Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1838-12-13

The General Government they present
themselves merely as State Institutions,
having no necessary connection with the
legislation ofits administration. Like other
State establishments, they may be used or
not in conducting the affairs OF the Govern
meut, as public policy aud the general IN
terests OF the Union may seem to require.
The only safe or proper principle upon
which the Intercourse with the Govern
ment can be regulated, is that which regu-
Iatcs their intercourse with the private
citizen-the comforting Of mutual benefits.
When Government can accomplish finan-
cial opera,ion better with the aid of the
banks than without, it should be at liberty
10 seek that aid as il would the services OF
private banker, or other capitalists or
agents, giving the preference to those VINO
will serve il on the best terms. Nor can
there ever exist an interest in the officers of
the General Government, as such, Inducing
them to embarrass Of annoy the State
banks any more than to incur the hostility
of any other class of State institutions, or
of private citizens. 1t is not IN the nature
of things that hostility to those institutions
can spring from this source, or any oppresl-
ton to their course Of business, except
when they themselves depart from the OBJ
iects of their creation, and attempt to usurp
powers not conferred upon them, or to
subvert the standard of value established by
the constitution. While oppostions to
their regular operations cannot exist III this
quarter, resistance to any attempt to make
the Government dependant upon them Tor
| A. Il DIn BOT nf nIIblic
affairs, is matter of dut,, as trust it will
be of inclination, no mattfr from what mo-
tive or consideration the ittempt may orig
mate.
1t is no more than JUS to the banks to
say, that in the late emergency, most OF
them firmly resisted the strongest tempta-
tions 10 extend their paper issues, when APP
parently sustained in suspension ofspece
payments by public opinion, even thong in
some cases invited by legislative enact
ments. To this honorable course, aided
by the resistance of General Government,
acting in obedieuce to thu constitution and
laws of the United states to the introduce
ton of an irredecmable piper medium, may
be attributed. in gret degree, 10 the
speedy restoration of our currency to u
sound state, and the business Of the country
to its wonted prosperity. The banks have
but to continue in the same safe course,
and be content in their appropriate sphere,
to avoid all interference from the General
Government, and to derive from it all the
projections and benefits which it bestows
on other State establishments. on the peo-
pie of the States, and on the States them
| selves. In this, their true position, they
cannot hut secure tho confidence and good
will of the people and the G"~nrnment,
which they can only lose when, leapiag
from their legitimate sphere, they attempt
to control the Legislation ofthe country and
pervert the operations Of the Government
to their own purposes.
Our experience under the act passed al
the last session, to granl preemption tights
10 settlers on the public lands, has as yet
been too limited to enable Ms to pronounce
with safety upon the efficacy of it's provis-
| ians to carry out the wise and liberal policy
of the government in that respect, There
is however, the best reason to anticipate
| favorable results from its operation. The
Recommendations formerly submitted to
Won, in respect 70 graduation Of the
price Of the public lands, remain TO be f.
nalv acted upon. Having fonnd no rea-
son TO change the views then expressed,
your attention to them is again respectful
ly requested.
Every proper exertion has been made
and Will be continued to carry out the
wishes of Congress in relation to the tobac.
cn trade, as indicated in the several reso-
lu,ions of of the House Of Rep'eseniativ
and the legislation Of the two branches A
( favorable impression has trust been made
in the different foreign countries to which,
particular attention has been directed, and
| although we cannot hope for an early
change in their policy, as in many OF them
convenient and large revenue ia derived
from monopolles in the fabrication and sale
of this article, yet as those monopoics are
re ally injurious to the people where they
are established, aud the revenue derived
from them may be less inJuriously and with
/ equal facility obtained fro n another and :
I liberal system OF administration we canno
doubt that eur efforts will be eventual J
crowned with success, persisted IN witt
/ temperate firmuess, aud sustained by pru-
dent legislation.
In recommending to Congress the adop
ton of the necessary provision at this SEES
sion for taking the next census, or ennmer
alton Of the inhabitants of the Unltet
States, the suggestion presents Itself wheth'
er the scope of the measure might not DC
usefully extended by causing il to embrace
authentic statistical returns ofthe great IN
! terests specially intrusted to, or necessar'
/ H.