ll\'Cl)i'(l1)(,‘ll ofthis Ci0\'Cl‘I]]ll()IJl lia:<,
as ni::tte:'s.st ant‘-, cxliaustcd all the aiitliority upon
the subject with which it is invested, and which
it had any rea.-son to believe cottlil be beneficial-
ly t-iiipioyed.
The idea of aeqiiiesciitg in the refusal to exe-
cute tiic treaty will not, I am confident, be for a
iriotnciit czittrrtairictl by any braiicli of this Cov-
Cl'P:}‘.C2]i'. tint‘: ftirtlicr ncgociation is eqtizillyoiit
ofthc que;-tioti.
liiit s-hall be the pleasure of Coiigrcss to await
the fiirtlicr action of the French Chambers, no
further coiisideration of the subject will, at this
seasoii, probably be required at your hands.—
But. if, from the original delay in asking for an
approprintioii, from the refusal oftlie Cltatnbers.
to grant it when asked, from the omission to
l)t‘l1‘rQflltt‘. subject before the Chaiiilicrs at their
la.~;-.t .ses:,=?oii, from the fact that, iiicluditig the ses-
.-tioii, tlicre have bccri five tlilfereiit oceasioiis
‘tlteii tl_i_i-(.:_ippi't priation might have been made,
:-Tiil 1-’:'oiii the delay it C0l1“.'0l{ll)g the Ciiambci‘s
i.-iitill son-.e weeks after the iiiccting oi‘ (‘.nngi-nu,
it \\ :11: wt i~;,i~.nn-.-.-n that H. cominuiiication of the
wltole siiliject to Coiigrcss at the last session
was prevented by assurances that it should be
disposed of before its present iiieetiiig, you slioiid
feel your.‘-relves constraiiied to doubt whether it
be the intention of the French Goveriimeiit in
all its l.‘I‘iU]Cll(.‘S to carry the treaty into ef'l'ect.,
and think that such ineasiires as the occasion
may be deemed to call for, should be now adop-
ted; the iiiiportant question arises what those
1iimisiti'cs shall be.
Our ii'istitut.ioiis are er-:seiitially pacific. Peace
and ll‘lC1)tll_'y‘ intercourse with all nations, are as
niiicli the desire of otir Governmciit as they are
the interests of otir People. But these olijects
are not to be pcrinaneiitly secured, by surrender-
ing the riglits of otir citizens, or permitting so-
leiiiii treaties for their itlciiniity in cases of fla-
grant wrong, to be abrogated or set aside.
lt is undoubtedly in the powerofCongress se-
riously to affect the aggricultcral and inanufac-
teriiig interests of France, by the passage of laws
relating to her trade with the United States.-—
Hcr products. iiiariiifactures, and toiuiage, I't'l£l_\'
be subjected to llC‘E1\'y duties in our ports, or all
coininercial intercourse with her inaybe. suspen-
(led. But there are powerfttl, and, to my mind,
coiiclusive objectioits to this inoile ofproceeding.
\Ve cannot. eiiibairass or cut offtlic trade with
France, \\‘lll1I)lll, at the same time, in some de-
gree, emliai'i'.'ts‘siiig or cutting olfour own trade.
The injury ofsuch a warfare must fall,t.liougli tin-
equally, upon our own citizens, and could not
bttt impair tliemeans ofthe Government, and
weaken that united sentiment in support of the
rights and lioiiotir of the nation which iiitist now
pervade every ll0S'(iXT].
Nor it iinptrssible that siicli a course oflegis-
lation would introduce once more iitto ottr nation-
al counciis, those disturbing questions in relation
to the tarifl'of di ties which have been so recent-
iy put to rest. Besides, by every ineastire a-
dopted by the Governineiit of the Uiiited States
with a view of injuring France, the clear per-
ception of right which will induce oitr own peo-
ple, and the rulers and people 0f£tll01l1.U.1' 11E1ll01lS.
even of France liersclf, to pronotiiice our quarrel
just, will be obscitred, and the support rendered
to its in a final i'esoi't to more tlecisive measiircs,
will be iiiore limited and eqitivocal. These is
but otie point in the couirovi:rs_v, and upon that
the whole civilized world inttst. pronounce France
to be in the wrong. “"0 insist that slie shall
pay us a sum of inoiic_v, which she liars acknowl-
edged tolie due; and ofthe justice oftliisdcmand,
there. can be but one opinion atnoiig inatikiiid.
True policy seciris to ilit.-tau-. that the question
at issue should be kept thus tlisei1ctiinbei'ei.l, and
that not the Sllg'lll.t,‘.‘~‘[ prct.eiiee should be given to
Fratice to persist in her refusal to make pay-
iiieiit, by any act on our part affecting tlieinter-
est of her people. The question should be left
as it is now, in such an attitude that when France
fulfils her treaty stipulations, all controversy
will be at an end. I
It is my conviction, that the United States
otiglit: to insist on a prompt execution of the treat-
tv, and in case it be rt-fused, or longer delayefla
tiike 1’C(lt’f:SS into their own haiids. After the
delay on the part of France ofa qttartcr ofa
cent iiry in aeknowleilgiiigthese claims by treaty,
it is not to be tolerated that another quarter of a
century is to be wastetl in in.-gotiatiiig_ about the
paynieitt. The laws of nations provide a rein-
edy for such occasions. ltis:-i well settled _pl'Il'l‘
ciple of the iiiter-iiational code, that were one
nation owes another a liquidated debt, which it
refuses or neglects to pay, the aggrieved party
may seize on the provcrty belonging to the other,
its citizens or subjec_t.s, sttllicient to pay the debt,
without giving just cause of war. This remedy
has been repeatedly resorted to, and recently by
F‘1‘a_11c() liei-self, towards 1"o_rtu gal, iitider circtii_n-
stances less qucstioiiablc.
The time at whicli resort should b_e had to this,
or any other mode of redress, is a point to be de-
cided by Congress. If an appropriatioii shall
not be made by the French Chambers at their
next. session, it may justly be coiieltided thatthe
Government of F rauce has finally deteriniiied
to disregard its own solein_n_ uiiclertakiiig, and
refuse to pay an ackiiowleged debt. In that
event, every d.‘-i.y’s delay on our part will be a
stain upon our national honor, as well as a deiti-
al of justice to ottr injured citizens. Prompt
measures, when the 1'(.'lll.‘511l of France shall be
coiiiplete, will not oiily be most lioiiorable and
just, but will have the best effect upon our na-
tional cliaractcr.
Since France, in violation of the pledges given
tlirougli lter1i‘iiiiister here, has delayed her linai
action so long that her decision, will not proba-
bly be knowiiin time to be cominiinicatcd to this
Coiigi'ess, I rccomiiiciitl that a law he passed,
atithorisitig ieprisals upon Frencl>. porperty in
case ]‘t‘t't,)'v’lS.>‘lt)tl.S' shall not lie niade for the pay-
ment of the debt, at the approaeliing session of
the French Cllllllll.‘-(.‘l'S. Such a ll1(‘,‘l_Sl.lX'C ought
not to be (.'t)il.'<iLl(;‘l‘Ctl by France as a nienance.—.-
Iler pride and power are too well known to ex-
pect. any thing front her fears, and preclude the
iiecessity of a declaration that nothing partaking
oftlie cliaracter of iatiniidatioii is intending by
i.ts. She ought to look upon it as the evidence
only of an inflexible (l(?lCl'U1lll{lll(!l1 on the part of
the United States, to insist on their rights. That
C1‘ovcriinieiit, by'doiiig only what it has itself
ackiiowlcdgcd to be jtist, will be able to spare
the United States the necessity of taking redress
in their own liands, and save the property of
France citizeiis front that seizure and sequestra-
tioii which Americaii citizens so long enilitrcd
without retaliation or rctlrcss. lfshe should eon-
tiinie to refuse that act of '.ickiiowledgetl justice,
and in violation of the law of natioiis, make rep-
risals on our part the occasion of hostilities a
gainst the United States, she would but add vio-
leiice to injttstice, and could not fail to expose
liersclf to the just censure of civilized nations,
and the retributivejttdgmciits of I-Ieaven.
Collision with Fraiice is the tiiore to be re-
gretted on account. of t.lie position she occupies in
Europe in relation to liberal institutions. But
in iiiaiiitainiiig our national rights and honor, all
(.iovt;-riinieiits are alike to us. If by collision
with France, in a case where. she is clearly in
the wrong, the march ofliberal principles shall
be iiripedcd, the responsibility for that result, as
well as every other, will rest. on her own head.
Ilaving submitted these eotisideratioiis, it be-
longs to Coiigrcss to decide, whether, after what
has taken place, it will still await the furtlicr
action oftlie French Cltatnbers, or now adopt
such provisional measures as it may deem ne-
cessary and l)l).~‘.i.1tt,l(l.l}i.(‘lI(.l to protect the riglits and
iiiaiiitain the honor of the couiitry. \Vltatever
that decision may be, it will be faitiifiilly enfor-
ced by the Executive, as far as he is autliori-zed
so to do.
."‘.CC(.)l'tll[‘tg to the estiinate of the Treas'iiry
Depaitiiieiit, the rcveinte accrtiiiig, from all
sources, during the present year, V\ ill aiiioitnt to
tweiity millions six llUI'lf_ll'(.‘Ll and twciity—four
thoitsaiid sevcii luiiidred and scveiiteeii dollars,
which with the balance reiriaining in the Treas-
ury on the first of.laniiary last, of eleven mill-
inns .<ti’:\'("I1 liundred and two tlioiisanrl niiiclit111—
tlrctl and five dollars. produces an aggregate of
thirty-two millions three hundred and twenty-
seven thousand six hundred and I\VCl1l'y'-l.llI‘CC‘
dollars. The total expenditure during the year
for all objects, including the public debt, is esti-
mated at twenty-live niillions five hundred and
niiiety-one thousand thi'eehundrcd and iiinet.y
dollars, which will leave a balance in the Treas-
ury on the first of Jaiiiiasy, .3135, or six millions
severi liuiidrctl and tliirty-six tliousand two finn-
dred and tliirty—two dollars. In this balance,
however‘, will be included about one million one
htintlred and fifty thousand dollars of what was
heretofore reported by} the Department as not
effective. -
Of former appropriatians it is estiina.ted that
there will remain unexpended at the close oftltc
year, eight millions two luindrcd thousand nine
liniidred and twenty-five dollars, and that ofthis
stint there will not be required more’ than live
rnillions one hundre_d and sixty four dollars, to
accoinplisli the objects of all the current appro-
priations. Titus it appears that. after sat.i.sf},-'iiig
all those appropriations, and after (liscliaigiiig
the last item of our public debt, which will be
done on the first ofJaniiary next, there will re-
niain unexpcnded in the Treasury an effective
balance ofabout four liuiidred and forty tliousand
dollars. Tlia.t siicli should be the aspect of our
liiiances is highly flztttering to the industry and
cnterprize of our population, and auspicious of
the wealth and prosperity which await the fu-
ture cultivai.ioii of their growing resources. It
is not deemed prudent, however, to recommend
any change for the present in otir im post rates,
the effect of the gr:-idual redtiction now in prog-
ress in many of them, not being sutliciently tes-
ted, to guide us in (lt.‘l(.'l‘]Y]lI]l11_g the precise a.-.
inottnt of re venue which they will produce.
Free firoin public debt, at peace with all the
world, and with no coinplicated iiiterests to con-
sult iii otir iiitcrcotirse with foreign powers, the
present may be bailed at that epoch in our luste-
ry the most. favorable for the settlement of those
principles in otir domestic policy, which shall be
best cali:itlated to give stability to our Republic,
and secure t.lie blessings of freedom to our citi-
zens. Among these principles, from our past
experience, it cannot be doubted, that simplicity
in the cliaracti-1' oftlie Federal Governiiieiit, and
a rigid ceoiioiiiy in its adiiiiuistration, should be
regartler.l as foundainetital add sacred. All initst
be sensible that the existence ofthe piililic debt,
by rciideriiig taxzitioii iiecessaiy for its t31>iliI!1J.UiSl1-
inerit, has increased the dillicultii.-s which are
inseparable from every exercise of the taxing
power; and that itwas, in this respect, a remote
agent in produciiig those di.‘-tuibitig questioiis
which grew out of the discussions relating to the
tariff. .lfsiii-.h has been the tendency ofa debt.
incurred in the acquisition and maintenance of
our national rights and liberties, the obligations
of which all portions of the Union cheerfully
acltiicivleilgail, it inust. be obvious, that whatev-
er is c.'ilciilated to iiier:—.ase the biirdens of hopes
of picscrving its trite charact.er. \Vliile we are
felicitatiiig oiirsclvcs, tliiT-rt.-fore, upon the estim-
giiislniient ofthe national dt.-bi, and the prospe-
rotts state ofoiir finances, let its not be l(.'l1‘l1Jl.C(l
to depart. frotn these sound mtixims of public pol-
icy, which enjoin ajust atlaptatioii of the reve-
nue to the expenditures that are coiisistent with
a rigid ecoiiom_v, and an entire abstiiiciice from
all topics oflegislation that are not. clearly with-
in the const.ittit:ioiial powers of the Government,
and suggested by the wants oftlie couutr_v..——
Pl‘0]1t_‘J'l_V regarded, under such a policy every
diiiiiuiitioii of the public burdens arising from
taxation, gives to iiii,livitliitil emerprisc increased
power, and furnishes to all the members of our
happy Coiifctlinaey, new motives for patriotic
tillection and support. But. above. all, its most.
important effect will be found in its influence
upon the cliaracter of the Goveriimcnt, by cori-
fiiiing its action to those objects which will be
sure to secure to it the attacliment and support
of our fellow citizens. '
Circiitnstaiices make it my duty to call the at-
tention of Congress to the Bank of the United
States. Created for the convenience of the Gov-
of the people. Its interference to postpone the
payment of a portion of tlte national debt, that
it might retain the public money appropriated
for that purpose, to strengthen it in a political
contest---tlie extraordinary extension and con-
traction of its aecominodations to the communi-
ty--—its corrupt and partisan loans---its exclusion
of the public directors from :1 knowledge of its
most important proceedings---tlie unlimited au-
thority conferred on the President to expend
its funds in hiring writers, and procuring the
execution ofpiiiiting, and the use made ofltliat
-.uitliority—tlie retcnsion of the pension money
and books after the selection of new agents“-tho
groundless claim to heavy damages, in conse-
qiiencc of the protest of the bill drawn on the
Frencli G overnmciit,liave, through various chan-
nels, bcen laid before Coiigress. Immediately
after the close oftlie lastsessioii, the Bank tlii ough
its l’resitli-tit, aiitiouticed its ability and readiness
to abandon the systein of unparalleled curtail-
in cut. and the interruption ofdoinestie exclianges,
which it had practised upon front the 1st of an-
gtist, 18333, to the 30th Jtinc, 1353-1, and to extend
its accomiiioilations to the couiinunity. The
grounds . -siiinctl in this aniiunciation, amounted
to an acknowledgcineiit that the ciirtailincnt, in
the extent to which it had been carried, was not
necessary to the safety oftlie Batik, and had been
ttersistctl in merely to induce Cfillglflss to grant
the prayer of the Bank in its memorial relative
to the removal of the depasites and to give it a
new charter. They were substantially :1 C011-
fcssion that all the real ilis‘.t't-sscs wliieh individ-
uals and the country had endured for the preco-
ding six or ciglit mouths, lt:id been needlessly
produced by it, with the view ofellbctiiig, through
stiffcritigs of the people, the lcgi:.:lative action the
of Congress. It is a .€7,tl)jCci. of congratulation
that. (_‘ougress and the c-oitiitry had the virtue
atid firtniiess to bear the infliction; that the en-
ergies of our people soon found relief from this
waiiton tyranny, in vast iiiiportations oftlie pre-
cious metals trout almost every part of the world;
and that at the close of this trciiieiidoits cflbrt to
control our Govertitiient, the Bank found itself
powerless, and no longer able to loan out its guy,
plus incaiis. The L'Ul1'll1iLl1‘iIl‘,’ fiatl learned to
inanage its affairs without its assistance, and
trade had already found new auxiliaries; sothat
on the first of October last, the extraordinary
spectacle l\'flS1)I'CSt‘l1lC(l ofa National B.'iiik,niom
than one half of whose capital was eitlier lylng
uiiproductivc in its vaults, or in the hands of
forcign baiikcrs.
To the tieed'.ess tlisti'csses brought on the coun-
try during the last session of Coiigress, lias been
utliletl the open seizure of the divii,leiids on the
public stock, to the anioiiiit of one littiidred and
seventy tliousand and fiirty-otie dollars, under
prctcnce ofpayiiig damages, costs, and interest,
tipoti the protested I‘-'rcncli bill.—--This sum con-
stituted a portion of the estiinatetl revenues for
the year ]83-l, upon which the appropriations
made. by Coiigres were based. It would as soon
have been expected that otir collectors would
seize on the custonis, or the i'eccivei's of our land
offices oti the niozieys arisiiig from the sale of
public lands, under pi‘eteiices' of claiins against
the United States, as the Baiili would hai'e re-
tained the (ll\'ltlt‘lltl>3. Indeed, ifthe principle be
est:.i,bli.-ilietl that any one who chooses to set upa
claim agaiina: the lfuited Stzit.,-s,ina\f, without att-
tliority of law, seize on the public property or
money whcrt-vet" lic cati lllJi',l it, to pay the claim,
‘ilicrc will rt.-iiiain no :isstti':-incc that our revenue
will reach the '.l'i‘t-:isiii'_v, or that it will he appli-
ed aftt-r the appropriatioii to the ptirposes design-
ated in the law. Tlic pztyitizistcis of our arriiy,
a.iid the ptii'st-rs of our }l.'l\'_\", may, itndcr like
pi'i:teii'_-cs, uppty to their own use moneys appro-
priated to set in motion the public force, and in
time of war leave the country without deli-nee,
This nicasure re.-zoitcil to by ‘the Bank is dlsor.~.
gniiiziiig and rc‘.o'.iitioiiary, and ifgencrally re-
sorted to by private citizens in like cases, would
fill the land with aiiareliy and violeiic_e.
It is a constitutioiial provi.<ion that “no mon-
ey shallbe drawn front the ’l_‘icasiirv but in con-
sequence. ofappropriations 1_iiaile liylaiv.” Tho
palpl1.<’ll)l0 0b_iet:t of this provision is to prevent
the (3.\Ip(‘1filll.ll]'C of the public nioiicv, for any
purpose whatsoever, which shall not have been
first approved by the Iieprcscntatives of the Pen-
ple and the States in (,'oiigi'es:. zissenililcd. It
vests the power of declaring for what purposes
the public money shall be expended, in the leg-
islative tlc;'.ia"ti1ieiit of the govcriitiii_:iit, to the
exclusion ofthe e:-Iccntive and judicial, and it is
not within the ciiiistitutional autlioritv of either
oftliose rlepai l.1‘l}8l1:?.~", to pay it_aw.-iv witiioiit law,
or to saiu.-tioii its priymcnt. x“x(.‘L‘~t)l‘t.lll)_’_{ totliis
plan coiistitutioiial provision the claiin ofthe
Bank can never be paid withoutziii appropriation
by act of Coiigmss. int the Batik lias never
asked for an approprizitieii. .lt attempts to de-
feat the provision oftlic coi‘istitutien, and obtain
payinciit withcut an act of Congress, itisteatl of
awaitiiig an .'i.ppi‘opi‘iatioii passed by both I-Iou-
ses, and appri-ved by the I)I‘t‘.:’.-'l(ltL'l1f, it nizilies an
.'tppl'O})1’l"l.lU?l for itself‘, and invites an appeal to
the jitdiciary to sanction it. That. the money
had not tccliiiically been paid into the Treasury,
does not all? ct the principleintended to be estab-
lished by the constitution. The lflxcctitive and
.liidici:ir_v have as little riglit to appropriate and
expend the public iiioney without Zllllll().'.'ll.y of
law, before it is placed to the credit of Treasu-
rer, as to take it from the Treastirv. In the
annual report of the Scci'ei.ary of tl1eJTreasnry,
and in his correspondeiice with the I’rcsitlent of
the Bank, and the opinion oftlie :\li0I'.l1C.y Gen-
eral accoiiipatiying it, you will find a fiirtliei-.
exarnination of the Batik, and the course it has
ptiisitetl. V _ ~ " i I
A It seems due to the s.'.ifi:tv“of the public funds
reiii:-iiiiiiig in that Btiiiit. atid to the llOD.0l' of the
Aiiierican People, that l‘t!t‘£t.'.~'1ll'(,‘S be taken to
separate the Governirient i:-iitirely front an insti-
tution so miscliievozts to the piiblic prosperity,
and so regardle=s to ti:e Coiistilutioii and laws.
By traii:-'feri'iiig the pullic tleposites, by appoint-
ing other .l’en.-ion Agents, as far as it had the
power, by ordering the dist oiitinuanee. of the re-
ceipt of Bank checks in payiiieiit of the public,
dues after the first day of .l:utiiary next, the Ex-
ecutive has exerted all its lawful autliority to
sever the connexion between the Governinent
and this faitlilcss corporation.
Tlie liigli-liiitizleil career ofthis institution im-
poses upon the eoiistittitional ft.ttictioi;ai‘ies of this
(iOV'Cl‘ill1i(.'l1l, dtities ofthc gravest and most im-
pcrative cltarzicter--diitie: which they cannot.
avoid, anti front which l. trust there will be no
iticlination on the part ofany ofthcm to ghrinl-:,
My own sense of them is iiiost clear, as is also
my readiiiess to tliscliztige those wliieli may
1'lgl]lftlll_\‘ fall on me. To continue any busi-
ness 1‘t‘l.'1il()11.".¢ with the Batik of the United States
that may be avoidcil without a violation of the
national faith, after that. institution has set at,
open di;-fiaiice t.lie eoricedcd right of the Govern-
ment to examiiie its alliiirs, after it has done all
in its power‘ to deride the public authority in
other respects, and to bring it into disrepute at
home and abrozid ; after it lies. :i.tteinptci.l to de-
feat the clcai'ly expressed will oftlie people by
turning gtgaiiist them the itiii'ncii.~:o power intrus-
ted to its lianils, and by involving :1 country
otlicrwise peaceful. flourishing, and happy, in
disseiision, enili:iri'assiiici'tt, and tlistre.-:s—woiild
make the iiatioii iiselfa party toilie. _deg1'edation_
so sciliiloiisly prepared for its public agciits-—-antl
do iriueh to destroy the confidence of mankind_
in p_opul:n'governinents, and to bring into con-.
tempt their :‘nitlioi_‘ity and efficiency. In guard-.
ing agaiust. art evil of such mzignitiide, corisid,-.
eratioris of tcniporary convenience should be
thrown out ofthe question, and we should be
influenced by such motives only as look to the
honor and preservation of the republican s -'s-
tem. Deeply and solemnly iiiipi'iL«.ss_ed with the
justice ofthese. views, I feel it to be my ditty tq
recommend to yoti, that a law be passed author-
ising the sale of the public stock ;'that the pro-
vision of the _eharter'requiring the receipt of the
notes of the bank in payment of public dues,
shall, in accordance with the power reserved to
Congress in the 1-lth section of the charter, be
ernment, that institution has become the scourge
spspencled until the bank pays to the ’l‘reasury'
Norwalk Chronicler