The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 27, 1845.

of union to them, yet we cannot but feel a deep interest
in seeing the States meet their public liabilties, and pay
off their just debts, at the earliest practical period. That
they will do so, as soon as it can be done without im-
posing too heavy burdens on their citizens, there is no
reason to doubt. The sound, moral and honourable
feeling of the people of the indebted States, cannot be
questioned ; and we are happy to perceive a settled dis-
position on their part, as their ability returns after a sea-
son of unexampled pecuniary embarrassment, to pay off
all just demands, and to acquiesce in any reasonable
measures to accomplish that object.
" One of the difficulties which we had to encounter in
the practical administration of the Government, consists
in the adjustment of our revenue laws, and the levy of
the taxes necessary for the support of Government. In
the general proposition that no more money shall be col-
lected than the necessities of an economical administra-
tion shall require, all parties seem to acquiesce. Nor
does there seem to be any material difference of opinion
as to the absence of right in the Government to tax one
section of country, or one class of citizens, or one occu-
pation, for the mere profit of another. Justice and sound
policy forbid the Federal Government to foster one branch
of industry to the detriment of another, or to cherish the
interest of one portion to the injury of another portion
of cur common country. I have heretofore declared to
my fellow citizens that, in my judgment, it is the duty
of the Government to extend, as far as it may be prac-
ticable to do so, by its revenue laws, and all other means
within its power, fair and just protection to all the great
interests of the whole Union, embracing agriculture,
manufactures, the mechanic arts, commerce, and naviga-
tion.' I have also declared my opinion to be in favour
of a tariff for revenue,' and that, in adjusting the de-
tails of such a tariff, I have sanctioned such moderate
discriminating duties as would produce the amount of
revenue needed, and, at the same time, afford reasonable
incidental protection to our home indastry,' and that I
was opposed to a tariff for protection merely, and not
ER revenue.'

" The power to lay and collect taxes, duties, im-
posts, and excises,' was an indispensable one to be con-
ferred on the Federal Government, which, with)ut it,
would possess no means of providing for its own sup-
port. In executing this power, by levying a tariff of
duties for the support of Government, the raising of re-
venue should be the object, and protection the incident.
To reverse this principle, and make protection the object,
and revenue the incident, would be to inflict manifest
injustice upon all other than the protected interests. In
levying duties for revenue, it is doubtless proper to
make such discriminations within the revenue principle,

- -
as will afford incidental protection to our home interests.
Within the revenue limit, there is a discretion to discri-
minate ; beyond that limit, the rightful exercise of the
power is not conceded. The incidental protection
afforded to our home interests by discrimina-
tions within the revenue range, it is believed will
be ample. In making discriminations, all our home in-
terests should, as far as practicable, be equally protected.
The largest portion of our people are agriculturists.
Others are employed in manufactures, commerce, navi-
gation, and the mechanical arts, engaged in their re-
spective pursuits, and their joint labours constitute the
national or home industry. To tax one branch of this
home industry for the benefit of another would be un-
just. No one of these interests can rightfully claim an
advantage over the others, or be enriched by impoverish-
ing the others. All are equally entitled to the fostering
care and protection of the Government. In exercising a
sound discretion in levying discriminating duties within
the limit prescribed, care should be taken that it be
done in a manner not to benefit the wealthy few, at
the expense of the toiling millions, by taxing lowest the
luxuries of life, or articles of superior quality and high
price, which can only be consumed by the wealthy ;
and highest the necessaries of life, or articles of coarse
quality and low price, which the poor and great mass of
our people must consume. The burdens of government
should, as far as practicable, be distributed justly and
equally among all classes of our population. These
general views, long entertained on this subject, I have
deemed it proper to reiterate. It is a subject upon which
conflicting interests of sections and occupations are sup-
posed to exist, and a spirit of mutual concession and
compromise in adjusting its details should be cherished
by every part of our wide-spread country, as the only
means of preserving harmony and a cheerful acquies-
cence of all in the operation of our revenue laws. Our
patriotic citizens in every part of the Union will readily
submit to the payment of such taxes as shall be needed
for the support of their Government, whether in peace or
in war, if they are so levied as to distribute the burdens
as equally as possible among them.
" The Republic of Texas has made known her desire
to come into our Union, to form a part of our confede-
racy, and enjoy with us the blessings of liberty secured
and guaranteed by our Constitution. Texas was once a
part of our country—was unwisely ceded away to a
foreign Power—is now independent, and possesses an
undoubted right to dispose of a part or the whole of
her territory, and to merge her sovereignty, as a separate
and independent State, in ours. I congratulate my
country that, by an Act of the late Congress of the
United States, the assent of this Government has been
given to the re-union ; and it only remains for the two
countries to agree upon the terns, to consummate an
object so important to both.
" I regard the question of annexation as belonging ex-
clusively to the United States and Texas. They are in-
dependent Powers, competent to contract ; and foreign
nations have no right to interfere with them, or to take
exceptions to their re-union. Foreign Powers do not
seem to appreciate the true character of our Govern-
ment. Our Union is a confederation of independent
States, whose policy is peace with each other and all the
world. To enlarge its limits, is to extend the dominion
of peace over additional territories and increasing mil-
lions. The world has nothing to fear from military n
Powers
should,eur re dern es, and
look
ok
am-
bition in our Government. While the chief magistrate
and the popular branch of Congress are elected for
short terms by the suffrages of those millions who must,
miseries of war, our Government cannot be otherwise
their
pacific.
o
of Texas to the United States,
Foreign bear all
therefore, h burdens
thanoi nntheannexation
not as the conquest of a nation seeking to extend
her dominions by arms and violence, but as the
peaceful acquisition of a territory once her own, by add-
ing another member to our confederation, with the con-
sent of that member—thereby diminishing the chances
of war, and opening to them new and ever-increasing
markets fur their products.

" To Texas the re-union is important ; because the
strong protecting arm of our Government would be ex-
tended over her, and the vast resources of her fertile soil
and genial climate would be speedily developed ; while
the safety of New Orleans and of our whole south-
western frontier, against hostile aggression, as well as
the interests of the whole Union, would be promoted
by it.
" In the earlier stages of our national existence, the
opinion prevailed with some, that our system
of confederated States could not operate suc-
cessfully over an extended territory, and serious ob-
jections have, at different times, been made
to the enlargement of our boundaries. These
objections were earnestly urged when we acquired
Louisiana. Experience has shown that they were not
well founded. The title of numerous Indian tribes to
vast tracts of country has been extinguished. New States
have been admitted into the Union ; new territories have
been created, and jurisdiction and laws extended over
them. As our population has expanded, the Union has
been cemented and strengthened ; as our boundaries
have been enlarged, and our agricultural population has
been spread over a large surface, our federative system
has acquired additional strength and security. It may
well be doubted whether it would not be in greater
.
danger of overthrow, our present population were con.
fined to the comparatively narrow limits of the original
thirteen States, than it is now that they are sparsely
settled over a more expanded territory. It is confidently
believed that our system nay be safely extended to the
utmost bounds of our territorial limits ; and that, as it
shall be extended, the bonds of our Union, so far from
being weakened, will become stronger.
" None cau fail to see the danger to our safety and
future peace, if Texas remains as independent State, or
becomes an ally or dependency of some foreign nation
herself.not pr efe
rlsptehrepreet
uoanl one
peat©amo n g
withou r
citizensTTexas,
x morea s
,p
tooww
occasional
powerful
au
slwi
ootnuhalail nwars,
which so often occur between
bordering independent nations ? Is there one who
would not prefer free intercourse with her, to high duties
on all our products and manufactures which enter her
ports or cross her frontiers? Is there one who would
not prefer an unrestricted communication with her citi-
zens, to the frontier obstructions which must occur if
she remains out of the Union ? Whatever is good
or evil in the local institutions of Texas, will re-
main her own, whether annexed to the United
States or not. None of the present States will be
responsible for them, any more than they are for the
local institutions of each other. They have confederated
together for certain specified objects. Upon the same
principle that they would refuse to form a perpetual
union with Texas, because of her local institutions, our
forefathers would have been prevented from forming our
present Union. Perceiving no valid objection to the
measure, and many reasons for its adoption, vitally
affecting the peace, the safety, and the prosperity of
both countries, I shall, on the broad principle which
formed the basis and produced the adoption of our con-
stitution, and not in any narrow spirit of sectional
policy, endeavour, by all constitutional, honourable, and
appropriate means, to consummate the expressed will
of the people and government of the United States, by
the re-annexation of Texas to our Union at the earliest
practicable period.
" Nor will it become in a less degree my duty to assert
and maintain, by all constitutional means, the right of
the United States to that portion of our territory which
lies beyond the Rocky Mountains. Our title to the
country of the Oregon is clear and unquestionable;'
and already are our people preparing to perfect that
title by occupying it with their wives and children. But
eighty years ago our population was confined on the
west by the ridge of the Alleghenies. Within that period
—within the life-time, I might say, of some of my hearers
—our people, increasing to many millions, have filled the
eastern valley of the Mississippi ; adventurously
etr,ended the Missouri to its head springs ;
and are already engaged in establishing the
blessings of self-government in valleys, of which the
rivers flow to the Pacific. The world beholds the
peaceful triumphs of the industry of our emigrants. To
us belongs the duty of protecting them adequately,
wherever they may be upon our soil. The jurisdiction of
our laws, and the benefits of our Republican institutions,
should be extended over them in the distant regions
which they have selected for their homes. The in-
creasing facilities of intercourse will easily bring the
States, of which the formation in that part of our ter-
ritory cannot be long delayed, within the sphere of our
Federative Union. In the meantime, every obligation
imposed by treaty or conventional stipulations should be
sacredly respected.
"In the management of our foreign relations, it will
be my aim to observe a careful respect for the rights of
other nations, while our own will be the subject of con.