Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-12-17


Nothing has occurred 10 iis,nsb the harmony Of
our relations with The different Governments ci
South America. lrcgle,, however, 10 BE- obliged
TO inform you that the claims Of out citizens upon
the late Republic Of Colombia have not yet been
satisfied BY The separate Governments into which
il has been resolved.
The charge d'afaires Of Blaxil having Expressed
the intention Of his 6o,esnnrni not to p.elong tho
the treaty ~ lasS Il viii cease 10 be obligatory up
on cithcr party on The 18th day Of December. lsti
when the extensive eammefciniiui escomrse between
the uaiied States and thar vast empire viii ne long
er be regulated by express siipuasions.
II affords me pleasure 10 communicate g you
that tho Government Of Chill has eniescd iu,V al
agreement to Indemnity the eialmants in Tic case
OF the Macedonian, for American properly sciaed II
1879; aud to add tina, Information has also tecn
received which jusies The hope II ~ cs,ly adjust.
mcnl Il the remsnng csitns upon that Government.
The commissioners appointed in pursuance Of tho
convention between the United States and Texas,
far making the boundary between them haze, &C.
corhtng q The last report received non oar com.
missionegs, surveyed aud established the whole eS
ten, Of tho boundary north along the western bank
vi the Sabine river, fou its entrance into the Gulf
Of Mexico 20 tho thirty second degree Of north lair
tude. The commission adjourned on The i6,h Of
Jane last. 10 re.assembe on the lat 81 November,
for the purpose Of establishing accurately the Inter.
section OF the thlry-second degree ofiaitgde with
tho western bank Of the Sabine and the merediaa
line thence 10 Red river. Il IS presumed thai the
work win be concluded in The present season,
The present sound cnBition Of their hnances,
and the sueoess with which enlbalrnssmeuts in re-
gard to them, at times apparently insnrmountahle,
have been overcome, are matters upon which the
people and Government OF the United States may
we'll congratulate themselves Anoseiiowlng trea
eufy. however il mny he regarded as an evidence OF
public pros2 crity, is seldom conducive to the per
nanent welfair Of any peoplei aud experience has
demonstrated It's incompatibili,y with the seesty
action OF political institutions like those OF the n
ted States. Oar safest reliance iot financial ciicien
cv and Independence has, 90 the contrary, been
found to consisi in ample resources unenc1mbefed
with debt; and, in this respect. the Federal Coy.
ernsaent occupies sipgularly fortunals and tius
enyiable position.
When entered upon the discharge ~ my official
duties in March 1887, the act for the distribution q
the surplus was 10 coufse Of rapid eNecs'
ton. Nearly lweutysisht millions Of dollars OF the
puble moneys weee, 10 pursuance Of 'ts PROVISIONS,
deposited with the States in tbs months Of ienus'
~ April, and July, of thai year. In Mny thefo oe-
cured general suspension Of specie payments Wy
the banks including, with very few exceptions,
those 10 which the public moneys werc deposited,
and upon whose hdeliiy The Government had an
fortunately made itself dependent foe The tewu'Ies
which had been collected from he people and we're
ind opens sble 10 the public service.
This suspension and the excuses IN banking
and commerce OFT Of which it arose, and which
were greatly aggravated hy is occurrence, made.
70 gruat ,xtest, unavailable the principal para Of
the public money then on hands suspended The Gel,
lection Of man, millions aecnuiug out merchants
bonds; and greatly reduced the revenue aising
from customs and tho pubic lands These eticnis
have continued 10 operate, in snrons degrees, 70
the present period; and, IN addition to the decteEse
in the revenue thus produced, two aud bali mil
lions Of dates hive been rcliugushed by two ben
NAL reductions under the act OF 1888, sn robnbiy
rs much moro upon the importation u IRON ior fai'-
roads, by special legislation.
Whist such has been our condition tor ne Inst
four years ia relation revenue, W. have, iutiug
the same period, been suljeeted TO an uuafpdabls
continuance Of latge extraordinary expenses neees.
sarils growing ont Of peat ransaetlonal and which
could not be immediately arrested without great
10 the public iltercst, u theses NE
charge upon the Treasury, in consequence OF the
Cherokee treaty alone without adyefling 10 otlrIs
arising on Of Indian tieaiies, has already e1ceesd
Eve millions Of dollars; that Tor the prosecution OF
measures FOE the removal Of the Seminole Indians,
which were found in progress, has been nearly four
teen millions, and the public buildings have re.
quired the unusual sum oi nearly three millions.
IL affords me, however, grca, pleasure TO he able
10 saw that, from the commencement u his period
TO the present day, every demand upon Tire Govern
ulent, at home or abroad, has been promptly
met. This has been done. not oniy without crea'
ting permanent debt, resort 70 additional tax
alton in any form, but in the midst OF steadily pro
-fessiye reduction Of existing burdens upon the
people leaving r,ill considerable balance cf pvait
able funds which viii remain IN the treasury a. the
end Of the year. The small amour, Of Treasury
notes, not exceeding four and hall millions Of dol
lars, still outstanding, and Lees BY t~cnly-thfes
millions than the United States have 10 dePoste
with the Suites, is composed Of such only az are
no, vel dae or have not been presented for pay
tueni. They may be redeemed o,it of the accruing
revenue, il the expenditures do not exceed the
amount within which they may, Il 10 thought, DO
kept without prejudice 10 the public interest, and
the reveaue shall prove 10 be large as may justly
be anticipated.
Among The reflections arising from the rontcsn.
plation OF these circumstances, one, not the least
gratifying, is the consciousness that the 1oyefn
uonl had the resolution and the ability @ adhere
In every emergency, 10 the sacred obligations oil
law TO execute all its contracts according to the
requirements Of tho constitution and thus to pre-
sent. when most aecded. reilying point By which
the business Of tie whole country might be brought
back to sale md unvarying standafd--a result "
tally important as well tho interests as 10 the
morals Of the people.
There can surely now be no difference OF OPINION
in regard to the iucolculable evils that would have
arisen IL tho Government at that criucai moment,
had suffered Itself to be deferred from upholdiag
the only true standard Of value, either BY the pres
sure of adverse circumstances or the violence o IN
meritsd dcnuncistion. The manner IN which the
people Sustained the performance Of this duty was
highly honorable to their fortitude and Patriotsm.
II cannot fail 10 stimulate their agents TO adhere
under all circumstances To the line OF duty ana TO
satisfy them Of tho safety with which aconrse real
" right aud demanded by financial crisis, may,
in a community like ours he pursued, however ar-
pa1euily severe its immediate operation.
The policy Of the Federal Government, IN nxtln-
gushing as rapidly as possible the national debit
aud subsequently,, in resisting every temptation 10
create new one, deserves 20 be REGARDED N inc
same favorable light Among the many objections
10 national debt, The certain tendency OF public
securities to concentrate ultimately in the Golfers o.
forei- stockholders is which is every day gath