Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-04-08

- the spirit of most Industrious, en-
erprlsing. intelligent people is so en-
ergelic and elastic, that the Govern,
ment will be without the shadow Of eX
cuse for its delinquency, if the ditiicul
ties which now embarrass it be no
speedily and elfectuaIy removed.
From present indications it is hardI
doubtful that Congress will find it ne
cessory to lay additional duties on i'm
ports, in order to meet the ordinary cur
rent expenses OF the Government. Ii
the exercise of sound discrimination
having reference 10 revenue, but at thC
same time necessarily af'ording Incl
dental protection to manufacturing in
duStry, it seems equally probable tho
duties on some articles Of importation
will have 10 be advanced above 20 pei
cent. IN performing this imporlan
work OF revising the tariff of duties
which in the present emergency would
seem to be Indispensable, cannot Toe
strongly recommend the cultivation oI
a spirit OF mutual harmony and conces.
sion, TO which the Government itselI
owes its origin, and without the conrin.
ued exercise of which, jarrIng and dis
cord would universally prevail.
An additional reason for the increase
Of duties in some instances beyond the
rate Of 20 per cent. will exist in fulfil
ling the recommendations already made,
and now repeated, of making adequate
appropriations for the de(ences Of the
country.
By the express provision Of the act
distributing the proceeds Of the sales Of
the public lands among the States. its
operation is pso facto to cease so soon
as the rate Of tho duties shall exceed the
limits prescribed in the act.
In recommending the adoption Of mea.
sures for distributing the proceeds Of
the public lands among the States at
the commencement Of the last session Of
Congress, such distribution was urged
by arguments and considerations which
appeared to me then, and appear to me
now, of great weight, and was placed on
the condition that It should not render
necessary any departure from the act
Of 1888. 1t is with sincere regret that
| now perceive the necessity Of depart
ing from that act; because | am well
aware that expectations Justly entertain.
ed by some OF the States will be dsap-
pointed, by any occasion which shall
withhold from them the proceeds OF the
lands. But the condition was plainly
expressed in the message, and was in
serted in terms equally plain in the law
itself; and amidst the embarrassments
which surround the country on all sides,
and beset both the General and the State
Governments, it appears TO me tina, the
object first and highest in importance
is to establish the credit Of this Govern
ment, and TO place it on durable foun'
dations, and thus afford the most eiFoc
Iual support to the credit OF the States,
equal at least to what it would receive
from a direct distribution of the pro
ceedS of the sales of public lands.
When tho distribution law was passed
there was reason to anticipate that there
soon would be real surplus to distrb
utc On that assumption it was, in my
opinion, a wise, just, and a bonoAcent
measure. But to continue it in force
while there is no such surplus to dis
tribute, and when it is manifestly ne"
cGssary not only to increase tho duties,
but at the samo time borrow money in
order TO Iiquidato the debt and disem
barrOss the public Treasury, would
cause it to be regarded as an unwse a
Iienation Of the best security Oft pub.
lie creditor, which would with difficulty
be excused, and could not bo justified.
Causes Of no ordinary character have
recently depressed American credit in
the stock market Of the world 10 do |
gree quite precedented lneod scarce.
Iy mention the condition of the bunking
institutions Of some of the States, tho
vast amount of foreign debt contracted |
during a period Of wild speculation by
corporations and individuals, and, above
all tho doctrine Of reputation Of con-
tracts solemnly entered into by States,
which, although as yet applied only !
undOr circumstances of a peculiar cha
racer, and generally rebuked with Sc
verify by the moral sense Of the COM
munity, is yet so very IIcentious, and
in a Government depending wholly on
opinion so very alarming, that the i'm
preston made by it to our disadvantages
as a people, is any thing but surprising,
Under such circumstances, it is impcla
lively due from us to the people whom
we represent, that, whom we 90 into the
money market to contract loan, we
should tender such securities as to cause
the monoy.Iendor as we'll at home as
abroad to feel that tho most propitious
opportunity is afforded him Of investing
proftably and judiciously his capital
A Government which has paid Off tho
debts Of two wars, waged with the most
C,,I nc ,,,o l. 4. l. !