Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-11

or selfish we will no, determine. The measure
10 which we refer, was proposed at the last ses-
sion OF Congress, and. after All Interesting de-
bate, was deferred. The attentionot Congress
being thus drawn 10 IL by the Executive, we
have no doubt il viii be again agitated.
Our relations with Spain appear 10 be, as
was generally believed, IN stdtn quo, we might
say qSo ante beiIum- the state in which they
were previous to the late war for we cannot
see that they have since that period made any
material advance to "a conclusion. Ii is salts
factory to learn. however. that there is NO pre.
sent prospect othos,ilities with Spain.
"A large space in the message is allowed 10
the atiaiW Ut the patriots CT Spanish America
and TO the events growing out OF their existing
conflict. The emphatic attention bes;owe, on
the subject is tatteriuc TO their cause, and
shows the important light in which the subject
Is vicvedD by our government. The mission in
which three OF our highly respected citizens
are employed, to South America. besides emsu-
ring respect TO our tag, and communicating
iuSt ideas of the equitable disposition of our
government, will afford rs those correct views
OF the state OF that country, aud that aHtlIen,ic
Information, the want OF which has lett us 10
grope III the dark imregard to thoSe countries
without any better guides than the inflated *
apOcryphal accounts, from both parties which
are occasionally received. The South Ameri-
cans themselves must be satisfied witiLtGe 20.
hey aVowed By our administration. placisg
the parties on footing OF equality, we consi.
der tie contest as civil war, ia which il is G.
quaiiy our dutya and interest to observe neutral.
ity, unless compelled 10 violate it, II urged
to the extremity, by any acts OF other powers,
OF engaging III the contest, The tone of the
message leaves us in no doubt as TO the side 10
which the feelings OF the Executive preponde.
rate. From observations which have fallen
sinCe the message, from the distinguished cti-
zen VINO presldeS over the House OF henreSpn.
tatives, II wouldappear that entire satisfaction
Is not felt at the determinations announced in
ne message, TO suppress the establshinentS of
Amelia Island aud Galveztou. The iuforma.
ton III the possession OF the Executive wa, no
doubt, such as not only 10 ju> tify. )ut ,mpari
ouSiy TO require the step The adViccS rom
Savannah, which we ptDlish to-day &c true
and The source whehCe We derive them assures
their correctnesS-wou .d show that the es,a.
blIshmcmt at Amelia island is unsiiseuisediv nj.
ratcal, unauthorized and unsupported BIZ any
other power than the will or The freeb0otcrs
who cccup! IL. five are not mistaken. ior ter
minatIng these expeditions, which essentially
iuufe the real interests of the patriots we
shall receive their thlnSS at least as cordially
| as those of the Spanish government TO whom
! also the motives OF the pruceuIn, haS been sa-
tisiactorly explained.
In our relations with other powers il an
pears there IS no essential change during the
| past year. GA This subject the President paws
just compliment 10 t.e emil ghteUed views Of his
predecessor. lie claims not the merit OF oTiyI-
mating the present policy of the government.
Due attention" he says. " continues to be paid
| 10 the protection Of commerce., &c. and" a
strong hope is entertained, lhat by adhaing 30
| Tue niiximS faJust candid aud friendly poli-
| cy, we may long preserve ainicdhie and friend
| ~ relations with all the powers Of Europe" - c.
| This tribute thus delicatcly conveyed, of res
| pect 70 the wisdom ut the late zdMlusiIai
Is Us honorable to Mr.. MONROE, asst must be
| gratifying to all who cherish tlie principles and
| reverence the character OF Mr.. MADIsoN
| IhetouriShing state OF our Revenue has no
! example, IN any nation, in modern days; the
more extraordinary, because Immediately fol-
| lowing three years war, waged under great
| disadvantages, with one OF the most powerful
| and military nations on earth. Ii affords the
| occasion Tor spectacle rarely Witnessed the
| Executive Magistrate Of d nation recommend
| ing TO the Representatives of the People the
| reduction OF revenue, collected without Op-
! preston, and with comparative facility The
| taxes will no doubt be repealed. We rejoice
| III the ample resources which make these un-
necessary, but not much in the prospect ofthe
! total repeal OF tile taxes. We have seen too
| much of the difficulty OF organizing system of
| decentralization, and OF the time Ii requires to
| erect the machine when wanted, 10 desire
much to see II entirely destroyed If the frame
| OF II could be preserved; II there was any roe
| diun between repeating and retaining the SyS-
tenn, much difficulty would be avoided when
| IN future, as the President suggests, il may be-
| come necessary to recur L. the same means of
supplying the public eXi 5encies.
When the President speaks of the csmple-
| tion OF the Capitol and the other Public Build
IhgS AT the seat of government, he takes that
enlarged view which might be expected from
statesman thoroughly Versed in the theory OF
his own government, and whose ideas have eX-
pauded from ala attentive observation ofoteTs
ancient and modern The prom II completion
| Of the Capitol is important II Tae comfort and
| convenience of Congress, not to speak of the
| silapeless appearance OF the binding in IFS pre-
| seat state and we are sanguipe Ia our hopes
that authority will be granted ut the present
session to complete ii.
The opinion of the President respecting the
nf fhn f.,a laef, l.
| Canals, freely avowed, DESTROYS all prospect oil
| appropriations for those objects heinz made al
the present session or durlug his administra
ton, unless the constitution be amended, as the
President has suggested. VI e hope, therefore
to see it the subject of early Geii5eratiOn by
| Congress we say early, because, should Con
gTesS agree to propose such amendment sc
| veral OF the State Legislatures would he able
10 act upon 1t during their present and dp
preaching sessions, and at the commencement
Of the session, Congress might find themSeve;
invested with the power beyond all future
question.
The Indian tribes, and the manufactures O
the United States, form important branch
Is of the Message, III regard TO which the SCI,
timents ii expresses harmOnize with thOst
which generally prevail. Towards the Indian
tribes the President suggests, in detail, tina
humane attention which, in his inauguId
| speech, he inCucated as our duty.
| 1t Is somewhat remarkable, that there is MOI
III the Message one syllable respecting the eX
tensiye and laborious Tour of Observation
made by the President during the late summer
5ut his Message teens with the fruits Of tina
journey, particularly visible in his remarks OF
Qualifications, ON The public lands aud on tn,
state Of the Indian tribes. The silence OF til,
President on the subject Of his tour, produce
amOre impressive effect than any terms IN which
lie could have anHOuncedit, and illustrates thu
motives of that act.
| Upon the whole, we are confident the Mes
sage will lie received with sincere satisfaction
throughout the country. The cOnciiaiOTy spi
rit which peryades il must address itself 10 III,
| ocorne NJ all tIto hasr ~ rsad n aud