Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNI 1 ED STATES, TRANSMITTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS December 4, 1933. Fellow.atizrns of the Saute and of the House of Representatives: I congratulate jou on I lie favorable c.'rcinnslances in the condition of our country; under which you reassemble for the perlormn,\co ofvour official duties. Though the anticipatton o an abundant harvest !i ?ve not every where been realized, yet, on the whole, the labors of the husbandman are rewarded with a bountiful return; industry prospers it) its various channels of business .... i fr.Mterai health ngain pre illl-1 ( II.V.I J/i l."V| ( . vails through our vast d.vvrsity of c.i.nate; nothing threatens, from abroad, the continuance of external peace; nor has any thing at home impaired the strength of those fraternal and domestic ties which construe the only guaranty to the success an J per., mancncy of our happy Union, an i winch, formed in the hour of per i, have hi h rto been honorably sustained through every viciss'tudc in our national afthirs. These blessings, which evince the care an 1 beneSconce of Providence, call (or our devout fervnt gratitude. We have ii'V i-ss re ison to bo gravfui t^r other bounties bustowed by the sum* liter,: .a;. 1, and .?:ore c\*.' ts.vely our v IV .*i The present year closes the first half c mturv of our federal institutions; an 1 our ~\ll r\:hnr? iii sysioni??uweriiig Hum acknowledged, practical, and unlim.tod operation which it lias for so long a period given to the sovereignty of the People? has now been fully tested by experience. The Constitution devised by our fore fathers as the frame work and bond of that system, then untried, has become a settled form of government; not only preserving and protecting th* great principles upon which it was founded, but wonderfully promoling individual happiness and private interests. Though subject to change and entire revocation whenever deemed inadequate to all these purposes, yet such is the wisdom of its construction, and so stable lias been the public sentiment, that it remains unaltered, except in matters of detail comparativcly unimportant. It has proved amply sufficient for the various emergencies incident to our condition as a nation. A formidable foreign war; agitatingcollis'ons between domestic and, in somo respects, rivalsovnreignties; temptations to interfere in the intns'ine commotions of neighboring ? O counries; the dangerous influences that arise iu periods of excessive prosperity; and the anti-republican tendencies of associated wealth?these, with other trials not less formidable, have all been encountered, an i tiius far successfully resisted. It was reserved for the American Union to test tho advantages of a Government en_ of the popular will, and our experience lias .sttown ihat it is as bencficient in practice as it is just in theory. Each successive change made in our local institutions has contributed to extend the right of suffrage, has increased the direct influence of the mass of the community, given greater freedom to individual exertion, and restricted, more and more,the powers of Government; yet the intelligence, prudence, and patriotism of the People have kept pace with this augmented responsibility. In no country has education been so wide!}' diffused. Domestic peace has nowhere so largely reigned. The clo>e bonds of social intercourse have in 110 instance prevailed with such harmony over a space so vast. All forms of religion have itnifnrl fnr the first lime, to diffuse charitv and pieiy, because, for the first time in the hts'ory of nations, all have been totally untrammelled, and absolutely fiee. The deep, est recess of the wilderness have been pene trated; yet, instead of the rudeness in the social condition consequent upon such nd. ventures elsewhere, numerous communities have sprung up, already unrivalled in pros, pcrity, general intell gence, internal tran. quility, and the wisdom of their political ,n siiiu'tons. Internal improvement, the frui of individual enterprise, fostered by the pro tection of the Suites, has add el new links tc the confederation, and fresh rewards to pro vidcot industry. Doubtful questions of do mcstic policy have been quiedy scttl d b\ mutual forbearance; and ngricul.ure, com merce, and manufactures, minister to eaci other. Taxation and public debts, the bur dens which bear so heavily upon all othei countries, have pressed with comparative lightness upon us. Without one entangling alliance, our friendship is prized by ever} nation; and the rights of our citizens are every where respected, because they ari known to be guarded bv a united, sensitive ~W C7 W and watchful People. To this practical operation of our insti. tutions, so evident and successful, we ow< that increased attachment to them which i: among the tnost cheering exhibitions o popular sentiment, and will prove their bes security,in time to come, against foreign 01 domestic ussuuh. 'Phis review of the results of our institu. i?on9, for half a cvn'ury, without exciting r spirit of vain exultition, should serve tc undress opon us die great principles from which they have sprung; consan and direct supervision by the People ovei every public measure; strict forbearance on the part of the Government from exer. cising any doubtful or dispu.ed powers; am a cautious dbstiuenco from all interferons with concerns which properly belong, unci are best left, to Stale regulations and indi. vidual enterprise. Full information of thes'afe of our fur 4,'i^n affairs having been recently, on differ cm occasions, submitted to Congress. J dewm it necessary now to bring to your no iice only such events as have subsequently accurrred, or are of sucrt importance us tc require particular attention. The most amicable dispositions continue to be exhibited by all the nations *.vi'n whorr * " O.V'eri rTV,r,t r.T; of ;*"> r !n ! States hove an habitual intercourse. At j | the date of my last annual message, M< .\ico ! was the only nation \v lic'i coul.l not ' inclu le 1 i:i so graf Tying a reference to our foreign relations. I am happy to he now able to inform you j that an advance has been made towards the j adjus nient ofour difficulties with that lie- j j public, ami tr.e restoration of the customary j j good feeling between the two na ions. This ] ! import ?nt change has been elected by conciliatory negotiations,that have, resulted ' i in the conclusion of n treaty between the j j two Governments, which, when ratified, will ' j refer to the nrbi'ramcn' of a friendly Pow- , j cr uii the subjects of con roversy between j ( us growing out of injuries to individuals.? I Tucre is at pn's n', also, reason to believe I j tan* an equitable settlement of aii disputed | points will be atniia'd wthour further difii- j I culty or unnecessary ileluv.and thus au-j i thorize the free icsumptionol diplomatic in- j ! tercaursn with oer sister Republic, j With respect to the Northeastern bom. j | ?hry of the United Sta'os, no ofFioial cor- { respondonce between this Government and | that of Great Britain has passed since that! communicated to Congress towards theI close of their last session. The ofFer to j negotiate a convention for the appointment j of a joint commission of survey and explo-1 rat ion,* I am however, assure 1, will be met! hv Her M ijesry's Governm *nt in a cone li_ ; j at rv ami frimdlv spirit, and iustruetons 'o en able t e British Min str on; to con . chide such a.i arrang m j' w il no trans m ted to h tn without needless dch\. It is j hope 1 and ex;> : ct?*d that these instiu tines j wll be of a liberal character, and that this ; negotiation, if successful, will prov to tie an | importan* step towards the satisfactory and j final adjust men' of the con roversv. I I had hoped that the respect f.ir the laws j and regard for the peace and honor of l?oir j o.vti country, which as ever characterized , the citizens of the United States, would I liave prevented any portion of tht-m from I using anv m ans to prom^c insurrection i in the 'crritory of a Power with which we , arc at peace, and wbh which the United | States are desirous of maintaining the most ! friendly relatmns, I regrtt deeply, howev! or, to bo obliged to inform vou that this has not been the case. Information has ! been g.ven to me, "erived from otFiciai and ; other sources, that many citizens of the IJ. j States have associated together to make j hostile incursions from our territory mto | Canada, and to aid and abet insurrection ! j ll ere, in violation of the obligations and laws of the United Status, and in open disj regard of their own duties as citizens- This ' information has been in parr confirmed, by r a hostile invasion actually mr!e by cit zcus j } of the United States, in conjunct i.)n with f Canadians and others, and accompanied by a forcible seizure of the property of our ci; tizens, and an application thereof to the . prosecution of military operations against i j the authorities and people of Canada. The results of these criminal assaults j i upon the peace and order of a neighboring >jf u.t.v t> iu vyu3 iu im; c.vpeciecl, I fatally destructive to the misguided or de ludcd persons engaged in them, and high- ' ! ly injurious to those in whose behalf they j are professed to have been undertaken.? ' ,! The authorities in Canada, from intelli- ' j gence received of such intended movemeivs ' j among our citizens, have f 1; themselves ; i obliged to take precautionary measures i j against them; havec atmlly embodied the ! j militia, and assumed an attitude to repel; the invasion to which they beii^ved the co! lonies were exposed from the United States. '! A state of feeling on botli sides of the fron11 tier has thus been produced which called 1 r . i c ? ir i lor prompt anu vigorous iiii' ii-tvuva:. h j nn insurrection existed in Canad t, theamij cable dispositions of the United S'.a'es to. j wards Great Britain, as well as their duty to 1 themselves, would lead them to maintain a strict neutrality, and to restrain their citi- j z^ns from all violations of the laws \v: i:h j have been passed for its enforcement. But j 5 this Government recognises a stiil higher j | obligation to repress attempts on the part of j j its citizens to disturb the peace of a country j where order ptevnils, or has b<en re-es-j - tablished. Depredations by our citizens ] i upon nations ai peace with the United j States, or combinations for committing i them, have at all times been regarded by } ( the American Government and People with ' the greatest abhorrence. Military incur J s'or.8 by our citizens into countries so situ' 1 ated, and the commission of acts of violence . on the members thereof, in order t "> effect 1 i a change in its government, or under any -1 pretext whatever, have, from the com. r, inencement of our Government, been held }! equally criminal on the part of those en. ?; gnged in them, and as much desorving of rj punishment as would be the disturbance of ?, the public peace by the perpetrate*- of simiJ. lar acts within our own territory. - ? ? .i ~ ?j L5y no country or persons nave uh:.m; m valuable principles of international law? - i principles, the strict observance of which is J j so indispensable to the preservation ofso5, cial order in the world?been more ear' i nestly cherished or sacredly respected than f | by those great and good men whe first dcr I clared, and finally established, the indepen. I dence of our own country. Tncy promul. . i gated and maintained them at an early and i critical period in our history; they were > j subsequently embodied in legislative enact5' tnonts of a highly penal character, the faith, t ful enforcement of which has hitherto been, r and will, I trust, always continue to be, re? garded as a duty inseparably associated . with the maintenance of our national hou. r? .r TT.SfMioc !; or. inac me rcopiu ui mv yuin-? i j should feci an interest in the sprc id of poI I ii icnl institutions as free as ttiey regard .! their own 'o be, is natural; nor can a sin, cere solicitude for the success of all those .; who arc, at any timo, in good faith strug : gling for their acquisition, bo imputed to 1 our citizens as a crime. W ith the entire j freedom of opinion, and an undisguised exr press;o:i thereof, on their part, the Govern) i mcnt has neither the right, nor, I trust, the ; disposition to interfere. Dut whether the f' interest or the hnmr of t!ie United States ) requires that they should he made a pmty ' """h r'rtjg'0, I'-I. !s* 'tirvi'i'-'a m ?? m ?n 11 IM?PM??wwwttrrayjg? consequence, to the war which is waged ! ; ir. its support, is a question which, by our i j Cons itu 10a, is wisely left to Congress v alone to dcei le. It is, by the laws, alrea-1 r tiv mado criminal in our citizens to em- j c barrass or anticipate that decision by tin-; t authorized military operations on their part, j 1 Offences of this character, in addition to j r tht ir criminali'y as violations of the laws c of our country, have a direct tendency to > draw down upon our own citizens at large ! a the multiplied evils of a foreign war, and ! c expose to injurious imputations the good i c faith and honor of the country. As such, jo they deserve to be put down with promp- i c I rt ?t si 1 /inaMinf Ua I AI (iiuui uuij u^cnjuiii. t Liiiiuut uu KIUd.au* i: en, 1 nm confident, in counting on the e general concurrence of our fellow*.cit ZOaS li in this sentiment. A copy of the procia- C mation which I have felt it my duty to is.' e sue, is herewith communicated. I can., ; li not bu: hope that tlie good sense and pat- j f< rio'ism, the regird for the honor and re-| n putation of their country, the respect for j it the laws wlrch they have themselves en. k acted for their own government, and the j y Jove of order for which the mass of our j o People have been so long and so jus ly A distinguished, will deter the comparatively n few who are engaged in thcr, from a, fur. ti t ier pros-'cution of sucli desperate enter" r\ [irises. In the mean time, t ie existing 'aws l n have Ir.'cn, and will continue to l?o, faith-' r fully executed; and every fe^fort will be | fi ni'.d to carry them out ?*4 their full extent, j \Y lict ?: r they are s?"4{Ucient or not to meet i C the ac ual state e, on tlie Canadian j p frontier, is fo*.- Congress to decide. j r It will appear, from the correspondence herewf.'n submitted, that the Government o of Russia declines a renewal ol the fourih ? of the convenion of April, 1824, fi r-v /-? I II* V oetween the United States ana 111s impc- n rial Majesty, by tiie third article of which s it is agreed that "hereof er there shall not a b fjrmed by the citizens ol the U. States, or tl under the authority of the said States, any os- ii tablishmeut upon the northwest coast of A- a mertca, nor in any of the islands adjacent, ? to the north of 54 degrees 40 minuses t< of north latitude; and that in the same man- g ner there shall be none formed bv Russian c subjects, or under the authori'y of Russia, J scudi of the same parallel;" and by the ] o fourth article, u that during a term of tne j u >e?rs, conning from the ignature of the | c f resent conveniion, the ships of both Pow- j t| crs, or which belong to their ci.izens or sub- i c jeets, respectively, may reciprocally fre_ j li quei>\ without any hindrance whatever, the 1 inerior seas, gulfs, harbors, and creeks upon the coast mentioned in the preceding s article, for the purpose of fishing and tra- y ding with the natives of the country." The ti reasons assigned for declining to renew the b provisions of this article are, briefly, that 1 ihe only use made by our citizens of the ti privilege it secures to them has been to j y supply the Indians with spirituous liquors ii ammunition, and fire.arms; that this traffic tl has been excluded from the Russian trade; c and as the suppl os furnished from the Uni- c * ? hiucisn OQ. 1 r ICU UUUC3 (lib illjUl luua iu nav u v?- jV tablishmcnts on the northwest coast, and : c calculaed to produce complaints between j a the two Governments, ilis Imperial Ma- i f jesty thinks it for the interest of both coun. j r tries not to accede to the proposition made I j by the American Government for the re- \ n"wa! of the article last referred to. c H te correspondence herewith communi- ( ca'cd will show the grounds upon which < we contend that the ciiizens of the Un ted ? States have, independent of the provisions i of the convention of 1824, a right to trade j with the na'ives upon the coast in question, i at unoccupied places, liable, however, it is f admitted, to be at any ttme extinguished by r the creation of Russian establishments at i such points. This rig t is denied by the j Russian Government, which asserts that, by the operation of the treaty of 1824, t each party agreed to waive the general right ( to land on the vacant coasts on the rcspec- ; t live sides of the degree of latitude referred < to, and accepted, in lieu thereof, the mutual i privileges mentioned in the fourth aiticle. r The capital and tonnage employed by our ( | citizens in their trado with the northwest i , coast of America will, perhaps, on advening I : to the official statements of the commerce ( ! and navigation of the United States for the [ r i last few years, be deemed too inconsidera. J ( j ble in amount to attract much attention; 1 s yet the subject may, in other respects, de- j s , serve the careful consideration of Congress 11 | I regret to stale that the blockade of the j { piincipai ports on the eastern coast of Mex- [ t ico, which in consequence of differences j ( jbe \v;en that Republic and France, was ; i j instituted in May last unfortunately still j s | continues, enforced by a competent French J c i naval force, and is necessarily embarrass- j i j mg to our own trade in the gulf, in common j \ | * it'i that of other nations. Every dispo-; I ! shim, however, is believed to evist on ihe 11 | part of the French Government to render 11 l this measure as little onerous as practicable | i j to the interests of the citizens of the United i ! S'a es, and to those of neutral commerce; j and it is to be hoped that an enrly settle- ( j ment of the difficulties between France and j i l vc___: n i I , .ue.XIC'J Will soon le.fs auiisii ini: iiui iiiuiii- : ous relations formerly subs sting between j < them, nnd again open the ports of that i Republic fo the vessels of ail friendly na- < tions. i , A convention for marking that part of t j the boundary between the United States i j and the Republic of Texas which extends j j from the month of the Sabine to the Red I j river, was concluded nnd signed at ttiis I { city on the 25;h of April last. It lias since i b; en ratified bv both Governments, and ! seasonable measures will bo taken to (tarry j < it into effect on the part of the Uui.ed [ t States. ': j The application of that Republic for a<L | j mission into tins Union, made in August, < ; 1887, and which was declined for reasons I i already made known to you, has been for- > ' n.ally withdrawn, as will appear fr?m the | I accompanying copy of the note of the Min j < | istcr Plenipotentiary of Texas, which was j I j presented to the Secretary of State on the j < ' occasion of the exchange of the ratifications j ' ; ol the convention above mentioned. j ( i v? a.i .% ' i . J *, i commercial treaty concluded with the [ c of Greece, and of a similar trade, j p .vith the Peru-Bodvian Confederation, the t t! atifications of which have been recently j \\ xchanged, accompany this message for! : ho information of Congress, and for such egislativc enactments as may be found 1 jecessary er expedient, in relation to cither si jfthem. tc To watch over and foster the interests of si l gradually increasing and widely ex ended rr lommerce; to guard the rights of Ameri. in :an citizens, whom business, or pleasure rc ir other motives m iy tempt into distant v? lirncs, and at the same time to cultivate $p hose sen'iments, of mutual respect and to [ood-will which experience has proved so tr icneficial in international intercouse, the f cr government of the United States luis dccmM ! d i: expedient, from time to time, to est* j. j},. sh diplomatic connexions with 0';lftTont i ^reign Stales, by the appointment of rep. w 2sentalive to reside within tl^ir respective \)( -rrrories. I am gratify to be enabled C: 5 announce to you tb^t, since tlie close of ta our last session, those relations have been ni poned undo' tblC happiest auspices with e: >uitria tmd the Two Sicilies; that new vi om,p.'?Vcons have been made in the respec- W vrj missions of Russia, Brazil, Belgium, : sc nd Sweden and Norway, in this country ; th nd that a Minister Extraordinary has been ! cc cceived accredited to this Government rr rom the Argentine Confederation. ; ?] An exposition of the fiscal affairs of the j ri Jovcrnment, and of the r condition for the ; di ast year, will be made ?o you by the Sec- ' ol cfary of the Treasury. j in The available balance in the Treasury, j p< n the 1st of January next, is estimated at j is >2,705,34*2. The receipts of the year, ; ti rom customs and lands, will probably j di mount to $20,615.51)8. These usual i si ources of revenue have been increased by ! fc n issue of Treasury notes, of which less j te han eight millions of dollars, including J p< fitvrest and principal, will he outstanding g; t the end of the year, nnd by the sale of ti< no of the bonds of the Bank of the UnL th 2d States, for $2,254,971. The aggre. w ;ate of means, from these and other sour- n< es with the balance on hand on the 1st of p( anuary last has been applied to the payment hi f appropriations b. Congress. The 0i diole expenditure for tin yoar on their ac- oi ? -? mrlnmrktinn nf more w OUUI, UlVJiUUIIJ^ HIV' IWUVU.p.vi, w. ...... ? ian eight millions of Treasury notes, a onstitutes an aggregate of about forty mil. tli ons of dollars, and will s ill leave in the rr Treasury the balance before stated. Sr Nearly eight millions of dollars of Trea. St ury notes are to be paid during the coming j ear, in addition to the ordinary appropria. j Je ions for the support of Government. For , a) ioth these purposes the resources of the j nTreasury will undoubtedly be sutlicient, if! a? he charges upon it arc not increased be- j 0! *ond the annual estimate s. No excess, j 7 lowever, is likely to exist; nor can the , R1 he postponed instalment of the surplus rev. I a) inuo be deposited with the States, nor any S: :onsiderable appropriations beyond I e r( istimales be made, without causing a deft- o tiency in the Treasury. The great caution tl idvisablo at all times, of limiting appropriations to the wants of the public service, is p enderod necessary at present by the pros- , d aeci've and rapid reduction of the tariff; f< vhile the vigilant jealously, evidently ex. c ited among the People by the occurrences h )f the last few years, assures us that they p ;xpect from their representatives, and will a sustain th?m in the exercise of, the most g igid economy. Much can be effected by ii )ostponing appropriations not immecfia'ely u equired for the ordinary public service, or c or any pressing emergency ; and much by c educing the expenditures where the entire c ind immediate accomplishment of the ob- g ?! I In/ito ...!,!,, UC S 111 VIUW IS IIUI Iliui3pcii?nuiw( I When we call to mind tho recent and o JXtreme embarrassments produced by ex- 'i ressive issues of bank paper, aggravated by tl he unforeseen withdrawal of much foreign y lapital, and tho inevitable derangement o irising from the distribution of the surplus c ovenun among the States, as required by ti Congress, and consider ihe heavy expenses a ncurred by the removal of Indian tribes a >y the military operations in Florida, and n )n account of the unusually large appropri. j] ifions made at tho last two annual sessions n if Congress for other objects, we have c itriking evidence, in the present efficient tl jtateofour finances, of the abundant re- s sources of the country to fulfil all its obli- p ja'ions. Nor is it less gratifying to find v hat tho general business of the community S Iceply affected as it has been, is reviving d vith .additional vigor, chastened by the les- r ;ons of the past, and animated by the hopes s if the future. By the curtailment of paper s ssues; by curbing the sanguine and adventurous spirit of specu ation ; and by the ; !< lonorahle application of all available means j d o the fulfilment of obligations, confidence j a ins been restored both at home and abroad | y I j . ? ?!l j ? ma case anu mchuj* strcurcu iv uu ???? ,< rations of trade. t! The agency of the Government in pro- o Jucing these results lias been as efficient s is its powers anil means permitted. By n withholding from the States the d posite e if the fourth instalment and leaving several millions at lon?j credits with the banks, prin- e tdpally in one section of the country, and c more immediately beneficial to it; and at 1 :ho same time, aiding; the banks and com- e norcial communities in other sections, by s postponing the payment of bonds for duties, it o the amount of* between four and five mil- tl ions of dollars; by an issue of Treasury iloti's as a means to enable the Government i: o moot tlie consequences of their indulgen- v ;es, but affording, at the same time, facili- r ties for remittance and exchange ; and by c steadily (Mining to employ as general do- t posifories of the public revenues, or re. i ccive the notes of all banks which refused t to redeem with specie ; bv these measures, t tiidod by the favorable aciion of some of die j banks, and by the support and co-operation t a Inrcc Dortion of the community, we \ iinvo witncsssRd anearly resumption of spe. ( :ie payments in our great commercial oapi. [ al, promptly followed in almost every part j i :f i.i;c United States. This result has been j v r-':r ' r*r. ' >?'1 .v.*," . *:* .'12r' ' ul ure, c immcrco, and manufactures; to ! ubJio morals, respect lor the laws, and j nit confidence between man and mm ; diich is so essential in all our social rein. ! o 1*. The contra*: between the suspension of 814 and that of 1837 is mos sinking. Tne iiort dura ion of the latter, the prompt resjraiion of busings, the evident benefi s renting from an adherence by the Govern, icnt to ihe constitutional standard of value, istead ofsanctioning the suspension by the icetpt of irredeemable paper, and the adimages derived from the large amount of >ecie introduce j into the ccuniry previous 1837, afford a valuable illustration ' f tne uepofoy of the Government in such a ts'/s; nor can the cowpaiison fiii to miove the impression that a national ink is necessary in such emergencies.? ; rot oulv were specie payments resumed ithout its aid, but exchanges have also en more rapidly restored tnan when it , tisteJ; thereby showing that private capL , 1. enterDrise, and prudence are fully ade jate to these ends. On all these points tperiencc sterns to have confirmed the ews heretofore submitted to Congress.? 7e liave been saved the mortification of :eing the distresses of the community for c third timo seized on to fasten upon the >untry so dangerous an institution; and we lay also hope that the business of mdividu. s will hereafter be relieved from the inju. es effects of a continued agitation of that isturbing subject. The limited influence f a national bank in averting derangement i iho exchanges of the country, or in comfiling the resumption of specie payments, now not less apparent than its tendency > increase inordinate speculation by suden expansions and contractions; its dispo. tion to create panic and embarrassment ir the promotion of its own designs; its in. I irferencc with politics; and its- far greater I awer for evil than for good, cither in rear! to the local institutions or the opera* ans of Government itself. What was in icao respects but apprehension or opinion lien a national bank was first established, dw stands confirmed by humiliating cxjrience, Tne scenes through which we ave passed conclusively prove how little ur commerce, agriculture, nnnnfactures, r finances require such an institution, and hnt dmrrurc :irp attendant on itS dow(T? . "l" ? . power, I trust, never to be conferred by ( ie American People upon their (iovern- ( ient, and st l! 'ess upon individuals not re- j >ou i >lo to them for its unavoidable ubu. | i9' . ' My conviction of the necessity of further | gisfative provisions for the safe-keeping' , ad disbursement of the public moneys, and , ty opinion in regard to the measures best Japted to the accomplishment of those i bjects, have been already submitte J to you. 'hese have been strengthened by recent rents f anJ, in the ful! eonv ction that time id experience must still fur her demon- , rate their propriety, I feel it my duty, with jspectful deference to the conflicting views 1 f others, again to invite your attention to 10m. With the exception of limited sums de. osi e l in the f?*w banks still employed uner the act of 1836, tne amounts received ar duties, and, with very inconsrderable ex. eptions, those accruing from lands also, ave, since the general suspension of specie avments by the depo?ite banks, been kept nd disbursed by the Treasurer, under his ener.al legal powers, subject to the super atendence of the Secretary of tie Tress ry. Tue propriety of defining more speifically, and of regulating by law, the exerise of this wide scope of Executive discre. retion, has been already submitted to Conress. A change in the office of Collector at ne of our principal ports has brought to ?iir n rtf-falmtinn nf the ffravest character. ?..? - ? te particulars of which will be laid before ou in a special report from the Secretary f the Treasury. By his report and the acomp inying documeats it wdl be seen that le weekly re'urns of the defaulting officer pparently exhibited, throughout, a fuithful dministration of the affairs intrusted to his lanngjment. It, however, now oppears iat he commenced abstracting the public lonnys shortly after his appointment, and ! ontinued to do so, progressively increasie amount, for the term of more than even years, embracing a portion of the eriod during which the public moneys /ere deposited in the Batik of the United States, die whole of that of the State bank eposite system, and concluding only on his etirement from office,, after that system had ubstantially failed, in consequence of the uspension of specie payments. The way in which this defalcation was so Dng concealed, and the steps taken to inlemnify the United States, as far as practicble, against loss, will also be presented to ou. The cas^ is'one which imperatively denands attention of Congress, and furnishes L_ Jvo fnr I Kio f>?jtahlis''tment lie strongest f a more severe and secure system for the afelo e; in* and disbms -in#.it of the public noneys than any that has heretofore exist, id. It seems proper, at all events, that, by any arly enactment, similar to that of other ountries, the application of public money ?y an officer of Government to private usis should be made a felony, and visited with evere and ignominious punishment. Th's s already, in efFect, the law in respect to lie mint, and has been productive of the nost salutary results. Whatever system s adopted, such an enactment would be! vise as an independent measure, sinc^ nuch of the public moneys must, in theft ollecfion and ultimate disbursement,/dss wice through the hands of public offers, n whatever manner they are internjftbatdy :ept. The Government, it must A- admits ed has been from its commcnc^ ?oi com. laratively fortunate in this inspect. But ! h,. j he appointing power c.myui limn vo uv | veil advised in its selectio^? and the ex.,1 >crience of eery counter has shown that j ?ubhc officers are noyyt ali t ines proof .?ui?)c! temptation. A is a duty, tiierefore,; vh'cl th'* Govemij/ci- owes, as vvo!ito the j ? ?- ?> rn-ffy * > f#r * ** " * > f / - i^-iJ 1111 -jaw* officers themselves, to provide every guard againct trangiessions of this character, that is consistent with reason and humanity. Congress cannot be too jealous of the conduct of those who are entrusted with the public mon y, and I shall at all times be disposed to encourage a watchful discharge of this duty. If a more direct co-operation on the part of Congress, in the supervision of the conduct of the officers entrusted with tnc custody and application of tho public money, is deemed desirable, it will give mo pleasure to assist in the establishment of any judicious and constitutional plan by which that object may bo accomplished. You will, in your wisdom, determine upon tho propriety of adopting such a plan, and upon tie measure necess ?ry to us effectual exe^. cution. When ilie ia'e Bank of the United S:ates was incorporated, and made th<? depository of the public moneys, a right was reserved to Congress to inspect, at its plea, sure, by a commtlteeofthat body, the books and the proceedings of ihe bank. Tn one of the States whose banking institutions are supposed to bo amongst the first in point of stability, they ore subjected to constant examination by commissioners uppointed for that purpose, and much of the success of its banking system is attributed :o this watchful supervision. The 6ame :ourse has also, in view of its beneficial operation, been adopted by an adjoining 3 ate, favorably known for the care it has always bestowed upon vvhateve" "elates to its financial concerns. I submit to your consideration whether a committee of CV>njress might not bo profitably employed in nspecting, at such intervals as might be iceined proper, the affairs and accounts of officers intrusted with the custody of the >ublic moneys. The frequent performance >f this duty might be made obligatory on he committee in respect to those officers vho i ave large sums in their possession, ?nd left discretionary in respect to others, riiey might report to the Executive such lefalcaiion as were found 10 exist, with & - iew to a prompt removal from ortice unless he default was satisfactorily accounted fori ind report, also to Congress, at tbo com. nencemcnt of each session, tb6 result of heir examinations and proceedings. It Joes appear to ma that, with a subjection )f this class of public officers to the getter* il supervision of the Executive, to exumimu [ions by committee of Congress at periods sf which thev should have no previous notice, and to prosecu ion and punishment as for f'lonv for every breach of trust, the iife.keeping of the public moneys, under the sysviu propo* d, might be placed on a ?urer foundation than it has ever occupied since the establishment of the Government, The Secretary of the Treasury will lay b< fo e you additional information contain* ing new details on this interesting subject. To these I ask your early attention. That it should iiave given rise to great diversity of opinion cannot be a subject of surprise. After the collection and custody of the pub. lie moneys had been for so many years connect d with, and made subsidiary to, the advancement of private interests, a retui n to the simple and s'df.denying ordinance of the Constitution could noi but he difficult. But time and free discussion eliciting the sentiments of the People, and aided by that concili itory spirit which has ever charac* terized their course on great emergencies, were relied upon for a satisfactory settlement of the question. Already has thisanticipa. tion, on one nnporanf point at least?tho impropriety of diverting public money to private purposes?been fully realized. Thrrfl is no reason, to suDDOse that legisla. tion upon that branch of the subject would now be embarrassed by a difference of op, inion, or fail to receive the cordial support of a large majoriy of our constituents. The connexion which formerly existed between the Government and banks was in reality in ? injurious to both, as well as to the general interests of the community at large4 Itag. gravated the disasters of trade, and the de. ran jrements of commercial intercourse, and administered ncwexcitement and addition* al means to wild and reckless speculations, the disappointments of which threw the country into convulsions of panic, and all but produced violence and bloodshed. The imprudent expansion of bank credits, which was the natural result of the command of the revenues of the State, furnished the resources for unbounded licesse in every species of adventure, seduced industry from its regular and salutary occupations by the hope of abundance without labor, and de? ranged the social state by temoting all trades and professions into the vortex of speculation on remote contingencies. The same wide-spreading influence im? peded also the resources of the Govern., ment, curtailed its useful operations, .embarrassed the fulfilment of its obligatfens, and seriously interfered with the execution of the la ws. Large appropriations and op* pressive taxes are the natural consequences of such a connection, since they increase the profits of those who ara allowed to use the public funds, and make it their interest that money shou'd be accumhlated and ex_ p nditures multiplied. It is thus that aeon*, centrated money power is tempted to be. come an actives agent in political affairs; and al/ p*?st experience has shown on which side that influence will bearrayed. Wede* ceive outjefves if we suppose that it will ever bo round asserting and supporting the rghtsof the community at large, in opposition the claims of the few. fn a Government whose distinguishing sharac:erlstic should be a diffusion and eq. aiization of its benefits and b irdens, the advantage of individuals will bo augumenled at the expense of iho mass of the People. Nor is it the nature of combinations,for the acquision oflegislative influence, to confine their interference to the single object for which they were originally formed* The temptation to extend it to other matters is, on the contrary, not unfrcquently too strong to be resis'e J. The influence, in the direction of public affairs, of the community at large, is, therefore, in no slight danger cf being sensibly and injuriously affected by giving to a comparatively small, v.,.- .-M-r r.fRrvopt fl-rec; y?nd