Indiana American, Volume 8, Number 51, Brookville, Franklin County, 18 December 1840 — Page 2

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ihh, orcd cA S from the ue labor of the husriU:rdfd- -iriA nr.,.nr ana man mare amply before liave our relations with other countries been placed on a more favorable basis than that which they 53 h;pily occupy at this critical conjuncture in the affairs of the world.A rigid and persevereing abstinence from all tnterferettce with the domestic and political teUlions of other Slatcs,alike due to the genius and distinctive character of our Governnent and to lite principles bv which i is directed; a faithful observance, in the management four foreign relations, of the practice speaking plainly, dealing justlv, and requiring truth a.id justice in return, as the best oaservatives of the peace of nations; a strict tnpariiality n Cur manifestations of friendship, iu the commercial privileges we concede, and those we require from othersrthese, accompanied by a disposition as prompt to maintain, in every emergency,our own rights, as ire are from principle averse to the invasion of those of others, hvc given to our country and government a standing in the great familyof nalions,of which we have just cause to be proud, and the advantages of which are . experienced by our citizens throughout every portion of the earth (0 which their cnterprisrng and adventurous spirit may carry them, l ew, if any, remain insensible to the value of our friendship, or ignorant of the terms on which it can be ncquired, and bv which it . can alone be preserved. Aperies cf queslions.of long standing, difficult, in their adjustment, and important in their ccnstnueiKt-f, in which the right of cur citizens and the honor of the country were U"H iwiuiicu, nave, in the course oit few years, (the most of them during the successf ful administration of my immediate predecessor,) been brought to a satisfactory coocli:f non. and the most important of those remaining are, I am happy (o believe, iu a fair way to be speedily am! satisfae tor.ally adjusted. IV: 1. 11 1 1. . 11 , . .J ..mi iiu uic rowers ol the world our relations are those ef honorable peace. Since your adjournment, nothing serious has occu red o interrupt or threaten this dSmUn 1,.1 ir 1 ------... mony. If clouds have lowered above the oil- , . ...... .ci r, iry nave not jcast their pre ttntous shadows upon our happy sborcs. Bjund by no entangling alliances, et linked by a common nature and interest with the - ether aationsof mankind, our aspirations are ror Ihe perserration of peace, in whose solid nd cuvihzuig triumphs all may participate with a gen-rous emulation. Yet it behooves us to be prepared for any event, and to be attrays ready (0 maintain those just and enlightened principles cf national intercourse, for which the Government has ever contended. J the shock of contending empires, it is only fcj s3uminS a resolute bearing, and clothing themselves with defensive armor, that neutral nations fenn maintain their independent rights. r HThe excitiemeat which grew out of the territorial controversy between the U. States and Great Britain having in a great measure subsided, it is hoped that a favorable period ti approaching far its fmal settlement. Both Governments must now be convinced of the dingers with which the qicslien is' fraught; and it must be U,eir desire, as it is their interest. thit thw perpetual cause of irritation sh.nildjbe removed as speedily .practicable. I.i my last annual message you were informed thU ths proposition for a commission of exproration and survey promised by G. Britain hd been received, and 1I1 if ni 1 m lw CWk:xl it l - .... e - i inclu I.nj also a provuion for the certain and -MUJj.I.imentof . t J.- ... 1,1 aipu'e, w as ( insn ociorc ;un uni.sli Government for its i:iu ociorc ,u.c uriusii .government Tor its consideration. The answer of lhat r.nrorn. ment, accompanied by additional'proposilions of its own, was received, through its minister hers, since your separation. These were promptly considered; such as were deemed correct in principle, and consistent with a due regard to the just rights of the United States and of the State of Maine, concurred in; and the reasons jfor dissenting from the residue, with an additional suggestion on our part, communicated by .'the Secretary nf State to "Mr Fox. That minister, not feeling himself sufficiently instructed upon some of the points raised in the discussion, felt it to be his duly to refer the matter to his own -Government for its' further decision. Hnvincr for some time under its advisement, a speedy aaiwer may be confidently expet ted. From the character of the points still i and the undoubted disposition of both parlies 10 nring uie mauer to nn earIy conclusion, I look with entire confid ence In n ninmnf ann ealisfactory termination of the negotiation. m : , . 0 . . 1 uree co"umwncrs were appointed shortly after the adjournmentof Congress, under the act of the last session providing f.r tK ration and surver of the lin which wnnrilpt the States of Maine and New Hampshire from .i... --1 i ? . . .. uk unusii rrovmces; mey have been active iyemploved until their nrntrra wan intrrrun ted by the inclemincv 'nf lh oaenn. and nil resume their labors a soon as practicable in It is understood that their respective examinations will throw new light upon the subject in controversy, and serve to remove any erroneous impressions which may have been made elsewhere prejudicial to the rights of the. U. States. It Was among other reasons, with a .- . view ofpreventig the embarrassments which, i in our peculiar system of government, impede and complicate negotiation in volving the,

-.territorial rights of a state, that I thought

jmy duty, as you have been informed on n pre vious occasion, 10 prepose to the British Gov . ., . . it. . cinmcnt. through its MmUiomf Vh;nrinn . , . " , ... that early steps should be taken loadjustlhe noints of differs n cp nn iKa ru j from thn mnclf T "V. " I ". " mnct n nri K triiiiirn r.i" V . ,c c -.t . J v" -1 er, in conformity with ihe to,, -nth nn;u ,.rLi . . . . er,, . -..t . v w nronosition o una Viih An.irU - t t - . .1, 11 f CWS,?Ua Mnd he remaining Powers ol Europe. I am happy to inform you our relations continue to be of l . r - .. me most iriendly character. With Belgium, a treaty of commerce and navigation, based upon liberal pi maples of reciprocity and equality, was concluded in March last, having been ratified by the Belgian Government, will be duly laid before the Senate. It is a subject of congratulation lhat it provides for the satisfactory adjustment of along standing question of controversy ;thus removing the only obsticle which could obstruct the friendly and mutually ad vantagous intercourse between the Iw. nations. A messenger has been despatched w ith the Hanoveran treaty to Berlin, where, according lo stipulation, the raliGcalions are to be changed. I am hippy to announce to you that, after many delays and difficulties, a treaty of commerce and navigation, Letwcen the United State and Portugal, was coneluded'and signed at Lisbon, on the 2Glh of August last by the plenipotentiaries of the two Governments. Its stipulation are founded upon those principles of mutual liberality and advantage which the United Stales have always sought to make the basis of their intercourse with foreign Powers, and it is hoped they will tend to foster & strengthen theg commercial intercourse of the two countries. " " Under the appropriation of the last session of Congress, nn agent has been sent to Germany, for the purpose of promoting the interests of our tobacco trade. . The commissioners appointed under the convention for the adjustment ofclaimsof the citizens of the United Slates upon Mexico having met Zand organized at Washington in August last, the papers in the possession of me vrovcrntnent relating to those claims, wert communicated tojthe board. The claims not embraced by that convention are now subicct of negotiation between lb? two f.nv. . V. , ' ernmenls, through the medium of our minister ju Mexico. m.i,:.. i j ... J: .. . iiuiiiiiiL' has in liii 1 r 111 iiikinp.i ritn iirm.i O .v u iiv, uni iiiv ny of our relations with the different Gorernmenlsof South America. 1 regret, however, to be obliged lo inform von iht th claim. of our citizens upon the late Republic of .Colunula have not yet been satisfied by the'sepcrate Governments into which it has been resolved. The charge d'affaires at Brazil having expressed the intention of his Government not to be obligatory upon either parly on the l'2th day of December 1811, Jwhen the extensive commercial intercourse between the United States and lhat vast empire will no longer be regulated by express stipulations. It affords me pleasure to communicate to you mat me Government ol Uhih has enter ca line nn agreement o indemnity the clai .... - e -. . ,i menis m uie case ol tthe Macedonian, for . - - - j - - American ,property seized in 1819; adj to add that information has also been received huu iiiriL liiinm niinn line qiha iinon rnnoi ac which lustihcsthe hoDe of an earlv adinttmpn of the remaining claims upon that Govorn men 1 ,o.nu,onersappeI..eo,n pursuance of the convention J-cen the United States them, have, (according to the last report rc i j- tini. ceived Irom our commissioners, survived and

n- i .j a i i . . r i . . v.....s.u.o.....fi ..o ...jmuij its possioie me naestabhshed Ihe whole extent of the boundary lionaldeb,ndS.ibseq.iently,inresistingeve. north nlnnrr ih woslfrn l.-.nL-r iK ? J1 . &

. - river, from it. entrance into the Gulf of Mexico to the th.rlyl second degree of north lalino w" tude. 1 he commissioner adiourncd 0:1 ihn iflih rt. i-ai ul- - .u " , ,,c 4i 01 iN'.vember.tor the purpose of :estahlishinocuralely the..nUrsecl.onoQthe 32d degree bine and the meredian line thnr in 1?d " "vbiu vHHK oi me oaiver. It is presumed that the work will be concluded in the present season. 1 lie present sound condition of Iher finances, and the success wilh which embarrassments in regard to them, at times appaorantly insurmountable, have been overcome, are matters upon which the people and Governmem oi ine united states may well congratulate themselves. An overwhelming treasurv. however it may be resrardedas an rv'idonre ofpublic property, is seldom conducted to the permanciu wenare oi any people; and experience has demonstrated its incompatibility wiin ine saiuiary action ol political institutions like those of the United States. Our ni reliance for financial efficiency! and indepen dence has, on the contrary, been found to consist in ample resoureesunencombcred with debt ; and, in this respect, the Federal Gov ernment occupies a singularly fortunate and truly enviable position. When I entered upon the discharge of my official duties in March, 1837, the act for the distribution of Ihe surplus revenue was in a course of rapid execution. Nearly twentyeight millions of dollars of the public moneys were in puisuancc of its provisions, disposited with the States in the months of January. April and July of that year. In May there occurred a generul suspension of specie payments by the banks, including, wilh very few exceptions, those in which the public moneys were deposited, and upon whose fidelity the Government had unfortunately made "itself dependent for the revenues which had been collected from the people, and were indispensable to !he public service.. This suspension and the excess io banking and commerce oat

it.of which it arose, and vh'uh were Rrgravaled

by its occurrence, made, to a great extont.uniiinic nn- principal part oi the public mo-nv-ta j . . .. .. r . avnuaaieiiip principal part of the public mo j i. .tn uii nniiu:suspenaeu me col cction ol many millions accruing on merchants' bonds; . . . ? ,l,m"1" ' ! " BJ roauced he revenuearising from u.epuhl.c lands. These effects nave continued lo operate, in various degrees, i';bciiv pr. iou : ana, in audition tollie - r - . :.. .ur . ' .'. "uul," .l" me revenue inus produced, two Mui.iea y two biennial reductions under the aCl of 833, and probably as much more upon the importation ofiron for railroads, by 1 cial legislation. P u hile such has been our condition for the last four years in relation to revenue, we have, during the same period, been subjected loan unavoidable contiunance of large"ex!raordinary expenses necessarily growing out of past transaction?, and which could not be immediately arrested without great prejudice lo lh public inicrest. Of those, the charge upon the Treasury, in consequence of the Cherokee treaty alone, without adveiting lo others arising out of Indian treaties, has already exceeded five millions of dollars; lhat for the prosecution ef measures for the removal of the Seminole Indian?, which wrre fnnnd in progress, has been nearly fourteen millions; and the public buildings have required the unusual sum of nearly three millions. It affords me, however, great pleasure to be able to say, that from the commencement of this period to the present day,every demand upon 'tne Government, at Ihome ;or abroad, has been promptly met. This has bcen done, not only without creating a permanent debt, or a resort to additional taxation in any form, but in Ihe midst of a steady progressive reduction of existing burdens upon the people, having still a considerable balance of available fund, which will remain in ihe Treasury al the end of the year. The small amount of Treasuiy ntes, not exceeding four and a half millions of dollar?, still outstanding, aud less by twenty Jhree millions than the Uaited Stales have in depojite with the States,is composed such only as are not yet due, or have not been presented for payment. They may be redeemed out of the accrueing revenue, if the expenditures do not exceed Ihe amount within which they may, it is thought, be kept without oreiudicc to lh nnhlio int.r.ri and the revenue shall prove to be as larce as iu.ijjus.ny ue anticipated. Amon the reflections nricmrr crHm iurrn. temptation of these ciicumstanccs, one, not i .c icasi graiuying. is ihe consciouncss that Ihv Government had Mm rccnlnii ability (o adhere, in every emergency, to the oungaiions oi law; t 'execute all its contracts according to the requirements of the ....u.iiior., anu mas lo present, when most needed, a rallyinff noint bv whirh thm necsof the. whole country might be brought io a saie ana unvarying standard a result vitally important as well asta theinterests ns the morals of the people. There can surely now be no difference of opinion in regard to the incalculable evils that would have Arisen if the Government, at that critical moment, had suffered itself to be deterred from upholding the only true standard of value, either by the pressure ofndvrrsc circumstances! or the violence of unmerited denunrlniinn i i- l he manner in which the people sustained .nc ucvu'c suKiniueu ih i-vi iwi miiivu vi t'touuiVfj v (( III Hill v lion orable to their fortitude and patriotism. It i a. r i a t . . cannot luxi to stimulate ihr t here, 'under all rircumstances, to the line of duty; and lo salisly them of the safety with which a course really right,and demanded in a hnnncial crisis, may, in a community like ours, be pursued, however apparently severe us immcaiaie operation. Tlin nrwliz-r il'l!.. 1 II Uvtinrrn'.ci.;!!. .. ry icmpiauon io create a new one, deserve lobe regarded in the favorable light. Among the many objections to a national debt, the" ""J objections to a national debt, th l.ri; ; r....i.i: . ,u V"L purines 10 conceniraic ultimately in the coffers of fore en .Uinrl l.nU ;.... : ?. ering strength. Already have the resources oi man vol tnc aiatr and m fninm ;r.,.c(r.. oi uieir citizens, iecn indehnilclv rr.orttraeed . r .1. . ; ...... to the subjects of LilirODean Gnvprtimnnle. in 'the amount of twelve millions annuallv. to pay the constantly accrueir.g intercsfon borrowed imoney a sum exceeding half the ordinary revenues 'of the w hole United States The pretext which this relation affords to foreigncrs to scrutinizeslhe management of our .1 rt . uomcsuc nnair?, u not actually to inlermed- . Mi:trui9 a suujeci lor earnest attention, not to say of serious alarm. Fortuaateiy, tne l edrral Government, with the exception of; an obligation pntorod inin in behalf of the District of Columbia, which must soon oe ducharged, is wholy exempt Irom any such embarrassment. It is also, as it is believed, the only Government, which, having fully and faithfullv baid all it has also relieved itself entirely from debt. To maintain a distinction so desirable, and so honorable to our national rharacter,should be an object cf earnest solicitude. Never should a free people, if it be possible to avoid it, expose ihemselvess loihn nerooH r. ing to treat of the peace, Ihe honor, or the Safety of the Republic, with the Gnvornmnnte of foreign creditors, who, however well disposed they may be fo cultivate, in general, friendly relations, are nevertheless. 'by the law of their own condition, made hostile to the success and permanency of political institutions like ours. MosUiumiliating maybe theembarrassmentsconsequet nponuche condition. Anotherobjectioncarcely less formidable the commencement of a new debt, is its inevitabh pendency to increase in magnitude, and to foster national extravagance. He has been an unprofitable observer oi events, who needs at ''this day to be admonished of the

difficulties which a Government, habitually dependent on loans to sustain its ordinary expenditures, has to encounter in resisting

Ihe influences constantly exerted n favor of additional loans: by capitalists, who enrich themselves by Government securities for amounts n.uch exceeding the money they actually advance a prolific source of individual aggrandizement in all 'borrowing countries; by stockholders, who seek their gains in the rise and fall of public stocks; and by the selfish importunities of applicants for appropriations for works avowedly for the accommodation of the public. Lut the real objects of which are, too frequently, the advances ent of private interests. The known necessity which so many of the States will be under lo impose laxe9 for the payment of ine interest on their debts, lurnuhcs nn additional and very cogent leason why the Federal Government should refrain from creating a national! debt, by which the people would be exposed to double taxation for a similar object. e possess within ourselves ample resources for svery emergency; and we may be quite sure thai our citizens, in no futue exigency, will be unwilling to supply the Government with all the means asked for the defence of the country. In times of eace there can, at all events, be no justification for the creatiou of a permanent debt by the federal Government. Its limited range of constitutional duties may ccrtainly,undersuch circumstances, be performed without such a resort. It has, it is seen, been avoided during four years of greater fiscal difficulties than have existed in n similar period since the adoption of the constitution, ( nnd one also remarkable for ihe occurrence of extraordinary causes of expenditures. But, to accomplish so desirable an object, two things are indispensible: first, that the action of the Federal iiovernment be kept within the boundaries prescribed by its founders: and, secondly, that all appropriations for objects admitted to be constitutional, and the expenditure of them also, be subjected to a standard of rigid, but well considered and practical economy. The first depends chiefly on the people themselves, the opinions they form of the true constructtcn of the constitution, and the confidence Ihey repose in the political sentiments of those Ihey select as their representatives in the Federal Legisla ture; the second rests upon the fidelity with which their more immediate representatives, and other public functionaries, discharge the trusts committed to them. The duty of economizing the expenses of the public service is admitted on all hands; yet there are few subjects upon which there exists a wider difference of opinion than is constantly manifested in regard to the fidelity with which that duty is discharged. Neither diversity of sentiment, nor even mutual recriminations, upon a point in icspect to which the public mind is sojustlysensativecan well be entirely avoided; and least so at periods of great political excitement. An intelligent people, however, seldom fail lo arrive in the end, at correct conclusions in such a matter. Practical economy in4he managemenlof public affairs can have no adverse influence to contend with more powerful than a laree surplus reve nue, and unusually large appropriations for icq -., . . . . . r toot may, witnout doubt, independently ol the extraordinary requisitions for the public service growing out of (he state of our Indian relations, be, in no inconsiderable degree,traced to this source. The sudden and laoid distribution of the large suiplus then in the Treasury, and the equally sudden and unpre cedented) sever, revulsion in the commerce and business of ihe country, pointing with unerring ceitair.ty lo a great and protracted reduction of the revenue, strengthened the propneiy oi me earliest practicable reduction of .. S a. . . - me public expenditures. but, to change a system operating upon so large a surface, and applicable to such no me, rous and diversified interests and objects, was more than the work of a day. The attention of every department of the Government was immediately, and in good faith, directed to that end, and has been so continued to the present moment. The estimates and appro priations for Ihe year 1838 (the first over which I had any control; were somewhat diminished. The expenditures of 1839 were reduced sis millions of dollars. Those of 18-10, exclusive of (disbursements for public debt and trust claims,will probably not exceed iweoiy iwoand a hall milhons;being between two and three millions less than those of the preceding year, and nine or ten millions less than those of 1837. Nor has it been found necessary, in order to produce this result, to resort to the power conferred by Congress, of posrponing certain classes of the public works, except by deferring expenditures for a short period upon a limited portion of them; and which postponment terminated some time since, nt the moment the Treasury Department, by further receipts from the indebted banks, became fully assured of its ability to miet them without prejudice lo the public service in other respects. . Causes are in operation which will, it is believed, justify a still further reduction, without injury to any im portant national interest. The expences of it. i - . uiHiiiu.g me iroops in i lorida have been gradually and greativ reduced, through the persevering efforts of the War Department; and a reasonable hope may be entertained that the necessity for military operations in lhat quarter will soon cease. Tho of the Indians from within our settled borders is nearly completed. 1 he pension list, one of the heaviest charges upon the Treasury, is rapidly diminishing by death. The most costly of our public buildings, are either fini.ueo, or neany so; nd we may I think safely promise ourselves a continued exemption from border difficulties. The available balance in the Treasury qo the 1st of Januaijnext is estimated at one

million and a half cf dollnrs. Tl ' the expected rinipis fr,m'al Tl? the next year, will, it is believed, . 'ff !,rP to enable the Government to meet m gagement,and leave a suitable bab. ? Treasury at the end of the vear. if i ,U dial measures connected wiihh erfn,(and the public lands, heretofore ded, shall be adopted, and ihe new " ations by Congress shall not carry tin. Pn" ditures beyond the official estimates. plr" The new system established by Cfin for the safekeeping of the public "moi ev' scribing the kind of currency lo .e rcre' , for the public revenue, and providiPe actional guards and securities against cse. now been several months in operation though it might be premature, upon an ?. perience of such limited duration, 0 fo J definite opinion in regard to the extent cf V influences, in correcting many ctils i,t which Ihe Federal Government and ie f" try have hitherto suffered; especially lhfl that have grown out of banking expi, .. n depreciated currency, and official def.U lions; yet It to bat right lo thai D0U,inhas occurred in the practical operation of til system to weaken in the slightest degree but much to strengthen the confident stnticipalioD. of Us fnends. The grounds of these have bee, heretolore so fully explained as lo ,r ,lire r(V recapdulalion. In respect to the fccilily ano convenience it affords in conducting the psb he service, and the ability of the Government to discharge through its agency every duty attendant on the collection, transfer, ard disbursement of the public money with promptitude and success, I can say with confidence, that Ihe apprehensions of those who felt it t0 be their duiy to oppose its adoption have proved to be unfounded. On the contrary, this branch of the fiscal affnirsof theG

has been, and it is believed may alwavsbe, thus carried on with every desirable facility and security, A few changes and improvements in the details of ihe system, without affecting any principles involved in it, will be submitted la you by the Secretary of the Treasury, and will, 1 am sure, receive at your hands lhat alien lion Jo which they mav, en examination, be found to be entitled. 1 have deemed this brief summary ofourfiical affairs necessary to the due performance of a duty specially enjoined upon me by the constitution. It will serve also, to illustrate f..ll ,L . 1 . ..... uiuic lunj UJe principles ny which 1 Imre been guided in reference tv two conleitft points in our public policy, which were earliest in their developeircnr, and have been more important In their consequences, thtn any thai have aiisen under our complicated and difficult yet admirable, system of government; I nllude to a national debt, and a na tional bank, 1 1 was in the event that the po litical contests by which the country has been agitated ever since the adoption of ihe constitution, in a great measure, originated; and there is too much reason to apprehend that the conflicting interests and opposing principles thus marshalled; will continue, as heretofore to produce similar, if not aggravated, consequences. Coming into office the declared enemy of both, 1 have earnestly endeavored (o nrcvent a Jresoit to either. The consideration lhat a large public debt affords an apology and produces in seme degree, a necessity also, for resorting to a system and extent of taxation which is not only oppressive throughout, but likewise so apt to lead, in the end, to the commission of that most odious of all offences against the principles of republican government; the pros'.itutien of political power, conferred for the general benefit, to the aggrandizement of particular classes, and the gratification of individual cupidity; is alone sufficient, independently of the two weighty objections, which have already been urged, render its creation and existence the sources of bitter and unpleasant discord. II we add lo this, its inevitable tendency lo produce and foster extravagant expenditures of ihe publicmoney, by which a necessity is created for new loans and new burdens on the people; and finally if we refer to the examples of every Government which existed, for proof how seldom it is that the system, when once adopted and implanted in mc policy ol a country, has failed to cxpanu itself; until public credit was exhausted, and the people were no longer able to endure itincreasing weight, it seems impossible to. resist the conclugn, tint no benefits resulting from its career, no extent of conquests, no accession of wealth to particular clases,nor any, nor all its combined advantages, can counterbalance its ultimate but certain results asplendid Government, and an impoverished people. If a national bank was, as is undeniable, repudiated by the framrs of the constitution incompatable with the rights of the States and the liberties of the people; if, from the. beginning, it has been regarded by large portions of our citizens as coming in direct collision with that great and vital amendment of the constitution, which declares that all powers not conferred by lhat-instrument on the General Government are reserved to the States and to the people; if it has been viewed by them as the first great step in the march of latiludinous construction, which, unchecked, would render. that sacred instrument cfs little value as an unwrilteti constitution, dependent, as it would alone be,for its meaning, on the interested interpretation of a dominant party, and affording naseruritv.H) the right of Ihe minority ;-Mf sucjs rtdeniably lne case, what rational grounds could hav bcn conceived for aaticipating aught but determined opposition, to sucKan institution at the present dayt .'..- " Could a d:Jerenlrp.syll hare been exacted, when the consaqiieSces whie hhave flowed from its creation, and particularly from shuggles to perpetuate its ex'staicc, hd con.

v.