Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-09

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probable that any adjustment of the tariff upon pr
clpt,S satisfactory Ia the people ofthe Union will
un'i remote period, if ever leave the (ioyernnen,
Wi"'u' q considerable surplus IN the Treasury be-
Sohu what may be required for ITS current SER
wee As then the period approaches when the an
phcaton of the revenue TO the payment of deb, viii
cease, the disposition OF the surplus will prcs,n,
suolCc' Tor the serious delbcraton of CONGRESS;
anu IL may be rtunnte for the country thar
II Is Yet to he decided. Considered IN c,prn~-
ION VIII the difficulties which have hcreoorc o,icn
u'd appropriations for purposes of internal imnrovc
mrnt' ana with those which this experience tells ms
VIII certainly ARISE, whenever power owe s,ch s,b;
may he exercised by the General Government il is
hoped that II may lead the adoption of some nlon
which Will reconcile the diversified interests Of tLn
STATES and strengthen the bonds which unit, then,
Every member nf the Union in rcac,, and in Yo,
VIII be benefited by the improvement of inland nav
igation and the construction of high WAYS m ,b,
Netol states Let US then endcavor 10 attain this
ur'eht IN mode which Will be SAT-. factory to NJ
ihat hitherto adopted has, by many of our fallow.
cri2'ns' been deprectcd rs infracion of the Con
Stihilon, whlo by others il has been viewed nc in
eNPcdlcn'. All feel that it has been e,nnlovcd =,
III, expense OF harmony IN the legislative councils
10 avoid these evils, il appears to me that tho
most safe Just, and federal disposition which could
DC nad" Of the surplus revenue would be lis onnor
IoHh'ut among the several States ACCORDING TO their
ra';o OF representation, and should this measure moi
10 found warranted by the Constitution thai i, Womb
Oe cXpedlent 10 propose to the States an amendment
authorizing II. regard an appeal To the source Or
powcr IN cases of real doubt and where MS EXERCISE
Is deemed Indispensable TO tho general welfare as
among the most sacred Of all our OBLIGATIONS Unop
this country, than any other has il. the rrnv;
dencc OF God, been cast the special guardianship ,f
the great principle of adherence 10 written consii,u
t"nS ~ II iai' he ., al hope IN regard to il will be
cNthSusiled. That this IN ended TO bc n Co
ycrnmcnt nf limited and specific, and not ,,encr,I
powers, must he admitted by all: and il is onr dntv
t. preserve for the character intended by IFS frn
III r. III experience points out The nrccssiv for an
L a fFft Hos, L. -
thcs" Or whose benefit is To be cXcrciscd and mot
undermine the whoe system by resort to ovcrs rim
cd constructions. The scheme has worked vol I,
mas exceeded the hopes OF those who devised it. and
Oecume an object OF admiration TO the world W.,
are responsible to country and 20 tho rIor;ous
cause of self governments, for the preservation of So
great 4 good. The great mass OF legislation rela-
ting To internal aiiirS. was intended IN n, lnf,
where the Federal Convention found TIN Tho
State GOVERNMENTS Nothing is olearer IN my
view. than that are chiefly indebted for the
success OF the Constitution under which we are
now acting, 10 the waich!ill and auyilarv on
Grafton Of the State authorities This is net
The reflection of day, but belongs 10 the most
deeply rooted convictions CT my mind cannot
therefore, too strongly or too earnestly, for my own
sense OF ITS importance, warn Won Hraiu,t all on
croachmcnts upon the legitimate sphere of State
sover ignty. Sustained by its hru;hfl and Invign-
-atng influence, the Federal system can never fall
In the collection of the revenue, the long credits
Iuthorized ON goods imported from bevond the Cam
ii GOOD Hope, are the chic of the losses Mt
present sustained. fthcsc were shortened To sly
me and twelve months, aud warehouses prov;d.d
ly Government, sufficient to receive the goods of
cred Ia ccPoste Tor security and dchcntnrc; and III
he right OF the United States - priority of nav
ncn ont Of the estates of It's insolvent debtors
we're more ciiccually secured. tins evil would in
great measure, be obv!aled An authority to con-
truct such houses Is, therefore, with the proposed
liberation Of the credits, recommended 10 your al
ention
II Is worthy Of notice. that the laws for the col
ecuon' ard security OF the revenue arising from I'M
POSTS, were chiefly framed whom the rates of dur cs
~ imported goods, presented much less temptation
or lct trade than at present exist. There rra-
son TO believe, that tn laws arc IN some rcspccts
lue insufficient Tor the proper security of the
Jnue and the protection of the interests OF those who
are disposed to observe them The injurious and
ccnoTa lzing tendency of successful system q,
smuggling IS so obvious as not To require comment
ana cannot Dc too carefully guarded against. there
tore suggest To Congress the proprety of adop,ing
ehclen measures TO prevent this evil; avoiding how
ever, as much as possible, every unnecessary in
of individual liberty, and embarrassment
Of fair and lawful business.
On an examination Of the records of rho Tro,
sury, have been fnrclby struck with the larpe n
mount OF public money which appears TO be GU stan
ding. Ofthe sum thus due from individuals TO the
Government, n considerable portion is undoubtedly
dcSpcrdtc and IN many instances, has probably been
rendered so by rcmlssnCSs in the agents CHARGED
with rs collections. BY proper cXcrtiuns, a great
part however, rnny yet be recovered; and Whatever
"J w tHe portions respectively belonging TO these
Two classes. II bchovcs the Government To- ascertain
the real state Of lie fact. This can he done only bv
the prompt adoption Of iudicious measures for the
collection OF such as may be made available. II is
believed that very large amount has been lost
through the inadequacy of the means provided for
the collection of debts due TO the public and that
this inadequacy lies chiefly IN the want Of legal skill
habtunlly and constantly employed in the direction
of the agents engaged IN the service. It must.
think, be admitted, that tho supervisory powcr over
suits brought by the public which is now vested in
an accounting offer Of the Treasury, not selected
with view O his legal knowledge, and encunber
cd os hr il with numerous other duties opcrntcs
uniayornbly 10 the public interest.
II is important that this branch Of tho publr SCR
vice should be subjected to the supervision of such
professional skill as will give it efficiency. The *
ponsc a'tenda upon such n modification of The FIX
ecutiyc Department would be justified by the sound
est principles of economy. I would recommend
therefore, that the duties assigned 10 the Accent
ofthe Treasury, far they relate to the suprrn-
tcndeHce and management Of legal pr cccdngs ON
the ptr Of the United States, be Transferred fo the
Attorney General, and that Ibis officer be- placed on
the same footing, ~ all respects as the Heads OF he
other Notwithstanding like compcusat ion
and wing such subordinate officers provided for his
Department, may be- requisite for the DISCHARGE Of