Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-12-15
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W HY1MS Se0S
NEWPORT: :
Thursday, Dec. 1J, 1886.

HleSsaSe oI Trcsiucnt JACKSON 10 DOM
Houses of Congress, will be found on
an extra sheet accompanying this num-
ber Of our paper. For very temperate
and candid review of the several subjects
embraced in that ,oordy document, we
call the attention Of our eaders to the
following from the National lntelligen-
Ger Of the 7th inst.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
In the Annual Message Of the Presi-
dent Of the United States to Congress,
which is now spread before our readers,
we are happy to find our anticipations
realized of having much less objection
to make TO it than to the last document
Of this description, or to almost any pre-
ceding one for the last seven years
Not that there are not parts OF it from
which we seriously dissent: but that,
with scarcely an exception, there are
few traces in it, either of the tone Of as
sumption and arrogation, or Of the vim
dictive spirit, too often Of late years dis
cernblc in the Executive Messages
We have in this Message no claim Of
prerogative power for the Executive; no
assertion Of his right to construe the
Constitution and the Laws as he under
stands them, no intimation Of contingent
purposes of coercion in reference to any
foreign Power; no denunciation Of popu-
lar Indignation against those who have
ventured to question the inlallibility Of
Executive wisdom. The chastened
tone of the Message in these partic ulars,
indeed, well becomes the present posi-
ton of the Chief Magistrate, about TO
resign all his powers into the hands that
gave them, and to bio farewell forever
TO the busy scenes Of public life.
With respect to the substance Of the
Message, we will only say, in the way
of comment, that with the part which
concerns our Foreign Relations we are
80 well satisfied that we would hardly
desire to change a word of it. The cir
Cunstances Of our awkward position in
regard to Mexico are cautiously and in
Extensively related; and the assurance, f,
in another part of the Message, that in
structions have been given to the Com
manding Officer 10 miihdrd,O the troops
Of the United States from .Nacogdoohes,
leaves us nothing 10 wish, except that,
under the influence of mischievOus ad-
visers, the false move, thus honornbly
,etracted, had never been made. The
recommendation to Congress to take
measures to carry into effect the neg lect-
cd treaty Of boundary between the two
countries, happily according with the
general tone of the Message on that
subject, forbids doubt ofthe continued
existence of amicable relations between
the United States and Mexico, which,
up to the moment Of reading the Mes
sage, we had supposed to be in no little
hazard.
In regard to home affairs, an early
and prominent topic of the Message, as
might naturally have been anticipated,
is the Distribution Act Of last session, by
which the surplus revenue is 10 be, OH
certain conditions, RENTED to the sever
al State Governments. To this act the
Message very plainly betrays the Presi-
dents repugnance. Alter announcing
the probable amount Of the surplus on
the st Of January, the President avows
that he gave the act u reluctant assent;
and then, referring to mere street talk or
editorial gossip ("it has been extensively
spoken oi'') as the grounds of imputation
of premeditaied bad faith Oh the part of
the States, and Of the necessity Of some
restrictive Legislation touching the future
distribution of the surplus, seeks to a
larm the States, by an intimation that
The wants of the Treasury may soon re-
4uire them to refund portion Of the
amount they are to receive, SC. We
ook upon these suggestions, however,
rs the mere harmless overflow Of the
Executive dislike Of the Act, end they
might be passed by without further an.
even if they were not con-
clusively answered in another part OF
The Message, by an elaborate ingenious
on tho necessity of reducing
ihe rerenue, to prevent its again orertio,U-
ing the Treasury. Perhaps, however,
in paper in the preparation of which,
rs is obvious in this Message, various
hands have been employed, perfect con-
gruIty would have been too much to ex-
pect. Leaving these ideal terrors and
|ancilul speculations, therefore, to the
readers sober judgment, we employ our
pen with pleasure III the more agreeable
duty Of bestowing commentator on the
which lays down the maxim
hat "an improvident expenditure Of mo-
,ey is the parent ofproAigacy." Though
,ot regarding the public debt so entirely
a the light Of public evil as the Presi-
lent appears to do, we agree 10 substance
With him, that "no people can hope to
'erpetuate their liberty who long acqui-