The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-04-05
Message froum the President.

NHCSSseSSG aNUEha uAhC N RCSHuOkAds
To the Senate aud House IF Representatives. Of the
United States
Notwithstanding the urgency with which have
on more than occasion felt il my duty TO press
upon Congress the necessity of providing the Gov
eminent with the means Of dschargng It's debts
and maintaining invoate the public faith, the in
creasng embarrassments Of the Treasury impose
upon the indispensable obligation of
gain inviting your attention to the condltlon q. .o
finances Fortunately for myself in thus br;nyinn
this important su6i"c. 10 your view, for deliber-
alto "9:c comprehensive examination in all its bear
( ings and trust may add, for final adjustment
OF Ito The common advantage OF the whole Union
| am permitted TO approach il with perfect freedom
| and candor AS few of the burdens for hich pro
vision is now required 10 he made have been
brought upon the country during my short admin
islraon OF its affairs, have neither motive
wish TO make them matter OF elimination against
any OF my predecessors. am disposed to regard
as am bound to treat them as facts, (which caEnot
now be undone, and MS deeply interesting 70
us all, and equally imposing upon all the most sol
emn duties; and the only use would make of the
| past is, by careful examination of their
and character, to avoid if possible the repetition Of
them in future.
The condition OF the country, indeed, is such as
may we'll arrest the conflict of parties The con-
vc,ion seems at length 10 have made It's way to
the minds of ALL that the disproportion between
the public responsibilities and the means provi-
dcd for meeting them, is no casual nor transient
evil IL is, on the contrary, one which, Tor some
years to come, notwithstanding resort 10 all reas
onable retrenchments and the constant progress OF
the country in population and productive power,
must continue to increase under existing laws, UNI
less consent To give up or impair all our defen-
ces in and in peace. But tins is thought
which am persuaded, no patriotic mind would
for moment entertain. Without affecting
alarm which do not feel in regard To our foreign
relations, il may safely be affirmed that they in
a state too critical and involve too many momen>
toCs issues TO permit us to neglect IN the least,
much less TO abandon entirely, those means of as
seiting rights without which negotiation is
without dignity and peace without security.
In the report of the Secretary Of tho Treasury,
submitted to Congress AT the commencement of the
present session. II is estimated that, after exhaust
ing all the probable resources of the year, there
will remain deficit Of $l4 100000 With a view
PAL fly to permanent system OF revenue, and partly
TO immediate relief from actual embarrassment, that
| officer recommended together with plan for ostab
fishing n Government Exchequor, some expedicnts
ola more temporary character, viz f: the issuing
Of Treasury notes, and the extension of the time
for which the loan authorized 10 be negotiated by
the act of the last session should be taken Con
gess accordingly provided for an issue of Treasury
notes To the amount Of SIS, 600 900, but subject TO
the condition that they should not be paid away
below par.
No measure connected with the last Of the two
| objects above mentioned introduced until re
Gently into the House Of Representatives. Should
the loan bill now pending before that body pass in
to law, for its present amount, there would still
remain deficit OF So $500 600 1t requires
gument To show that such condition of the Treas
ury Is Incompatible not only win hgh state OF
public credit, but with anything approaching to eli
hciency in the conduct of public affairs II must
be obv ous, TO the inc per fenced minds,
that TO say nothing of any particular exigency,
tnal or imminent. there should be at all times in
the treasury Of great nation, with view TO
ngencies of ordinary occurrences surplus at least
equal in amount to tho above deficiency. But that
deficiency, serious is would be in ITSELF will,
am compelled to say, rather be increased than iii
minished without the adoption Of measures adequate
to correct the evil at once. ta' t1@
-
From the present indications it is hardly doubt
full that Congress will find it necessary to lay addl
ton duties on imports i'm order to the ordinary
current xpenses Of the Government. In the exer
else Of sound discrimination, having reference TO
revenue, but at the same time necessarily affordng
Incidental protection man utacturing industry, il
seems equally probable that duties articles
of importation will have to be advanced above 90
per cent. In performing this important work of
revising the tariff Of duties, which in the present
| emergency would seem to be Indispensable, can
not too strongly recommend tho cultivation of a
spirit of mutual harmony and concession 10 which
the Government itself owes its origin, and without
tho continued exercise of which EARRING and dscord
would universally prevail.
An additional reason for the increase OF utes in
some instances beyond the rate of twenty per cent
will xist in fulfilling the recommendation already
made, and now repeated, of making adequate an
preparation for the defences of the country.
BY the express provisions of the act distributing
the proceeds of the public lands among the States
rate Of the duties shall exceed the limits prescribed
| in the act.
i When the distribution law was passed there was
reason 10 anticp pate that there would soon be real
surplus 10 distribute On that assumption il was
in my opinion, wise, just. and beneficial mea
sure. But to continue it force while there is no
such surplus to distribute land when it is manifestly