The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-08-23


perity and credit, recommended such distribu-
ton; but That recommendation was even expressly
coupled with the condition that the duties on i'm
ports should not exceed the rate of 90 per cent
provided by tho Compromise Act of 1888
These hopes were not little encouraged and
these views strengthened by the report of Mr. Ew-
ing, the Secretary Of the Treasury, which was
shortly thereafter laid before Congress, in which he
recommended the imposition of duties at the rate
OF 20 per cont. Gd 0atOrem all free articles,
with specified exceptions, and stated, ''if this
measure be adopted, there will be received in the
Treasury from customs, in the last quarter of the
present year, (S4lO So, 900; in all of the year
1912 about $@2 800, oo0;and in the year l943 after
tho final reduction under the act of March 9 IS33
about 800, 800 ,000;" and adds it is believed thar
after the heavy expenditures required by the public
serv ice in the present year shall have beeen provi
ded for, the revenue which will accrue from thar
or nearly proximate rate Of duty, will be suC-
fcent to de fray the expenses ofthe Government
and leave a surplus to be annually applied to the
gradual pay ment of the national debt leaving the
proceeds Of the public lands TO be disposed Of as
Congress sha II see fit" was most happy that
Congress, at the time seemed entirely to in
the recommendations of tho Executive and. anti
cpating the correctness of the Secretary's cenclu
sion, and in view Of an actual surplus, passed the
Distribution act of the 18th September last, wisely
limiting its operation by two conditions, having
reference, both OF them, to possible state Of the
Treasury, different from that which had been an
ticipaed by the Secretary of The Treasury, and to
the paramou Mt necessities OF the public service. It
ordained that, "if at any time during the existence
OF tnaL act, tneTe De an imposition oil OutleS
on imports inconsistent with the provision of the
act of he I'd March, 1888, and beyond the rate of
duties fixed by that act, TO wit, 20 per cent the
value of such imports or any OF them, then the
dish ibuon should be supended and should contin
suspended, until that should be
moved" BY previous clause it had, in like
spirit of wise and cautious patriotism provided tor
another case in which all are oven now agreed that
the proceeds OF the sales OF the public lands should
be used for the Defence Of the country. ii was
enacted TINT the act should continue and be in
force until otherwise provided by law, unless the
United States should become involved in war with
any foreign power, in which event, from the com
mencement of hos,ties, the act should be
pended until the cessation of hostilities.
Not long after the opening Of the present session
of Congress, the unprecedented and extraordinary
difficulties that have recently embarrassed the fl.
nancas Of the country began to serious
ASPECT II soon became quite evident that the hopes
under which the act of 4th September was pass.
ed and which alone justified II in the ewes either
ofCongress which imposed or Of the Executive who
approved the first Of tho two conditions just re.
ceived, were not destined to be fulfilled. Under
the pressure, therefore. of the embarassmonts which
had Thus unexpectedly arisen, it appeared to ma
that tho course TO be pursued had been clearly
marked out FOR the Government by that act itself.
The condition contemplated in it, requiring a
suspension of its oper ration had occurred. 1t be-
cae necessary in the opinions Of all, TO raise the
rate OF duties npon imports above 20 per cent, and
with view both to provide available means to
meet present exgencies, and TO lay the foundation
for successful negotiation of loan felt ncum-
bent upon me TO urge upon Congress to raise tho
duties according, imposing them in a spirit of q
Use determination, for the twofod object of affoY
ding ample revenue tor the Government, and incl
dental protection to the various branches of domes
tic industry.
also pressed, in the most emphatic bu, respect.
full language could employ, the necessity of ma.
king the land sales available to the Treasury
the basis of public credit. did not think tina:
could stand excused much LEES justified before the
People Of the United States, nor could reconcile
it to recommend the imposition of additional taxes
upon them, without, Mt the same time, urging the
employ OF all the legitimate means of the Gov
ernnen, towards satisfying its wants. These opin
ions were communicated in advance of any def
nate action of Congress on the the subject either
of the tariff or land sales, under high sense Of
public duty, and in compliance with an express in
juctIon OF the constituencies that if a collision, ex
tremely deprecated as such collisions always ore,
has seemingly arisen between the Executive and
the legislative branches of the Government, it has
assuredly not been owing to any capricious interfe
renee, to any want of plain and frank 9eclara-
ton of opinion on the part of the former Congress
differed in its views with those OF the Executive,
as it undoubtedly had right to do, and passed
bill virtually for a time repeating the proviso
Of the act of the 4th of September, 1871. The bill
reiurded to the House in which it originated,
with my objections TO its becoming law: With
a view 10 prevent, if possible, an open disagree.
ment of opinion on point SO important took 90
cason to declare that considered it an indispensa
BILE prerequisite TO an increase of duties above 20
per cent. that the act Of the 4,h September should
remain unrepealed in the provisions. My reasons
for that opinion were deliberately set forth In the
message which accom- ed the return of the bill
which Constitutions al majority appears to have
been found Tor passing into law.
The bill which is now before me proposes,in It's
eth section the total repeal of one of the poyisos
in the of September, and while increases the
duties above 20 per cent, directs an unconditional
distribution Of The land proceeds. am therefore
subjected second time to the necessity OF either
giving my approval to a measure which, IN my De
liberale judgment, is in conflict with great public
interests or of returning il TO the House in which
it originated, with my objections. With all my
nxiety for the passage of a law which would re
penish an exhausted Treasury and furnish sound
and healthy encouragement TO mechanical indus
try L cannot do so at the sacrifice of the
peace and harmony of the country, ond the clear.
convictions of public duty.
For some of the reasons which have brought me
to this conclusion,l refer to my previous Messages
to Congress, and briefly subjoin The following
1. The bill uDites two subjects, which, FAR
from having any affinity to one anoth ARE wholly
incongruous in their character. X is is both
enue and appropriation bill. II thus imposes
on the Executive, IN the first place, The necessity
of either approving that which he would eject or
rejecting that which he might otherwise approve.