Edgefield advertiser. (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, December 20, 1838, Image 1
6- -
L A B o R D E , E d i t o r . "W e w ill c lin g to th e p illa rs o f .o.u r l b e t es
and if it mus*'t fall we,wiw t the Ciai."PDL@E WEL.
zr
IOLUME 3. mnwm. .n .Ies,as
I.k
The.- Edgefteld Advertiser,
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President's Message.
FeUov Citizens of the Senate,
and House of Representatives.
I congratulate you on the favorable cir
cumstances in the condition of our cou noy.
tinder which you reassemble fur the per
formasee of your official duties. Though
the anticipa.tont of an abundant harvest
have not every where been realized, yet,
on tho whole the labors of the husband
.nan are rewarded with a bountiful return;
industry prospers in its various channel.,
of busluess and 6iterprise; general health
again prevails through our vast diversity
of 6limate; nothing threatens, Irun abroad,
the contibanace of externai peace; nor has
any th.ng at hone impaired the vrengh
of those fiaternal and domestic ties which
coeastitue the-only guaranty to the success
and permanency of our happy Union, and
which, formed in the hour of peril, have
hitherto been honoribly sustaited through
every vicissitude in or national afluirs.
These blessings, w4hich eince the care
and beneficience of Providence.cauli for our
devout and fervent gratitude.
We have not-le-s reason to be grateful
for other bounties bestowed by the same
anunificent hand, and more exclusively
Qur own.
fjiti j u;:fd' u
systen-_ds'ferinug (omn all others in the
acknowledged, *practical, ut unb nited I
operation *% lich it has for so long a periu,
given to ihe s4overeiguty of the people
-has now been fully tested boy experience.
The Constitution devised bky our forela
thers as the framework and lond of that
systeiti, then Lutried,hts beconte a settled
form ofr boverunent; inot only preser ittg
and 'protecting the great principles upon
which it was fiunded, hut wonderfully pro
moting individual and private miteresto.
Though subject to change and entire re%o
cation, whenever deenmed intdequate tu
all these purposes, yet such is the wisdomt,
of its construction, and so statle has been
the public sentiuent, that at remnail-i unal
tered except.in atters of detail, compara
tively unimportant. it has proved amply
sufficient for. the various emergencies in
ident to our conuition as a nattion. A
formidable foreign war; agitating collibions
between domestic and, in amne respects,
rival sovereignties; temnptattons to itterfere
in the intestine cominotions of neighbur
ing countries; the dangerous influences
that arise in periods of ex-essive prosneri
ty; and the anti-republican tendencies of
associated wea th-these, with other trials
not less formidable, have all been eneun
teted, and thus fLr successfully resisted.
-It was reserved ior the Amnericau Union
to test the advantages of a Governmne t
entirely dieudent on the conttnual exer
cise of the potular wil.; and otr experience
has shown itat is is as henefictent ii prc
tice as it is just in theory. Each succ-es
- sive change mtade in our local tmttutions
has contributed to extend the right of suf-.
frago, has increasedl tne direct intduencee of
the smass of the community, given greater
freedom to individual exertion, andf re
stricted, more amnd more, thte powers of
government; yet the ittelligentce, prun
dence, and patriotism of the peouple have
kept pace with thiw augimented responsi
uility. Ila'nn country has education been
so widely diffused. Dotnestic peace has
no where so largely reigned. Ti'oa close
bonds #l'social intercouarse ha ve int nto ini
- tance prevailed with such harmony over
a space so vast. All forms of religion have
united, for the first time, to difi'use charity
ad piety, hecause for the first time in the
htistory of natints, all have been totailly
unrammefled, and absolutely free. FTe
deepest recesses of thte wilderness have
been penetratet yet, instead of the rude
ness ini the social cottditiont consequent up)
on such adventtures elsewhere, numtaerous
comntumttios have sprunag u1t, alreadly un
rivallnd iti prosperity, generail itttelligence,
internal tranquihity.and ste wisdomt oftIteir
political instittutions. internal imtprove
tmetnt, the fruit of individual enterprise.fois
tered h.v the protectiotn of the Stamte; hats
added ntew links to the confedrtiont, and
-frosh rewards to providetnt industry -
Doubtfulh qiueations ofdmaestic policy have
been quietly settled by mumual forbea
aince; andi agriculture, commerco, ttnd
. manufactures, minister to eacht other.
Taxation andI piublic debt, ste bturdens
which bear so heaivily upotn all other coun
. tres,have pressed wvith comparaitive light
tness upon us. Without one entatngling
allinnce. our friendship is prtzed by ovary
nation; and the right of our citizens are
every where respected, becase they are
knos,n to be guarded by a united, sensi
tive, and waichful people.
To this practical operation of our insti
tutious, so evident and successful, we owe
that increased attachinent to them which
is amosig the most cheerl*ul exhibilious of
I"apular sentiment, and will inve thetr
tiest security, iu time to come, against for
eign or dometiC aIssaUlt.
Titis review of the results of our inslitu
tions, for hall a century, without exciting
a spirat ot vaim exultation, should serve to
itipress upou us ijie grt at principles rom
-*hich they have sprung; conistvnt and di.
rect supervision by the people over every
public tneasure; strict lorhearance on the
part of the Government from exercising
any douetaul or dispuied powers; and a
cautious abstineoce from all intoerfrence
with concerns winch properly belong, and
are best left to State regulations and indi
vidual enterprise.
Full nilbrmaion of the state of our Air
eign utfairts avang been recently, on ditGer
ent occasions, ubmiatied to Cougress, i
deem it necessary now to bring to your
notice only such events as have subse- i
quently occurred, or are of such importance
as to require particular attention. I
The moust ainicaIle dispositions continue;
to be exhibited by all the naijo. s with t
whosu the Government and citizens of the
Uited States have an habitual Intercourse. i
At the date of my last annual miess.age,
Alexico was the only nation wiich could ,
not be included in so gratilymg a reference i
to o .r fieign relations.
I an happy to be now able to inform i
you that an advance ha., seen inade to- t
wards the adjusvineut of our ditticulues e
with fiat ltepu:lic, -and the re%toraiiiju of P
eustonary goo i feeling between the two i
nations. This itiportait change has been i
elfected by conciliatory ingociatious. that r
have resulted in the conclusion of a treaty !
lietween the two Governments, waich,
%%Jeen ratified, will refer to the aritrautns
ifa frieutly power all the subjects of con
troversy between us, growing out of inju- d
raes to individuals. There is, at presen, C
isiso, reason to believe that an eqiiablie a
.ettlenent of all disputed points will be 1i
unlained without further difficulty or on
Iecesssr). delay, and-;hus authorize the il
rree resumption of diplomatic intercourse t
wvih our sister Republic.
With respect to tIme northeastern houn- it
*int 6ist oruGrent itain hia pit-ied si:,c 0l
hat cdmniaunivalelI to Congress tow.d ti
he close of their last session. Tie oIl'r I
0 negociate a convention for the appai-s a
nent of a joint comntission of survey anid iv
Dxploratiou, I ani, however. assured will 0
hie met hq Iter MNajesty's Government Iin 1
at coicilitory and Friendly spirit, and in
j,,Irtions to enable lihe Britisi Minister t
lire to conclude such an arvangemetivnt. Is
Niil lie transmitted to him without need I
les- delay. It is hopetd and expected that f
lite-e instructions will lit- of a iheral char
acter, and that this negoeiition, it succes%- I
f,il, will prove to be ni important step Ito
wards the satislattory and final adjustment
o1 itie controversy. c
I had h )ped that the respect ror the laws
aund regard for the peace and honor of their '
own country, which has ever character. V
ized the citizens or aie Uuited Stites, r
wIIld have preventell any portion or them 1
from using any means to promote insur
recion in the teriilory or a power with t
%hich we are at peace, and with which
the United States are desirous of maintain- t
ing the must friendly relations. I regret
deeply, however, to be oblige to inform I
you. that this has not been the ease. In- I
forimation has been given tw me, derived
from oifleial and other miurces thati many
ciiizens dif Uh United itale.. have ass sn- I
tel together to Im:Ikte hostile incursions C
froi our territory ints Ganada, and to aidla
and abtei inseirreclion there, in vioIatil-nt
of the Obli2atiins and laws of the United
States. nd in open disregard or their own
dunties as citizens. Thius infoirmatioin has
been in part 'onirmledh, by a hostile inva
sion actually made tiy citizens of the U.
Staites, in eontjutrilion wish Canadiansiand
dithersl, andl aiccomantanied hiv a lorcible sei
zure ofithe proprerty ofr our~citizenls, and an
application thereof to the pros.ecution ol
mnilitarv operations against the authiori
ties and( peoiple of Canada.
Trhet results of ihesve criminal assatits
uponai thec peace arid order ora neighboring
cdtonery have beeti, astwas to he expiected,
fatailly destrnetive to tIhe imisguieda or
dIdldd personis eng.auged in them, atid
highly injutridtis to those in whose biehalf
they they are proesed to have becen uni
dlertaikenf. The authioritities in Cnniada,
froamm inielligetce received ofl such initended
movements amoiig our citizens, have lelt
itimaelves obiliged to take pirecautionary
measures against themai; have actually cem
boadlied the militia, and assuinedl an attitudle
to repel the invasion to which they believed
the coloonie's were- exposed fromi the Utnited
States. A state dir teeling dar both sides
dir the rrontier tias thins been proaducedl,
wvhichi called fdor prompi andh vigorous tm
ierferece,. I an insirr.cmion existedl in
Canadla, the atmiCate dlispiSionls of the
United Si;ites towardIs Gireat Britain, ias
wcell s their duity tdo themselves; would
le:id them tdi imaintiin a striet neuiralit y,
atnd to restraini their citizens5 frdom all vio
lations of the laws which have been piisse.l
for its enforcemnent. iltt this Gover-nent
recognises a still higher obligaion to re
press till altiempts on the part of its citi
zens todistur-b the peace ofai counotry where
order prevails, or hits been re-established.
Depredlations bty our eitizens _upon nlations
at ocace with the Uuited States. or comn
hinations for committing them, have at i
times been regarded hf"t"he A merican Gov.
ernment and people with the greatest ah
horrence. -Military incursions by our citi
zens, into countries so situated, and the
commission of acts ofviolenceon the tqem.
hers thereof, in orer to effect a change iti
its government. or under any ii'ee..
whatever, have, from the commencement
of,our Governmen, heeiheld equally
criminal on the part of those engaged in
them. and as much deserving of punish
ment, as would he the disturbance o the
public peace ley the perpetration of similar
acis within our own territory.
By no country or persons have these
invaluable pinciples of international law
I)rinciples, the strict observance of which
i- so indispensable to the preservation of
iocial order iu the world--heen amore ear
ietlv cherifhed or sacredly respected than
;y those great and good men who first
leclared, and finally established, the inde
pendence or our own country. They pro
nlated and maintained them at an ear
y aned critical period in our history; they
vere -ubtsequently embodied in legislative
-ancmenis of a highly penal character,
he faithful enforcement of which hs hith.
-rio heen, and will, I trust, always con
intne to tbe, reuarded as it duty inse'parably
assicinted with the mnintentince of our ma
ional honor. That the people of the U.
itates should feel an interest is the sread
r pliitictl institutiotis as free as the,,
egard theirown to ie. is natural; nor can
sineere solitde for the success of all
ho-w who are, at any time, in good faith
iruglinu for their acquisition. tie imputed
i liur citizen,s as a crime. With the en
ire freedom of ohinimn, and an uudisguised
xpression thereof, ia their part, the Gov
re-ut has neither the right, nor I trust
.. disposition to interfere. But whether
ic interest or the honor of the U. States
Muire that they should tie made a party to
ny suci struggle, and, by inevitable con
eluence, to the war which is waged in its
uppitrt, mq a question which, by our con.
tit utio. is "i sely lefi to Congress alone to
evile. It is, by the laws, alReady made
rinmimnial in our citizens to embnrrass or
netIpate that decision. Iy unnuthorised
mlitary operations on their part.
Offences elf this character, in alltion to
ieir criminality as violations of the laws
I' our country, have a direct tendeicy to
raw dtown upon our own citizens at large.
me tmultiplied evils of a foreign wur, and
iey,aeserve to lie put down with promp
tule ail decision. I cannot he mistaken,
am confident, in counting on the cordial
ted general concurrence of* our fellow cit
:ens in this sentimetit. A copy of the
rl-1nntion which I have felt it my duty
J set,e, is herewith coOnunicnted. I can
tot lu hope that the irool sense and PH.
,jotismi, the regard for tile ionor and rep
taion of their cotintry, the re-spect for the
jws which they lave themselves enacted
>r their own govertiment, anti the love of
rder, for which the iass of mir people
ave ieen s long antd so uitstly distinguish
ti. will deter the comparatively few who
re engaped in theen, from a further prose
Iiti,mso or sueh ilesperate enterprises. In
he menni time, ihe existing laws have been
ad will continue to be. faithfully exeru
ed, and every effort will ie made to car
y then oiet int heir full extent. Whether
hey are suficient or not, to mleet the ac
tial state of things, om the Canadiai fron
ier, it is for Congress to decide.
It will appear from the correspondence
erewith sulemitted. that the Government
if Russia declines a renewal of the imrtih
rticle or the Cotivention of April, 1824,
ietweei the United States and his impe
ial Majesty, by ihtihir.l article of which
t is aqreed that " herenfter there shall nit
te formed by citizens f the United State-,
ir umider the authority of the said Stntes,
ny estblisnhimen upln the northwest
oast of Amerinc, nor itn imy of the :shlds
idjucenm to the north of i4 deg. 50 am. of
mrthi l.aitue; anmd thatm iam time samne tmana
men thmere shalel tie anone foermed by Ruessiani
ujuects, or under time aithority of Russia,
outih of time satmn parallel ;" cnd lby the
ourthi article. -that, dusrinig a terom of een
years, counttin trom tihe siganaturo of the
resent coniveiona, the ships of iboth pow.
irs, or wvhichm belonmg toe their citizenms or
cutjects respmectively, tmmy re.ciprmcaully fre
juent , withumt anmy hiindrcance whatever,
ihe amieriur seacs..gulfs, harbtors. cind creeks,
iron the coast mecntioned iaa time prcdia.g
lrucle, tor thme fppoe .i lishinmg antd Ira
ling with mime nmatir es of tihe connstry.'' Tene
relasonls aissigmned for declinming co rentew time
provisionms of thmis article are, bmriefly, tham
line (mly uise amade by our citizens of the
privilege it secures to themt. has been it
?Lupply time Indlians with spirituouis lignors
utmmneitioan acid fire-trars ; that this traf
lie has beeni excluideud fromn time Russiat
arcade; amid as time supptlies furnished irost
the Unmim ed States, are injurious to time Rue.
sican estalishments onm the.northwtest coast
and calculatedi to produce ecomplaints he.
twveon tIle two Gioveraments, his Immper:a
Majesty thimnks it for the interest of bott
counmtrees mnot to sccedle tom tihe p)ropositioI
tunide by time Anmerienn Gomvenmenmt fortih
renewal of time article last referred to.
Tme correspomdenace herewith commun
nicated wvili show the grountds apon whmici
we contenid that the citizense of the Unitel
States, have. indepedent of the proevision
ofl time convene iont of 1824, a rmghat to creel
with the nati e's cm pun the coast ian questiu
at tunocepied piaces, hiahele. however, it i
admitted to he at any time extinguished br
the creation ot Russian establishments ai
such points. This right is denied by eh
Russian Government, wimichi asserts thma
twy tbe operation of the treaty of 18tht enni
party to waive the general right
-eto i vacant coasts on the re
Sspechi of the degree of latitude
refer and accepted, in lieu thereof,
the W 1 privileges mnentioned in the
routth - . The capital and tonnawe
ei y our citizens in their trare
wi'h I hwest coast of 1nerica will,
perha adverting to the offlial state
menUs comijerce and navigation of
the U. es for the last few years, he
deem inconsiderable in amount to at
tract attention; yet the subject may,
in othe Pects, deserve the careful con.
siderati f Congress.
I re to state that the blockade of the
principa .krie on the eastern coast of Mex.
:co, whic i in consequence of differences
between that Republic and France, was
institutedin May last, unfortunutely still
continues, enforced by a competen French
naval forpe, and is necessarilly embarras
sing to oir own trade in the gulf, in com
mion wito, that of other nations. Every
dispositica, however, is believed to exist.
on the p" of the French Government, to
render tIl measure as little onerous as
practicable to the interests of the citizens
ofthe United States, and to those of neu
tral commaerce; and it is to le hoped that
an early settlement of the difculties be
tiween France and Mexico, will soon re
establish '4he harmonious relations former
ly subsisting between them,and again open
the pot ts.of that Republic to the vessels of
all friendly nations.
A conv.ntiou for marking that part of I
tihe boundry between the United Staites
and the Nppublic of Texas, which extends
from the fnouth of the Sahine to Red Ri i
ver, was.oncluded and signed at this city
on the 26th of April last. It has since I
been ratiied by both Governments; and i
,easo anie measures will be taken to carry I
it into efWet on the pan of the U. States.
The aplication of that Republic fur
ad4missiotInto this Union, made iii August,
1837, aniwhich was declined for reatons
already W-ade known to you, has been for
msally-wlhdrawi, as will appear from the I
accompwyiug copy of the note of the Min
ister Pleipbotontiary of Texas, which vas I
presente#o the Secretary of State on the i
oceasio-.Wthe qxchange of the ratifications I
of the cl*vention above mentioned.
COpiis of the convention with Texus, of
a er ial treat. concluded with the
King reece, and of a samilar treaty
%Vito ru Bolivian on1lderntion,
tie inf t ofCongress and for such
ei66 ti enactments s may be found
necessaryltreipedieni, in relation to either
of them.
To watch over and foster the interests of
a aradnally increncing and widely exten
(led commerce; to guard the rights of*A
snerican eiiizens. whom business or ple,:
sure, or other motives, may temnpt into
distant climnss, and at the sante time to
cultivate those sentiment-, of nutual res
pect and good will which experience has
proved so heneficinl in iternational inter
course, the Government of the United
States has deemed it expedient, from time
to iim?. to establish diploimatic coniections
with diffierent forei.n States, by tihe alp
pointiment ofrepresentatives to reside with
in their respective territories. I am grati
fied to be enabled to announce to you that
since the close ofthe last session, these re
lations have been oiened under the hap
piest auspices with Austria and the Two
Sicilies; that new nominations have been
made in the respective missions of Russia.
Brazil, Belgium, and Sweden and Nor
way, in this country; and that a Minister
Exirordinary has beta received. accredi
ted to this Government frotn'the Argentine
Confederation.
An exposition of the fiscal nlffirs of the
Government. ani- of their condition for the
past year. will lie made to you by the
Secretary tif the Treasury.
The available balnuce in the Treasury.
on the lqt of Januarv next, is e.imated it
$2,765,342. The ~receipts of the year
from eustotms and lands, will probablly a
motutt to $20.615-598$ These usual sour
ces of revenue have beet) increased by an
issue of Treasury notes-of which less
thatn eight millions of d(llors, including ini
teresitlmand principal, will lie outstanding at
the end of the vear-andI by thme sale of one
of the bonds of thme Batik of the United
Stages, for 82,2-54,d71 The aggregate
of meaens fromn these and other sources,
with the balance on the first of January
last, has been applied "I' the payment of
ap)prop)riatnns by Conigress. The whole
expenditure for the year on their accouti',
including the redemption of more fthan
eight millionsof Trreasutry notes, constitu
tes an aggregateof about forty millions oaf
dollars, and will still leave in the Treasury
the hallance before stated,
Nearly eight millions of dollars of Treas
ttry notes are to be panid dturing the coining
year, in addition to the ordinmaryaprr
ations for the support of G~ovemnt. For
both these purposes, the resourees of the
Treasury will undoi.btedlv be suiffiiet, if
thme charges upon it are m'ot increased be
yond the annual estimaates. No excess,
however, is likely to exist, nor can thme post
potted instalment of the airplus revenue be
. deposited with the States. nor any consid
, erable appropriations hevonmd the estimia
j tes be madea; without cauasing a delicientcy
sin the Treasury. The great caution, ad
e visable at all times, of limiting appropria
,tions to the wants of the public service, is
a rendered necessary at present by the pros
,pective and rapid reduction of the tariff;
while the vigilant jealousy, evidently exci
e ted among the people by the occurtences
,of the last few years, assures us thtat they
a expect from their representasives. and will
sustain them in the exercise or, the most ri
gid economy. Much can be effected by I
postponing appropriations not immnediately
required ror tihe ordinary public service,
or for any pressing emergency; and much
by reducing the expenditures where tihe en
fire and immediate accomplishment of the
Objects in view is not indispensable. I
When we call to mind the recent and
extreme embarrassnteus produced by ex
cessive issues of bank paper, aggravated
by tie unforeseen withdrawal of much lo- I
reign capital; and the inevitaole derange- t
lent arising fromn tie distribution of the t
surplus revenue among the States as re- t
quired by Congress; and consider the
heavy expenses incurred by the removal of C
Indian tribes; by the nililary operations in li
Florida; and on account (if tie unusually i
large appropriations nmade at the last two Y
aninualsessions of Congress for other ob 11
lects, we have striking evidenice. in the pre- it
ienit -tficient state of our finances, of the i
abundant resources of the country to itilil
lif its obligations. Nor is it less gratifyin:g i
o find that the general nusimess of the tt
oitimmunity, deeply atlected as it has been, 4
a reviving % ith additional vigor, chastened i
>y the lessons of the past; and animated by n
Jie hopesofthe future. By the curiailnent 1
a! paper issues: by curbing the sanguine and 0
]venturous spirit of speculation; and by ti
he honorable application of all availabie II
means to the fulfilment ooligations, con- L
idence has bce. restoreil both at home ci
tnd abroad, and ease and facility secured d
o all the operations of trade a.
Tne agency of the Government in pro- I
lucing these results has been as elflicient as p
ts powers and means premitted. By
Vithholding front the States the deposite of *
lie fourth instalinenm, and leaving several n:
nillions at long credits with the batiks, tt
Principally in one section 'f the country. -t)
laid mote immediately heneicial to it: and 13
mt the same tine; aiding the banks and lu
ominercial communities in other sections, tu
ty postponing the payment of ibonds for ?:
u ties to the amount of between four and m
ive milhons of dollars; by sin issue of Treas a
try notes as a meats to enable tile Gov
-rument to meet the consequences of their a
ndulgences; but afl'ording,t the saitne time o
acilities for remittance & exchange, & by II
teadily declining to employ as general de- v
bositories of the public revenues. or receive v
he notes ofall banks which refused to re- i,
leein in specie; by these measures, aided la
- Lhe favorable action of some of the banks
ZKO Porou o -sta,&trnUU*SJ ILI t
vittlessed an early resumption of specie ,i
aymnents in our great comtimerci-il capital, u
"romptly 111llowed in alost every part of b
he United States. rhis result has been p
alike salutary tothe true interests of agri- a
!ulture, coinierce and imanulaciures; to Ic
nulhic morals, respect fijr tie laws, and that it
!uniidence between mant and mtan which n
a ao essential in all our social relaitons. p
I'ne contrist between the suspetnston mi
lbi4 and that of 1S37 isimoststriking. The e
;hort duration of the latter; tit- prompt t
restorationi ot 1.usiness; the evident bele- I
its resulting from an adherence by the n
LiOvernlinent to the constitutonal stauda i f
if value; instead of sanettuitmg the suspen- s
toun oy the receipt al irredeeiaile paper; 11
and the advantages derived from the large s
amount of sp. cie introduced into the coutl- 9
try previous to 1837. ailord a valuable Il- (1
lustratsi oft the true policy oft lie tGoverij- [
tament in such a crisis; nor can the compari- s
son tal to remove tioe mupre--sion that a I
national bank is necessary in such mer- u
gencies. Not only were specie paymensa I
resumed without its aid. tint excIIanges i
have been more ruidly restored than whenl
it existed; thereby show tmg that praaie I
capital, enterprise and priluence are fully a
adequate to these ends. oil all tuese points i
experieince seetmis to have confirmised th
views heretofore subwmittel to Congress. U
We have been sav. d the umorification of 1
seeing tie distresses ofi te colmimlunity Ib m
the tuird tine seized otn to lusel upoi time I
country so dang-rous an ma13titutin, and I
we may also hope tinamt the business of ini- I
viduals wvill hierealier lie relieved fromn tihe
imidurious efl'ects of a conitiinued agitation o.f
that disturiing subject. 'lThe Ilimited in
fluetnce ofa tiational batik m aver. ing de
ra gemnent ithe1wexchanmtgeso. tue country,
or in coimpelimg time resuimpion of spei
piaynmnts, is now niot less atpparenmt than
its tendency to increase iniordmamzte speco-4
lotion by suddlen expaunsiomns andu conitrac
lions; its disposition to create panic and emi
baerrassment for time promotioni of is ow n
designs; ius interferences with politics; amti
its far greater power for evil than for goodi
either in regard to time local m,=ttnt unms or
time operationisof Governmnenit itself. Whamt
was, in these respects, but aicpprehiension or
opiniomn whben a nationmal batik was first
est ablished, now staiits conitirmied b3
humdainilttg experiemnce. T'he scenies thrni
whmmch we hmave pcassed, concclusively prove
how little our comnmerce. agriculture, mani
ufaictures, or finiances, reqluire such ati in
stituttioni, amid what dantgers aire attenda~
on its power-a piowor; I trust, never to be
conifetred by tIhe Amiericani peopule uponm
their Government, and still less upon mi
dividuals not respen'mble to them for its
uniavoidable abuses.
My conviction of the necessity of furthmer
legislative provisionse for the safe-keepinmg
and disbursement of the public monmeys,
and mtyop)iDtOn in regardl to the measures
best adapted to thme acompshmenmt of
those objects, have been alread y submit ted
to you. These have buetn strengthened by
recent events;and,ia the full convictionm that
time and experience must sitti furiher de
mnonstrate their propriety, I feel iit my duty,
with respectful deferetnce to time contlictinig
views of other,, again tQiovite.3t9ur atten
tlan to thorn.
With the exception of limited sums de
posited it the few banks still employed
inder the act of 139, the amounts received.
'or duties, and,with very inconsiderable ex
:eptions, those accruing .romn lands also,
.ave, since the general suspen-siou of Lpe.
!ie payments by the deposite banks, been
ept and disbursed by the Treasurer. uu,
ler his general legal powers, subject to the
uperinteudenceof the Secretary of the
'reasury. The propriety of defining
rore specially. and of regulating by law
lie exercise of this wide scope of Ezecu
iv discretion, has been already submitted
Congress.
A change in the office of collector at -
ne Ol our principal ports, has brought to
git a deialcation ot the gravest character
to patticulars ul which will be laid before
ou n .t special report from the Secretary
I the rreasury. By his report and the
cConlpanyiog documents it will be seen
'ui tie weekly returns of the defaulting
Iicer apparently exisibited, throughout, a
kthftil administratiou of the allairs entrus
:d to his management. It, however, now
ppear4, that tie comnienced abstracting
ae putiic moneys shortly alter his appoint
ient, and contioned to do so, progressive
increasisg the amount, for the' term -of
ore than seven ears, embracing a por
on of the period during u hich the public
oneys were deposited in the Bank of the
uted States, the whole of that of the
tate bunk deposite system, and conclu
ng ony on his retirement from office,
ter that system had sub-tantially failed,
consequence of the suspension of spueio
iyment,.
Fie way in which this defalcation was
long concealed, and the steps taken to
demnify the Uuited btates; as lhr as prac.
:able, against loss will also be presented
you. lTe case is one which imperative
claims the attention of Congress, and
rnine-, the strungest motive f1or the es
blishinent of a more severe and secure
Pstem for the saie keeping and disburse
eut of the p ulic nioneys than any that
is heretotore existed.
It seems proper, at all events, that by
early enactment. similar to that of
her countries, the application of public.
oney by atn officer of government to pri
ite-utes, should be made a felony and
sited with severe anti ignominious pun
tisent This is already, in effect, the
w in respect to the mint, a"d has been
-oductiveot.u,e,,oyi eJfath,.,emosttga
ensure, bince much of the public moneys
ust in their collection and ultimate dis
irsement, pass t wice through the hands of
ablic oflicers, in whatever manner they
re imtertnediately kept. The Govern
eti, it tmust be admitted, hais -een from
- commnencement, coomparalively fortu
ar in this respect. Lot the appointinl
jwer cainot always be well advised io
a selections, and the experience of every
)untry has shown that pulic ollicers are
it at ull tites proof against templution.
is a duty. thereflure, which the Govern
ent owes, at well to the interests com%
nitte to itf care, as to the officers them
!Ives, to provide every guard against
-ansgressious or this character that is con
istetit with reasoti and humanity. Con
ress cannot be toojealous of the conduct
1 those who are ititrtsted %it,, the publiu
soney; and I shall, at all times, be dispo
Pd to encourage a watchful discharge or
lis duty. If* a more direct co-operatiou
n tile part of Congress in the supervision
f the coniluct of officers entrusted with
ie custody aa application of the publia
loney is deemed desirable, it will give me
lenstre to assist in the establishment of
ny judicious and constitutioual plan by
Ilcih that object may be aecomplished.
'ou will, i your wisdom, determine upon
lie propriety of adopting such a plan, aind
pun the measures necesstry to its eflectu,.
I execution. % lien the late lank of the
united States was incorporated and made
lie depisitory Of the tublic moneys, a
ghit wais reserved to Cotngress to inspect,
t its pleasuire, by a commsitte of that body,
he books and piroceesling~s ol the batik.
Ott onel the states whtose banking in
ttutions are suipposed to rank among the
irst in pmoitm or stnaihty, they are subject
o consitnt examstinationms by commission
;rS appoiumed for' that purposlxe. and miuch
II thte succe.s of it. banakitng system is at
ribiutedi to this watchful supervision. The
Liamte course has also, itn view of its benefi
rial opieratmon, beetn adopted by an adjoin
tng state, favorably knaown for the care it
itas amywnys biestoawed upon mm hatever relates
:o its ittatncial concerns. I submit to your
:onsiderat:s,t, wheother a comamitte of Con
;'ess imighit not be profitasily employed in
tbfiecting, at sneh itnted'vals as tmight be
lemied prtopier, the all'airs anid accounts of
>thicers entrusted with the custody of the
iublic moneys. 'lThe freqtient p)erforwn
mece of' 'fis duty mighlt be imade obligatory
>n thie commsittee in respect to those ol11.
rer's who have large sutts int their posse.
itOn, and left discretionary in respect to
ishers. Th'fey might report to the Exece
ive such detaleations as were f'ountd to
xist. with it view to a pirompt removal
r'om olite uness the defatult n as satisfac
cor:3 taccounted for; attd report also, to
Uongress, at the comnlmeement of each
Sessiotn, the result or their examninations
mnd proceedings. It does appear to tme
thatt, with a subjection of this class o' puob
1e oflicers to the getieral sapervision of
the Executive, to)examninations by acom
muittee of' Congress at periods of which
they shotuld have no prevous notice, and
to prosecution and putnishmtent as for fela
ny for every broach of trust, the safe-keep
ing of the putblic tmoneys, uner the sy.,
tom proposed, mnight'te placed on a seres'