The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1842-09-02
VFTO MESSAGE.
10 the House u RsPreseaiatiUes
b tke United States;

t4tt@N%
TITS with Hnfelgned regret thatI find my |
self dndef the necessity Of returning tothe
House Of Representatives, with my objec-
lions, billRniitled tan ACT 10 provideFeve-
hue from imports, and to change and modify |
existing laws imposing duties on imports
and Tor other purposes" Nothing can be
more painful % any individual called upon
10 perform The chief Executive duties underl
our limited constitution, than 10 be constrain.
ed % Withhold bis assent from an important
measure adopted by the Legislatures yet he
would neither fulfil the high purposes Of his
s.atiOn, nor consult the true interest or the
solemn will Of the people, the common con-
stitusnls of both branches Of the govern
ment, by yielding his well considered, most
deeply fixed, and. repeatedly declared opi-l
Mons on matters Of great public concern
Inent, 10 those Of a coordinate Department.,
without requiring that Department seriously
20 examine the subject Of their difference.-
The exercise Of some independence of iudg-
ment in regard TO all acts of legislation, is
plainly implied in the responsibility ofappFo-
wing them. Al all times a duty, It becomes
q peculiarly solemn and imperative one,
when the subjects passed upon by Congress
happen TO involve, as in the present in
stance, the most momentous issues, to affect
variously the various parts OLA great coun-
Try, and TO have given rise in all quarters to
such conflict Of opinion, as to render it inn
possible 70 conjecture with any certainty on
which side the majority really Is. Surely,
If the pause for reflection, intended by the
wise authors Of the Constitution, by referring
the subject back to Congress for reconside ra-
zion, be ever expedient and necessary, it is
precisely such case as the present.
On the subject ofdistributing the proceeds
of the sales Of the public lands, in the exist
ing state Of the finances, it has been my duty
20 make known my settled convictions, on
various occasions, during the present session
Of Congress. AT the opening of the extra
session, upwards Of twelve months ago,
sharing fully in the general hopes of return
ing prosperity and credit, / recommended
sucha distribution; but that recommendation
was even then expressly coupled with the
condition that the duties on imports should
not exceed the rate of 20 per cent. GdvaIo-
rem on all free articles, with specified ex-
cePtiOns, and stated, eff this measure be
adopted, there will be received into the tFea-
sury from customs, in the last quarter of the
present year (1841) $5,30O;OOO; in all of the
year 1842 about s22 SOC, 900; and in the
year 1843, after the final reduction under the
act Of March 2, 1898, about SEC, 1900 ,0OO;''
and adds, "it is believed that after the heavy
expenditures required by the public service
in the present year shall have been provided
for, the revenue which viii accrue from thai
or . nearly proximate rate Of duty. win u
sufficient to defray the expenses Of the gov
eminent, and leave surplus to be applied L
the gradual payment Of the national debt
leaving the proceeds Of the public lands to b.
disposed Of as Congress shalt see it.'' wa
most happy that Congress, al the time, seem
cd entirely 10 concur in the recommendation
of the Executive, and, anticipating the col
RICHNESS Of the Secretary's conclusions, an
in view Of an actual surplus, passed the die
tFibution act Of the 4th September last, wise
" limiting its operation by two conditions
having reference, both of them, to a possibl
state of the Treasury, different from thS
which had been anticipated by the Secretar
Ofthe Treasury, and to the paramount ne
cessities of the pubic service. It is ordaine
that, elf At any time during the existence
that act, there should be an imposition
duties on imports inconsistent with the pr'
visions of the act of Cd March, 1888, an
beyond the rate Of duties fixed by that &C
70 wit, 90 per cent. on the value Of such in
ports, or any of them, then the Distribute
should be suspended, and should continl
so suspended until that clause should be r
moved.p By previous clause it had, in
ike spirit Of wise and cautious patriotism
provided for another case in which all a
even now agreed that the proceeds Of Il
sales Of the public lands should be used
the defence Of the country. Il was enactt
that the act should continue and be in for
until otherwise provided by law, unless {
United States should become involved
war with any foreign power, in which ever
from the COMMENCEMENT Of hostilities, t
act should be suspended until the cessati
y OF hostilities.
Not long after the opening Of the prese
session Of Congress, the Unprecedented al
extraordinary difficulties that have recen
embarrassed the finances Of the country,
gan 10 assume q serious aspect. II soon |
came quite evident that the hopes und
which the act Of 4th September was passC
and which alone justified it in the eyes
Congress who imposed. or Of the Exeeuti
who approved, the first OF the two conditio
Just Tecited, were not destined to be flilRlle
Under the pressure, therefore, of the emb
easements which had thus unexpected
arisen Il appeared TO me that the course TO
pursued had been clearly marked out for {
government BY that act itself. The con
-1ion contemplated in II, as requiring a 81
pension Of its operation had occurred.
became necessary, in the opinions Of ali,
raise the rate Of duties upon imports abO
copper can't, and with view both 10 PROV
Available means 70 meet present exigenci
and 70 lay the foundation for successful J
- gocation for q loan felt it incumbent up
me to urge upon Congress 70 raise the dul
accordingly, imposing Them ID q spirit o
wise discrimination, for the two-fold obi
of a6ording ample revenue for the govel
meni and incidental protection TO the va
Gus branches Of domestic industry. la
pressed, Ia the most emphatic bat especr
laneaage I could employ, the necessity
making the land sales avaiIablg % the Tr
D. ...nu = IL, hasia &c NJ hlfo ssod "a. iii