Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1836-12-20
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things arc marveously long, mervellously
dull, and as a general thing, marcllously a
like, both MS TO proportions and matters of |
more "pith and moment" As he message
itself was severe infection upon the patience |
of our readers, we shall not add TO their tfou-
bic by any long or mctholcal comments
The first remarkable thing in it, is what may
be termed the spirit Of sclfg lorilicOtion-lor
instance: 81 cannot avoid congratuotng you
and my country particularly, on the successive
efforts made by my administrations" &c. &c.
and the next remarkable thing is, the fact that
the message, ITSELF upon its very face in more
cases than one, shows that "my udministra-
ton" has been most signally un-successlul.-
Lock at the account Of our foreign affairs -
with England, we are well enough of, ercept
that the north eastern boundary question:
question involving a territory say twice the
size Of Vermont-is not settled nay, notwith
standing it has been for years and years in dis
cussion, and Notwithstanding the President
has himself for eight successive years had the
business under his own immediate inspection,
he is under the necessity Of making the hum-
iating confession "thot he is not yet in pos
session of the precise grounds on which it
(Englond) proposes satisfactory adjust
ment!" With the rest OF Europe we are well
to do, ercept that Naples has not made COM
nercial treaty with us--Portugal has not paid
our claims, and Spain still imposes burdens on
our commerce. Nearer home we find still
more exceptions our claims upon the South
American governments are not paid the old
difficulties with Mexico are not settled, new
ones have sprung up, and now nothing but ex-
treme caution will save us from embroiling
ourselves in a war with her.
Next comes the revenue, and the fact turns
out to be. that we have more than sc millions
for distribution, Of which nearly one million
falls TO Vormont-whie the leaders of the ad.
mnlstratlon, at the last session of Congress,
confidently predicted that we should have no
surplus, and ridiculed and opposed the distri-
button bill Connected with this subject is
confession OF the President, OF the fact charged
by the opposition last summer, that the admin
istrOton was opposed TO The depOsiie Tor distri-
bution) bill; he says he "reluctantly" APPROX
cd it, and thcreupon discharges a volume of
ridiculous objections and sophistica arguments,
tending against distribution of the surplus
hereafter, and il we understand his drift, TO
an immediate reduction Of the tariff, in viola
ton of the sacred compromise Of 1882. The
most Of the Presidents labored argument is to
show that revenue should not be raised for dis.
trlbution-a proposition which few school boys
would stop to discuss, or to doubt. If it was
designed TO represent this as the principle OF
the deposite bill, then docs the message cggre-
giously misrepresent the matter. Government.
found itself with an OVERLOOKING treasury-there
was more than was wanted, and what was 10
be done with the surplus? President Jackson
answered the question in '29, when he recon-
mcnded division of it among the people, from
whom the money had been received and to
whom it belonged; and Congress well an
swercd it in the deposte bill. Again, in all
probability, unless the government through ex.
travagance or corruption prevent it, there will
unayoldably be a surplus, and that must be di.
vlded and the benefits Of it be dispensed to al
the people, or left as an electioneering fund il
the hands of whatever party possesses tn
reins aud this surplus will not be money
raised for distribution, but money, either acci
dentaIly or undesignedIy acquired. The Pre-
sident objects that the basis of distribution il
the dcposite bill is unequal: that basis, be
remembered, came from one Of his own tollo,c
ers, Mr.. Walker Of Mississippi; and be it al
so remembered, that while this basss gives
few Of the small States lille more than the
proper proportion, any other basis would Civ
other states less than their proportion, an
would, therefore be quito as unequal. I'll
truth is, in dividing millions among states wit
aPopulaiion constantly changing, perfect e'
actness cannot be attained.
We will advert 10 a single confession mo
made in the message, and close our remarl
for the present, reservng for another time fu
ther comments. Those who were readers
the Waterman during the last summer W
well remember our frequent charges again
the administration with creating league
PET BANKS, and placing the public revenue
their ra,tlts, TO be used for their opn albania
or political ends We were urgent, becou
we knew the charges alleged to be true, a
the coursc Of the government reprehen
bic in the extreme. Little did W. think Il
Andrew Jackson, the very father (reputed,
least,) of the whole concern, would be the fl
to acknowledge and condemn the fact! So