Western Sun & General Advertiser, Volume 20, Number 45, Vincennes, Knox County, 19 December 1829 — Page 2

lniiucncc oi letting uniavorabic to a unium : scarcely necessary la invite in it ycur part.c

di -.cii ii ge of their pubde duties. Their m tcgity may b;: pioof against improper const-

ular atttnlion. It is principally as manufac-

! Hires & commerce tend to increase the value

derations inv.ncdiat . ly addressed to them- of agricultural productions, and to extend selves, but they are apt to acquire a habit of their application to the wants and comforts ol looking with indifi'ei encc upon the public in society, that they deserve the fosteiing care t3!'-U arid ol tolerating conduct from which ' of Government. n: unpractised rnan would revolt. Oflicc i Looking forward to the period, not far dis considered as a species of propeity; and (i . tant, when a sinking fund will no longer be re vcrnncnt rather as a means ol piomoting i j quired, the duties on those articles of impordividual interests, than as an instrument crc itation which cannot come in competition with n'ed solely for the service ol the people. our own productions, arc the first that should Co. i option in some, end, in others, a pcrver-' engage the attention of Congress in thc modik'.mh of correct feelings and principles, divert, fication of the tarifl Of these, tea and coffee Ci ivertimen.t ftotn its legitimate ends, and arc the most prominent; they enter largely in ike it an engine for the support of the lew into the consumption of the country, and have at the expense of the many. The duties of become articles of necessity to all classes. all niblic officers arc, or, at least, admit oi A reduction, therefore, of the existing duties being made, so plain and simple, that men of ! will bo felt as a common benefit ; but like all intelligence may readily qualify themselves t other legislation connected with commerce, for their performance; and I cannot but be j to be elTicacious, and not injurious, it should lieve that more is lost by the long continu- j be gradual and ceitain ance of men in office, than is generally to be The public prosp-. ?ity is evinced in the ingained by their experience. 1 submit, there- '. creased revenue a: ising from the sales of the lore to your consideration, whether the effi-j public lands, and in the steady maintenance cie.ncy of the Government would not be pro- ; of that produced bv imports and tonnage, not ninted,and official industry and integrity bet withstanding the additional duties imposed by ter secured, by a general extension of the the act of 19th May, 1828, and the unusual law which limits appointments to four years, i importations in the early part of tbe year. In n country wheic offices are created sole- The balance in the Treasury on the 1st of JanIv for the benefit of the Dconle. no enc man uary, 1829. was five millions nine hundred and

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lus any more intrinsic right to official station than another. Ollices were not established to give support to particular men at the pub

lic expense

seventy-two thousand four hundred and thirtyfive dollars and eighty-one cents. The receipts of the current year are estimated a twenty-four millions six hundred and two thousand two bun-

io inilivn.uai wrong is mere j cb-ed and thirtv dollars: and the expenditures

fore done by removal, since neither appoint- : f.,r the same time at twenty-six millions one huntnent to, nor continuance in office, is matter 1 divd and sixty-four thousand five hundred and of light. The incumbent became an officer ! ninety -five dollars; leaving a balance in the with a view to public benefits; and when j Treasury on the 1st of January m xt, of four mil-

thcs: require his removal, they are not to be i i11,u1s Iour uiousanu anu seventy . l, . . . ' i ., ii i dollars and eighty-one cents, sacrificed to private mterests. It is the Pen- Thcrc wUI )ecn . u on account of thc

pan

public debt, during the present year, the sum of twelve millions four hundre- and five thousand and five dollars and eighty cents; reducing thc whole debt of the Go eminent, on the first of

p!c, and they alone, who have a right to complain, when a bad officer is substituted for a rood one. He who is removed has the same means of obtaining a living that are enjoysd

bv the millions who never held ollicc Tiie ; January next, to forty-eight millions in e hundred ' . . - i . ..... i" . i i i- i i i . . .i . : .. .i ,.i

proposed limitation would destroy thc idea ui property no v so generally connected withot11 rial station, and although individual disticss mav be sometimes produced, it won id, by promoting that rotation, which constitutes a leading principle of the republican creed, give healthful action to the system. No very considerable change has occurred, during the recess of Congress, in the condition of cither our Agriculture, Commerce or m mufactures. The operation ol the Fat i ft lias not proved so injurious to thc two former, nor as beneficial to the latter, as was

Anticipated Importations ol foreign goods j o.ocers ol the Bmk of the united Slates. Ikivo n t been sensibly diminished: while do i This state of the finances exhibits the rcsour-

ine

nil ii) ot- iiili caivu uit

...... I I. l.t. I I , - i i 1 rvA r-v . v

vmiki u.u uv..a..a .w. ...... v,u..u.... .....-- j -f)lu. . (,cjt When this shall be done, ourpopll.o consequences lfavc been low prices, j uUujon wiu IjC rclievcil f,.om a considerable por-teoip').-irv embai rass.nent, and partial loss, j tion of its present burthens; and will find, not onThat such of our mannlacturing establish- J ly new motives to patriotic exertion, but additionmerits as are based upon capital, and arc pru- al means for thc display oi" individual enterprise, dentlv managed, will suivive the shock, and) Hie fiscal power of the States will also be inbe ulti nately pt ofitable, there is no good rea- j r;b and may be more extensively exerted , , , i .a ia or oi education and oJier public objects: sou to doubt. fii , mi i- i , , ! while ample means win remain in tne 1-cderal

iu.nw ...uu, v.. a, v., iw,u, , (;()V.:rn!1R.ntto nr.unote the general weal, in all

md sixtv-liver thousand tour hundred und six dol

1 u s and fifty cents, including seven millions of five per cent, stock, subscribed to the IVink of the United States. The payment on account of the public debt, made on the first of July last, was tight millions seven hundred and fifteen thousand four hundred and sixty-two dollars and eighty-seven cents. It was apprehended that the sudden withdrawal of so large a sum from ihe banks ia which it was deposited, at a time of unusual pressure in the money market, might ause much injur) to the interests dependent on ank accomodations. But this evil was wholly averted in" an early anticipation of it at the Trea

sury, aided by the judicious arrangements of the

ive n 'i ocen sensuiy uunmisueo; wane oo j 1113 'i'" - i m-- iiNdH'.Miiimn mv. .L.vmiestic co opetition, under an illusive excite- ; ocs ot' thc ,1Htion m a!RCt ilij;hlv flattering to e ,t. has increased the production much oe- '; 'industry, and auspicious m the ability ol Gov-

eminent, in a very short time, to extinguisii the

equally the prosperity thesv: tiiree caidinal

interests, is one of the m ; dillicult tasks of Government, and it maybe . gretted that the complicated restrictions woicti now embar

rass thti iatercoui mC ot nations, could not, bv

tlic modes permitted to its authority.

After the extinction of the public debt, it is not probable that any adjustment of the tariff, upon principles satisfactory to the People of the Uni

on, wiil, until a remote period, if ever, leave the

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common consent, be abolished, k commerce ' ,u,u Tnm,a , "M K nu,lc i,,uj,u's .,M ... n.,. i xun rhnnnrl, ir, ,vhJt,,e leasury, beyond what may he required lor

l I i ' ' V. U V ' M 11'.' " HI VlyjVJ lltUMt' l J T 1 1 I I individual enterprise, always its surest guide, might direct it. Hut wc must ever expect

its current service. As then tne period appro chc whin the application of the revenue to the payment of debt will cease, the disposition of

selfish legislation in other nations, and are, i the surplus will res. it a subject for the serious therefore, compelled to adopt our own to j di liberation of Con.ess; and, it may be fortutheir regulations, in the manner best calcula- j n:lU' "'' the coin. uy t!iat .t t to be decided, ted to a'void serious injury, and to hut mouizc Considered m connection wuh the dilliculties thc coutlicting interests of our agriculture, whu'U atu-nded appropriations tor " , ,- rT ! purposes 01 internal nnorov euunt, and with those -,ur commerce andour manulactu.es. Li,.;,;,, , xpcliel; l(,lls u, Ulll ccrtamlv der these impressions, I unite your attention -I. ;u.is wiiciever power ever such subjects ma'v t) tae existing TaiilF, be ucviug mit some ol be exercised hy the (ieneral Government, it is its provisions lequire moiil"icatioti. j hoped th it it may lead to tae adoption oi some I'he general rule to he ippiied in grailuat- ! ; plan which w ill reconcile the d' ci'siiied inteivsis ing Uie duties upon articles ot foreigo g o w th j f the States, and strengthen the bonds w lwcii or annufadurc, is that which will place our unilv lncm: f'ery member oi the Union, in . . . peace and m war, will be ber.chttcd bv the 1111own in lair coniiietttion with those ot other 1 - , , . , ' . prove-nent ot inland na igaiion and the construe. - countries; and the inducements to advance tioM oi-iiighwavs in the sexerai States. Lotus even a step beyond this point, are controlling 1 thcn cndeavor' to attain this benefit in a mode in regard to those articles winch are ol pu- ; which will he satisfactory to all. 1 hat hitherto in irv necessity in time ot war. When we ' adopted has, by many of our K How citizens, been 1 ell.-cl upon the diftkultv and delicacy ol this j depreciated as an infraction of the Constitution, operational is important that it should never j n hiL" by others it his been viewed as inexpebe attempted but with tne -most caution. ' UlCMl- All led that it has been etnployed at tae . 1 1 ' expense ot hai monv in the legislative councils, r 1 1 vi u cut legislation in tee u i to any btanchi , , , ,, ;-, , . ., . xi vpiv 1 .vS s . , lo avoid tnese e ii, it appears to me that ol industry, atlectmg us var. jikI by w Inch j the nK1st slt-0 -usl alvl tcder.d deposition which Us capital may be transient! t. new chan-c(Hild he made of the surplus revenue, would be ttels, must always be productive ot hazaidous , its appot tionment among the several states acspeculation and loss. i cording to then ratio .f representation; .md In deliberating, therefore, on these inter- ; should this .c.easure not be found warranted by cstim- sub'tectslocal leelmgs and prejudices! thc tituten, that it would be expedient to 1 ."'i 1 . 1 ! . ; 1 ...... : propose to the States an amendment authorising sh on hi be ncrgcti m the patriotic iletenui-, ' l. , , t . h 0 1 . ... it. I regard an appeal to the source ot powir, niti.m to promote the great u.teiests ol the )n Ca.Csll- rcal llolllltt .uul where its exercise is whole. All attempts to connect them with dee. md indispensable to the- general welfare, as

tne puty conllicts oi the diy, ate necessarily

i.qurious, and should be under the control of

obligations.

amouc the most sacred of a. I our

Upon this country, more than any other, has, in

the providence of God, been cast the special guardianship of the great principle of adherence sowiKt' n constitutions. It it fail here, all hope in leg u d to it will be extinguished, i'hat this

was intended to he a e;vernment of limited and

hi"ier and poi er motives. Legislation subjected to such influences, can never be just, and will not long retain the sanction a People, w hose actn e patriotism, is not b-.und-

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ed nv sectional uums, nor insensio.e. 10 uui; ,pCcihc, and not gcerai pow ei s, nuist be admitspirit of concession and forbearance, which : lLd by ail ; audit is our duty to preserve for it gave life to our poIr.Ual compict, and still the eh tracter inteiuied.by its franiers. If exsustains it. Discarding all calculations ot pernnce points out the necessity tor auctdargcp.ditical ascendency, tlie North, the South, nientef tin se pow ers, kt us apply for it to those f.c Hast, and the West, sliouid unite in . iur wiuise buietit it is 10 be exercised; and not .... , ,, , . , , , 1 uad inline the wh !e s stem bv a resort to overmiMishmg any but then, ot which cither may ; , 1 , . .. ' . . , , ' tra ued consti ucti .as. I ne scheme has vs 01 ked j istlv complain. VvlK U h.,s excedid the hopes 01" those w ho Phe agricultural intcrf-d of our country is ,,.wd it, .o.vi tn-vo.ne an objn I ot amuratio;: soessenii diy conn fed wit!i every other, and the orid. are responsible to. ur um so supei tor in imp. tancc to them all, that it is j try , ;.ud to the gl .ui ;s cav:;c ot self-government,

for thc preservation of so great a good. Thc gieat mass of legislation relating to our internal affairs, was intended to be left where thc Federal Convention found it in the State Governments. Nothing is clearer, in my view, than that wc arc chiefly indebted for the success of the Constitution under which we are now acting, to the watchful and auxiliary operation of the State authorities. T his is not the reflection of a day, but belongs to thc most deeply rooted convictions of my mind. I cannot, therefore, too strongly, or too earnestly, for my own sense of its importance, warn you against all 1 ncroachments upon the legitimate sphere in State sovereignty. Sustained by its healthful and invigorating influence, the Federal system can never fail. In the collection of the revenue, the long credits authorized on goods imported from beyond the Cape of Goop Hope are thc chief cause of the losses at present sustained. If these w ere shortened to six, nine, and twelve months, and wnrt houses provided by Government, sufficient so receive the goods offered in deposite for security and for debenture ; and if the right of thc United States to a piiority of payment out of the estates, of insolvent debtors, were mere effectually secured, this evil would in a great measure, be obviated. An authority to construct such houses, is therefore, with the proposed alteration ct the credits, recommended to your attention. It is worthy of notice, that the lav s for the collcctitm anil security of the revenue arising from imposts were chiefly framed when the rates of duties on imported goods presented much less temptation for illicit trade than at present exists. There is reason to believe, that these laws are, in some respects, quite insufficient for the proper security of the revenue and the protection of the interests of those who are disposed to observe them. The injuiious and demoralizing tendency of a successful system of smuggling, is so obvious as not to requite comment, and cannot be too carefully guarded against. I therefore suggest to Congress the props iety cf adopting e fficient measures to prevent this evil, avoiding, however, as much as possible, every unnecessary infringement of individual liberty, and embarrassment of fair and lawful business. On an examination of thc records of the Treasury, I have been forcibly struck with the large amount of public money which appcats to be outstanding. Of the sum thus due from individ

uals to tne Government, a considerable portion!

is undoubtedly desperate; and tu many instances, has been pp-bably rendered so by remissness in the agents charged wdh its collection. Hy proper exertions, a great part, however, may be rccovcied; and, whatever may be the portions respectively belonging to these two classes, it behoves the Government to ascertain the real state of the fact. This can be done only by the prompt adoption of judicious measures for the collection of such as may be made available It is bclieveed that a very large amount has been lost through the inadequacy of the means provided for thc collection of debts due to the public, and that this inadequacy lies chiefly in the want of legal skill, habitually and constantly employed in the direction of the agents engaged in the service. It must, 1 think, be admitted, that the stiperv isory power o er suits brought by thc public, which is now vested in an accounting officer of the Treasury, not select with a view - o his legal know ledge, and encumbered as he is with numerous other duties, operates unfavorably to the public interest. It is important that this branch of thc public service should be subjected to the supervision of such professional skill as will give it efficiency. I he expence attendant upon such a modification of the Executive Department would be justihcd by the soundest principles of economy. I would recommend, therefore, that the duties now assigned to the Agent of the Treasury, so far as they relate to the supcrintendance anil management of legal proceedings, on thc part of the Unitcd States, !y transferred to the Attorney General, and that this officer be placed on the same footing, in all respects, as the heads of the other Depai tments receiving like compensation, and having such subordinate ollicei s provided far this Department, as may be requisite for the discharge of these additional duties The professional skill 01 the Ationuy General, employed in directing the conduct ot Marshals and District Attorneys, would hasten the collection of debts now in suit, and, hereafter sac much to the Government, it might be further extended to the superintendence of all criminal proceedings for offences againsv. the United States. In making tin tran fer great care should betaken, however, that the' power necessary to the l'rea-

1 sury Department Oe not impaired : one. ot its

greatest securities consisting in a control over all accounts, until they are audited or repotted for suit. In connexion ith the foregoing ie'.v, I would suggest, also an inquiiy, whether the provisions ot the act of Congress, authorizing the discharge of the persons of debtors to the Government, trom imprisonment, may not, consistently with the public intc est, be extended to the release of the debt, where the conduct of the debtor is wholly exempt trom the imputation of fraud. Some more hb;ual policy than that which now prevails, in reierence lo this unfortunate class of citizens, is certainly due to them, arid would prove beneficial to the countiy. i he continuance of the liability, after the means to discharge it have been exhausted, can only serve to dispirit the debtor; or w here his lesources are but partial, the w nt of power in the Government to compromise and release the demand, instigates to fraud, as the only resource for seeming a support to his family. He thus sinks into a state ot apathy, and becomes a useless drone in society, or a v Lmous member of it, if not a feeling w itness ot the ligor and inhumanity of his country. All experience pioves, that oppressive debt is the bane of enterprise; and it should be the- care of a tepubhc n .t to exert a grinding power o er inisfoi tune and poverty. Since the last Session of Congress, numerous Hands on the treasury have been discovered, whiJi 1 thought it my duty to bring under the cognizance ot tiie United States Court for this

j district, by a criminal prosecution. It was mv

pinion, and that ot able counsel who were consulted, that the cases caaie within the penalties f the act of the lTth March, providing for the puni hment of frauds committed on the tineminent of the United States. Kither fro;,, some defect in the la v or in its administration, 1 iTj c;loi t to ot iug die accused to trial undei ts pr. isious p-c'. eu iuedVctu.d; and the Go em

inent was driven to the reccssityof resorting to the vague and inadequate pro isions of thc common law. It is thfivfere my duty to call vnur attention to the 1; vs which have been passed for thc pt r Lection of the Treasury. If, indeed, there be no provision by which those w ho may be unw oi thily entrusted with its guardianship, can tc punished for the most flagrant violation r.f dutv, extending even to thc most fraudulent appropriation cf tlic public funds to their own use, it is time to remedy so dangerous an omission. Or if thc law has been perverted from its crig:? al purposes, and cnmh-ais-, deserving to be punished under its provisions, have been rescued bv legal suhtilties, it ought to be made so pl.in, bv amendatory provisions, as to balile the arts i f perversion, and accc u plish the ends of its original enactment. In one of the most flagrant cases, tlic court decided that the prosecution was bailed by the statute which limits pi osecutic ns for fraud to tu o years. In this case all the evidences of fraud, and indeed all knowledge that fraud had hi en committed, were in possession of the party accused, until after the two years had elapsed. Sur ely thc statute ought not to run in favor of any man while he retains all the evidences of h:s crime in Ids own possession; and, least of all, in favor of a public officer w ho continues to defraud the Treasury and conceal transactions for thc brief term of two years. I would therefore recommend such an alteration of the law as will give the injured party ynil the Government two years after the disclosure of the fraud, or after the accused is out of ollicc, to commence their prosecution. In connexion with this subject, I invite the attention of Congress to a general and minute inquiry into the condition of the Government, with a view to ascertain what office, can be dispensed with, what expenses retrenched, and what improvements may be made in the organization of its various parts, to secure the proper responsibility of public agents, and promote eliiciencv and justice in all operations. The report cf the Secretary of War, w ill make you acquainted w ith the condition of our Army, Fortifications, Ai senals, and Indian Affairs. Tlic" proper discipline ot thc Army, thc training and equipment of the M:lit:a, the 1 duration bestowed at West Foint, and the accumulation of tho mp-.n.

of defence, applicable to the Naval force, will tend to prolong the peace we now tnjov, and which every good citizen more especially those who have felt the miseries of even a successful warfare must ardently desire to perpetuate. The returns from the subordinate brandies of this service exhibit a regularity and order highlv crcditable to its character; both officers and sofdicrs seem imbued with a proper sense of duty, and conform to the restraints of exact discipline with that cheerfulness which becomes the profession of arms. There is need, however, of further legislation, to obviate the inconveniences specified in the report under consideration: to some of which it is proper that I should call your particular attention. Thc act oi" Congress of thc 2d March, 1821, to reduce and fix tlic military establishment, remaining unexecuted as it regards thc command of one of thc regiments of artillery, cannot now be deemed a guide to the Executive in making the proper appointment. An explanatory ac designating the class of officers out of which this grade is to be filled whether from the militarylist, as existing prior to tlic act of 1821, or from it, as it has been fixed by that act would remover this difficulty. It is also important that thc laws regulating the pay and emoluments cf officer generally, should be more specific than they now are. Those, for example, in relation to the Faymaster and Surgeon General, assign to them an annual salary of two thousand five hundred dollars; but are silent as to allowances which, in certain exigencies of thc service, may be deemed indispensable to the discharge of their duties'. This circumstance has been the authority f..r extending to them various allowances, at (liferent times, under former administrations; but no uniform ruie has been observed on thc subject.. Similar iaconvenienci s exist in other cases; in which the construction put upon thc laws by the public accountants may operate unequallyproduce confusion, and expose officers to the odium of claiming what is not their due. I recommend to our fostering care, as one oi" our safest means of national defence, the Military Academy. This institution has already exercised the happiest influence upon the moral and intellectual character of our army: and such of thc graduates as, from various causes, may not pursue the profession of arms, v.iii be scarcely Icj? useful as cuiens. Their know ledge of rlie military ait will be advantageously employed i:i the mihtia service; and, in a measure, secure to that class of troops the advantages which, i:; this respect, belong to standing annus. I would also suggos a review of the Pension law, for the purpose of extending its benefits to everv Revolutionary soldier who aided in establishing our libel tics, and w ho is unable to maintain hims.lf in con.foit. These 1 clicks of tin War of Independence have sttong claims upon our country 's gratitude and bounty"! The law h defective, in not embracing within" its provisions all those who were, during the last war, disabled from supporting themselves by manual 1 ibor.

nw.n an amendment wou;l add but little to tl amount of pensions, and is called for bv the syn

patties o; tiie Teople, as well as by coiwdci alioos of sound policy. It will be perceived that a largo addition to the list of pensioners has been occasioned by an older of tiie late administration, departing materially from the rules which had previously prev ailed. Considering it an art of legislation, 1 suspended its operations as son as 1 was informed that it had commenced. He fore this period, however, application under the new regulations had been preferred to the number of one hundred and fifty -four; of which, on the Z7ih of March, the date of its revocation, eighty-seven w ere admitted. I,r the amount, thcie was neither estimate nor appropriation; and besides this deficiency, the regular allowances, according to the rules which have heretoioie gov err.ed the Department, exceed the estimate of its 1 itc Secretary, by at) nit fifty thousand dollars: for v. kiidi an appropriation is asked. Vovir particular attention is requested to that part of the report of the Svrrvt.uy of War which relates to the money held in trust i' r th?; Seneca tribe of Indians, "it will be perceived hat, without legislative aid, the Kxecutivc caniot obviate the embarrassment occasioned bv ue dnad:jt,?n of th" dividends on that ft::rd

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