Rising Sun Times, Volume 3, Number 111, Rising Sun, Ohio County, 26 December 1835 — Page 5

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PRESIDENT S MESSAGE, CO.XTLM ED. These impediments to the expedition of much duty in the General Land Of' (ice, induce me to submit to your judgment, whether some modification of the laws relating to its organization, or an S organization of a new character, be not called for, al the present juncture, to enable the office to accomplish all the ends of its institution with a greater degree of facility and promptitude than experience has proved to he practicable, uuder existing regulations. The vaiiety of the concerns, and the magnitude and complexity of the details occupying and dividing the attention cf the Commissioner, appear to render it difficult, if not impracticable, for that officer, by any possible assiditi'y, to bestow on all the multifarious sucjects upon which he is called to act, the ready and careful attention due to their respective importance, unless the Legislature shall assist him by a law providing, or enabling him to provide, for a more regular and economical distribution of labor, with the incident responsibility, a-

yrMig those employed under his dircc tion. I he mere manual operation of affixing his signature to the vast number of document issuing from his office, subtracts so largely from the time and attention claimed by the weighty and complicated subjects daily accumulating in that branch of the public service, as to indicate the strong necessity or revising the organic law of the establishment. It will be easy for Congress, hereafter, to proportion the expenditure on account ol this branch of the service to its real wants, by abolishing, from time to time, the offices which can be dispensed with. The extinction of the Public Debt having taken place, there is no longer any use for the offices of Commissioners of Loans and the Sinking Fund. 1 recommend, therefore, that they be abolished, and that proper measures be taken tor the transfer to the Treasury Department, of any funds, book-, and papers, connected with the operations of those offices; and that the proper power be given to that Department, for closing, tinally, any portion cf their businots which may remain lo be settled. It i? also incumbent on Congress, in guarding the pecuniary interests of the country, to discontinue, by such a law as was passed in 1 3 1 2, the receipt of the . ;il-.f tUnlc of the United Stales in payment of the public revenue; and to provide for the designation of an agent whose duty it shall be to take charge of the books and stock of the United Slates in that institution, and to close nil connection with it, after the 3d of March, IC3G, when its charter expires. In making provision in regard to the disnosition of this stock, it will be essen-

position o. m., mock, regulator of political power, and whose tial todehnc, clearly lncUy. great ultimaie object,and inevitable redutics and powers of the officer charged ,i

with that branch of the public service. It will be seen from the correspon dence which the Secretary of the 1 reas.i" I.. f ihn enrk tunning u.c vr - wh rh the Un ted States hold ill mau institution, no information has yet been communicated which will enable the Government to anticipate when it can receive any dividends, or derive any benefit from it. Connected with the condition of the1 neciea wun me u,uuu,u . finnnces and the flourishing state ot the ury'in all iu W.ch ld, if.;a nlonc nr tn witness the advania- - . 1 . ccs which have been alreaty aenveu k f ''3 - ' from the recent laws regulating the al m i l i " TKcrt A r ti uc oi me go.a cou...-. - fa.-os w bo more apparent m the 'fa " "" 11 . 1.11k Ilk llll coiire of the next year, wncn me Branch Mint, authorized to be establishcd h J North Carolina, Georgia, and Lbuof the next i.lan i etmll h.ivr onc into operation. Aided, as it is hoped they will be, by further reforms in the banking systems

vf the States, and by judicious regula- gainst this spirit of monopoly, and prac- live power which it is the charac ter- ' ions on thenatl of Congress, in relation tically prove, in respect to the currency isticand the duty of freemen to indulge:

lo the custody of the public moneys, it

Jiay be confidently anticipated that the that there is no necessity for so exten- ted by patriotism and intelligence, to fcie of gold and silver, as a circulating sivc a resort to it as that which has been vindicate the conduct which, in .the edium, will become general in the or- heretofore practised. The experience end, would appear to have been called dinary transactions connected wilh the of another year has confirmed the ut- for by the best interests of my country, labor of the country. The great desid- ler fallacy of the idea that the Bank The apprehensions natural to this feelcratum, in modern times, is an efficient of the United Stales was necessary as a ing, that there may have been a desire, ! check upon the power of banks, pre- fiscal agent of llie Government. With- thro' the instrumentality of that meavciitin" that excessive issue of paper, out its aid as such, indeed, in despite sure, to extend Ihe Executive influence, whence arise those fluctuations in the of all ihe embarrassment it was in its or that it may have been prompted by Uandard of value which render uncer- power to create, the revenue has been motives not sufficiently free from amMn the rewards of labor. It is sup- paid with punctuality by our citizens; bition, were not overlooked. Under :cd by those who established the Ihe business of exchange, both foreign the operation of our institutions, the 'itk of the United Stales, that from and domestic, has been conducted wilh public servant who is called on to take credit given to it by the custody of convenience; nnd the circulating medi- a step of high responsibility, should feel,

public moneys, and other privileges, Hhe precautions taken to guard a1st the evils which the country had on the bankruDtcv ofmany of Slate institutions of that period, we '.'ould derive from that institution all s ih-security and benefits of a sound cur- ! rencr, nnd every good end lhat ws at :nUl under that provision of the con t !itution which authorizes Congress ai ,l . A - I . I - at.-

HJIPFILIEMIIEMTr TTdD TIMS MISIiW UW TIMIE

value thereof. But it is scarcely ne-1 cessary now lo say, that these anticipalions Have not been realized. After the extensive embarrassment and distress recently produced by the Bank of the United States, from which the country is now recovering, aggravated as they were by pretentions of power which defied the public authority, and

which, if acquiesced in by the People. i i i .i -.i t .i 4i ii,1' ll has been seen, that, without the awould nave changed the w hole charac- , r j i

ler of our Government, every candid and intelligent individual must admit that, for the attainment of ihe great advantages of a sound currency, we must look to a course of legislation radically different from that which created such an institution. In considering the means of obtaining so important an end, we must set aside ill calculations of temporary convenience, and be influenced by those only which are in harmony with the true character and the permanent interests of the Republic. We must recur to first principles, and see what it is that has prevented the legislation of Congress and the States, on the subject of currency , from satisfying the public expectation, and realizing results corresponding to those which have attended the action of our system when truly consistent with the great principle of equality upon which it rests, and with that spirit of forbearance, and mutual concession, and generous patriotism, which was originally, and must ever continue to be, the vital element of our Union. On this subject, I am sure that I cannot be mistaken in ascribing our want of success to the undue contiuuance which has been afforded to the spirit of monopolj-. All the serious dangers which our system has yet encountered, may be traced to the resort to implied powers, and the use of corporations clothed with privileges, the effect of which is to advance the interests of the few, at the expense of the

many. We have felt but one class of place of the Bank of Ihe United States, these dangers, exhibited in the contest a practical reform in the whole paper waged by ihe Bank of ihe United Stales system of the country. If, by this polagainsl ihe Government for the last icy, we can ultimately witness the supfour years. Happily, Ihey have been pression of all bank bills below twenty obviated for the present by the indig- dollars, it is apparent that gold and silnant resistance of the People; but we vcr will take their place, and become should recollect that the principle the principal circulating medium in the whence they sprung is an ever active common business of the farmers and

one, which will not fail to renew its cf- mechanics of the country. The altainforls in the same and in other forms, merit of such a result will form an era

so long as there is a hope of success, founded on the inattention of the People, or the treachery of their representatives, to the subtle progress of its in fluence. The Bank is, in fact, but one ' of the fruits of a system at war with the genius of all our institutions asys I tern founded upon a political creed, the fundamental principle of which is a i distrust of the popular will as r safe sun, ciiuuiu ii jnciau, is mc v.iiouiiualion of all power in our system in one central Government. Lavish public exclusive piivucgca, uu.u uC .10 uU ... . f ., 0,ie;.iai and.5is vet.sound , . . ' r ' mm luv- vwuewti.fi'u I. k -kcs cilonr nn.i co. crei0p.uo .,w.iuu uu u UC . ciseauy t ie lew, over uteput.u. conduct of the many, by first acquiring that control over the labor and earnings . . f , ,1 . W . " " r . j nff.? S'JS I IVIIII llUllliCni lUIILIk lIKIIlllt IIIIU uvg1 . . .. ' S .. J.-. . no im have Deen me iruit. ll it isev r r.i.r . . u SQU f t, bU v""ut . ..... . v ... In. and afritatrs Ihe country with aues- - . . ' : : Hon. unfavorable to the harmonious and Eteady Pursuit of lts true ,nteresls We are now to see whether, in the present favorable condition of ihe country, we cannot take an effectual stand aas well as other important interests, urn nas Deen greatly improved. Jiyihe use of the State banks, which do not deri their charters from the General Government, and are not controlled by its authority, it is ascertained that the moneys of the United States can be collected and disbursed without loss or inconvenience; and that nil the wants - of the community, in relation to the exchange and currency, are as well sup I linu h:ivi OVPT hrOll llifnrA

If, under circumstances th most unfa-

vorable to the steadiness of the money market, it has been found that the ronsiderations on which the Bank of the United States rested its claims to the public favor, were imaginary nnd groundless, it cannot be doubted that the experience of the future will be more decisive against them. revenue can be collected, and conven iently and safely applied to all the pur poses of the public exenditure. It is also ascertained, that, instead of being necessarily made to promote the evils of an unchecked paper system, the management of the revenue can be made auxiliary to the reform which the Leg islatures of several of the States hive already commenced in regard lo the suppression of small bills, and which has only to be fostered by proper regulations on the part of Congress lo se cure a practical return, lo the extent required for the security of the curren cy, to the constitutional medium, severed from the Government as political engines, and not susceptible of dangerous extension and combination, the State banks will not be tempted, nor will they have the power which we have seen exercised, lo divert the public funds from the legitimate purposes of the Government. Ihe collection and custody of the revenue being, on the contrary, a source of credit to them, will increase the security which the States provide for a faithful execution of their trusts, by multiplying the scru tinies to which their operations and accounts will be subjected. Thus disposed, as well from interest as the obligations of their charters, it cannot be doubted that such conditions as Con gress may see ht to adopt respecting the deposites in these institutions with a view to the gradual disuse of the small bills, will be cheerfully complied with; and that we shall soon gain, in in the history of o?r country, vs-hi-h will be dwelt upon with delight by ev ery true friend of its liberty and inde pendence. It will lighten the great tax which our paper system has so long collected from the earnings of labor, and do more to revive and perpetuate those habits of economy and simplicity which are so congenial to the character of republicans, than all the legisla tion which has yet been attempted. To this subject I feel that I cannot too earnesly invite the especial attention of Congress, without the exercise of whose authority, the opportunity to nnimnmvfw . wn v imnrpssed " V.L T .. "f ' , 7 " '.J: wiui us vuai impotiauce, me jdxccu1 haa ..i-n .. Kr Kioria iv i 1 11 1 11 hi I w anatf in.i tuw liiv I ' twit &u I ... "... ,ic revenue, and defeat Ihe expectation which he Bank of (he Unilcd Sl;llcs indu,ged,0f renewingand perpetuatinc ;.e nn nr . Ar !. . -..w.j, b. ... ... cessity as a tiscal agent, and as aiiorh could b. I Ii m J 1 ' , t A - ODiatnea wunoui sucn an insmuiion In the performance of this duty, much re sponsibility was incutred, which would have been gladly avoided if the stake which the public had in the questiou wmw m- v j w ia wawvat.vaw ..i ...... , couia nave oeen omerwise preserved. Allnou h clolhcd wilh tlie lcg;ll au. thority, and suppoiled by precedent, 1 was aware that there was, in the act of the removal of the deposits, a liability to excite that sensitiveness to Execubut I relied on this feeling, also direcin the freedom which gives rise lo such apprehensions, his high security. When unfounded, the attention which thev arouse, and the discussions thev excite, deprive those who indulge them, of the power to do harm; when just, they but hasten the certainty with which the great body of our citizens never fA j0 repel an attempt to mo- - cure their sanction to any exercise of I 1 it. 1

maintenance of their lights. Under

!u.j (.uimuiuus, ana entertaining no gouoi mat nw constitutional o u uraJ 1 A .1 . V. - - o - lions demanded the steps which were Kineu in reierence lo me removal oi il,. A : -. . r nic ui- 'iim.cn il was impossiuie lor me K. 1 A .1." i. ., i ..... lu uviuu-u mmi me nam oi uuiy ny a icar mat rny motives count be could defeat the just consideration of the merits of my conduct. The result has shown how safe is this reliance up-

...v, ".uiih. ii-iufi-i -iiiu iiniiicii- j suns temporarily employed, and too ofed discernment cf the people. That ten. of necessity, wiil.rmi ll ii, 1:

measure has now been before them, at-u nas stood the test ot ail the severe

analysis which its general importance, lenlion, and also the proposition subfile interests it affected, and the appro- milted at the last session of ConTcs

H.HJ.1U1IS ii tMiicu, were caicuiaieu to produce: and it now remains lor l,oniu eonsiuer wnai legisiavion nas become necessary in consequence. I need only add to what I have on formcr occasions said on this subject, cenerally, thai in the regulation which Congress may prescribe respecting the cusroay ol llie public moneys, it is desirable that as little discretion as may be deemed consistent with their safe-keep ing, should be given to the Executive agents. No one can be more, deeply impressed than I am with the sound ness of the doctrine, which restrains and limits, by specific provisions, Execuuve aiscrenon, as tar it can oe done consistently with (lie preservation of its constitutional character. In respect to the control over the public moneys, this doctrine is peculiarly applicable, and is in harmony with ihe great pi inciple which I fell 1 was sustaining, in the controversy with the Bank of the United States, which has resulted in severing, to some extent, a dangerous

connection Between a moneyed and and other branches ot Ihe national depolilical power. The duty of the Leg fence, some portions of which might islature to define, by clear and positive have been most usefully applied during:

enactments, the nature and extent of me action wiucn u oeiongs 10 me 1.xecutive to superintend, springs out of a policy anaJagous to that which en joins upon all the branches of the Fed eral Government, an abstinence from the exercise of powers not clearly granted. In such a Government, possessing only limited and specific powers, the spirit of itsgeneraladministrationcannotbe wise or just, when it opposes the reference of all doubtful points to the great source of authority, the States and the Peopie; whose number and diversified relatiohs, securing them against the influ-1 ences and excitements which may mis lead their agents, make them the safest depository of power." In its application to the Lxecutive, with reference to Ihe Legislative branch of the Government, the same rule of action should make the President ever anxious to avoid the exercise of any discretionary au thority which can be regulated by Con gress. The biases which may operate upon him will not be so likely to extend to the representatives of the People in that body In my former messages to Congress, I have repeatedly urged the propriety of lessening the discretionary authority lodged in the various departments; but it has produced no cuect, as yet, ex cept the discontinuance of extra allow ances in the Army and Navy, and the substitution of fixed salaries in the lat ter. It is believed that the same prin ciples could be advantageously applied in all cases, and would promote the el(iciency and economy of the public service, ai me siime nine uiai greater sni - isfaction, and more equal justice, would be secured to the public officers gener ally. The accompanying Report of the Secretary of War, will put you possession

of the operations of the Department ifications is demanded by the public inconfided to his care, in all its diversified terest. That this object has been in a relations during the past year. great measure obtained by the Military I am gratified in being able lo in- Academy, is shown by the state of the form you, that no occurrence has re- service, and by the prompt accountabilquircd any movement of the military ity which has generally followed the force, except such as is common to a necessary advances. Like all other state of peace. The services of the political systems, the present mode of

army have been limited to their usual military education, no doubt, has its nriduties at the various garrisons upon the perfections, both of principle and prac-

Allantic and inland frontier, with the exceptions stated by the Secretary of

War. Uur small military estaotisn- scrutiny, witnout aestroying me nisumcnt appears to be adequate to the tution itself.

purposes for which it is maintained; and it forms a nucleus around which any additional force may be collected, should the public exigencies unfortu-

nalely require any increase of our mil- lion ol the Militia. 1 am again inuu--ilary means. ced, by the importance of the subject, The various acts of Congress which to bring it lo your attention. To suphave been recently passed in relation press domestic violence, and to repel lo the army, have improved its condi- foreign invasion, should these calamilion, and have rendered its organiza- ties overtake us, we must rely, in the lion more useful and efficient. It is at -first instance, upon the great body of all times in a state for prompt and vig- the community, whose will has instituorous action; and it contains within it- ted, and whose power must support the self the power of extension to any use- Government. A large .lauding mihtaful limit- while, at the same time, it ry force is not consonant lo llie spirit of preserves that knowledge, both thcore- our institutions, nor to the feelings of tical and practical, which education our countrymen; and the lessons of forand experience alone can give; and mer days, and those also of our own which if not acquired and preserved 1 times, show the danger, as well as the

in lime of peace, must be sought under ureat disadvan aws in f mo ... ...ii U 11,11, -" ui nit u-upueer vorps Dress hcavilv unnn ll 'i h i m e !,,. t,v: service: and fhR nuhlir nuires an addi inn n ( fm,.fl, -ri. . ' . .. . r ..... 1 .t- ' . .. . . A nature oi the works in which the eflicers are engaged, render nccssarv proand there is no economy in commuting to them more duties than Ihcv can neiform, or in assigning these toother perfiralions which such sorvirp .!.-m-.n,tc I recommend this subject to your ataim now renewed, for a reorganization of the Topographical Corps. This rcorganization can be effected without any addition lo the present expenditare, and with much advantage to the public service. The branch of duties which devolves upon these officers is at all times interesting to the community; ana me iniormation luriushed by them is useful in peace and in war. per Much loss nnd inconvenience have been experienced, in consequence of the failure of the bill containing the or dinary appropriations for Fortifications, which passed one branch of the National Legislature at the last session, but was lost in the other, l his failure was the more resrretled. not onlv bpransp if necessarily interrupted and delayed the progress of a system of National Defence, projected immediately after the last war, and since steadily pursued, but also because it contained a contingent appropriation, inserted in accordance with the views of the Executive in aid of this important object, the past season, invite your early atlenlion to mat part ol me report of the Secretary of War which relates to this subject, and recommend an appropria tion sufficiently liberal to accelerate the armament of the fortifications ag reeably lo the proposition submitted by him, and to place our whole Atlantic seaboard in a complete state of de fence. A just regard lo the pennanent interests of the country evidently requires this measure. But there are also other reasons which at the present juncture give it peculiar force, and mako it my duty to call to the subject your special consideration. The present system of Military Edu cation has been in operation sufficiently long to test its usefulness, and it lias given to the army a valuable body of officers. It is not alone in the improve ment, discipline, and operation of the troops, that these officers are cmploj'ed." They arc also extensively engaged in the administrative and fiscal concerns of the various matters confided to the War Department; in the execution of Ihe staff duties usually appertaining to military organization; in the removal of the Indians, and in the disbursement of the various expenditures growing out of our Indian relations; in the forma tion of roads, and in the improvement of harbors and rivers; in the construc tion of fortifications; in the fabrication of much of the material required for the public defence; and in the preser vation, distribution, and accountability of the whole; and in other miscellane0us duties, not admitting of classifica 1 uon. These diversified functions embrace very heavy expenditures of public mo ney, and require fidelity, science, and business habits in their execution; and a system which shall secure these qualtice; but 1 trust these can be improved by riged inspections, and by legislative Occurrences, 10 which we as well as other nations are liable, both in our internal and external relations, point to the necessity of an efficient organiza-

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