Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1840-01-18


This was not ratified before the depar-
ture OF our late charge d'afairs from
that country, and the copy of il brought
By him was not received before the ad
lournnent of the Senate al the last ses-
sion. In the mean while, the period IL
nlited for the exchange OF Publications
having expired, | deem it expedient, ia
| consequence of the death of the charg
d'afiairs, 10 send a special agent TO Cen
trail America, TO close the affairs Of our
mission there, and 10 arrange with the
! government an extension of the time for
the exchange of ratifcations.
The commission created By the States
which formerly composed the republic
of Colombia, for adjusting the claims
against that government, has. By a very
unexpected construction of ths treaty
under which It acts, decided that no pro-
vision was made for those claims OF ci,i-
zens of the United States which arose
from captures BIZ Colombian privateers,
aud were adjudged against the claimants
in the judicial tribunals. This decision
will compel the United States 10 apply
| to the several governments, formerly
united, for redress. With all thes -
| New Grenada, Venezuela and Ecuador.
a perfectly good ersianding exists
| Our treaty with Venezuela IS faithfully
carried into executIon-an1 that country
in the enjoyment of tranquility, is grl-
/ duaily advancing ia prosperity uad-r the
| guidance of lis present distinguished pre-
sldent, General Pace. With Ecuad ~.
Il liberal commercial convention has ats-
! " been concluded, which will be trans
mitted to the Senate al an early day
With The great American empire Of
Brazil, our relations continue uuchang-
ed, as does our friendly intercourse Wi II
the otner governments of South Amcri-
ca-the Argentine republic and the re-
public of Uruguay, Chill, Peru and B III
var. The dissolution of the eru-B0,i-
Wan con federation may occasion some
temporary Inconvenience TO our citizens
in that quarter-but the obligations on
the new governments which have arisen
out of that confederation, TO observe is
treaty siipulations, will no doubt be soon
understood, and il IS presumed that no
indisposiiion will exist TO fuli those
which are contracted with the United
States.
The financial operations of the gov
ernment during the present year have,
am happy 10 say, been very successful.
The difficulties under which the treasury
depa rtment has Iabored under known
defects In the existing laws relative To
the safe keeping of the public moneys.
aggravated by the suspension of specie
paynlent by several OF the banks hold
ing pub!ic dcposites, or indebted to pub
lie officers for notes received in public
dues, have been surmounted to a very
gratifying extent. The large currcn,
expenditures have been publicly met.
and the faith OF the governm snt in all
its pecuniary concerns has been scrupl-
lousy maiHsained.
The nineteen millions of treasury
notes authorized by the act of Congress
Of 1887, and the notifications Thereof.
with view TO the indulgeHc OF mer-
chants on their duty bonds, and Of the
dcPost'e banks in the payment Of the
public moneys held by them. have been
50 punctually redeemed, as 10 leave less
than the original ten millions out4Ian1-
ing at any one tIme--aud the whole
amount unredcemed, now falls short OIL
three millions. OF these, the chief por-
ton IS not due till next year, and The
whole would have been already cxtin-
gulshed, could the treasury have reaiiz-
ed the payments due To it bv the hunks. I
1t those due from them the next wear
shall be punctuaIly made, and If Con |
gress shall keep the appropriations with
IN the estimates, there is every reason /
to believe that all the outs standing trea-
sIry notes can be redeemed, and the /
ordinary expenses betrayed. without /
imposing on the people any additional |
I. ! -. .-tsrIf
TO avoid this and 10 keep the eXPendt- /
lures within reasonable bounds. is du-
ty sacond only in Importance to the pre-
servation of our national character and
the protection of our citizens in their
civil and political rights. The creation
in time of peace of debt likely to be-
come permanent, is an evil for which
there IS no equivalent The rapidity
with which many of the States are appa-
rently approaching 10 this condition, ad-
monishes US of our own duties, IN a man
ner too impressive to be disrcgarded.-
One. not The least important, is TO keep
The federal government always in a con
1ition 10 discharge with ease and yigOr.
its highest functions. should the exercise
be required By any sudden conjecture Of
public affaIrs-a condition To which we
are atSa Us exposed, ana WiicD may Oc- |
cur when least expected. To this end.
il IS indispensable that its finances should
BE- untrammelIed, add its resources, as
far as practicable, unincumbered. No +,
could present greater OBJ
stacles to the accomplishment of these
important objects, than the creation of
an enormous national deb. Our own
experience and also that of other nations.
have demonstrated the unavoidable and
fearful rapidly with which public debt
IS increased, when the government has
once surrendered itself TO the runous !;
practice OF supplying lis supposed neces- {,
sites by new loans.
The struggle therefore on our part TO I
De successful, must be made at the
threshold. To make our efforts etfec- |
i've. severe economy is necessary. This
; the sarest provision for the national I
veliare-and it is al The same time the I
BEST preservative of the principles on
which our institutions rest. Simplicity 4
IND economy in the affairs of state have d