The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-31 00:00:00

Al Malt t Aililt

LONDON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1846,

In another portion of The Sun is published a
voluminods and remarkable document eulogistic of
the American Government. It is needless to say that
that document is the PRESIDENT'S Message to Con-
gress, dated December 8, 1846. Of all the extra-
ordinary compositions ever transmitted to a delibera-
tive assembly by the chief of the Legislature, this
Message of President JAMES K. Por.x is the most
extraordinary. Instead of being a comprehensive
survey of what has occurred since the preceding ex-
planation, instead of being a dispassionate digest of
what may be presumed to be the forthcoming delibe-
rations in Congress, instead of affording the world a
full cognizance of the principles by which the exist-
ing Administration is actuated, it is literally nothing
better than a superb piece of special-pleading. The
PRESIDENT is conscious that he is virtually arraigned
before the bar of public opinion, that his policy has
invested his very name with odium, not merely in
England, but throughout the civilised world, that
there is every reasonable probability of that odium
being attached to him not during one generation
only, but of its being perpetual and damning
As the period of his Presidential reign ap-
proaches its conclusion, Mr. PoLx is naturally ani-
mated with a desire to render his official career less
execrable for its selfishness, for its shuffiings, and for
its utter disregard of solemn compacts and venerable
stipulations. But how has he endeavoured to ac-
complish this miracle ? How has he endeavoured to
conjure this jet into an opal ? How has he endea-
voured to cleanse this blackamoor celebrity ? By
some closing act of generosity and justice ? By ex-
piating his previous conduct by some unprecedented
exhibition of magnanimity ? By abating his official
cupidity, by yielding to the dictates of political mode-
ration, by the restoration of ill-gotten territories, and
the reparation of gratuitous injuries ? Has he per-
formed all these things—has he even performed one
of them ? No, not one. His Message is a magnili-
ficent display of sophistry. It is an elaborate justi-
fication of deeds that nothing can justify; it is an
accumulation of excuses fbr proceedings that are
altogether inexcusable ; it is an attempted explana-
tion, upon honourable grounds, of a behaviour which
is inexplicable upon all other than those of cruelty,
of self-aggrandisement, of duplicity, of lawless and
odious spoliation.
As may be readily conjectured, the bulk of this
singular and enormous document is devoted to the
consideration of the Mexican warfare. Remaining
staunch to hii original opinions upon this question,
the PRESIDENT abates not one jot of his covetous-
ness towards a country which, from its fertility and
its gigantic dimensions, offers so many irresistible
temptations to a forcible seizure. Its contiguity to
the flourishing and powerful territories of the United
States confirms that avarice in the bosom of the
American statesman. Its debilitated population and
disorganized Government are only additional induce-
ments to this enormous act of national depredation.
So intimately have the wishes of Mr. POLK with re-
gard to Mexico blended themselves with his ambition,
that any disseverance of the two is hopeless. He
looks upon legislation, upon international friendship
upon honour, upon probity, through the medium of
his own servile adhesion to what he calls " the inte
rests of his beloved country." He considers diplomatic
lying, official bluster, shameless pretension, wholesale
robbery, and unstinted bloodshed, as laudable and
meritorious, when calculated to promote those
interests. The interests of his beloved coun

try require the annexation of Texas let
Texas be annexed ! What is the sanctity of treaties,
what is the inalienable privilege of independence,
what is the glory of remaining honest in spite of

every allurement to dishonesty, when compared with
the interests of his beloved country ?—let Texas he
annexed by all means! The interests of his beloved
country require the extensive regions of Oregon—let
Oregon be incorporated with the United States, not the
half of Oregon, not a portion of it, but the whole ! A

straw for all the superior claims of Great Britain, a
snap of the fingers for the ridicule and disgust which
will be excited by the audacity of the demand! What

are any of these considerations when compared with
the interests of his beloved country ?—let the whole
of Oregon be incorporated with the United States !
Those are the doctrinal points in the political
creed of Mr. President POLK. The interests
of his country are, according to him, to be re-

garded as paramount to everything that is just
and noble in the conduct of a Government,
Peace is to be rendered incapable of preserva-

tion—uprightness is to be regarded with derision—
oaths and engagements are to be laughed to scorn

wherever those interests are concerned. In other
words, Patriotism, with Mr. President PoLK,
is only another term to express the abandonment of

all human and divine laws—the code of morality,

the code of Christian forbearance, and the mysterious

code by which the alliance of different countries has
been hitherto ensured•—fur the emolument and ad-

vAncement of his native land. Was ever crime so

nobly garbled? Was ever faithlessness, or rapine,
or theft, or homicide, tricked out in a more seduc-

twe guise than this of Putriotiim ?—the patriotism of

an American President!

It cannot be overlooked that in the earnestness of
the exposition of his policy towards Mexico, Mr.
PoLx. always speaks in the superlative degree. In one
column he asserts that the present condition of the
United States is " without example in the history of
nations !" In another he insists that the agressions of
the Mexicans are " without a parallel in the history
of modern civilised nations!" In another, speaking
of the battle of San Jacinto, he says, "history does
not record a more brilliant achievement !" In an-

other, alluding to the alleged insults offered to the

citiz'ns of the United States, he persists that
"the history of no civilised nation in modern times
has presented within so brief a period so many !" In

another, referring to the dismissal of the American

plenipotentiaries by General PAREDES, he declares
that he is not aware " that modern history presents a

parallel ca.se !" Was ever such tautological exaggera-
tion ? Was ever man so manifestly striving to manu-

facture a strong exculpation? In end.•avouring,
however, to exonerate his Government from all
blame, in reference to the invasion of Nlexico, Mr.
POLE has proceeded too .far. He has drawn the bow

:o its utmost t-nsion—it is broken in his hands.

The PRESIDENT enters into a long examination of
the history of the Mexican republic, from its estab-
lishment downwards. He enlarges vaguely upon
the insolence evinced by that republic to its neigh-
bour, the United States; and upon this shadowy and
preposterous assumption he endeavours to justify all

the aggressive acts that have originated at Washing-
ton. He acknowledges the stipulation which Mexico
made with Texas, on their original separation, namely,
that the latter should never annex herself to any other
power; but he, nevertheless, actually has the coolness
to express his amazement at the " Mexican Govern-
ment making serious threats of invading the Texan
territory," upon the annexation of the latter to the
United States in 1845. To crown the whole
of this wonderful Message with a climax worthy of
Mr. President POLK, there is, towards its conclusion,
a quiet demand of a loan of just twenty-three mil-
lions of dollars, to continue the just, laudable, and
patriotic war waged upon Mexico by the United
States ! From the extrinsic importance of this
Presidential Message, as well as from its intrinsic
malversation of truth, we shall be induced to recur to
it to- morrow.

The Treasury minute, to which we alluded in The
Sun of the 21st instant, has been received with almost
universal approbation and gratitude in Ireland. The
eyes of the landowners have been opened to the full
extent of their duties and responsibilities. They now
perceive the onerous character of the burdens that
may be entailed upon theM by continued neglect and
indifference. Those who have hitherto been ac-
customed to look exclusively to legislative interference
for a removal of the evils to which their country is
exposed, have been made aware that they must act for
themselves, that all they can hope for or expect front
any government is to afford them a means and an op-
portunity cf meeting their difficulties, of which, if due
advantage be taken, they may not only afford relief to
the distressed and destitute poor, without any
injury to themselves, but may ultimately reap the
greatest benefit for their properties ; the means by
which they may " out of the nettle, danger,
pluck the flower, safety." They have been taught
the necessity of affording to the , able-bodied la-
bourer a means of supporting himself and family by
the exercise of his honest industry, and thus avoiding
the burden of supporting him in idleness and sloth.
They have learned that they must set their own
shoulders to the wheel, that they must not waste the
time that should be more profitably occupied in use-
less and unavailing complaints. An option is afforded
them, of which it is scarcely to be supposed that they
s ill not avail themselves to the fullest extent, by adopt-

ing that course by which alone they can hope suc-
cessfully to meet the emergency of the case. Already
one of their body, the Earl of ARRAN, has acted on
the Treasury min ite. His Lordship states that on
the very day that he was made acquainted therewith
he filled the prescribed memorial soliciting the appli-
cation of the provisions of the Drainage Act to his
estate in the county of Donegal. And so promptly
were his wishes responded to by the official gentlemen
of the Board of Works, that
" The report of the surveying officer has been since
received and is printed, and that the preliminaries are all
but completed for commencing the thorough drainage
and permanent improvement of that estate under his own
guidance, and the corresponding employment during a
course of years, and the great amelioration of the con-
dition of every human being connected with it."

Such expedition and dispatch affords the fairest
promise for the future activity of the board; and we
sincerely trust that every landowner will be stimulated

thereby to increased exertion. He is fully fore-
warned, and should he fail to embrace the golden op-
portunity, he will only have himself to blame for the

lamentable and disastrous results that must inevitably
follow to himself and to those connected with, or
dependent on him. We have already expressed our
approbation of the first principle announced by the
Government, viz., the execution by the board of all
such works as are necessary for deepening or remov-
ing obstructions in rivers, their tributary streams, or
the larger watercourses of the country. The reasons
stated, fully prove that no individual proprietor could
Effectually conduct works of such magnitude passing
through so many different estates. Besides, were it
even practicable, it would occasion continual disputes
and altercations between the owners, both as to the
nature and particulars of the work to be executed and
the relative proportion of the expenditure to be
chargeable against each. All this will be avoided by
its being effected through the agency of the board,
who have the power of compelling all the dissenting,
as well as the willing proprietors, to participate in the
outlay, according to the benefits conferred on their
respective lands thereby. The decision, that each
proprietor shall be permitted to superintend and direct
the works exclusively affecting his own lands (the
draining in detail, laying down draining tiles or pipes,
or stone drains in each field, unless where particular
circumstances call for special exception, the improved
outfall for his drainage having been afforded, if neces-
sary, by the more general operations of the Board of

Works), is extremely valuable. It enables each person
to get rid of the extraordinary expense that would be
occasioned by unnecessary inspectors; besides, if all
that is to be done could only be effected through the
board, great delays would necessarily be occasioned.
It would be impossible for any public body, no matter
how zealous and efficient, to do everything. No staff
could be procured sufficiently numerous for the
arduous duties that would thus be cast upon it. The
labourer too will be more active and less inclined to
attempt any tricks when working under his employer's
eye. There will be a better feeling between them, a
better relationship of master and servant, than if he
were to be entirely under the control of a public
officer. It will appear more as if the work was
afforded by the landowner, and that he is consequently
entitled to a greater degree of gratitude than if
the works were directed and the wages paid by a

stranger.
The Ist and 2d Will. IV., chap. 33, sec. 32,
amended by 9th Vic. 1., sec. 6, by which loans may
be made to individuals to enable them to effect the
impiovement of their estates forthemselves by drainage,
reclaiming waste lands, or other works of substantial
improvement, is the foundation of the new regulations;
and advances will be made to proprietors who comply
with the conditions therein contained, and who can
obtain from a competent person, approved of by the
Board of Works, the certificate of increased value to
be given to the land so improved, as prescribed by
that Act. There were several stipulations unneces-
sarily disadvantageous to the borrower, which pre-
vented the great advantages that would otherwise have
been obtained from its adoption. These disadvan-
tages may be stated to be-Ist, the time within which
the whole amount of such advance should be repaid ;
2illy, the high rate of interest payable thereon ; 3dly,
the great increase in the value of the lands that
should, to justify an advance, be consequent on the
improvements to be thereby effected; and 4thly, the
contract with two sufficient securities, to be approved
of by the Commissioners, for the execution of the
work within a time not exceeding seven years, to be
fixed by the Commissioners. The two first of these
difficulties will be entirely removed by the Bill pro-
posed to be brought in by the Government. By the
former Act the whole amount should be repaid
within Three years after the work would be completed,
with interest thereon in the meanwhile at a rate of
not less than five per centum per annum, payable half-
yearly, as the Commissioners should fix and appoint.
It is intended to adopt the principle of the 9th and
10th Victoria, cap. 101, as to repayment by equal
half-yearly instalments of 31. ss. each, distributed
over a period of twenty-two years, with a power of
redemption as provided in the Act, unless the bor-
rowers should themselves desire that a shorter period
should be fixed. The time will, therefore, be extended
from ten years, at the outside, to twenty-two years,
and the interest in every case be reduced to 3i per
cent., in place of a minimum of 5 per cent., which
might be increased by the board. Provision will
also be made for apportioning, on the various parties
who will derive benefit from the improvements, a pro-
portionate contribution towards the repayment of the
loan—the whole being payable to the Government by
the proprietor of the land drained or improved, and
the contribution on the part of the occupier being
in the shape of increased rent to the pro-
prietor. These are just and equitable provi-
sions, against which no possible objection can
fairly be raised. The interest on the loans made to the
Board of Works for drainage to he executed by them
under the 5 and 6 Vic., c. 89; 8 and 9 Vic., e. 69 ;
and 9 Vic., c. 4, will he repayable by half-yearly in -
stalinents, according to an award of the Commis-
sioners, with interest at the rate of 4 per cent. We
do not see clearly the reason of the distinction as t.)
the rates of interest to be thus charged, or why an
additional one half per cent. per annum should be
charged on the money advanced to the board; per-
baps it may be that grants may be made by *to

board, as sanctioned by the 1 and 2 Will. IV., c. 33,
which are to be met by the increased rate of interest.
If this be so it will in some degree account fur the
difference. We are not aware of any remedy being
proposed fur the third and fourth difficulties which
interfere with the loan ; 10 per cent. is a large in-
crease in value to be required as an essential to a
loan. The Act is proposed as much for the purpose
of affording employment to the labourer as of yield-
ing extraordinary profit to the proprietor, and
we think that if a permanent improvement
of even 5 per cent. could be obtained by
the expenditure, that it would be highly beneficial for
all parties, and quite sufficient to justify the advance.
The powers about to be taken are certainly of an ex-
tensive character, but it was necessary to provide
ample means for the recovery of the large advances
that are to be made. We are sure that they will not
be abused by the Government, and cases may arise
in which, by taking the property out of-the hands of an
embarrassed and heavily encumbered proprietor, much
service may be done to the country. We shall here-
after examine these powers more fully than our space
at present permits.

Madrid papers of the 22d have been received.

A royal decree , proroguing the Cortes from the
25th, the day originally fixed for its meeting, to
the 31st, is published in the Gaceta. The QUEEN'S
Speech, which will be very short, has been already
arranged by the Ministers.
The Clamor Publico states that a Carlist insurrec-
tion is on the eve of breaking out in Navarre. Car-
list bands have appeared in considerable force in Ca-
talonia, and have excited so much uneasiness, that
the Captain- General has felt it necessary himself to
take the field against them.
MADRID BOLSA, DEC. 22.—Tke Three per Cents.
were done, on the 22d at 34 for cash ; the Four per
Cents. at 21; the Five per Cents. at 21 ; the Coupons.
at 19 ; the Vales, at 81 ; the Debt without Interest,
at 6s.

We have received the Paris papers of Monday
In the course of an article on the affairs of Cracow
the National says—" All the incidents of the affair
lead us to believe that M. Guizor was not aware of
what was about to happen, but that the irresponsible
power at Paris (the KING) was not ignorant of it."
It would appear from the revelations which have
taken place at Toulon, that the French naval officers
are in a very demoralised state. IVe extract the
following account of the transaction to which we
allude from the Constitutionnel:—
" An ensign (midshipman) of the navy, M. Besson,
wad lately tried by a court-martial at Toulon for striking
his superior, and acquitted, the members of the court
having divided, four against four. Captain Lavasseur,
who acted as reporter on the occasion, submitted various
considerations, which we deem important to notice in
thr' interest of our navy. It appears certain that the
discipline is not as rigorously observed as it should be
by the officers of the fleet, and M. Levasseur declared
that the latter generally evinced little respect for their
superiors, particularly when ashore. We have been
likewise assured that their orders and acts are the object
of unpleasant criticism, and the commanders, aware of
this, are, to a certain degree, kept in check. We have
seen superior officers, whose authority was actually
paralyzed by the certainty that their acts and orders
would be made the subject of a malevolent and sar
donic scrutiny by those who surrounded them. At sea,
in particular, the necessity of union should be under-
stood by all. It is not a purely material obedience the
country expects from the corps of officers of the navy,
in which it places so much confidence and hope; it is a
devoted and cordial obedience, without which nothing
great can be achieved. The English officers, less well-
informed than ours (I), are remarkable for their anxious
and, we may say, sympathetic submission to the orders
of their chiefs. This would suffice, on certain occasions,
to secure to them an advantage over us. We accord-
ingly trust that the reflections of M. Levasseur will not be
lost, and that they will inspire with sentiments of mutual
benevolence men who share the same dangers."
These papers contain fearful accounts of the
ravages caused by a dreadful hurricane on the night
of the 22d. The neighbourhoods of Bordeaux and
Toulouse suffered greatly. There have been several
shipwrecks along the west coast of France.
The Bey of TUNIS was to sail for Marseilles on
the 24th.

The French Money and Share-markets, influenced
by the rite of prices in London on Saturday, evinced
much firmness for some time after the commencement
of business on Monday. Towards the close, how-
ever, a decline took place, the only reasons stated for
which were the renewed report that the KING was
ill, and that the firm DE ROTHSCHILD, Brothers,
had demanded of the Bank of France 20,000,000 in
ingots, lodged by that house some time since.

The Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse, on
Monday, at 80f. 80c. ; the Five per Cents.. 118 f. 75c. ; the
Orleans Railroad Shares, 1,267 f. 50c ; Rouen, 9271. 50c,;
Havre, 6901. ; Great Northern, 655 f. ; Avignon, 887 E 50e. ;
Tiorzon, 617 f. 50c.; Bordeaux, 571 f. 25c. ; Troves and Mon-
tcreau, 3401. ; Bas!e, 220 E; Dieppe, 360 E; Paris and Stras-
burg, 4881. 75c. ; Tours and Nantes, 4921. 50c.; Paris and
Lyons, 515 E ; Lyons and Avignon, 485 f. ; Bordeaux and
Cette, 455 f. ; Spanish Three per Cents., 3814 ; Ditto Do
me.s.tic Debt, 321 i.
MARSEILLES, DEC. 23.—Marseilles and Avignon, 885 f. ;
Northern, 6451.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON S COCK EXCEIANGE, DECEMBER 29.
Boulogne and Amiens, 153/4—Dutch Rhenish, 4% —East
Indian, 14— Luxembourg, %—Northern of France Consti-
luted,.ll—Paris and Orleans, 49—Rouen and Havre, 2614.