Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-12

ty of claims, aud the obi Of the treaty of 1885,
aud there really existing adequate tor further
deiy WILL ut length, il may be hoped, adopt the
which the interests of both nations, not less than the
principles OF justice, imperously require. The
" being executed her part little will remain TO
disturb the friendly relations of the two countries;
thing indeed which will not yield the suggestions of
pacific and enlightened policy, and TO the influence OF
that natural good will ad of those recollcc
tons, which may confidently expect will then be
vved In ali their ancient force. In event however,
the principle involved in the aspect which has
been given to the controversy is vitality important to
the independent administration of the Government that
can neither be surrendered nor compounded, with
out national degradation hope il is unnecessary for
say that such sacrifice will not be made through
any agency of mine. The honor of my country shall
never be stained by apology from me, for the state
ment OF truth and the performance of duty; nor can |
give any explanation of official except such
is duo 10 integrity and Justice and consistent with the
principles which institutions have been framed.
This determination WILL confident be approved by
my constituents have indeed studied their charac
ter TO but lutte purpose, if the of twenty five mil
lions of flames will have the weight of feather in the
estimation of what appertans 60 their national ndepend-
ence; and ~ unhappy different Impression should at
any time obtain in any quarter, they will am sure raj
y round the Government of their choice with alacriy
and unanim,y, and silence forever the degrading npu
tation
Having thus frankly presented you the circumstan
ces Which, SINCE the last of Congress- have
Cured in this Interesting and important matter, with the
views OF the Executive in regard TO them, it is at this
time only necessary to add that whenever the advces
now daily expected from Charge dAfares shall
have been received, they win be made the subject of
special communication.
The condition of the Public Finances was never more
hatterng than at the present period.
Since my last annual comm unication, all the remains
OF the Public Debt have been redeemed, money has
been placed IN deposit for this purpose whenever tho
creditors choose &C .SSsvv All the other pecuniary
engagements of the Government have been honoraby
and promptly fulfilled and there will be balance the
Treasury at the close of the present year. nise
teen millions of dollars 1t believed that after
ing all outstanding and unexpcnded appropriations there
will remain near eleven millions TO be applied To any
objects which Congress may designate, 10 the
rapid execution of the works already in progress
In aid of these Objects and to satisfy the
ditures of the ensuing year, it is estimated that there will
in 1886. ''''''''''' ''''''
Should Congress make new appropriations, in con-
formity with the estimates which will be submitted
from tho proper departments amounting to about TWEEN
tyfour millions, still the available surplus the close
of the next year. after deducng all xpended appro
priatons, will probably be not less than six millions
This sum can, in my Judgment be usefully applied
TO proposed improvements in Navy Yards, and to
national works, which not enumerated in the
present estimates, or to the more rapid completion
OF those already begun. Either would be constitu
tIona and useful, and would render unnecessary any
attempt in present peculiar condition, TO divide the
surplus revenue, reduce any faster than will be ef
tected by the existing laws. In any event. the
nua report from the Secretary of the Treasury will
enter into details, showing the probability of
decrease in the during the next years,
and very considerable deduction in 1912 il is not
recommended that Congress should undertake to nod-
fly the present tariff 10 disturb the principles
on which the compromise act was passed Taxation
ofthe articles of general consumption which
are not in competition with our productions may be,
doubt, diminished to LESSEN extent, the
assisted by liberal provisions for the subject of
public defence, which, in the present state OF our pros
feity "" wSai'"' may DC eAcSsu ~ engage your at
tenuon, ,..ow-ver, after satisfying all the demands
which arise from these sources, the unexpended
balance in the Treasury should still continue to increase
il would be better 10 bear with the evil until the great
changes contemplated in tariff laws have occurred,
and shall enable to revise the system with that
and circumspecon which due to delicate and i'm
portant subject
1t is certainly duty TO diminish us far as we can
the burdens of axaon and regard all the restrictions
g
tzens, evils which we shall mitigate whenever
prevented by the adverse legislation and policy
foreign nations, those primary duties which the de-
fence and independence OF our country enoln upon
That we have accomplished much towards the relief of
our citizens by the changes which have accompanied the
payment of the public debt and the adoption of the pre-
laws is manifest from the fact that,
pared with 1888 there is dipinuton of near twenty
five millions in the last two years. and that expeR-
ditures independently of those for the public debt
been reduced nine millions during the period
Let trust that by continued Observance of econo
my and by harmonzng the great interests of agriculture
manufactures, and commerce, much may be ac-
compshed to diminish the burdens of Government, and
TO increase still further the enterprise and the patriotic
affection of all classes of our citizens and all the
beers of our happy Confederacy. AS the data which the
Secretary of the Treasury win lay before YOU regard
financial resources, full and extended and will
afford safe guide in your future calculations, think it
unnecessary to offer any further observations that
subject here.
Among the evidences Of the increasing prosperity Of
the country not the least gratifying, is that afforded by
the receipts from sales of the public lands which amount
in the present year, the unexpected of 81 000
O00 This circumstance attests the rapdity with which
agriculture the first and important occupation of
advances and contributes the wealth and power
of extended territory Being still of the opinion
that IL is best policy far can, consistently
with the obligations under which those lands coded
to the United States TO promote their speedy settlement
beg leave TO call the attention of the present Congress
10 the suggestions have offered respecting IL in my for
mel messages.
The extraordinary receipts from the sales Of the public
lands invite you TO consider what improvements the land
SYSTEM and particularly the condition Of the General
Land Office may require At the time this institution
organised quarter of century ago. 1t would
probably have been thought exravaant anticipate for
this PERIOD such addition TO its business has been
produced by the increase Of those sales during the
past and present years 1t may also be observed that
since the year 1872 the land Offices and surveying die
tricts have been greatly multiplied and that
legislative enactments from year to year since that time
have imposed great amount of and additional du-
ties upon that office; while the want of timely appca-
ton of force commensurate with the and labor
CURED has caused the increasing embarrassment of
cumuated in the different branches of the csa-
bshmcnt
These imPedments TO the expedition Of much duty
in the General Land Office induce to submit to your
judgment, whether modification of the laws relat-
ing to its organization, organization of cha
Facter be called for at the present uncurc, to
bic the Office TO accomplish all the ends Of It's institution
with greater degree Of facility aud pronptitUde than
experience has proved be practicable under existing
regulations The variety Of the concerns and the mag
nitnde and completely of the details occupying and d.
vidng The attenton of the Commissioner appear TO
dert difficult, fuo for that officer by any
possible assduity, to besow all the mUtfarous sub
ecs, upon which ne is called to act the ready and
u attention due 10 their respective Importance; unless
the Legislature shall assist him by law providing
aIfnoH LIMIT lara