Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-12-22
THE HERALD.
TUESDAY EVENING, DEC. 2a. 1870.
THE MESSAGE.

pitshs Dut uttC " u w III all I've oNabtts
or in all its defomity.
We are not disposed to occupy much space,
with our comments on this document to-day
for we have not space TO spare; il we had, we
are not clear tina, the time to fill /, would be
profitably used; we cannot in conscience
speak Of the document in the language of gen.
eral commentator; and to labor 10 refute the
main position, would be a mere work Of su-
for the people themselves have
recently given their exposition of the financi-
al policy and doctrine of Mr.. Van Buren,, in
language which fully shows that they at least
are not ignorant of the tendency of the Sub
treasury.
The message very properly speaks Of the
dsvout gratitude due to Almighty God for his
kind providence towards us-ofour pacific re-
lations with all other nations--and the favora-
BILE prospect Of the speedy adjustment of the
boundary question, which has sometimes as
sumed a threatening aspect. He respectfully
recommends to the consideration Of Congress
the suggestion Of the Postmaster General in
relation to some improvements in the Post
office Department, and he also submits TO their
consideration whether all intercourse Of ouI
citizens with the slave factories on the coas,
of Africa should not be prohibited.
So far we are not disposed to censure or
find fault with the message, but when we
look at the account which the President gives
of the fiscal affairs of the government, we can
hardly find words to express our contempt and
disgust at the shutting and pettifogging man
ner in which he treats this all important sub
ject. He introduces the subject as follows
TIE present sound condition Of the finances and
the success with which embarrassment in regard
10 them al times apparently insurmountsble, have
been overcome, are matters upon which the peo-
pie and government Of the United States may
we'll congratulate themselves. An overlooking
treasury, however il may be regarded as evidence
of public prosperity, is seldom conducive TO the
permanent welfare Of any people; and experience
has demonstrattd its incompatibility with the sal
utary action Of political institutions like our ewn
Our safest reliance for fnancisl' efficiency and in
dependence has, on the contrary, been found to
consist in ample resources tsincombered with
debt; and in this respect the federal Government
occupies a s,ngularly fortunate and snviabls Po-
siiion.
This looks a little like begging praise
But are the finances in such condition at the
presen, time as to demand the congratula,ion
of the people and government Of the United
States! We say yes, and prehaps in the
same sense which the President meant, for the
people have cause to be thankful that the con-
dition Of the finances is no worse. The peo-
pie ought to be grateful too, that the President
has taken such good care to avert the evils to
be apprehended from ian overlooking Treasu-
ry." five are to infer from the last sentence
in this extract that the nation is free from debt
and we see no other just inference, is it true
in fact, Are we to regard four and hall
millions Of dollars in outstanding Treasury
notes, which the President states to be the
amount, as no evidence of debt! 1t may be
that in order to cancel this amount, in his owr
mind, he has set off an equal amount Of the
surplus deposited with the States--this very
likely would have been satisfactory to him
having been bred to the Law, but will it sat
isfy the people.
After stating some reasons against the poll
cy of incuring a national debt accompanied
with some obscure hints about foreign stock
holders, he discourses as follows
In time Of peace, there can, al all events, be nj
justification for the crestion Of perm ,nent deb
by the federal q vernment Its limited range o
consttu iional duties may certainly, under sucl
circumstances, BE- performed without such re
sort. II has, IL is seen, been avoided during fou
! years OF greater fiscal difficulties than have ex
listed in a similar period since the adoption oil on
! constitution, and one also remarkable iof IN
concurrence OF extraordinary causes Of eIPendi
lures.
The President here sits it down as proved
| that no debt has been incurred during his ad
minislra,ion, Notwithstanding the peculia
difficulties with which he has had TO conteD
and the extraordinary causes Of expenditure
which he has had TO meet. We wish MI
Van Buren, had placed before us the iru
state OF the finances Of the country so pariic
ularly that we might have seen in words an
figures the result without asking Us TO take hi
pery general statement as proofof the assum
ed fact. We like TO see such matters pu
down in "black and white" In relation {
the last sentence in the above extract, we thin
il would have been more consonsnt with truii
had the two words Immediately following III
word extraordinary" been 'erPunged."
We nigh, 20 on and expose the many sui
ierfuges, resored to in this documen, in rela
ton TO every important particular, but II
really 300 small game"