The Sun.
London, England, 1830-01-08 00:00:00

sity of securing in the Cabinet and in diplomatic stations '
of the highest rank, the best talents and political expe-
rience, should, perhaps, except these from the exclusion.
There are, perhaps, few men who can, for any great
length of time, enjoy office and power, without being
more or less under the influence of feelings unfavourable
to a faithful discharge of their public duties. Their in-
tegrity may be proof against improper considerations im-
mediately addressed to themselves, but they are apt to
acquire a habit of looking with indifference upon the public
interests, and of tolerating conduct from which an un-
practised man would revolt. Office is considered at a
specks of property; and Government, rather as a means
of promoting individual interests than as an instru-
ment created solely for the service of the people.
Corruption in some, and, in others, a perversion of
correct feelings and principles, divert Government from
its legitimate ends, and snake it an engine for the support
of the few at the expence of the many. The duties of all
public officers are, or at least admit of being made so plain
and simple, that men of intelligence may readily qualify
themselves for their performance; and I cannot but be-
lieve that more is lost by the long continuance of men in
office than is generally to be gained by their experience.
I submit, therefore, to your consideration, whether the
efficiency of the Government would not be promoted, and
official industry and integrity better secured, by a general
extension of the law which limits the appointment for four
years.
In a country where offices are created solely for the
benefit of the People, no one man has any more intrinsic
right to official station than another. Offices were not
establishes! to give support to particular men at the public
expense. No individual wrong is therefore done by re-
moval, since neither appointment to, nor continuance in
office, is matter of right. The incumbent became :an
officer with a view to public benefits; and when these re-
quire his removal, they are not to be sacrificed to private
interests. It is the people, and they alone, who have a
right to complain when a bad officer is substituted for a
good one. lie who is removed has the same means of ob-
taining a living that are enjoyed by the millions who never
held office. The proposed limitation would destroy the
idea of property now so generally connected with official
station, and although individual distress may be sometimes
produced, it would, by promotiing that rotation which
constitutee a leading principle in the republican creed,
give healthful action to the system.
No very considerable change has occurred, during the
recess of Congress, in the condition of either our agricul-
ture, commerce, or manufactures. The operation of the
tariff has not proved so injurious to the two former, nor
an beneficial to the latter, as was anticipated. Importations
of foreign goods have not been sensibly diminished ; while
domestic competition, under an illusive excitement, has in-
creased the production much beyond the demand for home
consumption—the consequences have been low prices, tem-
porary embarrassment, and partial loss. That such of our
manufacturing establishments as are based upon capital,
and ate prudently managed, will survive the shock, and be
ultimately profitable, there is no good reason to doubt.
To regulate its conduct so as to promote equally the
prosperity of these three cardinal interests, is one of the
most difficult tasks of Government ; and it may be re-
gretted that the complicated restrictions which now
embarrass the intercourse of nations, could not by com-
mon consent be abolished, and commerce allowed to flow
in those channels to which individual enterprise—always
its surest guide—might direct it. But we must ever ex-
pect selfish legislation in other nations, and are, there-
fore, compelled to adapt our own to their regulations, in
the manner best calculated to avoid serious injury, and to
harmonise the conflicting interests of our agriculture, our
commerce, and our manufactures. Under these impres-
sions I iuvite your attention to the existing tariff, believ-
ing that some of its provisions requite modification.
The general rule to he applied in graduating the duties
upon articles of foreign growth or manufacture is, that
which will place our own in fair competition with those of
other countries : and the inducements to advance even a
step beyond this point, are controhing in regard to those
articles which are of primary necessity in time of war.
When we reflect upon the difficulty and delicacy of this
operation, it is important that it should never be attempt-
ed but with the utmost caution. Frequent legislation in
regard to any branch of industry, affecting its value,
and by which its capital may be transferred to ■ew chan-
nels, must always be productive of hazardous speculation
and loss.

In deliberating, therefore, on these interesting subjects,
local feelings and prejudices should be merged in the pa-
triotic determination to promote the great interests of the
whole. All attempts to connect them with the party
conflicts of the dap are necessarily injurious, and should
be discountenanced. Our action upon them should be
under the controul of higher and purer motives. Legisla-
tion subjected to such influences can never be just, and
will flat long retain the sanction of a people whose active
patriotism is not bounded by sectional limits, nor insen-
sible to that spirit of concession and forbearance which
gave life to our political compact, and still sustains it.
Discarding all calculations of political ascendancy, the
North, the South, the East, and the West, should unite in
diminishing any burthen of which either may justly com-
plain.
The agricultural interest of our country is so essentially
connected with every other, and so superior in import-
ance to them all, that it it is scarcely necessary to invite
to it your particular attention. It is principally as manu-
factures and commerce tend to increase the value of agri-
cultural productions, and to extend their application to
the wares and comforts of society, that they deserve the
fostering care of Government.
Looking forward to the perks], not far distant, when a
sinking fund will no longer be required, the duties on
those articles of importation which cannot come in com-
petition with our own productions, are the first that should
engage the attention of the Congress in the modification of
the tariff. Of these, tea and coffee are the most promi-
nent; they enter largely into the consumption of the coun-
try, anti have become articles of necessity to all classes. A
reduction, therefore, of the existing duties, will be felt as a
common benefit; but like all other legislation connected
with commerce, to be efficacious, and not injurious, it
should be gradual and certsin.

The public prosperity is evinced in the increased reve-
nue arising from the sales of the public lands, and in the
steady maintenance of that produced by imposts and ton-
nage, notwithstanding the additional duties imposed by the
Act of 19th of May, 1828, and the unusual importations
in the early part of that year.
The balance in the Treasury on the Ist of January,
1829, was 5,972,435 dollars and 81 cents. The receipts
of the current year are estimated at 24,602,230 dollars ;
and the expenditure for the same time at 26,164,595 dol.
hrs ; leaving a balance in the Treasury on the Ist of Ja-
nuary next, of 4,410,070 dollars, and 91 cents.
There will have been paid, on account of the publia
,m,e, during the present year, the sum of 12,405,005
dollars and 80 cents ; reducing the whole debt of the Go-
vernment, on the Ist of January next, to 48,565,406
dollars and 50 cents., including seven millions or five per
per svat. stock, subscribed to the Bank of the United
States. The payment on account of the public debt, made
on the Ist of July last, was 8,715,462 dollars and 87
cents. It was apprehended that the sudden withdrawal
of so large a sum from the Banks in which it was de-
posited, at a time of unusual pressure in the money market,
;,sight cause much injury to the interests dependent on
84,44 accommodation. But this evil was completely
averted by an early anticipation of it at the Treasury,
aided by the judicious arrangements of the officers of the
Bank of the United States.
The state of the finances exhibits the resources of the
nation in an aspect highly flattering to its industry, and
auspirioua of the ability of Government, in a very short
tirne, to extinguish the public debt. When this shall he
dot,;:, our population will be relieved from a considerable
portion Gi its present burthens ; and will find, not only
new motives to patriotic affection, but additional means for
the display of individual enterprise. The fiscal power of
the States will also be increased, and may be more exten-
sively exerted in favour of education, and other public ob-
jects, while ample means will remain in the Federal Go-
vernment to promote the general weal, in ail the anodes
permitted to its authority.
After the extinction of the public debt, it is not pro-
bable that any adjustment of the tariff, upon principles
satisfactory to the people of the Union, will, until a re-
unite period, if ever, leave the Government without a con-
sitlerable surplus in the Treasury, beyond what may be
required for its current service. As then the period ap-
proachee when the application of the revenue to the pay-
ment of debt will cease, the disposition of the surplus will
present a subject for the serious deliberation of Congress,
and it may be fortunate for the country that it is yet to
be decided. Considered in connection with the diffi-
culties which have heretofore attended appropriations
for purposes of internal improvement, and with those
which this experience tells us will certainly arise,
whenever power over such Aubjeets may be 'exer-
ciaed by the general Government;it is hoped that it may
lead to the adoption of some plan which will reconcile the
diversified interests of the States, and strengthen the bonds
which unite them. Every member of the Union, in peace
awl in war, will be benefitted by the improvement of in-
land navigation and construction of highways in the seve-
ral States. Let us then endeavour to attain this benefit in
a mode which will be satisfactory to all. That hitherto
Adopted boa, by many of our fellow-citizens, been slepre