Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-03-04
CONGRESS-

transpire d in the Senate. Mr.. McDuffie
addressed the Senate at considerable length
In favor of his resolutions.
In the House, the resolutions establishing
agencies for the purchase of water-rotted
hemp, were taken up and passed.
The resolution calling upon the Secre-
,ary of the Treasury for the reasons for
the removal of Jonathan Roberts, was taken
up and passed.
The Army appropriation bill was under
discussion in Committee of the Whole,
and several amendments agreed to. The
following was under consideration when
the Committee rose:
"For the continuation Of the improve.
ments on the Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio,
and Arkansas rivers, for the half calendar
year $4,000, and for the fiscal year
100000"
The following message from the Presi-
dent was received and read, and followed
by a dissultory and personal debate be-
tween Messrs. Wise and Fillmore, upon
motion by the latter to refer it to the
Committee of Ways and Means:
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, ls43.
To the House Of Representatives.:
i herewith transmit to The House of
Representatives a report made to me on
the 9th instant by the Secretary of the
Treasury, on the subject of the present and
prospective condition of the finances.
You will perceive from it that even if
the receipts from the various sources of
revenue for the current year shall prove
not to have been overrated. and the expen-
ditures be restrained within the estimates.
the Treasury will be exhausted before the
close of the year; and that this will be the
case, although authority should be given
to the proper Department to reissue Treas
ury notes. But the state of facts existing
at the present moment cannot fail to ava
ken a doubt whether the amount of the
revenue for the respective quarters of the
year will come up to the estimates, nor is
it entirely certain that the expenditures
which will be authorized by Congress may
not exceed the aggregate sum which has
hitherto been assumed as the basis of the
Treasury calculations.
Of all the duties of the Government,
none is more sacred and imperative than
that Of making adequate and ample pro-
vision for fulfilling with puncluality its Pc
cuniary engagements and maintaining the
public credit inviolate. Any failure in this
respect, not produced by unforeseen causes.
could only be regarded by our common
constituents as a serious neglect of the pub
lie interests. feel it, therefore. to be an
indispensable obligation, while so much of
the session yet remains unexpired as to
enable Congress to give to the bject the
consideration which its great importance
demands, most earnestly to call its atten-
ton to the proprlety of making further
provision for the public service of the
year.
The proper objects Of taxation are pecu-
liarly within the discretion of the Legisa.
ture, while it is the duty of the Executive
20 keep Congress duly advised of the stale
of the Treasury, and to admonish i, of
any danger which there may be ground to
apprehend of failure in the means of
meeting the expenditures authorized by
law.
ought not therefore to dissemble my
fears that there will he serious falling off
in the estimated proceeds both of the Gus
toms and the public lands. regard the
evil of disappointment in these respects as
altogether too great to be rskei, if by any
possibility it may be entirely obviated.
While | am far from Directing, under
present circumstances, to the Recommended
ton Of the Secretary, that authority be
granted him to reissue Treasury notes as
they shall be redeemed, and to other sug-
gestions which he has made on this sub
iecf, yet it appears to me to be worthy of
grave consideration whether more perma-
nent and certain supplies ought not TO be
provided. The issue of one note in re.
demption of another is not the paymen,
of a debt, which must be made in the end
by some form of public taxation.
cannot forbear to add, that, in a coun.
try so full of resources, of such abundant
means, if they be but judiciously called
out, the revenues of the Government its
credit, and its ability to fulfil all its ooliga.
tons, ought not to be made dependant or
temporary expedients, or on calculations Of
an uncertain character. The public faith
in this. as in all things else, ought to be
placed beyond question and beyond con
tingency.
c.n