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t^U '* I tjSfefr' CAnPE^r, ?*WB CAHOU,^*, ?ATD?BA? DECEMBER 16, !8St. jg KO. ?*.
1
: douuat&xkt* oo?nxaB.i
fublwhod wookljl/ very Saturday Byn>i?f i^ t?
per enaam if paid in advance, or #4 if Mt p#f
until the expiration of the yew.
Porous subscribing out of the State, one lstpsfead tf
pay in advance.'
No subscription received for a less term then one
v yW*
Advertisement* will be inserted at Oxi Dollar per
square for the Ant insertion, and Firry Cents for
every continuance. Thoso Advertisements that do
not have the number of insertions marked on the
margin will be published until forbid, and charged
accordingly.
tfjT All Letters addressed to this Office, must bo post
paid.
D.)l />.J: / jil o
j ctH/ui-vuucnc oj inc ornote
.and Houm of Repretentativea:
We have reason to renew the expres- 1
sion of our devout gratitude to the Giver i
of all Good for his benign protection. Our
country presents, on every side, the
evidences of that continued favor* under I
whose auspices it has gradually risen from
a few feeble Colonies 'to a prosperous i
and powerful Confederacy We are
blessed with domestic tranquillity, and all
the elements of national prosperity.? 1
The pestilence whtcfi, invading, for a
time, Some flourishing portions of the 1
Union,, interrupted the general prevalence 1
of usual health, has happily been limited '
in extent, and arrested ih its fatal career. '
The industry and prudenco^'f ogr citizens '
nrfl rolipuim* T.a . I
? ^ . . .. m j av*?V ? t.lg ? SI\S I II II IV I II IIIU 1
pecuniary embarrassments under which
portions of theifi have labored; judicious
legislation, and the natural and boundless
resources of the country, have afforded
wise and timely aid to private enterprize;
and the activity always characteristic of
our people has already, in a great degree,
resumed its usual and profitable
^channels. ,
The condition of 6nr foreign relations
has not materially changed since the last
annual message of rny predecessor. Wc
remain at peace with all nations; and no
efforts on my part, consislant with the
preservation of our rights and the honor
of the country, shall be spared to maintain
a position so consonant to our institutions.
We have faithfully sustained
llm furoirrn il>? TT.t
NlliUII HIT Ulllil'U *
Staler, under the guidance of their first I
President, took their stand in the family i
of nations?that of regulating their in- t
tercoursc with other powers by the np-* '
proved principles of private life; asking '
and according equal rights and equal s
privileges; rendering and demanding jus- t
tice in all cases; advancing their own, i
and discussing the pretensions of others, 1
with candor, directness, and sincerity; t
appealing at all times to reason, but never
yielding to force, nor seeking to acquire
any thing for themselves by its <
exercise. i
A rigid adherence to this policy has i
left this Government toith scarcely a <
claim upon its justice, for injuries arising <
from acts committed by its authority ? ?
The most imposing' and perplexing of ?
those of the United States upon foreign t
Governments, for aggressions upon our i
citizens! were disposed of by my prede- ?
ccssor. Independently of the benefits <
conferred uport our citizens by ^restoring ?
to the mercantile community so many i
millions of which they had been wrong- (
fully divested, a great service was Also |
rendered to his codntry fey the salfsfac- <
tory adjustment of so many ancient add t
irritating subjects of contention; and it 1
reflects no ordinary credit on his Success- 1
ful administration of public affairs, that <
this great object was accomplished, with- l
out compromising, on any occasion, either <
the honor, or the peace of the nation'. f
With European powers no new subjects i
of difficulty have arisen; and those which t
were under discussion, although not ter- r
minated, do not nrescnt a more tin'favnrn- t
ble aspect for the future preservation of <
that good understanding, which it has
ever been our desire to cultivate. (
Of pending question*, the most impor- f
tant is that which exists with the Govern- s
ment of Great Britain, in respect to our i
northeastern boundary. It is with tin- <
feigned regret, that the people of the <
United Slates must look back upon the I
abortive efforts made by the Executive, 1
for a period of moro than half a cantury, <
to determine, what no nntion should suf- |
fer long to remain lit dispute, the true |
lino which divides its possessions from <
those of other powers. The nature of i
ik. i 1? -" -m
nivj dvviiciiii:iii9 oil iiivj uuiuurs OI inf (
United Slates, and of tho neighboring i
territory, was for a season such that this I
perhaps was not indispensable to a faith- I
ful performance of the duties of the Fe- i
doral Government. Time, has* however, I
changed this state of things; and has \
brought about a condition of affairs, in (
which the true interests of both countries 1
imperatively rcquiro that this question
should bo put at rest. It is not to be dis- i
guised, that with full confidonce, often I
expressed, in tho dosire of the British I
Government to .terminate it, are apparently
as far from its adjustment as we
were at fire time of signing tho treaty of
peace 1n 1788. > The solo result of Ion?
pending negotiations, and a perpteginy
arbitration, appearb to be a conviction,:
oft-lta pftft' ihat 'fe eonveniionaMliro- must
to tdtyltd, ^rOnf the impWibility of ascertalffHig
the true one According to the
description contained (n that treaty.?'
Without coinciding in this opinio^, whfcli.
is not thought to be well founded, my.
predecessor gave the strongest proof of
the earnest desire of the United States'
to terminate satisfactorily this dispute,
by proposing the substitution of a conventional
line, If thti consent of the States
interested^ in the qtWlion could be ob-1
taincU. To this proposition, no answer
has as yet been received. The attention
of the British Government, has, howe
ver, been urgently invited to the subject,
and its reply cannot. I am confident, be
njuch longer delayed. The general relations
between Great Britain and the
United Siatcs^aro of the most friendly
character, and I am well satisfied of the
sincere disposition of that Government to
maintain them Upon their present footing.
This disposition has also, I am persuaded,
become more general with the people of
England than at any previous period, it
is recifg-ocdted by the Government and
people of the United States. The convielion,
which mnst be common to all.
of the injurious consequences that result
f'om keeping open this irritating question,
and the certairttv.thal its final set
Llement cannot be trfueh longer deferred,
will, I trust lead to an early and satisfactory
adjustment. At your last session, I
laid before you the recent communications
between the two Governments, and between
this Government and that of the
State of Maine, in whose solicitude, concerning
a subject in which she hits so
deep an interest, every portion of the
Union participates.
The feelings produced by a temporary
interruption of those harmonious relations
between France and the United
Stales, which ore due as well to the re>nllprlinno
aT C ? ?. ? *
?..??o ui imuiiT nines as 10 a cor ect
appreciation of existing interests,
tav'c been hfcppily succeeded by a cordial
lisposition on l>oth sides to cultivate an
ictive friendship in their future intercourse.
The opinion, undoubtcdlv cor ect,
and steadily cnteVtaihcd by us, that
.he commercial relations at present exis;ing
between the two countries, are susceptible
of great and reciprocally bencicial
improvements, is obviously gaining
>round in France, and I am assured Of
he disposition of that Government to faror
the accomplishment of such on object)
This disposition shall, be met iti a proper
spirit on our part. The few and compa- .
ativcly unimportant questions that rcnain
to be adjusted between us, can, I
lave no doubt, be settled with entire saisfaction,
and without difficulty.
?
The aggravating circumstances conncc
ccJ With our claims upon Mexico, and a
variety of events touching the honor and
ntegrity of our Government, led my prclecassor
to make, at the second session
>f the last Congress, a special recommendation
of the course to be pursued to
>btain a speedy And final satisfaction of
he injuries complained of by this Government,
and by our citizens. He recommended
a final demand of redress, with a
contingent authority to the Executive to
make reprisals, if that demand Should be
mAde in vain. From the proceedings of
Congress on that recommendation, it appeared
that the opinion of both branches
if thn r.Pflrislnturo /tm'nrtwln.l '
.. ... v Mvg.vawvMi w uuiiivnau vviiii mm t# i
ho Executive, that any mode of redress
mownjto the law of nations might justifia>ly
be used. It was obvious, too, that
Congress believed; with the President,
hat another demand should be made, ih
irdcr to give undeniable and satisfactory
iroof of our desire to avoid extremities
vith a neighboring power; but that there
vas an indisposition to vest a discretionay
authority in the Executive to take.ireiress,
should it unfortunately be either
lenied or. Unreasonably delayed by the
Mexican Governments So soon as the necessary
documents were prepared, after
ntering u| on the duties of niy office, a
special messenger was sent to Mexico, to
hake a final demand of redress, with the
locumcnts required by the provisions of
lur treaty. The demand was made on
ihe 20 th of July last. The reply, which
jcars date the 29th of the same month,
contains assurances of a desire, on the
mrt of that Government, to give a
>*ompt and explicit ans\Vcr respecting
?ach of the complaints, but that the exanination
of them would necessarily be
leliberate; that in this examination, it
srould.be guided by the principles of pubie
law and the obligation of treaties;
hat nothing should be left undone that
night lea l to tho most speedy fend equiabte
adjustment of our demands; and
,hat its determination, in respect to each
rase; should bo communicated through
.he Mexican Minister here.
Sinoe that time, an Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary has
been accredited to this Government by
that of the Mexican Republic. He brought
with him assurances of a sincere derfire
that the pending diflfereaces between the
two Governments should be terminated
- r < > - 1 1,1 ~
? .. , ?" > * * 'W
In a manlier satisfactory to both. IJe was
received with twcipryfyl.' ais?kKfces; ami
a hope wan gntertaiBl jUiJw* roimiiM^,
wouM le^.l lh|frfetory, amf
flnaf adjn^trtienl of aU existing subjects
of complaint. A sincere believer in the
wisdom of the pacific policy bv which
the Ignited Stitles have always been go.
verned in their .intercourse with foreign
nations, it was my particular desire, from
the proximity of the Mexican 'Republic,
_ a as? ' '--A ' ~ ' -
anp wen Known occurrences on our Iron. 1
tier, to l>e instrumental in obviating ail
existing difficulties with that Government,
and in restoring to the intercourse between
the two Republics, that liberal and
friendly character by which they should
always be distinguished. I regret, therefore,
the more deeply to have found in
the recent communications of that Go- i
vernment so little, reason to hope that any
future efforts of mine for the accomplishment
of those desirable objects would be
successful.
Although the larger number, and many
of them aggravated cases of personal
wrongs have been now for years before
the Mexican Government, and some of
the causes of national complaint, and
those of the most offensive character, admitted
of immediate, simple, and satisfactory
replies, it is only within a few <
days past that any specific communication
in answer to our last demand, made
five months ago, has been received from i
the Mexican Minister. By the report of
the Secretary of State, herewith presen- <
ted, and the accompanying documents, it i
will be seen, that for not one of our I
public complaints has satisfaction been !
given or offered; that but one of the cases i
of personal wrong has been favorably <
considered; and that but four cases of <
both descriptions, out of nil those for- i
mally presented, and earnestly pressed ?
have as yet been decided upon by the I
Mexican Government. I
Not perceiving in what manner any of <
the powers given to the Executive alone I
could be further usefully employed in <
bringing this unfortunate controversy to |
a satisfactory termination, the subject was I
by my predecessor refcraed to Congress, <
as one calling for its interposition. In uc* t
cordunce with the clearly understood 1
wishes of the Legislature, another ami
formal demand for satisfaction has been <
made upon the Mexican Government,
with what success the documents now
communicated will show. On a careful
and deliberate examination of .their com
tents, and considering the spirit mnnifes- I
ted by the Mexican Government, it has i
become my painful duty to return h sub <
ject, &s it noW stands, to Congress, to t
whom it belongs, to decide upon the lime, t
(.he mode and the measure of redress.? 1
Whatever may be your decision, it shall 1
be faithfully executed, confident that it |
will be characterized by thai moderation i
and justice which will, 1 trust, under all <
circumstances, eovcrn the councils of our
country. <
* # #
Your attention was, nt the last session,
invited to the necessity of additional logis- '
lative provisions in respect to the collee- 1
tion, safe keeping, and transfer of the '
pulic money. No law having been then '
matured, and not understanding the pro- '
ceedings of Congress as intended to he
final, it becomes my duty again to bring
the subject to your notice.
On that occasion, three modes of performing
this branch of the public service
were presented for consideration. These
were i The creation of a National Bunk;
the revival, with modifications, of the deposite
system established by the act of
the 23d of Junn, 1836. permitting the
use of public moneys by the banks, and
the discontinuance of tho use of such
institutions fof the purposes referred to,
with suitable provisions (or their accomplishment
through the agency of"pulic
officers. Considering the opinions of
both Houses of Congress on the two
first propositions as expressed in the
nAi/*A*iWA in lafkiiilt f nntl ? AI mr ? *
b lit n iiii/ii t vii?ii J i/iit ill | it *
is unnecessary for me again to recor to
them. In respect to the last, you hare
had an opportunity since your adjournment,
not only to test still further the
expediency of the measure, hv the continued
practical operation of such parts
of it as are now in force, but also to
discover?what should ever be sought for
arid regarded ivilfi the Utmost deferance?
the opinions and wishes of the people.?
The national will is the supreme law of
the Republic and on all subjects within
the limits of his constitutional powers,
should be faithfully obeyed by the ptlblic
_ 1* * I si 4J.' ~ _ a I. ^ t
servants 01 uie uuTcriiinciu. nmco uie ?
measure in question was submitted to
your consideration; most of you have eh- t
joyed tho advantage of personal cornmu- t
nication with .your constituents. For i
one State only has an election been held i
for the Federal Government; but the early i
day at which it took place, deprives the t
measure under consideration of much o'' I
the support it might otherwise have de- i
rived from the result. Local elections i
for State officers have, however, been .
held in several of the States, at which <
the expediency of the plan proposed b> <
the Executive has been more or lees dis- |
fcutfsed. You will, X am confident, yield <
to their raeaha tb* respect due to eVery
expression of (he public voice. Desiring*;
?ofWsr, to ihrivs attrattb end e just sieve
of the subject in ill ils bearing, you will
at the same time remember, that ^uesiions
<>f far deeper end more immediete local
interest, than the fiscal plane of the ffa-l
lional 'tfreasiiry, were involved in those
elections. Above all, we cannot overlook
the striking fact, that there were at the]
time in those Stales more than
000,000 of bank capital, of which large
portions were subject to actual forfeiture,
other large portions upheld only by special
and limited legislative indulgences?
and most of it, if not all, to a greater or
less extent, dependant for a continuance
of its corporate existence upon the will
of the >&t&te Legislatures to be then chosen.
Apprised of this circumstacre, vou
v? 11 judge, whether it is not most probable
that the peculiar condition of that vast
interest in these respects, the exteut to
which it has been spread through all the
ramifications Of society, its direct con
ocction with the then pending elections,
und the feelings it was calculated to infuse
into the canvass. hav? ?*prri?pil ? f??
greater influence over the result, than any
which could possibly have been produced
by a conflict of opinion in respect to a
question in the administration of the General
Government, more remote and far
less important'in its be&rings upon that
interest.
I have found ho reason to change my
own opinion as to the expediency of
ldopting Tth'e system proposed, being per^
fectly satisfied thai there will be neither
stability nor safety, either in the fiscal
iflairs of the Government, or in the pecuniary
transactions of individuals and
sorporations. so long as a connection exists
between them, which, like the past,
offers such strong inducements to make
Item the subjects of political agitation.
Indeed, I am more than even convinced
of the dangers to which the free and unbiassed
exercise of political opinion?the
only sure foundation and safeguard of reouhliran
government?would be exposed
oy any further increase of the already
>vcrgrown Influence of corporate authoriI
. ? e 1
ira. i (nereiure, conBiwenuy
iviih ?ny views of duty, advise a renewal
i>f a connection which circumstances have
dissolved.
The discontinuance of the use of &tnte
Banks for fiscal purposes ought not to be
regarded as a measure of hostility toward
those institutions. Banks properly established
and conducted, are highly useful
lo the business of the country, and will
loubtless continue to exist in the 8lates,
10 long as they conform to their laws,
tnd are found td be safe and beneficial.?
How they should be created, what privileges
they should enjoy, under what responsibilities
they should act, and to what
restrictions they should be subject, ere
questions which, as 1 observed on a previous
occasion, belong to the Slates to decide.
Upon tneir rights!, or the eftercise
of them, the General Government can
have no motive to encroach. Its duty toward
them is well performed, when it refrains
from legislating for their special
benefit, because such^legislatiou would
violate the spirit of the Constitution, and
be unjust to other interests; when it takes
no steps to impair their usefulness, hut
so manages its own affairs as lo make it
the interest of those institutions to strength
;n and improve their condition for the
security and welfare of the community at
large. They have no right to insist on a
onnec'tion with the Fed* ral Government,,
tor on the use of the public money for
heir own benefit. The Object of the
neasure under consideration is, to avoid
or the future a compulsory connexion
)f this kind. It proposes to- place the
General Government) in regard to, the csicntial
points or the collecti on, safe-keepng,
and transfer of the public money, in
i situation which shall relieve it from all
lependence on the will of irresponsible
ndividualt or corporations; to withdraw
.hose moneys from the uses of private
rade, and confide them to agents conrtituionallv
selprtpil anil pnntp/illnd Kw ! *? m
ibstain from improper interference with
he industry of the people, and withhold
nducements to improvident dealings on
he part of individuals: to give stability
0 the Concerns of the Treasury; to preicrve
the measures of tHe Government
rom the unavoidable reproaches that
low from such a connection, and the
>anks themselves from the injurious elects
of a supposed participation in the
>oliticnl conflicts of the day, from which
hey will otherwise find it difficult to es;ape.
These are my views upon this imporant
subject^ formed after careful reflection
mil with no desire but to arrive at what
s most.likely to promote the public inte est.
They afre now, as they were before,
mbmitted with unfeigned deference for
;he opinions of others. It was hardly to
le h-.pod that changea so important, on
1 subject so interesting, could be made
without producing a serious diversity of
pinion; but so long as those conflicting
views are kept above the influence of Mill*
itftial or locaf. interests; so .long as they
|)urH\)4M^nly the general good, and are distu?*ed
with ruodefflign and candor, such
m
; C ' t
tyrflrc'ty i| t benefit, not eu injury. If &
m&tmtf of tibmrress see .tha public wej>
W it %.-Mmrtt light; anil < more eapeeially
if ihajr, frtiduld be satisfied that the
measure proposed vroitJd. not be acceptable
to the people; I shall look to their
wisdom to substitute such as may be more
conducive to ihaOtie aid more satisfactory
to the other. In any event, they may
confidently rely on my hearty co-ooert
lion io the fullest extent, which my views
of the Constitution and ray sense of duty
will permit. t
ft is obviously important to this branch
of the publio service, end to the bustnote
end quiet of the country, that the
whole subjoet should in some way be
settled and regulated by la#, end, if. possible,
at your present session. Besides
the plans above referred to, I am not
aware that any one has been suggested,
cxcrj.t that of keeping the public money
in the State Banks in apecial deposits.
rvt i ?ei - *
mis pun is* to some extent, in accordance
with the practice of the Government,
and with the present arrangement
of the Treasury Department* whicn, except,
perhaps, during the operation of
the late depoaite act, has always been
allowed, even during the existence of
a national bank, to make a temporary
of the State Hawks, iif partiesxkr places,
for the safe keeping of portions of the
revenue. This discretionary power might
be continued, if Congress deem it desirable,
whatever general system be adopted.
So long as the connection is voluntary^
we need perhaps, anticipate few of thosO
difficulties, and little of that dependence?,
on the banks, which must attend every
such connection, when compulsory in iu
nature, And when so arranged as to make
the banks a fixed pkrt of the machinery
of the Government, ft is undoubtedly
in the power of Congress so to regulate
and iruard it as to nrevent the Dublic
0 ? ? - f
money from Leing applied to the use, or
intermingled vrilh the affairs of individuals.
Thus arranged, although it would
not give to the Government that entire
control over its own funds which I desire
to secure to it by the plan 1 have proposed,
it would, it must he admitted, in a great
degree, accomplish one of the objects
wh ich has recommended that plan to ray
judgment; the separation of the fiscal
concerns of the Government from those
of individuals or corporations. Wilrt
these observations, I recommend the
whole matter to your dispassionate reflection;
confidently hoping that some
conclusion may be reached by your deliberations,
which, on the one hand, shall give
safety and ,stability to the fiscal operations
of I he Gorernment, and be consistent,
on the other, with tfae genius of
our institutions, and with the interests
snd wishes of the greet mass of our con
SUIUGMI. > .
It was my hope that nothing would
occur to make necessary, on this occasion,
any allusion to the late National
Bank. There are circumstances, however,
connected with its present state of affairs,
that bear so directly on the character of
the Government and the welfare of the
citisens, that I should not feel myself
excused in neglecting to notice , them?
The charter which terminated J is banking
privileges on the fourth of March,
1836, continued its corporate powers two
years more for the sole purpose >f closing
its.affairs, with authority "to use the corporate
name, style and capacity, for the
purpose of suits for li final settlement
a??l liquidation of the affairs and acts of
the corporation^ and for the sale and dis-*
position of their estate, real, personal and
mixed, but for no other purpose or in anyother
manner whatsoerer." Just before
the banking privilege* ceased, its effects
were transferred by the bank to a newState
institution then recently incorporated,
in trust, for the discharge of its debts
and the settlement of its affairs. With
this trustee, by authority of Congress; art
adjustment was subsequently made of the
large interest which the ; Government
had in the stock of the institution. The
rnatiner in which a triist unexpectedly
created upon the act granting the charter,
and involving such great public interests,
has been executed, drould, under any circumstances,
be a (it subject of inquiry;
but much more docs it deserve your attention,
when it embricfes the redemption of
obligations to which the authority and
credit of the United States have given
value. The two years allowed are now
nearly nt hn end; It is well undarstood
that the trustee has not redeemed and cart
celled the outstanding notes of the bank,
but has reissued, and is actually teissuing,
Since the 3d of March 1830, the notes
which have been received by it to a vast
amount. According to its own official
statement, so late as the first of October
last, nineteen mnntlts after the banking
privileges given by the charter had expired,
it had under its control uncancelled
notes of the late Bank of the United
States, to the amount of twenty-seven
millions five hundred and sixty-one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-six dollars,
of which six millions one hundred and
seventy-five thousand eight hundred and
isixty-ore dollars were in actual circulation,
on.* million four hundred and sixty*
eight thousand six hundred dn|- iwentp