Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-16
TREASURY REPORT.


may have dictated, i'll preference to creating
ones.
Should any objection be felt or entertained on
tho score of monopoly, II might be obyiuted by
placing, through the means OF sufficient premi-
am, tho present institution upon the footing of Il
one, and guarding its future operations by such
judicious checks and limitations experience may
have shown to be necessary.
These considerations, and others which will be
adverted to in subsequent part Of this report
the experience of the Department in the trying
periods of its history, and the convictions of his
own judgement, concurring with those ofthc emf
nent men who have preceded the undersigned i'll its
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES him TO recommend the
expediency of rechartcring the present Bank ut
the proper time, and with such notifications, as,
without imparing its usefulness to the Government
and the community, may DE calculated TO recom-
mend it to the appreciation ofthe Executive, and
what is vitality impor,aut-to the confidence Of the
people
Should Congress deem it c1pedient TO author
iEo the sales of the Bank shares, for q no: less
than eight millions Of dollars, the reimbursement
Of the public debt before the Sd of March,
1888, may be confidently anticipated; and from
that period, tho amount of revenue applicable TO
that bcct will be no longer required.
The revision and alteration in the existing du
ties which will be called for by this state of things
sonno OF too early engage tho attention of Congress-
The information requisite to the establishment of
scale OF duties upon permanent AID satsfacto-
~ basis will require time; and SYSTEM in which
40 many important interests are involved will be
sudden changes.
The revenue derived from the present duties
cannot DO safely dispensed with before tho period
assigned for the extinguishment of the public debt;
but such revised SYSTEM Congress may, in its
wisdom, previously provide, may, with entire pro.
Priety BIO authorized to take effect from and after
che Sd OF March, 1888
Independently of the charge for the public debt,
the revenue for the expenditures of Government as
at present authorized, need not, it is estimated,
exceed, annually, the sum Of Sl3,5O0,000.
1t Is believed, however, that there are other OBJ
jscts of expenditure of obvious eNpediency, if not
Of indispensable necessity which it may BIO sup
posed have been postponed by the higher obliga-
ton of paying the public debt. The present oc
eeson is deemed Propitious to provide for those
objects In q manner to advance tho glory and pros
pcrlty of the country, without inconvenience 10
tho people.
1t is therefore respectfully recommended, that in
addition to the expenditure at present author
i1ed, appropriations may, at the proper time, DO
provided for the following obects-For augment
ing the naval and military resources; extending the
nrmories; armng the militia of the several States;
increasing the pay and cmoluments Of the Navy Of
hcers to an equality with those of the Army, and
providing them with the means of nautical insruc-
ton; enlargng the Navy hospital fund; strengthen
ing the frontier defcnces; removing distractions
from the western waters; for making accurate and
complete surveys of the coast, and for improving
the coast and harbors of the Union SO as TO afford
greater facilities to the commerce and navigation
of the United States. The occasion would also be
favorable one tor constructing custom houses and
warehouses IN the principal commercial cities, in
some of which they indspensably necessary
tor the purposes of the revenue; and likewise for
providing for the proper permanent accommodate
on of the Courts of the United States and their
officers
In many districts the compensation of the officers
of the Customs in the present state of commerce
insufficient Tor their support and inadequate to thor
services; part ofthe general system, however,
and etoctuaily to guard the revenue, the services
OF such ocers arc necessary, without regard to the
amount of business; and it is believed expedsnt to
make their allowances commemorate with the viz
ilancc required and tho duties TO be performed
n further improvement may be made in the mode
of eompensating tho officers of the customs by sub
shutting salaries for fees in all the collection dis
tr!cts, by which, at a comparatively small expense
TO The treasury, commerce and navigation would
be relieved from burthens always inconvenient if
not oppressive.
1t IS believed that the public property and Offices
at the Seat of Government require Improvement
and extension, and that farther authorizations
might be made TO adapt them to the increasing bu-
sIness of the country.
The salaries of the public ministers abroad must
be acknowledged to be utterly INADEQUATE either
for the dignity Of the Office, the necessary con-.
fort of their families At some foreign Courts and
those whose relations tow ards the United States
are The most important the expenses incident to
the station found SO burthensone as only to be
met by the private resources of the minister The
tendency OF this is to throw those high trusts alto
gether INTO The hands of the rich which is certainly
provision tor public ministers would obyiatc
these evils and enable the minister 20 perform the
common duties of hospitality TO his countrymcn
and promote social intercourse between the citizens
OF both nations, would only elevate the cfarac-
ter OF his country, but essentially improve s pub
lie relations.
In addition to these objects farther provision
may be made for those officers and soldiers Of tho
Revolution, who yet spared, as monuments of
that patriotism and Sclf-devoton, to which, under
Providence, we owe multiplied blessings.
For the foregoing purposes, together with the
existing expenditure, and moderate allowance for
such objects of general improvement as shall be of
an acknowledged national character, within the IL
mits, as admitted by the Executive, of the powers
of Congress over the subject, annual revenue
Of S5l5, 900, 900, will BIO fully adequate 1t is wor-
thy of remark, that such amount of Tevonue,
would scarcely excred dollar on each individual
of population, it may be reasonably comput-
cd when the reduced duties shall take effect and
that the individual burden would continue 10 dirni-
nish with the increase of population and of the ma
tional resources.
The sources from which the revenue has hitherto
been derived are the imports, public lands, and
bank dividends. With the salo Of the Bank Stock
the latter viii cease, and tho imports according
TO any scale Of duties, which it will be cxpedient
fsnd praeAool 10 adopt, will DO amply sufficient TO
meet all the expenditures; that portion of the rove
nue heretofore drawn froIa the sale Of the public
lands may be dispensed with, Should Congress see
fit to do so.
On this point, the undersigned deems it proper 10
observe, that the creation Of numerous States
tho Western country, now forming
most important part Of the Union, and the relative
powers claimed and exercised by Congress and The /
respective States over Che Public Lands have been
gradually accumulatlng causes Of inquiotude and
difficulty, lfnot Of complaint. 1t may we'll deserve