v
.—'v.
: oaja ——'-.-- . ..
_a¢—~\
By putting down all competition, these come [the aid of farther legislation by Congress. 1
binaiions of capitalists and speculators are usu- will, at an early period of your session presen
ally enabled to purchase the lands, including the the subject for your consideration, accdmpanicd
improvements of the settlers,,at the minimum lwith an exposition ofthe complaints and claims
Price Of the GOVCFIIHJERI, and either turn them ;ofthe several parties into which the Nation is-
out of their homes, or extort from them, accord- ;divided, with a view to the adoption of such
mg to their ability to pay, double or quadruple grneasures by Cpngress as may. enable the Execua
the amount paid ior them to the Government.'— itive to dojustice to them respe_ctively, and to‘-
Q,
have his labor‘protected’ as the manufacturer,
the man ofcornmerce, the navigator, or the me-
clianic, who are engaged also in‘_tlom'estic indus-
deem it necessary to call your attention. Our try’ in their ditlerent pursuits. Tbelolm lt1b0l’5
policy is not only peace with all. but good will of all these classes constitute the. aggregate of
towaids all tlieiiotvers ofilieeartli. While we‘ the ‘domestic industry’ ofthe _Il9-‘,10“s and they,
arejust to all, we require that all shall be_just to i are equally entitled to the nation s ‘protection.
‘ ' li Mexico and (No one of them canjustly claim to he the exclu-
-.-_.-———.-—-.-u
-.. .....
.. .._. ...._._.- .-—.— vu .-u.-¢
public. money, and been thereby made in efiect
the treasury, the goveriin'i‘t'=iit can have no gnar-
anty tbat it can command the use of its own
money for public purposes. The late Bank of
the United States proved to be faithless. The
State Banks which were afterwards employed,
were faithless. But a few years ago. with mil-
lions of public money in their keepir_i,o:, the Gov-
wliether external or internal. __
I have thus advertcd to all the sub_tects_con-
nected with our foreign relations, to which I
Prussia. us well as to other nations with wltom we
have siiiiilar treaty stipiilatioiis, requires that these
should he faithfully observed. I have deemed it
proper, therefore. to lay the subject. before Coiigress,
and to rccomnieiid sirclilc‘gisl:tiioii as may be nec-
essary to give effect to these treaty obligations.
By virtue ot'aii arrangemeiit tirade between the
Spariisli Govt.-riitrieiit and that of the United States,
i
in December, 823], Anicricain vesst-:ls,—siiice the 20th
of April, lf>Ԥl2, have been tidriiittcil to entry in the
ports of Spain, iiiclutli-rig those ofthe Btilearic and
Canary L-l.-iiid.-7, oti pnyuioiit of the saline tonnage
ditty of five cciitsper ion, as though they had been
Spnnisli, vessels; :1l‘.:'l this, wliethcr our vessels ar-
rive in Spain directly f-corn United States, or iridi-
recily froniaiiy otlier counti-y.» \‘.’lien Congress,
by the act of the tliirteeiith of.Tiily, 15232, gave cllect
to this amriigeiirciit. bet\‘veci‘i' the two goveriinieiits.
thev confined the reduction of tonnage duty incrcly
to Spatiisli vessels “c'o'rriii’ig front a port. in Sptiin,
leaving the former‘ discriniiiintiiigduty to riiniain a-
gainst such vessels c'oini_rig from a port iritiiiy otlre_i'
country. It is irrtriiifbstly n‘nju‘st that, whilst Ameri-
can vessels, arriving in the ports ol'Sp:iin from other
countries. pay no more duty than Spatiisli vessels
arriving in the ports of the U States fi'oni_otlter
countries, should be snlijected to heavy discritiiin:i-
ting tonnage duties. _
This is neither equality nor reciprocity, and is
in violation of the arrangement conclude-d in
December, 18:3], between the two countries.——
The Spanish Government li-ave made repeated
and earnest remoustruiices against this lllt’qll‘.1ll-
ty and the f:ivorable atieiition of Ct)llf__‘[l't"SS has
been several times invoked to the subject by my
predecessors. l recornnicnd, as an act ofjusriec
to Spain, that this iricqiiulity be rcniovetl by
Corigress, and that the tlistrritiiiiintirig duties
wliidli have been levied under the act of the.
tlrirtentli ofluly, 1832, on Spunislr vessels coni-
mg to United States from airy other fort-igii couri-
try, be refunded. This recotriiiieirtlutiori does
not embrace Spanish vcsselsztrriviiig in the Uni-
ted States from Cuba and Porto Rico, which will
still remain subject to the provisions of the act
of.Tune tliirteentli, lS3-1, concerning toiiage-duty
on such vessels.
By the Act of’. the fourteenth of July, .184‘._‘,
coffee was exern pted from duty altogether. This
exemption was universal, without reference to
the country wlierc it was produced, or to the
national cliaractcr ofthe vessel in which it was
imported. By the Tarifl'Act ofthe thirihrctli of
August, 1842. this exemption from duty was re-
stricted to coffee imported in AmEl‘lC?1.l1 \'ess_cls
from the place ofiis production; Wllllsi colice
imported under other circumstances was subject-
ed to a duty oftwenty per cent. ad ‘I.’-(¢'f0)'€l)2.——
Under this Act, and our cxisritig treaty with the
King of the Ncilierlaritls, Java Coffet‘: ln‘lpOl:lt‘:tl
fromtlie European ports of that Kingdom into
the United States, whether in Dutch or Ameri-
can vessels, now pays this rate ofduty.
The Government of the I‘letnerlands com-
plains that such a discriminating duty should
have been imposed on coffee, the produc ion of
one of its colonies, and which is cliiefly lzroright
from Java to the ports ofiliat kingdorn, and ex-
ported from thence to foreign couzitrrcs. Our
trade wiilitlie Ixetlicrlandsis highly beneficial
to both countries, and our relations wiili them
have ever been ofthe most friendly cliaracter.—-
Under all these circuinstauccs of the case, 1 rec-
ommend that tliisdiscrimi-.r:ition should be abol-
ished, and that the Coffee of.lava imported from
the Netlierlarids he placed upon the same foot-
ing with that iniporied directly from Brazil and
other countries where it is produced.
Under the eighth section of the Tarifffict of
the thirteenth of August, 1842, a duty of fifteen
cents per gallon was imposed on Port wine in
caslrs; while, on the red wines ofseveral other
countries, when imported in crtslrs, ii duty ofonly
six cents per gallon was imposed. 'l‘liisdiserini-
inaiion. so far as regarded the Port wine of Port-
ugal , was deemed a violation of our treaty with
that power, which provides, that ‘No higher or
other duties shall be imposed on the importation
into the United States ofAmerica of any article
the growth, produce, or manufacture of the
kiiigtlorii and possessions of Portugal, than such
asare or shall be payable on the like article be-
ing the growth. produce, or tnanu:"ac:ure ofan_v
other foreign country.’ Accordliigly to give ef-
fect to the rreaty,as well as to the intention of
Convress, expressed in a proviso to the Tarill
Act 1.tself, that nothing therein contained should
besocoiisiriied as to interfere with subsisting
treaties with foreign nations. a treasury circular
was issued on the sixteenth of July, 1844, which
among otlierthings, declared the duty on the
Port wine of Porttigal, in cnsks, under the exis-
ting laws and treaty, to be six ccnis per gallon,
and directed that the excess ofilie duties which
had been collected on such wine should be re-
funded.
By virtue ofanoiher clause in the same sec-
ion of the act, it is provided that all imitations
of Port, or any other wines, ‘shall be subject to
the duty provided for the genuine article.’ Inti-
taiions of Port wines, the production of France,
are imported to some extent in the United States
and the government of that country now claims
that, under a correct construction of the act,
these imitations ought not to pay a higlier duty
than that imposed upon the original port wine
of Portugal. It appears to be unequal and on-
just, that Frcncl-’i iiriitations of Port wine should
be subjected to=a duty oflifieen cents; while the
more valualilearticlie from Portugal should pay
it duty ofsix cents only‘ per gallon. I therefore
recominend to Congress such 1-egisl-ation as may
be necessary to correct the inequal-ity.
The late President in his annual message of
December last, recommended art appre-priation
to satisfy the claims of the Texan govertiment
against the United States, wliicli had been pre-
viously adjusted-, sofa-r as the powers‘ of the Ex-
ecutive cxtendz. These claims arose out ofthe
act disarming a body of Texan troops under the
command of Major r>'nively,- by an ofliccr in the
service ofthe Uuitcd'Sta‘tes, acting under the or-
ders of our government; a_n' 1-, the forcible entry
into the custom-house -fit '%fi‘irly’s landing, on
Red river, by certain citizéiils of the Uni-ted
States, and taking away tliercfrom the goods
seized by the collector ofthe customs as forfeit-
.ed under the laws of Texas. This was a. liqui-
dated debt, ascertained to be due to Texas when
an independent state. Her acceptance of the
terms of annexation proposed by the United
Stafes does not discharge orinvalidate the claims
recommend that pl‘:0Vl0l.OnS be made. for its
payment. '
The commissioner appointed‘ to» China.during
the special session ofthe Senaic“ln March last
shortly afterwards set out on his mission irrljtlre
' ' , ' ' rnia selcctilie olfects of l: x- t‘ , . . , . . ,. . . .
gays:_?,::é?fOS§,:Il,go1::.l)::711,2-nctglielvilllglfltl exolnpl cemllll i1TJticI-‘es ,,],‘(,,:,le;(;_2_r. r‘£rll’(‘,“'Se:¥‘I"]‘i3: stitution could have intended that_a treasury By atl9['1t_Dg1bel30§t<’:Y 9i 151’-'1tl11t1lt0_ll and "<3tl|3C' graphical Engineers, has been employed since bus been more g‘e_n€ially zicqiiresced in by the 7'-
h ‘M had, bee Q p )1.‘ 9,," ,1 ~ I d5 ,1wir impomuion ,.ree.0,. du“? ‘on! ‘r ll 1 I _eh(,,,ld. be c,m{ed as ,, pguce Oi’ dp pr,-site and sale tion of price, these lIllCl'lOl'- lands will be sold for 1842511 e_\;p1m~jng,rhe counuy e.-es; ofihe Mgssis. people than that this (lepul'llliQlll should sustain T’
viecaeolf his qqedggfi loutindlm,’ uh“ I led“ - may jmpocejow dulig-Q tn" £he,ec],?Q:Er:ht “ii keeping of the public money which was irre- their _real value. \_\‘hile the States in-which they sippi, and lievond the Rocky Mountains. Two t.lS8“.l’Y llm’“"és' "5 9xl"=‘“‘ll“”95 i0 its l“c°m"~
me Unhedtqlates met} ii aln s, c Ira. {ogre bio be embraced guch amp-1-es (-Drnecéésil. .:cs . ou_ ,_.,,,,,,5,bie 10 we G0,-ct-,;ment_ The first Congress he will be treedplrom the iiicoi_iveiiieitec,-.if not expeditions have already been brought to 3 dose Congress has never SOtl_t:_l1l to make it a seiiirce , _
I t C T d Bdydlm I 1Q momdl O ,_°l'*f, er General use and es eciau’ sue, ‘~ 3’ “S E"? “‘ under‘ the Criiistiititioti, by the act of the second iiipisttce. to which lbey are stilijectetl, in cotisc- and the reports Gflllal sciemific and °m‘3"PTlS- of revenue for general purposes, except fora.
151%.‘ Q gngrnc Ore l d 9,; °°m,"l‘m mg l “.3 Lag“ B, we 1,,b0,’.(,. ,,,,d like ml, ,1 l 45,3,” conljumfid SL'pteiiil.it'r, 1789, “to establish the Treasury De- qtierice of the United States continuing to own ing officer havefumiehgd much ,'me,es,,',,g and short period during the last war with Great Bri- -'5’
__, _ . —_~vv _ ‘g -.'t_:, '_ . ,- . . . , - ~ . _. .. _ .. _ _*- , , __ _ .-
Cn1m 2 0:11’ prowl? (3,, Sn} lljlolage. -m e wealthy citi;-an-. Car-"cl sholuldsllw p as 1.3’ l ‘S partmr.-iii,-’ provided for the appointment of a large qtniniit.es of pub_lic laiiti:-: \\'lllilD their b0l‘- valuable information. He is now engaged in :1 MID» 110? Sbmlld 11 CW1" b0°0lT1~e 3 Chillge 0“ ‘be .7
o um us, an was c iar,,e iy 1 ie commissiori- ~ - - . ie ta ten 1 rat a ders.not liable to tax-atiori for the support of their third expedition : but it is not expectéd that this general treasury. if Congress shall atih: re to l
er with the duty of exclianging with the~pr'oper
authorities the ratification of the treaty lately
concluded with the Emperor of China. Since
the return of the comrnissioner .to the United
States, his health has been much improved, and
he entertains the confident belief that he will
soon be able to proceed on his mission.
Unfortunately, dilierc-nces continue to exist
among some ofilie nations of South America,
which, following our example, have established
their independence, while in others, internal dis-
sensions prevail. It is natural that our- sympa-
thies should be warmly enlisted f.r'thei'r welfare,
—-tliat we should desire that all controversies
between them should be amicably adjusted,.arid
their Governments administered in a- manner to,
protect the rights and promote the prosperity of
their people. It is contrary however, to onrset-
tledpolicy, to interfere in their controversies,
us. Exceptirig the diltereiices wi
nations are of the most satisfactory .
is hoped that in this enhglirencd age, these dif-
ferences may be amicably 11(l_}LlSl€(l. I
The Se.cretni'y ofthe ’i‘i‘castii‘y, in his annual re-
tlie fiscal year ending ctr the ‘doth oflurie last, \\‘(’l'cl
oftlic value of.‘$'ll7,‘2f;4,5(iIl, oft-.hicli the nniouiitl
exported was .*l$l5,3-lf5.S250—leu\'iiig a hahincc o i
$101,907,734 for doiiicstic coiisuniptioii. The ex-
ports for the satire year were of the value of'$,5] 14,-.
(i4(i,G06; ofivliicli, the amount ofdoinestic articles,
was 99,299,? 76 (l0ll£l1‘S.
The receipts into the Treasury during
'c:ir, were $529,7f59.]ll3 Fifi; of wliich there were
derived from ciistoiris, l;",~'27.5i’8,l I9. 70; from sales
of-public lands, $:2,(i77,(l2‘3 30; and front iiicrdcri.
talniiil iiiiscellnricoiis sources, .,‘;:lti3,99t3 56. 'l‘lio
e.vpciitlitui‘os for llirrszitiic period were $‘.Zll,‘.lfi._.-
Elfld 98; of wliicli 8.535.157 doll.-4. 62 cts. were ap-
plied to the payincrit of tho piililic debt. The bal-
ance in tho 'l‘i‘c:tsiii‘y on the list of July last, was
‘7,ti;'>S.3iUii dolls. '22 ct.-'.
The amount of the public debt remaining tin-
paid on the first oftlctolier last, was seventeen
millions seventy five thousand four liuiidrcd and
forty-live dollars and fifty two cents I-‘arilrer
prtyrncirtsofilic public debt would have been
llltltlt‘, in iiniioiitaiion oftlic period of its rein-
burscnient under the auilioriiy conferred npoii
lilic Secretary ofrlic Treasury by llit.‘:tClS ofluly
twenty first, 18-11, and of April fiftt-enili, L5 2,
and lllarcli third, lti-'l3, had not ilie unsettled
sia.e ofour relations with Mexico mcnanced hos-
tile collision wiili that power. In view of such
a contingency, it was deemed prudent to retain
in the treasury an amount unusually large for
ordinary purposes.
A few years ago, our wlzole national debt
growing out of the Revolution and the war of
o."lSl'2 with Great Britain was extinguislied,
and wcprescnted to the world the rare and no-
ble spectacle ofa great and growing people who
rd frilly distliargcd every obligation. Since
that time. the existing debt liasbcen contracted;
and small as it is, in comparison with the sim-
ilar lJ‘df(lL‘iIS of most other nations, it should l)C
extiriguiscd at the earliest practicable period.
Slioubl the state of the country permit, and, es-
t‘-coially, if our foreigii rt-lziiions interposc no ob-
stacle,it is conicinplzttcd to apply all the riioii-
cys in the Treasury as tlieyaccrne beyond what
is required for the til’-pl'Oftl‘l.'lll-022$ by Congress,
to its llt]L'lt.ll1llOfl.' I (:llt,'ll:.ll lliC hope ofsoon be-
ing able to congrniultitc-ilie country on its re-
covc-rir:»g once more the lofty position which itso
recently cceizpietl. Our coiintry, which exhibits.
to the wortd the l‘1t;‘l’té'ilE$ of self governnient, in
developing all the sources of iiaiional prosperity,
owes to in:inl-Lind tlic pui‘maiici'it example of a
nation free from the bligiitiug influence ofn pub-
lic debt.
The attention ofCongrcss isinviied to the im-
portance of nialiing suitable rriodificatiutis and
reductions of the rates of duty imposed by our
present 'l‘arifl'l-aws. The object of imposing
duties on imports shoud be to raise revenue
to pay the necessary cxpetiscs of govern-inent.--
Congress nray, undoubtedly, in lllt.‘(;‘X‘E‘l’L'lS£:' of a
sound discretion.discrirninuie in arraiiging ilie
rates ofdnty on dillcretit articles; but the dis-
criminaiions slit,-u‘d be within the revenue stand-
ard, and be rnndo with the view to raise inoney
for the support of govcrtiriieiit.
It becomes important to understand distinctly
what isinennt by a revenue standard, the max-
imum of whicli should not be exceeded in the
rates ofduiy imposed. it is conceeded, and ex-
perience proves, that duties may he laid so high
as to diniinisli, or prohibit aliogetlicr, rlicimpor-
ration ofany given arricle, and thereby lesson or
destroy the revenue wliicli, at lower rates, would
be derived from its importation. Such duties
exceed the revenue rates, and are not imposed to
raise money for the support of Goverunierit. If
Congresslevy a duty, for rev rue, of one per
cent. on 1‘-. given article, it will produce a given
amount of money to the treasury, and will iiici-
dcntally and necessarily afford protection, or ad-
vantage, to the amount ofoue per cent, to the
borne riiaiiutlicturer ofa similar or like article
over tlieimportcr. lftlie duty be raised to ten
per cent, it vviil produce a greater amount of
money, and a;l'ord greater protection. lf it he
szill r‘zii:'cd 1:.) iv:cnr_v, iwcni_v-five and thirty per
t;Blll.t‘.I1ti if, as it is misetl, the revenue derived
from it is found to lie increased, the protcotiozi
or advantage will also be ltl('.I‘(.‘2‘.SE'Ll; but if rais-
ed to thirty one percerii, and it isfound that the
revenue produced at that rate is less than at thir-
ty per cent. it ceases to be a revenue duty.
The precise point in the ascending sculeofdu-
ties at which it is ascertained front experience
that the revenue is greatest, is the niaxinum
rate ofduty which can be laid for the lioriafide
purpose ofeollccting rnoney for the supportof
government. To raise the duties higher than
that point, and thereby t'lllTilillSl] the amount col-
lected,is to levy them for protection merely,
and not for revenue. As long, then, as Cori-
gn-~ss may gradually increase the rate of duty
on a givenarticlc, and the reveriue is increased
by such increase ofduiy, they are witliin ilie
revenue standard. When they go beyond that
point, and, as they increase the duties, the rev-
enue is dirninislied or destroyed, the act ceases
to have forits object the raising of money to
support government, but it is for protection mere-
the same,
y.
It does not follow that Congress should levv
the liighcst duties on all articles Of'llYlpO1'[\’t’l'll(.'-ll
they will bear within the revenue standard; for
such rates would probably produce a much larg-
eramount than the econotnical administration
ofthe government would require. Nor does it
follow that the duties on all articles should be at
the same, or a horizontal ratc. Some -articles
will bear a much higher revenue duty than oili-
ers. Below the maxiniuni ofthe revenue stand-
ard Congress may and ouglit to discriminate in
tbfi 17-3195 lml.>®59tl. taking care so to adjust them
on different articlesifis to produce in the aggre-
gate the amount which, when added to the pro-
ceeds of sales of public lauds,.may be needed to
pay the e_cc-nomical expenses ofthe government.
in levying a tariff of duties, Congress exercise
ihe taxing power, and for purposes of revenue
titre greet iriter_est ofthe country, including man-
u actures, agric liure, commerce, navigagion-,
andtltc nicclianic arts, should, as far as may be
PT3_CUC=1ble. den-ve equal advantages from the
iiicidcntal protection which a just system ofrev-
qnue duties may aflord. Taxation, direct or iii-
oir_ect, is a burden, and should be so imposed as
‘to operate as equally as may be on ‘all classes, in
the proportion of their ability to bear’ iti! To
Class: n€‘€t’$Sai‘il_v increases the burden oft-he'otli-
ers beyond their pr-oportion,.aiid' would be man-
ifestly unjust. . .
The terms fprotcciion ,to domestic industry”
are ofpopular import; but they should apply un-
der a Just systcm‘to all-the various branches of
industry in our country. -The farmer or pl'au-
ter who toils yearly in his fields, is engaged‘ in F
Great Britain, our relations with all civilized‘ ‘ _ _
character. It atl‘o'rded by increasing burdens on the ‘domestic
port to Coiigrcs.-i, will coiiiinriiiictito a full stateniont, them.
ofilic condition ofour fiiiatices. The imports for,
make the taxing power a'lI‘tl(‘.lI‘ldl benefit to one "
sive reci rents of‘ roieciion,’ which can onl be
i
industry’ ofthe others.
If these views be correct, it remains toinquire
how far the Tar fl'Act oflfi-$2 is consistent with
Thai many of the provisions ofiliat Act
areinviolaiion of the cardiiial principles here
laid down, all must concede. The rates of da-
ties itnposed by it on some articles are prohibit-
iory, and on others so high as greatly to dimin-
gisli imporiations, and to produce a less amount
’ofrcvenue than would be derived from lower
rates. They operate as ‘protection merely,’ to
one branch of ‘domestic industry,’ by taxtngoili-
‘ er branches.
By the introduction ofminimunis, or assumed
and false values, and by the imposition of spe-
cific duties, the injustice and inequality of the
act of l(.~T-12, in its practcal operations on dif-
fcrcnt classes and pursuits, are soon and leli.——
Marry ofthe oppressive duties imposed by it un-
der the opt-ration of these principles, range-from
one per cent. to more than two hundred per
cent. They are probibiiory on some articles,
and partially so On others, and bear most lieziv-
ily on articles of common necessity, and bear
but lightly on articles of luxury. It is so framed
that niticli the greatest burilien which it impo-
scs is ihrowii on labor and the poorer classes who
are at least able to bear it, while it protects cap-
ital and exempts the rich from paying their just
proportion ofthe taxation required for the stip-
port ofgovernment. While it protects the cap-
ital ofilie iiianufaciurer,aud increases liisprolits,
it does not benefit the operatives or laborers in
their eniploynient, whose wages have not been
increased by it. .
Articles ofprinie necessity or of coarse quality
and low price, used by the masses of the people,
are, in runny insiances,sub_iectcd by it to heavy
taxes, gwliile Ill‘lltlC‘S of liner quality and liiglier
price or ofluxury, which can be used only by the
opulent, arelighily taxed. it imposes heavy and
unjust burdens on the, fzirnit-r, the plaiitei‘, the
commercial innit, and those ofall other persuiis
except the capitalist who lias made his invest-
ments in matiufactures. All the great in eresis
ofthe country are not, as nearly as may be prac-
ticalilc, equally protected by it.
The Goverrinicni in theory knows no distinc-
tion ofpersons orclasses, and should not bestow
on some favors and privillgcs which all others
may not enjoy. it was the purpose of its illus-
trious founders to base the institutions which
they reared‘ upon the great and unchanging prin-
ciplcs ofjustice and equity, conscious tliatllif ad-
fl'lllllSl€l'C'Ll in the spirit in which they were con-
ceived, they would be felt only by the benefits
which they (lillusctl, and would secure fortlicin-
selves a deft-nce in the hearts of the people,
more powerful than standing armies, and all the
means andapplianccs invented to sustain Gov-
ernments founded in injustice and oppression.
'l‘lie \Vt'll known fact that the tariff act of
lb‘-1'.’ was passed by a tntriority of ono..yoic in the
bciiate and two in the I-louse r.l'Represematives
and sonic ufiliose who felt tlic-mselves oonstrairi-
ed, under the pcculizir‘ circum.-:i~-rices existing at
the time, to vote in its favor, proclaimed its dc-
fecis,'and ntprcsscd their deterniinatioii to aid in
its modification on the fi-st opportunity, atlords
strong and conclusive evidence that it was not
intended to be pcrrnarient, and ofthe cxpcdicncv
and necessity ofits thorough revision. ‘ '
In recommending to Congress a reduction of
the present rates of duty, and at revision and
iiiodificittion of the act of 1-842, I am far from en-
tertaining opinions unfriendl_v to the manufac-
turers. On the eontr-.iry, l desire to sue. them
prosperous, as far as they can be so, wiiliout ini-
posing unequal burdciis oti other interests. The
advantage under any system ofindirect taxation,
even witliiti the revenue standard, must be in
favor ofthe rii:iiiul2it:turir.~g interest; and of this
no other interest will cornpltiiu.
1 recomim-rid to Coiigress the aliolitioit of the
minimum principle, or assumed, arbitrary, and
l':-ilse vnliics, and (ii specific duties, and the sub-
stitution in their place of at! ’Z,'(!f07'(.’?TI. duticr, as
the fairest and trio.-t ("quit-able indirect tax wliicli
can be ll!tli(iSt.‘tl. l:l_=,' the. ad 'vaZm‘r7:i piiiiciplc,
all .-.i'tic;'t-.-; arc. lil.‘~.'Z-‘Ll ttcuiidlitg to their cost or
Vttlllt’, z-.ud those which are of inferior quality,
or ofsuinll cost, liez1i'orrly the just pi‘opi:-rtioii of
the tax \‘.'lli‘.- lll(.‘SC \\’l}lCll are of superior quality
or _t-,',?‘€‘(‘.l(‘l' Cost. The articles COll:'-'llll'i€tl by all
are taxed at the sonic r-.:tc. A systein of tea’ ra-
Iorem rcvciiuo duties, v.‘i'.li prop-'.—r dis-c:'imiii:ttiv=iis
and proper ;;u;rrils zigziirisi '.iniids in cullctztiiig
them, it is not doubtetl, will ::t'lord ainplc iiici-
dciitnl nilv:iiitage-s to the ni:'irii:l'ac:ii:'crs, and en-
able them to (lerivc as great profit as can be de-
rived from any otlici‘ ic};iilnr business.
lt is lielicvon' that such :1 system, strictly with-
in tlie revenue stnndratl, will place the inannlitc-
luring iiiteiests on a stable ftioriiigr, and inure to
their permanent advant.-.ge ; while it will, as
nearly as may be practicable, extend to all the
great llll(*l‘i~_‘$lS of the country the incidental pro-
tection wliitzli can be r'llli)l'tlC‘(l by our revenue
laws.‘ Such as} stein, v. hen once firmly estab-
lislied, would l.‘f,' pci'ii'iuii<-iii, and not be subject
to the constant compl.tints, agiizitioiis, and chair-
gcs which must ever occur, Wilt u diities tire not
laid for revenue, but for the “protection merely”
of it favored intere.-t.
lit the (l(.‘lll)t|'dll(‘lllS of Coiip;i'css on this sub-
ject, it is hoped that a spirit of mutual conces-
sion and coin}'i‘o.'iii.-.‘c bett-.e-,-.n coiifliclitlg inter-
csis may prevail, and that the rtsult of their
labors may be crowned with the happiest coir-
sequeticcs.
By the Constitution of the United States it is
provided, that “no nioney shall be drawn from
the ireasiiry but in ('0llSt quence of appropriations
made by law." A public treasury \\‘1t:‘-lil:(l()lllil-
edly coiitenipltrtcd and intended to l;c created, in
which the public iiioridy should be kept from the
period of collection uiiiil needed for public uses.
In the collection and disburscinent of the public
money no agt-iicies have been employed by law,
except such as were appointed by the government
dirrctly responsible to it, and under its control.
The sale-keeping of the public money should
be confided to it public treasury created by law,
and under like respor-isihility and control. It is ‘
not to be lniagined that the frainers of the Con-
'l‘i‘cz:sttrer', and made it his duty “to receive and
keep all the moneys of: the United States,-” and
“at all times to the Secretary of the 'l‘rt-asiiry and
1b8 ('0m11lt0lleT.-or.either of them, the inspection
of the moneys in his liand:.”'
Tllill banks, national or state, could not have
been intended to be used as a- substitute for the
treasury spoken of in the Coiistituiioii,-as keep-
ers ol the public money, is nntiiifest from the
fact, that at that lime there was no national batik.
, and but three or four State banks of limited eup-
_, ital existing in the coinitizy. The-in employment
; as 'de;‘osiiories was at first resorted to-, to a limi-
ted exteiii, but with no avowed intention of con-
_ tinuing them -permantly, in place of the treasury
A of the Coiistitutioiil. W heir they were after-
; wards from time to time einployed?,.it was from
_{ motives of supposed conveiiieiice. 1
Our‘ experience has sliovvii-, that when bank-
’er"nmcnt was brought almost to lianl:i'riptcy, and
the public credit seriously impaired, bccaiise of
their inability or iudisposition to pay.on demand;
to the public crcditoisl, in the only Cl:rl't.*nC_\_’ re-
cognised by the Constitution. Tlieir failure‘
occurred in a period of peace, anti great incorr-
vcnience and lush were suflcrcd by the public
from it. Had the country been involved in 21
foreign war, that ittcoiiveiiicricc and loss would
have been much irrcatcr, and might have result-
ed in extreme public. calamity. .
The public money should not be mingled with
the private funds of banks or iiitlivitliizils or be
used for private purposes. Wlicri it is placed in
banks for safe l{I.-€plll;2,' it in effect loam-tl to
them wiilim-it interest, and is loaned by them
iipoti interest to the borrowers from them. The
public money is converted into banlziiig capital.
and is used and loaned outfor the private profit
of batik stockholders: anti when called for. (as
was the case in 1837,) it may be in the pockets
of the borrowers from the liarilts, in:<tc:id of be-
inc‘ in the prrblic tit-nsiiiy coiitt-mplatml by the.
constitiiiioii. The trainers of the C0ll5ll':llll0ll
could never have iiiteiitlod that the moiicy paid
into the trcasiiry :-lionld be thus converted to pui-
vatc use, and placed beyond the control of the
govt-riiiriciil.
llnnks which hold the public money are often
tempted by :1 desire of gaiiii, to extend ilicirloans,
lllC-l'(*.-2386 their ciiculntinii, and thus stiinulate. if
not produce a spirit of sgeculatlon and extrava-
gance, Vt‘lllCl'i sonnet‘ or later must result in min
to tboiisands. If the public agt-i‘.cy be not per-
mitted to he thus used. but be kept in the ti‘ea.-‘ii-
ry and pztiti out to the public creditors in gold
and silver, the teinptaiion afiiirded by its dcr-osite
with banks to an Lndiie expan:-ioii of ilieir l}ll.'<l-
ness would lie cliccki-d. \\ liilc the amour»! of the
constiiiitioiizil ciirrt-i:c_v left in (‘.ll‘(‘tlltlll(ill woiiltl
be ciiltzigtail, by its ciriployirii-tit in the public col-
lections and tlisl.-urscinenis, and the bunks them-
selves tvoultl, in const-queiicc, be fotintl in asafer
and S()llllti(’l' contliiion.
At present, Stziic lsanlcs are cinployevl as de-
positoiics, but wiilroiit arlcqirale rcgulniioii of
law, \vliei'c.liy the public irutitey can be $t‘Clll}'tl
agitiii.-t the c:tsii:ilii;cs.:ri'.(l c.\'ce.sses, i*evul.-iriiis;
srispeiisioiis, and defnlcatioiis, to wliicli. lrz.-ni
ovcris.siies., oveitradiiig, an iiioriliiiitte tl('.~‘-ll‘e for
;_r_:iin, orotlicr cniiscs, they are (T()l‘iS‘:1l!ll)' ex posed.
The Secretary of the Tr. -.i.<iiry has in all ca.-=e.s,
when it was pTItCllCt1l':lC‘, inlten collritcml security
for the amount whit-it they held, by the plcthrc
Sales as were in {good credit. Sorne of the dc-
positc bunks ll'd\’C.glVt.'ll this dtescription of secu-
rity, and others have declined to do so.
lint itultniig the o iinioii ill‘. t ‘i he scprtrrttioii
of the iiinneys of tilt: Govcriiniciit front l::~.til-;iiig
iiistitritioiis is iiitiispeiisablc lor the :‘-ail:-t_v of the
funds of the Governinciit and the r‘ic;lits of the
people," I recomiiiend to Ctiiigi'css that provision
be innde by law for such sepziralioii, and that ii
Constilutioiinl Tr'e:isiiry be created tor the safe-
lceepiii-_t;oi' the public money. The (.‘onsiiiri-
tlotial Ti'c:ts.iii'y recomrnentlctl is (lt-.'-tigiicil as n
sectire (iC'l20.ill(=l‘_V lor the prililic. money, \\'i:ltoiit
any power to ritalce loans oi discounts, or to is
we any paper \\'ll:tlt:\’t‘l' as at crirreiicy or circu-
lation. 1 cannot tltilllil that such :1 '.l'i'ett:‘-iii'_v as
was ctr-iitcmpltitezl by the Constiiuiioii, sliould be
indepcndciit of all litiiikiiig coipor'atioiis.
The mont-y of the people should be l{('pl in
the in-a.si.ry ofthe people created by law, and be
in ti-.e c.u.«.iody of agents of the pcoplc otrm-.t-u by
tliemselves, according to the forms of the consti-
tution; agents who are directly responsible to
the govcrninent, who are urtder adequate bonds
and ozttlis, and who are siibjeet to severe punish-
ments for any eiribc'/.'/zlciiiert, private use, or this-
appliczitioi: of the public funds, and for any lzi!l-
nre in other 1'91-'pe.(:ts to perforiri ilieirtliiiics. To
say that the people or their govet'iiinciii are in-
C(impL'lfil‘il,- or not to be trusted with ilic custody
of their own money, in their own tterr.-uiy, pio-
vidcd by tlicinselves‘ but must rely on the presi-
dtirts, casliiers, and stocklioldcrs of lifllllilllg cor-
poraiioiis, not zippointcti by them, nor re:-'poit:‘~ililc
:7 them, would be to concede that they are in-
coinpeteni for sell" _«_{ovt-run t-iii.
lll i'cc«..niiiiei':tlitr,; the t-stalrii.-limciit of a cori-
stliutiotinl ti'easiii'y, in wl.-ich the piiiilic moi ey
shrill be l\L'ili, I desire lilZll.?.l(i"qllIl'.t‘. pro':i.-tori be
ninde by l'.-.\‘.' for its s:tfeiy,uiid that all t:X':'CllllVQ
discretion or control over it shall be l‘t'l'.’£t!\"€(l,
except such as lll'r‘.:,‘ he llL‘Ct.'S.Sill'y in directing its
iii.-:litii'.~i-inciit, in }.‘lll'olldllU2 of iipprzq.-riuiioiis
iii:::lc by law.
,'Un:i4-r our present hm-‘l s_ystcn'i, liiniting the
miiiimnni piicc at wliiclt the public lands can be
entered to one (l0ilitl'ill‘itl tweiity-five cents per
acre. large qu:-in.itics of lands or irzlemzr quali-
ty reiiiztin llllSt’)l(l, lic-cause they will not conitiniiicl
that price. Fir-in the records of the G9llt‘l’lll
Land Oflice it appears that, of the public binds
reiriairiiiig unsold to the .-:evci‘al Suites :\iitl'l'c:i'i-
tories in vi-liicli they are situated, iliirty-niiie
millions one lltllltll‘t!(l and live tlioiisantl live hun-
dred nnd severity-:=.evcii acres have been in the
innrkci, snl.j-:.-ct to entry more than twtny yours;
forty nine inillions six liuiitlie-.1 and l.llll'l_)'-t.’i,=.",lll
tliousand six liundred and forty-l'oui° acres for
more than lifter-ii years; severity-tlii't-e lialilltllis
severity-ftitir' tlioiisarid and six liuntlred acres tor
more than ten _‘,~'e::rs; and one l:llllt'.l't'(l and 3.x
millions one lilllltlrt.-‘(l and ."(.'\'UliiY-Sl.‘\'lllullfiflllfl
nine biindred and sixty-one acrcs lor nzore than
five years. Much the largest portion of the.-e
lands will coiitiutre to be 1tl:S‘¢1lL‘;tlJle at the inim-
inum price at \\'lliCll they are pcimitzétl 19 be
sod, so long as large territories of lands from
\vliicli the more vniritii.-l portions have not been
selected are ant:u-ally broiiglit into rnarkct by
the _t-;ovei‘nincnt. ~
Witli the view to the sale and scitlcnieiit of
these llllt:l'lOl‘ laritls, l recouirnet.d that the price
he gi'adiia’.ed and l':‘tlllC(:tl below the present Hil-
niniutn rate, ctiifiiiiug the sales at the reduced
prices to settlers and cultivators,in limited quan-
llll!-IS. ll" graduated and reduced in price fora
limited term to one dollar per acre, and after the
expiiatioii of that period for a recond and third
term to lower rates, at lat-gt poriioii of these lands
would be piircliasetl, anti lnitlly worthy citizens
who are unable to pay higher rates, could pur-
cliase homes for ilieinselz es and their fainilics:—-
local govei‘unicn=.s.
1- l'(‘C0l1|!llCllLl the continuance of the policy of
granting pic-emptioiis,-in its most liberal extent,
to all those who have settled, or may liereafter
settle. on the public lands, wlieiliei surveyed or
uu:-urveyed, to which the Indian title may have
been extinguished at the time of settlement. it
has been fount! by experience, that in conse.
quence of coinliinatioiis of purchasers and other
causes,.a very suiall quantity of the public lands,
when sold at public auciion,commands a higher
price tliatii the niiiiimtirn rate established by law.
'1-‘he settlers on the pulilic lands are, however, In t
rarely able to secure their homes and improve-
menis at the public sales at that rate; because
these combinations, by means of the capital they
5 comnrzind, and their superior ability to purchase,
- render it impossible for the settler to compete
‘domesticindusry,'and is as" much enticed to
log corporations have been the keepers of the
‘ with them in the market.
of stocks of the United States, or such of the .
.-.lt is to me the eiiterpi'Ese anti perseverance of the
liardy pioiicc-rs of the West, who penetrate the
wiltieriiess with their faunlics, st.-tier the daiigers,
the 1rivat_ions and liardslrips mtendiiig the set-
tlement of ti I‘.C\'-‘ coitiitry, and prepare the way
for the body of ciingraiits who, in the ¢':‘oiii'se of
a few years, usually follow them, that we are,
in a great degree, indebted for the rapid cx-te’i'i-
sionzintl aggrandizeiiieiit of our country.
E_\'perlence has proved that no portion of
our population are more patriotic than the hardy
and brave men of the frontier, or more ready tb
obey the call of their country, and to tlt~.ft~rid'lier
rights and lit)!‘ honor, wlieiiever and by \\'llEli(‘\'(‘l'
enemy :lS:~'2l2lL‘tl. They should be prt.tec.ted front
the gzrasping spvctilator. and scctiit-tl, at the l]llll- ,
inium price of the public latirls, in the l'-.uinl=le
homes wliicli they have iiiipi'o\-'ctl lzy their labor.
Willi this end in view, all \"t’,\'ll'Iltlll$ or tiniicces-
sary |‘C>‘ll‘lCll0ll.‘-3 iinpti.-cal upon lllflli by the e.t':- l
istinu pl‘t;'C~lllpllOll laws should be l‘t"lit‘r'lit‘tl or
mtiililinl. It is the trite policy of the Govern-
ll:t‘lll to -.ifli.=i-tl facilities to its ciiz-.-iii: of sinziil
";()l'lltlll.\‘ of our vast public doninin at low and
t?lOtlt‘.‘l'.'1l2 rr-.tes.
Tho. prcseiit system of nintiagitig the mineral
lantls of the United Statics is l.t-lievr-d to be radi-
cally (lt’l‘(*.('ll\'(.‘. More titan zi million ol':it'i‘r.-5 of
the priiuic lands, .<tippo.-‘ed to coiiiaiii lea-.l and
other riilrtcrals, have been res-;-ri~etl frzirn sale,
and mirnr-rotis leases upon ll‘(’lll lit’:-ve liceii gran-
ted to ititlivitlnrtls upon ll. Sllptllttletl rent. The
systciri of t—_'_l":tl‘llill;L’ leases liars prov:-tl to be not
only iiiiproliinble to the Governuieiit, but unsat-
isfactory to the citizens who linve goiie upon the
lands, and must, if coniinuctl, lay the founda'.ion
of mncli lntuie difliculty lit-tween tlto GOVt"l‘ll-
ment and the lessees. According to the official
record.-I, the ainoniit of rents receive-.l by the
Govei'iiiireiit_ for the years 1841,1842, 1843 and
1844, mi;-' $6,354 74, vvliilc the cxpeiist-s of lli-.—.
svstein tlirring the same peril d, inclutliiif-' S:ll.'-l-
ries of t~‘ll}l(‘l'llllCll:lCl‘.i.'~', mrctits, t:lr»rlrs, and inci-
tletitnl cxpeiiscs, were S".-‘G.1ll 1l——ilie income
lie-lug le..~:.-I tlian one foiirili of the e.\‘peii.-cs. To
this pccirtiini'y loss may be -..dr;'cd lllo iiiiiiry sus-
tainvtl by the public in coils:-qviciicc of the de-
struction cf tlnibor and the C2ll‘L,*f{,';tS and tvaszcfnl
ninnncr of worl.in;_: tlie rriines.
The system has given rise to inucri litigation
lietwecii the United States and, indivitluzil citi-
zens, protlucing irritation and exciit-merit in the
mineral rcszion, and invclviiigilte governinciit in
licavy additiotral €‘.\’])L‘ll(lllUTt‘S. it is believed
that similar losses and eiribarrassiiienis will cori-
iinue too cur, while the present sysietii of lens-
ing these lands rcinaiiis unclianged. These
lands are now under the superiritendence and
care of the Vt-'ai‘ Departmciii, with the ordinary
duties of which, they have no proper‘ or natural
connection. I i'cct;tnmeiid the repeal ofthe pres-
ent system, and that these lands be placed under
the superiutetidence and 1'nmlftE(‘lll(‘liI of the
GC‘Ilf.‘l‘t1lL'dll(l Offltff‘, as other public l:tnd.<, and
be brought into market and sold upon such
lt‘l'lIlS as Congress in their wisdoiu may prescribe
reserving to the government an equitable per
céutagc ofthe gross amount ofnrineral product,
and that the preemption principle be extended
to resident miners and seitlersupon them, at the
mlninium price which may be cstablislied by
Congress.
I refer you to the accompanying report of the
secretary of\Var, for information respecting the
present situation ofthe Army, and its operations
during llie past year; the state of our defences;
the condition of the public works; and our rela-
tions wiili the various Indian tribes within our
limits or upon our borders. I invite your atten-
tion to ilie suggestions contained in that report,
in relation to these prominent objects of national
interest.
When orders were given during the past sunf-
merfor Ct)l'rC(‘flil'(‘-.ill‘:g :1 military force on the
western fl'(‘:llllt~‘l' ot"'l'e.xas, our troops were wide-
ly dispersed, and in small det: cbnieiits, occupy-
ing posts remote from each other. The prompt
and expeditious l7lttllDt'!’ in which an army, cm-
bracing more than halfour peace esiablishnient,
was drawn together on an emergency so sudden,
reflects great credit on the ofliccrs who were in-'
irusted with the C)-Zt‘(‘.tllit‘il‘l of these orders, as
well as upon the discipline of the army itself.
'I‘o be in szrengzli to protect and defend the peo-
ple and territory tif'l'exas, in the event l.\lc.\’lc()
should cotnmeiice liosiiliiies. or invade her terri-
tories with a l:-zrge army, which she ilireatened,
lauilmrised the general assigned to the coin-
iand ofthe army of occupation to make requi-
sitions for additional forces front several of the
status nearest the 'l‘e.~.an territory. and which
could mast e>:pediLit,u.-ly fl.ll‘l‘ll$ll them, if in his
izpitziott, ti larger‘ force than that under his corri-
riiand, andtlie atixiliary aid wlii.-.:li, under like
circumstances, he was authorised to receive from
Teas, should be required.
Tlie coiitingericy upon which the evercisc of
tliis authority d'epcnded,- has not occurred. The
circumstances under which two companies of
state artillery from the city ofi\"ew Orleans were
sent into Texas, and mustered into ilie service
ofthe United States,’ are fully stated in the re-
port ofthe secretary of War. I recommend to
Congress that provision be made for tire pay-
ment ofihcse troops, as well as a small number
of Texan volunteers, wliorn the coiitmairtliiig
general tliouglttii necessary to receive or muster
into our service-.
Duriiig the last summer, the first regiment of
dragoons made extensive excursions through the
Indian country on our borders, a part of them
advaricing nearly to the possessions of the End-
son’s Bay Company in the north, and a part as‘
far as ilie south pass of the Rocky mountains,
and the head waieisoftlie tributary streams of
the Colorado ofthe Vicsr. 'l'lie exhiliixitin of
this military force among ilie Indian tribes in
iliose distant regions and the councils held with
them by ilie commanders of the expeditions, it
is believed, will have a salutary influence in re-
straining them from hostilities amoiig them-
selves, and maintaining friendly relations be-
tween-them and the United States. An interes-
tingjaccount-of one of these excursions accom-
panics the report ofthe secretary of War.-
Under the directions of the War Department,-
Brevet CapiaittI’remorii, ofilie Corps of Topo-
arduous service will be completed in season to
enable me to communicate the result to Con-
gress at the-present session. _
Our relations with the Indian tribes are of a
favorable character. The policyoof removing-
them to a country designed for their perniaucnb
residence, west ofihe_Mississippi and without
the limits of the organized states and territories,
is better appreciated by them than it was a few
years ago; while education is now attended; to,
and the habits of civilized’ life are gaining
ground among them.
Serious r-ifliculiies of long standing continue
to distract the. several parties into‘ which‘ the
Cherokees are unliappily divided. The etlorts
of tlie*Government to a adjust the difliculties be-
tween them have heretofore proved unsuccess-
ful; and there remains no probability that this
:put an end, if possible, to the dissensions which‘
aliave lone" prevailed
l tliem.- 3 ’
and still prevail, among!
1 refer you to the report of the S€l3rel3l'\' of the,
,2l\’avy lor the present condition of that branch of’
:llle national dc-ieiice; and for grave suggestions,»
having for their object the increase of its effici-
‘racy, and a greater economy in its management.
!During the past year the cfliccis aiitl.mc-n have
,performed their duty in a satisfactory manner.-
:_.the orders wliich have been given, have been
'(’X£'(‘lIle(l with ];l‘0llip!l'It-‘S.-IS and fidelitv. A lar-
gzger force than has oltcn formctl one‘ squadron’
,i'tntlc_r (:lll' litg uzrs reatlily concentiatetl in the
;Gull ol Dlt'X!(1(). arid, zeppaiieirrly, \vitho_ut un-
usual clliirt. it is es ieciali ‘to be ob.-- -
ntitxvltlisttititiiirg the }lllil('tll)0l' so (‘Oil:«l:l:ldZf.l‘llhea2tt'
force, no net \_va.< C!.‘llIll'tillt3»l that rven tlie jral.
oti.'-y if an irritated pun-or cuuld cO,.__,m,e as an
actof aggi‘css.i(iii; and that the commaiirler of
the Sqllf-tLll't.‘l‘., arid his officers, in strict conformi.
iy with their lll.s‘!lll.'.lI('ifl:4. lmlrlirrg iixemsegveg
‘ever ready for the most active duty, have ncliiev‘:
ed the still purer glory of conii'§l.ii:iiig to the?
pi‘c.-zcrv:-:t.it=ii of peace. ’ '
ll is l)t'llt‘\‘(:x'i that at all our foreigri stations‘
the lionor oi our flag bus b».-cu iiuaititaiiietl, and
that, gvnr:i‘:illy, our .-lrigs of war have been dis-
titrgtiislit-tl for their good ill.-ciplinc and order. I’
am happy to arid, tlint the display of niaiatime'
force wlfcli was required by the events of the‘
summer, has been inudc wliolly uitliin the iisirtif
appt-opiiziiimis for the service of the year, 50 that-
DO adtlitiotial apptopihaiiotis uro rt-quirt-tl. I
The coinmerce of the Uiiiicd States, and with‘
it the ii.v.vigaiing iitteresis, liavc steadily and
rapidly increascrl since the oi‘;:t'iiizati(iit of our’
governineni, until, it is l.c!ie\‘etl, we‘ are new
st-cond to but one Power i'n the world, and at no"
tliSl(tltf (l':7t‘y \\ e sl.:tll prnl ably to iiiferior to none.-
E.\'po.«cd as the-_v rriu.-t lit‘, it lzas been at wise‘
ptiliC_V' to at-i§:i'd. to rinse ln~.;.ori::iit ll:lt.‘lf‘5l5 pro-‘
tcctit-ir with our .-liips of wizr, di.-iriltitctl in the
great hi;-: iwriy-;: of tizulte tl‘.ro:;;vl.otrt the world.-
For more thin‘, ihir‘_v _\t-ars‘ tippropiiaiiotis have‘
liceli made, and aiiiart.-illy cxpciialtd, for lltt‘ grad-‘
ital iiicrense of niri Il‘r‘.V'L1.l forces. in peace our‘
iiavy perforii.s the iiiipoitzint dr:‘._v of prct'cctit:g'
our coiiiuisrco ;- nntl, ll‘. the overt! of war, will be’
as it has l'~(‘Cll, a inn.-;t rffi: lent means 0f(lClt‘nC¢.‘
' ‘lie sriccessstil rise of strain navigaiioii on the‘
ocean l-as lietn f‘()llt)‘.\‘(‘ti by the introduction of
v.'at'-stcairit-i's in gzrrtrt an.-i increasing numbers‘
into the iiavies of the iriiicipal imriitinie Powers"
of the world. A due i'eg:ir;l to our own safety
and to an cfilcieiit pioicctttiii to our large and in-
creasing coniinerce tltm:=tids a criircspoiidiiig in-
crease on our part. No country has greater"
facilities for tl.e coustructioii of vessels of this
tltS.Cl‘l]lil(:ll t‘n::n ours, or can prcrnise its:-ll great."
tr a-.lv:-itt:«g;:-s from their einploj. inept. 'l'l:ey are
2‘-.tl:irll‘(tll y ntlapicd to til.-e pvt.-‘.cct3oii of our con:-‘
merce to the rnpitl ll'1il"..~llilS.~‘i()lI of ititelligcnce,
and to the coast defence. in pt:~:s‘tiniit'c of the‘
wise policy of :1 ,«;i-at-ltinl ll‘lCl'{’t’.SC of our Navy,
large supplies of live oak tiiribcr, and other ma-‘
terials for strip-liiiilding, have been collected, and‘
preservation, ivliilc iron steamers can be built‘
witii great facility in various parts. of the Union.
The use of iron as :1 riiiiterial, r-specially iii"
the coirstrtrctioii of steamers, wliicli can enter
with satiety many of the harbors along our coast l
no-.v ll1ttCC€SSll)lI‘ to vessels of greater draught, l
and the practicability of consirtictirg them in the ' \
iiitcrior, strongly rccommctlrls that liberal ap-"-
pmprizitioivs Should be made for this important
object. Wliatevcr may have been our policy in
the earlier stages of the government, when the
nation was in its infam-y. our stripping interests
and -commerce comparzititely small, otir resour- ,
Ct-‘S li.nited, our popriltillon sparse arid" scarcely l
cxte-riding beyond the limits of the original tliir I
l
l
--..__
teen States, lll3~lu})()ll(5}’ must we essentially dif-
ferent now th..tt we liave grotvii from three to
more than twenty millions of pt‘o;ile—thai our
commerce, carried in our own ships, is found in
every sea, and that our ti.-rritoriul ‘ootindaiies and’:
seitleirictits have been so greatly expanded.
Neither our commerce, nor our long line of
coast on the ocean and on the lakes, can-ire suc-
ce;~'sl'ully tlefetitletl against fort-igii aggression by
mt-ans of fo:'t'rlicatioit.< alone; Tliese arc cssen-'
rial at impottaiii commercial and military points,-
l.ii'. our ch?ef i'eli:iiu'e lor this object must be on
it well orgatzizccil, tflicicnt i'\':iv_v. The bcnfits
i‘e.-niltitig from such a Navy are not confined to
the Atlatttic Sl:lli’S. The prtidiictitins of the iii-
terior ivliicli seek it niarket {1l)l'€'t.'l(.l, are directly
rlcpcndirnt on the safety and frcedoiri of our com-
merce. The occupaiioii of the Balize belbtv
New Oil-;ans by a lrostile force \'t't.‘lll(l eiitbarrass,
if not st:igi'ta!c. the '.vl'.ulc export trade of the
Mississippi, and affect“ the value ol the Agricul-
tural products of the entire valley of that mighty
river and its it'ibulari‘e$ ‘
it has never lit.-cii our policy to maintain large
staiitliiig armies in time of peace. They are
coiitraiy to the genius of our free institutions,
vvonld impose livavy burdens on the people, and
be tl:tii_«_rei-«.~i:.-' to public til:-r-i't__v'. Our reliance for
; l'Oi(‘Cll(ll: tti.d t_l£;ft.'llC( on the land must be .rn?nly
on our ciiizt-it Hiltilttla‘, v.li.. ‘.\'lll be ever ready, y
as they t'\’(‘l' have l.et‘ll really in times past, to
ru.-h with :tl::cri:y. :.=.t the call of their coiiiitry.
to her defer-cc. This de.~cripiiou of force, how-
ever, cntiiiot defmitl otir (3():t.<l, liuilior.-, and in‘-
land seas, nor 1)l0lQt‘.l our coniriicicc on the
0C('r'tli or the lakes. Tlit.-‘e must be protzcied by
our iia'.'y._
COl!Sltl(‘I‘lllfl' an increzzsctl naval force, and
especially of .-".c:*.:'ii vessels, ttii':'e-:poiiiiiiig with
our growth and llllii(ll’i2tliC(‘ as it nation, and pro-
portioned to the iiicrt-used itlltl incl"!-asiiig naval
pout-.r of otlier.i:a'.ioiis, of vast irii,'ortai:c_e as
ie_t.::irtls our eatery, :'i-nil the great! ;'1'l‘0\\'ll!g: inter-
ests to be prote-cred by it, I it-cotnim.-rid the sub-
ject to the favoralile e-:,ri.sidera'.ir=n of Cougrrs“.
The Report of the I’o.~ttiiasicr General here-
with coiruutiiiicateif, Ctlllitlllisll. detailed statement
of the O,?€l‘flll0llS(|f his rlvpnrtmetit. durin',r, the
past year; ll will be seen that the __income from
postage will fall short of the (‘.\:(.lt_'n(llllll'C5 for the
year between one and tivoniillions of dollars.
This deficiency has been caused by the reduction-
__,__,..o
l of the rates oi postage, which was made by the:
act of the third of 'March last. l\'o principle
this principle, as I: think they ought, it will be
necessary either. to curtail ilie present mail ser-
vice, so as to reduce the c.\'peiuliiures, or so tot
iiitpr-ove its revenues. -
The extension of the mail service. and the--ad-
ditional l'aciliti'c:~‘ which will he demanded by the‘
rapid extension and increase of population on-
our western frontier, will not admit of such our-
iailment as will materially reduce the‘ present ex»
penditures. In the adjustment of: the tarifi‘ of-i
postages the interests of- the people demand,
that the lowest rates be adopie-d.wlliich will»pro--
duce the necessary revenue the necessary reve-—
nue to meet the expenditures» of the department;.
. [invite the attention: of Congress to the ; stiggesr
tioiis of the _Postmaster-General on-this_subjcct;.
under the belief that’ such a‘ modification of. the-
_d’esi'ralil'e object.‘ can be accomplished without
late law may be made as will yield suficient re-
are now under f>'ll(‘llt'l‘ arid in a state of good i
modify the act of the third of Marcli last as to-. I
Norwalk Chronicler