Farmers' gazette, and Cheraw advertiser. (Cheraw, S.C.) 1839-1843, December 15, 1841, Page 222, Image 2
expedient, but your Committe were unanimous
in recommending an Agriculturnl
Survey of the State, and I will, here,
briefly inentson its pu.port and advantages.
An Agricultural survey, relates to the
nature of the soul, particularly in refer-.
enoe to the crops cultivated ; to the cli- j
mate, with reference to the crops grown; >
to tho number of acre cultivated; to th
quantity of land rn wood, in pastura, in
roads, or under water; to the objects of
culture, the modes adopted, and the pro
i.? 4 . . . / >1 I --'-J ?
uncus; 10 manure; 10 livestock ot an xincis. j
in their relative utility, for pleasure, Jla- j
boor, food, and the dairy ; to dairy pro- j
duco: to poultry, diseases of domestic j
animals; to bees, orchards, gardens, farm
buildings, farming impliments; to silk,
and many miscellaneous subjects. Ihe,
duty of an Agricultutal Surveyor, is, to ;
visit every District and Parish in the j
State; every principal farm or plantation, j
the management of which, promises to!
afford useful information ; to correspond
and co operate with practical men, or, in
the words of the resolve of the Massachusetts
Legislature, " collect accurate information,
of the state and condition of;
the agriculture of the Commonwealth, j
and every subject oonnected with it, point (
out the means of improvement, and make !
a detailed report thereof, with as much j
exactness as circumstances will admit." j
.Your Committee will add nothing further;
to thes? details, than advert to the fact, i
that every Executive Message, directs j
the atten inn of the Legislature to this I
? ... t
subject, but from a misguided spirit of c- |
conomy, the call has, hitherto, been neg. j
lected. It becomes us, now, to act with I
independence, and prop our waning for-!
tunes : policy requires, it, patriotism de-mands
it, and our duty forbids us to neglect
the welfare of our country. Your
Committee consider their duty fulfilled, |
in offering these views, and pressing the ?
adoption of the following resolutions.
Resolved, That an Agricultural Survey |
of the State of South Carolina, is highly !
necessary and expedient; that it will be !
a means of developing and improving i
her resources; retaining at home, her
citizens and slave labour, and counteracting,
in some measure, the effects of competition
in her great staple, from the fertility
of new lands in other States.
Resolved, That the result of each year's
survey bo annually reported to this
House, and copies distributed to every ;
Agricultural Society throughout the State. !
Resolved, That the sum of three thou- !
sand dollars be appropriated for the ensu- j
ing year, to said survey; and that the j
iiovernor he specially 'charged with the1
selection of a capable person to execute
the same.
All of which is resnectfullv submitted, j
Rorkrt W. Ropkr. Chairman. i
rVuBSIDENTSMESSAGE
At twelve o'clock yesterday the President
of the United Slates transmitted to;
both Houses of Congress the following
Message; 1
. To the Senate and Ilousr. of
Representatives of the United States : I
In coming together, fellow.citizcns, to ?
enter again upon the discharge of the du-1
ties with which the People have charged :
us, severally, we find great occasion to;
rejoice in the general prosperity of the j
country. VVe -ire in the enjoyment of all;
the blessings of civil and religious liberty.
with unexampled means of education,
knowledge, and improvement. Through
the year which is now drawing to a close ,
peace has been in our borders and plenty 1
in our habitations; and although disease j
has visited some few portions of the land \
with distress and mortality, vet in general
the health of the People has been preserved,
and we are called upon bv the high- '
est obligations of duty to renew our thanks '
and our devotion to our Heavenly Parent
who has.continued to vouchsafe to us the
eminent blessings which surround us, and
who has so signally crowned the year
with his goodness. If we find ourselves ;
increasing, beyond example, in numbers. |
in'strength, in wealth, in knowledge, in j
every thing which promotes human and!
social happiness, let us remember our dependence
for all these on the protection
*nd merciful dispensations of De\ ine Providence.
Since your last adjournment, Alexander.
It ? I II *i' I .I * 4 1 I
jlIcLiCfMi a nrmsn suojeci, wno was in- ;
dieted for the murder of an American cit- .
izen, and whose case has heen the subject
of a correspondence heretofore communi- ,
cated to you, has been acquitted by thi
verdict of an impartial and intelligent jury, j
and bus, under the judgement of the court '
%
been regularly discharged.
Great Britain having made known to j
this Government that the expedition i
which was fitted out from Canada for the ,
destruction of the steamboat Caroline, in
the winter of 1837, and which resulted in
the destruction of said boat and in the !
death of an American citizen, was under-!
taken by orders emanating from the au- j
thorities a>f the British Government in!
Canada, and demanding the discharge of
McLeod upon the ground that, if engaged i
in that expedition he did but fulfil the ordiers
of his Government, has thus boon ;
answered in the only way in which she i
could tjfi answered bv a Government, the .
powers of which nreldistributed among its i
several departments by the fundamental j
law. Happily for the people of (5 real Bri-1
tain as well as those of the United States the J
oniv mode by which an individual nr.
raigned for a criminal offence before the
courts of either can obtain his discharge,
is by the independent action of the jucli- (
ciary, and by proceedings equally familiar
to the courts of both countries.
If in Great Britain a power exists in j
fhe Crown to cause to he entered a n >//<:
prosequi, which is not the case with the!
Executive power of the United States up-i
on a prosecution pending in a State court '
yet there, no more than here, can the
cJiief executive power rescue a pri,?.uerj
'
wmmmmmmmmsmrnmmmpmmaBmmaBmrwmmmammmrm
from custody without an order of the r<
proper tribunal directing his discharge. tl
The precise stage of the proceedings at e
which such order may be.made is a matter V
)finunicipal regulation exclusively and not ti
to be complained of by any other *Gov- p
Brnmont. In cases of this kind, a Gov. d
Brnment becomes politically responsible. v
only when its tribunals are shown to o
nave rendered unjust and injurious judg- d
ments in matters not doubtful. To the v
Bstablishment and elucidation of this 1
principle, no nation has lent its authority (
more efficiently thari Great Britain. Al- f
ixander MpLeod having his option either t<
:o prosecute a writ of error frcm the deci- t
vision of tho Supreme Court of Now York t
?vhich had been rendered upon his appli. p
ration for a discharge, to the Sunreine . a
Jourt of the United States, or to submit ii
lis case to the decision of a jury, preferred
:he latter, deeming it the readiest mode v
)f obtaining his liberation; and the result t
las fully sustained the wisdom of his S
ihoice. The manner in which the issue i
submitted wns tried will satisfy the En- r
glish Gvernment that the principles of e
justice will never fail to govern the en- i
ightened decision of an American tribu- f
nal. I cannot fail, however, to suggest c
o Gongress the propriety, and in some t
iegree the necessity, of making such pro- i
visions bv law, so far as they may con- r
i i
jtitutionally do so, tor tne removal ai i
he option of the party, of all such cases as ?
mav'hereafterarise and which may involve I
the faithful observance and execution of f
mr international obligations, from the f
State .to the Federal Judiciary. This t
(*?vernment, by our institutions, is char- f
ged with the maintenance of peace and t
the preservation of amicable relatious (
with the nations of the earth, and ought '
10 possess without question, all the reason- 1
ible and proper meunR of maintaining the I
?iie and preserving the other.' Whilst (
just confidence is felt in the Judiciary ol <
th<* States yet this Government ought to ?
:>e competent in itself for the fulfilment <
?f the high duties which have beendevol- [
ved^upon it under the organic law, by the '
States themselves. '
In the month of September, a party of 1
irmcd men from Upper Canada, invaded 2
lie territory of the United States, and t
'orcibly seized upon the person of one c
irogan, and under circumstances of c
jreat harshness, hurriedly carried him t
)eyond the limits of the United States. s
?nd delivered him up to the authorities of t
Upper Canada. His immediate discharge 1
vas ordered by those authorities, upon the s
'acts of the case being brought to their f
cnowlcdgc?a course of procedure which *
vas to have been expected from a nation
with whom we are at peace, and which |
vas not more due to the rights of the *
United States, than to its own regard for 1
ustice. The correspondence which pas- J
ied between the Department of State, and ?
he British Envoy. Mr. Fox, and with the J
governor of Vermont, as soon as the facts 1
lad been made known to this Department, '
ire herewith communicated. r
I regret that it is not in my power to ?
nake known to you an equally satisfac- I a
ory conclusion in the case of the Caro- , P
ine steamer, with the circumstances con. 0
lected with the destruction of which, in 11
\ _ I 1 I __ J / Hd-A.- J 1
/ecemoer, id.)/, ny nn armea iorce nuca
>ut in the province of Upper Canada, you p
ire alreadv made acquainted. No such j s
itoneinent as was due for the public i?(
vrong done to the United States by this j1
nvasion of her territory, so wholly irre- 0
:oncilable with her rights as an indepen- 111
lent power, has yet been made. In the 'r
dew taken by this Government, the in- j *
inirv whether the vessel was in the era- |c
)!ovrnentof those who were prosecuting ^
in unauthorized war against that pro-j I
/inee, or was engaged l?v the owner in the ^
jusiness of transporting passongers to and j *
Tom Navv Island, in hopes of private jr
:nin, which was most probably the case, j I
n no degree alters the real question at is- jr
me between the two governments. This r
liovernment can never concede to any c
foreign Government the power, except, in r
\ case of the most urgent and extreme J
necessity, of invading its territory, either s
lo arrest the porsons or destroy the prop. 5
?rtv of those who may have violated the A
Municipal laws of such foreign Govern. 5
nent, or have disregarded their obligations (
irising under the law of nations.
The territory of the Unitod States, must I
no regarded as sacredly secure against all I
aich invasions, until they shall voluntari- (
v acknowledge their inability to acquit )
ihernselves of their duties to others. And I
n announcing this sentiment, I do but af- 1
lirin u principle which no nation on earth 1
ivo ild he more leady to vindicate at all '
vizards, than the people and Government ]
if(iroat Britain.
if, upon a lull investigation of all the 1
facts, it shall appear that the owner of *
I he Caroline was governed by a hostile
intent, or had inade common cause with '
those who were in theoccupany of Navy !
Island, then, so far as he is concerned, '
tln-re can he no claim to indemnity for I
the destruction of his boat, which this Go- ^
vcrmnent would feel itself bound to pros- !
ecute, since he would have acted not only I
in derogation of the rights of Great Bri- '
tainr, hut in clear violation of the laws of 1
the United States; hut that is a question '
; i ? a- I 1 *
wnicn, nowever semen, in no manner involves
the higher consideration of the r
violation of territorial sovereignty and 1
jurisdiction. To recognise it as an ad
uiis-sihle practice that each government, ?
in its turn, upon any sudden and unau- '
Ihorized out-break, which, on a frontier. *
the extent of which renders it impossible
for timer to have an efficient force on s
every mile of it, and which out-brcak, *
therefore, neither may he able to suppress 1
in a day, may take vengeance into its own *
hands, and without even a remonstrance, y
ind in the absence of anv pressing or (
jverruliiisg necessity, niav invade the I
erritorv of the other, would inevitably s
cad to results equally to he deplored by c
loth. When border collisions come to )
BWI?I? WII HI. I M IIWaBIMIIIIIIHMIIMLi'llJ^mC
nceive the sanction, ot to be made on n
lie authority of either Government, gen- tl
ml war must be the inevitable result, n
Vhile it is the ardent desire of the 13 ni- tl
ed States to cultivate the relations of t)
eace with all nations, and to fulfil all the h
uties of good neighborhood towards those d
/ho possess territoriei adjoining their p
wn, that very desire would lead them to
leny.the right of any foreign power to in- e
ade their boundary wi :h an armed force, t
Che correspondence between the two u
Governments on this s abject, will, at a c
* n ..lit
uture day ot your session, be submitted n
o your consideration; and in the mean ii
ime, [ cannot but indulge the hope that i
he British Government will see the pro- S
iriety of renouncing, as a rule of future t
ction, the precedent which has been set
o the affair at Schlosser. v
I herewith submit the correspondence t
vhich has recently taken place between r
he American Minister at the Court ot t
$t. James, Mr. Stevenson, and the Min- t
ster of Foreign AfTuirs of that Govern- (
nent, on the right claimed by thnt Gov- t
irnmcnt to visit and detain vessels sailing I
inder the American f.ag and engaged in i
irosecuting lawful commerce in the Afri- i
, l
:an seas. Our commercial interests in f
hat region have experienced considerable i
ncreass, and have become an object of i
nuch importance, and it is the duty of I
his Government to protect them against ?
til improper and vexatious interruption, j
iowever desirous the United States may
>e for the suppression of the slave trade, 1
hev cannot consent to interpolations in- i
o the maritime code, at the more will and i
ileasure of other governments. W e deny ;
he right of any such interpolation to any i
>ne, or all the nations of the Earth, with- i
mt our consent. Who claim to have a j
/oice in all amendments or alterations of i
hat code?and when we are given to unlerntand,
as in this instance, by a foreign ;
Government, that its treaties with other
lations cannot be executed without the I
jstablisnment and enforcement of new |
)rinciples of maritime police, to be applied i
vithout our consent, we mu-t employ a !
anguage neither equivocal, or suscep- i
ible of misconstruction.?American citi- t
sens prosecuting a lawful commerce in |
he African seas, under the flag of their i
sountry; are not responsible for the abuse I
>r unlawful use of that flag by others; nor <
:an they rightfully on account of any 1
mch alleged abuses, be Interrupted, moles- '
ed or detained while on'fhe ocean ; and I
f thus molested and de taincd, while pur- <
imnrr honest vova^es. in the usual wav. <
r, - j o '
md viola'.ing no law themselves, they are I
lnqucstiooably entitled to indemnity- I
rhis Government has manifested its re- I
jugnance to the slave ?rade, in a manner
vhich cannot be misunderstood. By its i
undainental law. it pcesscribed limits in
>oint of time to its continuanea; and ajainst
its own cilif.mjs, who might so far- !
> \ * o
orget the rights of humanity ns to engage
n that wicked traffic, it has long since, i
ty its municipal Jaws, denounced the ;
nost condign punishment. Many of the |
States composing this Union, had made !
ppeals to the civilized world for its sup- I
iression, long before the moral sense ot i
ther nations h.ad become shocked by i
he iniquities olf the traffic. 1
Whether this Government should now \
nter into treaties containining mutual j
tipulation-s upon this subject, is a question ]
or mature deliberation. Certain it is ' |
hat if the right to detain American ship I (
.1 i . /*! . i I
n tfie 'iigti seas can no jusnnca on uic
lea of a necessity lor such detention ; ais.ng
o'ut of the existence of treatise heween
other nations, the same plea may be
xtencled and enlarged by the new stipilatiocis
of new treaties, to which the Unied
States may not he a party. This
jovemment will not cease to urge upon
hat of Great Britain, full and ample re- 1
nimer.ition for all losses, whether arising '
"rom detention or otherwise, to which A- 1
nerican citizens have heretofore been, or |
nay hereafter be subjected, by the exer- ,
:ise of rights which this Government can- j
tot recognise as legitimate and proper. ,
^Jor will I indulge a doubt but that the
>ense of justice of Great Britain will con- ,
itmin her to make retribution for anv
vrong, or loss, which any American citiseu,
engaged in the prosecution of lawful
jommerce, may have experienced at the
iiwls of her cruisers, or other public nu- !
ho ri ties. This government at the same 1
11 ? 1 - - -i*? ... * 1
one win rei.tx no euori 10 pruvuiu ua
citizens, ifthere ho any so disposed, from
prosecuting a traffic so revolting to the
feelings of humanity. It seeks to do no
more than to protect the fair and honest
trader froin molestation and injn-y; but ,
while the enterprising mariner, engaged
in the pursuit of an honorable trade, is entilled
to its protection, it will visit with
condign punishment others of an opposite
character.
I invito your attention to the existing
laws for the suppress-on of the African
slave-trade, and recommend all such alterations
as may give to them greater 1
force and efficacy. That an American
flag is grossly abused hy the abandoned
ind profligate of other nations, is but too
itrobable. Congress has not long since,
had the subject under consideration, and ,
lis importance well just'fics renewed and
mxious attention.
I also communicate herewith a copy of
i correspondence between .Mr. Stevenson
ind Lord Palmerston, upon the subject
>o interesting to several of the Southern
... i
States, of the rice duties which resulted
tonorably to the justice of Great Britain,
md adv?ntageouslv to the United States.
At the opening of the last annual seslion
the President informed Congress of
he progress which had been made in
legotiating a Convention between this
D
'xovernrm nt and that of England, with a
,'iew to tiio final settlement of the qucs.
>f the boundary between th^ territorial ,
units of the two countries. " I regret to
my that little farther advancement of the (
ihject has been accomplished since last |
,'ear { hut this is owing to circumstances
#
nWTBI I Jl >?1^??
o ways indicative of any abatement of g
le desire of both parties, to hasten the a
egoliation to its conclusion, and :o settle v
be question in dispute as early possi- v
!e. In the course of the session it is my s
ope to be able to announce some further
egree of progfess, towards tho accomlishinent
of this highly desirable end.
The commission appointed by this gov. f
rnment for thi exploration and survey of 1
he line of boundary separating the State a
f Maine and >*ew Hameshire fiom the 1
lounterminious British Protincesis, it is 1
lelieved, about to close its field labors, and (
s expected soc n to report the results of t
ts examination to the Department of g
State. The report, when recciied, will ;
le laid before Congress. s
The failtire on the part of Spain to pay, ^
vith punctuality, the interest due under
he Convention of 1834, for the settle- ^
nent of claims' between the two countries
las made it the duty of the Executive ^
o call the particular attention of that c
jrovernment to the subject. A disposi- (
ion has been manifested by it, which is 1
iclieved to be entirely sincere, to fulfil f
ts obligations in this respect, so soon as t
ts internal condition and the state of its i
inances will permit. An arrangement I
s in progress, from the result of which, it <
s trusted that those of our citizeis who
lave claims under the Convention, will, (
it no distant day, receive the stipulated ,
payments.
A treaty of Commerce and Navigation
with Belgium was concluded and signed ,
it Washington on the 29th March, 1840, |
md was duly sanctioned by the Senate J
the United States. The Treaty was |
'atified by his Belgian Majesty, but did (
not receive the approbation of the Belgian
Chambers within the lime limited by ,
its terms, and has, therefore, become void.
This occurrence assumes the graver
ispect from the consideration that in 1
1833, a Treaty negotiated between the ,
two Governments, and ratified on the
part of the Uni:ed States, failed to be ratified
on the part of Belgium. The repre?entative
of that Government, at Washington,
informs the Department of State
that he has been instructed to give explanations
of the causes which occasioned
delay in the approval of the late treaty by
the Legislature, and to express the regret
af the King at the occurrence.
^FThe joint commission under the Convention
with Texas, to ascertain the true
boundaiy between the two countries, has
concluded its labors: hut the final report
cf the commissioner of the United States
has not been received. It is understood
however, that the meredian line, as traced
by the commission, lies somewhat farther
East tha n the position hitherto generally
assigned to it, and, consequently, includes
in Texas: some part of the territory which
had been considered a9 belonging to the
States of Louisiana and Arkansas.
The United States cannot but take a
deep interest in whatever relates to this
young, but growing Republic. Settled
principally by emigrants from the United
States, we have the happiness to know,
that the great principles of civil liberty
ire there destined to flourish, under wise
institutions and wholesome laws ; and that
through its example, another evidence is
to be afforded of the capacity of popular
institutions, to advance the prosperity,
happiness, and permanent glory of the
human race. The great truth, that Government
was made for the people, and not
the people for government, lias already
been established in the practice and by
the example of these United States; and
we can do no other than contemplate its
farther exemplification by a sister Republic,
with the deepest interest.
Our relations with the independent
States of this hemisphere, formerly under
the dominion of Spain, have not undergone
any material change within the
past year. The incessant sanguinary
conflicts in, or between those countries,
are to he greatly deplored, as necessarily
tending to disable thern from performing
their cuties as members of the community
of nations,, and rising to the destiny
which the position and natural resources
of many of them might lead them justly
to anticipate, as constantly giving occasion,
also, directly or indirectly, for complaints
on the pari: of our citizens who
resort thtlhor for purpose.-, of commercial
intercourse, nnd as retarding reparation
for wrongs already committed, some of
which are by no meansef recent date.
The failure of the Congress of Ecusdor
to hold a session, at the time appointed ,
for that purpose, in January last, will
probably render abortive a treaty of commerce
with that Republic, which was
signed at Quito on the 13th of June, 183*2,
and had been only ratified on our part,
hut which required the approbation of that
body, prior to its ratification by the Ecuadorian
Executive.
A Convention which has been concluded
with the Republic of Peril, providing
for the settlement of certain claims of nit
izensofthc united States, upon the Gov- j
eminent of that Republic, will he duly i
submitted to the Senate.
The claims of our citizens against the j
Brazilian Government, originating from
' (Z O
captures, and other causes, are still unsatisfied.
The United States have, how- |
ever, so uniformly shown a disposition to J
cultivate relations of amity with that
Empire, that it is hoped, the urieqiiivoca
tokens of the same spirit towards u s
which an adjustment of the affairs refer
red to would afford, will bo given vvithou
farther avoidable delay.
The war with the Indian tribes on the
peninsula of Florida has, during the last
uimrner and fail, been prosecuted with j
untiring activity and zeal. A. summer
campaign was resolved upon, as the hest
mode of bringing it to a close. Our
brave olficcrs and meu who have been eu
aged in that service, have suffered toils |
nd privations, and exhibited an energy, |
/hich, in any other war, would have j
/on for them unfading laurels. In depite
of the sickness incident to the cliaate,
they have penetrated the fastneses
of the Indians broken up their enampment8,
and harrassed them unceas.
ngly. Numbers have been captured,
nd still surrendered, and have been
ransported to join their brethren on the
finds elsewhere allotted to them by the
jovernment,?and a strong hope is enertained
that, under the conduct of the
gallant officer at the head of the troops
n Florida, that troublesome and expenivewar
is destined to a speedy terminaion.
With all toe other Indian tribes,
ve are enjoying the blessings of peace.
)ur duty, as well as our best interests,
- - -t _n ?
)rompi us 10 ooserve in nu um ihki:ourse
with them, fidelity in fulfilling our
mgageinents, the practice of strict jusice,
as well as the constant exercise of
icts of benevolence and kindness. These
ire the great instruments of civilization,
md through the use of them alone, can
;he untutored child of the forest be induced
to listen to its teachings.
The Secretary of State, on whom the
icts of Congress have devolved the duty
of directing the proceedings for the ta*
king of the Sixth Census or enumerations
of the inhabitants ofthe United States will
report to the two Houses the progress of
that work. The enumeration of persons
has heen completed, and exhibits a grand
total of 17,009, 453; making an increase
over the Censusof 1630, of 4.202,046 inhabitants,
and showing a gain in a ratio
exceeding 32 1-2 der cent for the last ten
years.
From the report of the secretary of the
Treasury, you will he informed of the
condition of the finances. The balance/
in the Treasury on the 1st of January |
last, as stated in the report of the Secre- j
tary of the Treasury, submitted to Con- t
gross at the Extra Session, was 8987,345
03. The recepfs into the Treasury,
during the first three quarters of this year,
from our sources, amount to $23,487,*
072,52. The estimated receipts for the
fourth quarter amount to $5,943,095 25,
amounting to $30,410,167 77; and making,
with the balance in the Treasury,
on the first of January last, $31,3097,512
SO. The expenditures for the first three '
quarters of thisyear, amount to $24,734,326
67. The expenditures for the fourth
quarter, as estimated, will amount to
87,290,723 72:?thus making a total of
$32,025,070 79; and leaving a deficit to
he provided for, on the first of Jan. next
of about $627,557 90.
Of the loan of $12,000,000 which was
authorized by Congress at its late session,,
only $5,432,720 88 have been negotiated.
The shortness of time which it had
to run, lias presented no inconsiderable
impediment in the way of its l>eing taken
by capitalists at home, while the same
cause would have operated with much
greater force in the foreign market. For
that reason the foreign has been resorted
to, and it is now submitted, whether it
would not be advisable to amend the
law by making what remains undisposed
of payable at a more distant day.
Should it be necessary, in any view
that Congress may take the subject, to
revise the existing tariff of duties, I beg
leave to say, thai, in the performance of
that delicate operation, moderate counsels
would seem to he- the wisest. The
Government, under which it is our happiness
to live, owes its existence to the
spirit of compromise which prevailed
nrnnnnr its fin (110 rs rrlHIT atld disCOf
J o
dant opinions could only have been reconciled
by that noble spirit of patriotism,
prompted which conciliation and resulted
in harmony, fn the same spirit the compromise
bill, as it is commonly called,
was adopted at the session of 1823.
Whilo the people of no portion of the
Union will ever hesitate to pay all neressarv
taxes for support of Government, yet
an innate repugnance exists, to the imposition
of burthens not really necessary for
that object. In imposing duties, however,
for the purposes of revenue, a right
to discriminate as to the articles on which
the duty shall be laid, ns well as the
amount, necessarily and most proporlv
exists. Otherwise the government would
be placed in the condition of having to
levy the same duties upon all articles,
the productive as well as the unproductive.
The slightc-t duty upon some,
might have the effect of causing their
importation to cease, whereas others entering
extensively into the consumption
of the country, might bear the heaviest,
without any sensible diminution in the
amount imported. So also the Government
may be justified in so discriminating,
by reference to other considerations
of domestic policy connected with our
manufactures. So long as the duties
shall he laid with distinct reference to
the wantsof the Treasury, no well founded
objection can exist against tfiem. It
ini^ht he desirable that no such augmentation
of the taxes should take place as
would have the effect of annulling the
land proceeds distribution act of the last
session, which act is declared to be inoperative
the moment the duties are increased
beyond 20 per cent, the maximum
rate established by the Compromise act.
Some of the provisions of the Compromise
act. which will go into effect on the
30th dnv of June next, may, however,
be found exceedingly inconvenient in
practice, under any regulations that Congross
may adopt. I refer more particularly
to that relating to the home valuation.
A difference in value of the same
articles to some extent, will necessarily
exist at different ports?hut that is altogether
insiguilicunt, when compared with
? ?i..
the conflicts in valuation which are likely
to arise, from the differences of opinion A
among the numerous appraisers of merchandize.
In many instances the estimates
of value must be conjectural, and
thus as many different rates of value may
he established as there are appraisers.
These differences in valuation may also
he increased by the inclination which
without the slightest imputation on their
honesty; may arise on the part of the appraisers
in favor of their respective portsof
entry, t recommend this whole subject
to the consideration of Congress, witir
a single additional temark. Certainty
and permanency to any system of governmental
policy are, in all respects, eminently
desirable; but more particularly is this
true in all that affects trade and commerce,
the operations of which depend
much more on the certainty of their returns.
and calculations, which embrace
distant periods of time, than on high
bounties, or duties, which are liable to
constant fluctuations.
At vour late session I invited your attention
to the condition of the currency and ex.
changes, and urged the necessity ot adopting
such measures as were consistent with the
constitutional competency of the Government,
in order to correct the unsoundness of the one,
and as far as practicable the inequ<iea of
the other. No country can be in the enjoy
ment of its full measure of prosperity without
the presence of a medium of exchange approximating
to uniformity of value: . What m
necessary as between the different nations
of the earth is also important as between tiie
inhabitants of different parts of the same
country. With the first, the precious metals
constitute the chief medium of circulation;
and such also would be the caae as to the
last, but for inventions, comparatively modern,
which have furnished, in place of gold
and silver, a paper circulation. I do not pro*
pose to enter into a comparative ar.alalysis of
the merits of the two systems. Such belong*
ed more properly to the period of the intro. ^
ducticnofthe paper system. The specula* ^
live philosopher might find inducements to
prosecute the inquiry, but his researches could
only lead him to conclude that the paper system
had probably bet er never have been intro*
duced, and that society might have been much
happier without it. The practical states-man
has a very different task to perform.
He has to look at things as they are?to takethem
as he finds tbera?to supply deficiencies,
and to prune excess, as far as in him lies.
The task offurnisbing a corrective for derangecnc-nts
of the paper medium, with us, ia almost
inexpressibly great. The power exerted
by the States to charter banking corporations,
and which, having beon carried to
great excess, has filied the country
with, in inost of the States, an irr*decmabe
paper medium, is an evil
wh;ch, in some way or other, requires a corrective.
The rates at which bills of exchange
are negotiated between different parts of the
country furnish an index of the va.'ue of the'
local substitute for gold and silven which Is,
in manv parts, so far depreciated as not to be
received, except at a large discount, in payment
of debts or in the purchase of produce
It could earnestly be desired that every bank,
not possessing the means of resumption, should
follow the example of (he late United States
Bank of Pennsylvania, and go into liquidation,
rather, than, by refusing to do so. to continue
embarrassments in the way of solvent institutions.
thereby augmenting tlo- difficulties incident
to the present condition of things.
Whether this Government, with due regard'
to the righ's of the States, has any power t<y
constrain the banks either to resume specie
payments, or to force them into liquidation, ?
an inquiry which will not fail to claim your
consideration. In view of the great advantages
which are allowed the corporators, not
among the least of which \9lhe authority contained
in mo6t of their charters to make loans
to threetiir.es the amount of their capital,,
thereby often deriving throe times as much in
terest on the same amount of money as any
individual is permitted by law to receive, n<r W
sufficient apology can be urged for a long
continued suspension of specie paymentsSuch
suspension is productive or?he greatest
detriment to the public, hy expelling from cir?
i
cuiation the precious metais, ana seriously
hazarding the success of ;?ny effort that thin
Government can make to increase commercial
facilities and to advance the public interoew.
This is the more to be regretted, and the
indispensable necessity for a sound currency"
becomes the more manifest, when we reflect
on the vast amount of the internal commerce
of the country. Of thb we have no statistics,
nor jiwt data for'forming adequate opinions.
But there can ! no doubt but that the amount
of transportation coastwise by sea, and the
transportation inland by railroads and e mu's,
I and by steamboats and other modes of conveyance,
over the surface of our vast rivers
and immense Jakes, and the value of property
carried and interchange d by thes, me ins,
form a general aggregate to which the foreign
commerce of the country, large as it is, makes
bnt a distant approach. .
In the absence of any controlling power
over this subject, which, by forcing a general
resumption of specie payments, would at ence
have the effect of restoring a sound medium of
exchange, and would loave to the country but
" * - 1?i..I
little to riepire, wnai measure 01 rt-nci, ionium
within the limits of our constitutional com potency,
does it be become this Government to*
adopt? It vvas my painful duty, at your last
session, under the weight of most solemn obv
ligations, to differ with Congress on the measures
which it proposed lor my approval, and
which it doubtless regarded as corrective of
existing evils. Subsequent reflection, and
events since occurring, have only served to
confirm me in the opinions then entertained
and frankly expressed.
I must be permitted to add. that no sehemeof
governmental policy, unaided by individual
exertions, can be available for ameliorating
the present condition of things. Commercial,,
modes of exchange and a good currency arebut
the necessary means of commerce and intercourse,
not the direct productive sources
of wealth. Wealth can only he accumulated |
by the earnings of industry and the savings of
nnlkmrr r%ir\ ko m/iro ill 1!
irUiJrtllljf, aiiu iiwunii- van uv ihuiv i?.jUUgvv
than to look to fncilitiet* in borrowing, or to a
redundant circulation, for the'power of dis.
charging pecuniary obligations. The country
is full of resources, and the people full of energy;
and the great and permanent remedy
lor present embarrassments must be sought In
industry, economy, the observance of good
faith, and the favorable influence of time..
In pursuance of a pledge given to yon in my 1
last message to Congress, which pledgo I
urge as an apology for adventuring to present
you the deta Is of any plan, the Secretary of
the Treasury will be ready to submit to yon,
should you require it, a plan of finance which,
while it throws around the public treasure
reasonable guards for its protection, and rests
011 powers acknowledged iti practice to exist