Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-12-18
many for the purpose Of promoting the inter.

The commissioners appointed under the
convention for the adjustment of claims oil
citizens of the United States upon Mexico
having met and organized at Washington, in
August last, the papers in the possession OF
the government, relating to those claims,
were communicated to the board. The
claims not embraced by that convention are
now the subject of negotiation between the
two governments, through the medium OF
our minister at Mexico.
Nothing has occurred to disturb the harmo.
ny of our relations with the different govern
ments of South America. regret, however
to be obliged to inform YOU that the claims
Of our citizens upon the late Republic of Co.
lumbia have not yet been satisfied by the
separate governments into which it has been
resolved
The charge d'afIairs of Brazil having ex'
pressed the intention of his Government not
to prolong the treaty of 1928, it will cease to
be obligatory upon either party on the eth
day of December, 1911, when the extensive
commercial intercourse between the U. States
and that vast empire will be no longer regu.
lated by express stipulations.
II affords me pleasure TO communicate to
YOU that the Government of Chill has entered
into an agreement to indemnify the claimants
in the case of the Macedonian, for American
property seized in lS19 and to add, that in
formation has also been received which jus.
tiics the hope OF an early adjustment of the
remaining claims upon that government.
The commissioners appointed in pursuance
of the convention between the United States
and Texas, for marking the boundary between
them have accordngto the last report received
from our commissioner, surveyed and cstab.
lishcd the whole extent of the boundary
north along the western bank of the Sabine
river from its entrance into theGull of Meyl.
CO, to the thirty second degree of North lat-
tude. The commission adjourned on the
, 16 of June last, to re-asscmble on the first Of
November for the purpose OF establishing &C.
curatcly the intersection of the 32d degree Of
latitude with the western bank of the Sabine,
and the meridian line thence TO Red river. II
is presumed that the work will be concluded
in the present season.
The present sound condition of their fnan-
ces, and the success with which embarrass-
ments in regard to them, at times apparently
insurmountabIe. have been overcome, are
: matters upon which the people and govern
mcnt of the United States may well congrat-
: ulate themselves. An overlooking treasury,
: however it may be regarded as an evidence
: Of public prosperity. is seldom conducive to the
permanent welfare of any people; and expe.
:, rience has demonstrated its ineompatbility
u with the salutary action Of political institu
tons like those of the United States. Our So
: fest reliance for financial efficiency and indie
u pcndence has. on the contrary. been found tc
consist in ample resources uncncunbered with
. debt; and, in this respect, the Federal Gov
j. eminent occupies singuarly fortunate ant
i truly envable position.
When entered upon the discharge Of my
= official duties in March 1897. the act for the
y distribution of the surplus revenue was in q
5 course OF rapid execution. Nearly % mill
j. ions of dollars of the public moneys were ,ir
Il pursuance of its provisions, deposited with tn,
states in the months of January. April ant
g July of that year. In May there occurred a
. general suspension Of specie paymeuts,by the
', banks, including, with very few exceptions
!, = those in which the public moneys were de-
u posted. and upon whose fidelity the govern
mcnt had unfortunately made itself depcnden
for the revenues which had been collected
l. from the people. and were indispensable t,
II the public service. This suspension, and the
y excuses in banking and commerce out o.
!, which it arose. and which were greatly aggra
;. ;. waited by its occurrence. made. TO great eX
u tent. unavailable the principal part OF The
!. public money then on hand. suspended The
I .Ne "Ai'inS lIun ,u>tumfS anu Tue lJt.jhc ,SrNs
= These effects have continued TO operate If
h various degrees 10 the present period; and. in
addition to the decrease in the revenue tim.
produced, two and half millions of dollar.
nave been relinquished by two biennial re.
{ auctions under the act OF 1893, and probably
as much more upon the importation OF iron
Tor rail roads. by special legislation.
whist such has been our condition for the
last Tour years,n relation to revenue, I'VE have
during the same period, been subjected TO an
unavoidable continuance of large and ex.
traordinary expenses necessarily growing out
: OF past transactions. and which could not be
Immediately arrested without great preindice
10 the public interest. Of these, the charge
upon the Treasury, in consequence of the
Cherokee treaty alone. without adverting TO
others arising out OF Indian treaties, has al.
ready exceeded five million of dollars that
Tor the prosecution Of measures for the reno.
val OF the Seminole Indians, which were
found in progress, has been nearly fourteen
millions; and the public buildings have re.
qured the unusual sum OF three millions.
1t affords me. however. great pleasure to be
able to say, that, from the commencement of
this period to the present day. every demand
upon the Government, at home & abroad has
| pceh promptly met. his has been done not
only without permanent debt, or resort to
additional taxation in any form, but in the
midst OF a steadily progressive reduction of
existing burdens upon the people, leaving
still considerable balance OF available
funds which will remain in the Treasury at
the end OF the year. The small amount OF
treasury notes, not exceeding four and a
half millions OF dollars. still outstanding. and
less by twenty.three millions than the United
States have in deposile with the States. is
composed OF such only as are not vet due. or
nave not been presented for payment. They
may be redeemed out OF the accruing revenue.
if the expenditures do not exceed the amount |
within which they may. it is thought. be kent
without prejudice to the public interest, and
the revenue shall prove to be as large as NAV
Justly be anticipated
Among the reflections arising from the con.
temptation of these circumstances. one. not
the least gratifying, is the consciousness that
the Government had the resolution and the |
ability TO adhere, in every emergency. TO the
sacred obligations law; to execute all it's
contracts according to the requirements of the
constitution; and thus to present, when most
needed. ralIying point by which the bust.