Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-12-08

present year, II may be safely estimated
that the revenue which will be received
into the Treasury from that source dur
ing next year, with the aid of that re-
ceved from public lands, will considera-
bly, exceed the amount of the receipts of
the present year; and it is believed that
with the means which the Government
will have at its disposal, from various
sources, which will he fully stated by
the proper Department, the whole ofthe
public debt may be eXtinguished, either
by redemption or purchase, within the
four years of my administration. We
shall then exhibit the rare example of
great nation, abounding in all the means
of happiness and security, altogether free
from debt.
The confidence with which the cyin-
guishment of the public debt may he an
ticipatcd, presents an opportunity for car
rying into effect more fully the policy in
relation to import duties, which has been
recommended in my former messages.
A modification of the Tariff, which shall
produce reduction of our revenue to the
wants ofthc Government, and an dust
mcnt Of the duties, on imports with n
view to equal justice in relation to all our
national interests, and to the counteract-
ion of foreign policy, so far as it may be
injurious to those interests. is deemed To
be one of the principal objects which de-
mand the consideration of the present
Congress. Justice to the interests of the
merchant rs well rs the manufacturer, re-
quircs that material reductions in the i'm
port duties he prospective: and unless the
present Congress shall dispose ofthc sub
jcct, the proposed reductions cannot
properly he made TO take effect
at the period when the necessity for the
revenue arising from the present rates
shall cease. 1t sthcrcfore desirable, that
arrangements be adopted at your pres
ent session, to relieve the people from
unnecessary taxation, after the extin-
guishment Of the public debt. In the en-
ercise of that spirit of concession and
Cancellation which has distinguished the
friends of our Union in all great cmcr-
gencics, it is believed that this object
may be effected without injury to any
national interest.
In my annual message of December,
1899, l had the honor to recommend
the adoption of more liberal policy than
that which then prevailed towards unlor-
tunatc debtors to the Government; and
deem it my duty again to invite your at
ention to this subject.
Actuated by similar views, Congress
ut their last session passed an act for the
relief of certain insovent debtors of the
United States: but the provisions of that
law have not been deemed such rs were
adequate to that reliefto this unfortunate
class of our fellow citizens, which may
be safely extended to them. The points
in which tho law appears to be defective
will he particularly communicated by the
Secretary of the Treasury, and ! take
pleasure in recommending such an extern
sion of its provisions rs will unfettcr the
enterprise of n valuable portion of our
and restore 80 them the meansI
of usefulness to themselves and commun-
ity. While delibcrating upon this sub
jcct, l would also recommend to your
consideration the propriety ofso modify
ing the laws for enforcing the payment
of debts due either to the public or to in
dividuals suing in the courts Of the Unit
ed States, as to restrict the imprisonment
of the person TO cases of fraudulent con-
cealmcnt ofpropcrty. The personal lib
erty of the citizen seems too sacred to be
held, as in many cases it now is, at the
will of creditor to whom he is willing
to surrender all the means he has of dis
charging his debt.
The reports from the Secretaries of
the War and Navy Department, and
from the Postmaster General, which ac-
company this message, present satisfac-
tory views of the operations of the De-
partmcnts respectively under their
charge: and suggest Improvements which
are worthy of, and to which l invite the
serious attention of Congress. Certain
defects and omissions having been dis
covered in the operation of the laws re-
specting Patents they are pointed ont
in the accompanying report from the
Secretary of State.
j have heretofore recommended a
mendments of the Federal Constitution
giving the election of ofPresident and Vice
President to the people, and limiting the
service of the former to n single term.
So important do consider these changes
in our fundamental law, that | cannot, in
accordance with my sense of duty, omit
to press them upon the consideration of
a new Congress. For my views more
at large, as well in relation to these points,
as well as the disqualification of members
of Congress to receive an Office from a
President in whose election they had an
official agency, which l proposed rs a