The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-12-19


which ii has been resolved.
The charged affairs of Brazil having ex-
pressed the intention Of his Government not
10 prolong the treaty of 1928. it will cease
to be obligatory upon either party on tie
18th dav of December, 1S4l, when the ex-
tensive commercial intercourse between the |
United States and that vast empire will no
longer be regulated by express supuations.
1t affords me pleasure to communicate 10
you that the Government Of Chill has enter
ed into an agreement 10 indemnify the clai-
mants in the case of the Macedonian, for
American property seized in 1919; and 10
add, that information Las also been received
which iustifies the hope Of an carly adjust
ment Of the remaining claims upon that Go
vernmeni.
The commissioners appointed in pursu-
ance Of the convention between the United
States and Texas, for marking the bounda-
ry between them, have, according to the
last report received from our commissioner,
surveyed and established the whole extent
of the boundary north along the western
bank of the Sabine river, from its entrance
into the Gulf of Mexico to the thirty
degree of north latitude. The commission
adjourned on the 10Th ofJune last, TO ress-
semble on the lst of November, for the
purpose of establishing accurately the inter
section of the thirty-second degree Of lal-
tudo with the western bank of the Sabine,
and meridian line thence TO Red river. 1t
is presumed that the work will be concluded
in The present season.
The present sound condition Of their e.
naucss. and The success with which embar.
easements in regard TO them, at times appa
renIly lnsurmeuntabs, have been overcome
are matters upon which the people aud Go
vernment of the United States may wei
congratulate themselves. An overflewine
treasury. however it may be regarded as al
evidence of public pFosperty,is seldom con
ducive to the permanent welfare of any peo
ple;and experience has demonstrated its III
compatibility with the salulary action of po
lilical institutions like tlose of the UpiteC
States, Our safest relance for fnancia
efficiency and independence has, on th'
contrary, been found to consist in ample re
sources unencumbered with debt, and, il
this respect, the Federal Government occu
pies sngularly fortunate and truly envia
BILE position.
When entered upon the discharge of m,
official duties in March, 1887. the act 70
distribution OF the surplus revenue was in
course of rapid execution. Nearly twenty
eight millions of dollars Of the publ mo
news, were. in pursuance of its provisions
deposited with the States in the months o
January, April, and July, Of that year. II
May there occurred general suspension 0
specie payments by the banks, including
with very few exceptions, those in whicl
the pubic moneys were deposited, and upoI
whose fidelity the Government had unfortu
nsteIy made itself dependent for the reyen
ues which had been collected from the peo
pie, and were indispensable TO the publit
service. This su. pension, and the excess
os in banking and commerce ont of whicl
it arose, and which were greatly aggravated
by It's concurrence, maize, 10 great exten
unavailable the principal part of the public
money then on hand; suspended the collec.
ton Of many millions accruing on merchants
bonds;and greatly reduced the reveHue aris
ing from customs and he public lands
These effects have continued 10 operate, ii
various degrees, to the present period; anC
in addition to the decrease in the revenue
thus produced, two and a half mllisns o
duties have been relinquished by two ben
nial reductions under the act of 1898, anC
probably as much more upon the importation
Of iron fcr railroads, by special legislation.
Whilst such has been our condition fo
the last four years in relation 10 revenue,wt
have, during the same period, been subject
ed TO an unavoidable cOninuace Of large
extraordinary expenses necessarily growing
out Of past transactions, and which coult
not be Immediately arrested without grea
prejudice to the public interest. OF thest
the charge upon the Treasury, in conse
quence Of the Cherokee treaty alone, with
out adverting to others arising cut Of Indiar
treaties, has already exceeded five million
of dollars; that for the prosecution of mea
sures for the removal of the Seminole lnai
ans, which were found in progress, has beer
nearly fourteen milions;and the public bull
dings have required the unusual sum o
nearly three millions.
II affords me, however great pleasure Il
be able TO say that, fron, the commencement
: Of this period to the present day, every de
mand upon the Government, at home or a
broad has been promptly met. This hal
been done. not only without creating a per
4 Il a. i