The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-03

lion OF the treasury, shau NC P'~sS''~N'-
and healthy condition. LII
The dangers To be guarded against are grea'p
augmented by too large surplus OF revenue. VIZ"
that surplus greatly exceeds ia amount wha' an' "
required by wise and prudent forecast 10 hieei u'
loreseen contingencies, the Legislature h'ei n'o'
come To 90 sezed with disposition 10 inou'se va
tIavagant appropriations 10 Objects many oi wa
may and mo.t probably would-be found TO oooh'I'
with the Constitution. A isneied expectancy Is CT
evated above constitutional authority anu Iseh'''
and waseiul extravaganza but too esi'au'iy ,o''
The important power of taxation, whieu, "h"n o.
ercised IN its most restricted form, Is burden on Ia
Dor and production, is resoHed TO- under various P'e
texts for purposes having no affinity 10 'he mo'e,
which dictated lie grant, and the eh""'"ea"'' ~
Government stimulates individual eltfa'asahee' '"'"
the spifit OF a wild and i-regulatsd speculation ~
wolves one and all in its unfortunate results; In VIC"
Of such fatal consequences, II mey be iaid Gown az
an axiom founded in moral and political num- 'na'
no greater should be imposed than are necessary
ior an economical administration OF the GoveIr nsht
and that whatever exists beyond, should De feuueou
or modified This doctrine does IN no way eohiiio'
with the exercise of sound discrimination IN the
selection of the articles 10 be taxed, which due re-
gard to the public veal would at all times suggest 10
The Legislative mind. Ii leaves The range OF selection
und, fined and such selection should always be MADE
with an eye The great interests OF the county
Composed as is the Union, of separate and indePep-
dent States patriotic Legislature will not iaii IN
consulting the interests of the parts, to adopt such
course 3 will be best calculated TO advance tue mar
nony of The whole and thus ensure that permanehcy
in tho policy of the Government without when all
efforts TO advance the public prosperity are vain ana
futless. This great and vitality important task rest"
with Congress; and the Executive can do no more
than recommend the general principles which should
govern in It's execution.
/ refer you to the report Of the Secretary OF war;
for exhibition of the condition of the army and
recommend to you, as well worthy your best con
I'D If thaa uttn /
Secretary in degree exaggerates the great impor
lance, OF pressing forward, without delay, IN the
work Of erecting and finishing the forthcations 10
which he particularly alludes. Much has been done
towards placing our cities and roadsteads in state
Of security against the hazards of hostile attack
within the last four years but considering the new
elements which have been; Of late years, employed
in the propeng of ships, and the formidable mple-
ments of destruction which have been brought INTO
service, cannot be too active or vgiant in pre-
pairing and pertecting the means OF defence. refer
YOU Also TO his report for full statement Of the con-
dtion of be Indian tribes within jurisdiction -
The Executive has abaed no effort in carrying into
effect the well-estabsbed policy of the Government,
which contemplates removal OF all the tribes resi-
ding within the limits of the several States beyond
those limits and it is now enabled to congratulate
the country at the prospect of early contamination
OF this object Many Of the tribes have already made
great progress in The arts OF civilized life and
through the operation of the schools established
among them, aided by the efforts of the pious Of
various religious denominat ons-who devote them
selves TO the task Of their improve ment--we may
fondy hope that the remains of the formidable tribes
which masters of this country WILL in their
transition from the savage state, TO condition of
fnemeDt and cultivation, add another bright trophy
TO adorn the labors Of a wedrccted philanthropy.
The accompanying report of the Secretary of the
Navy, Will explain to you the situation OF that
branch Of the service. The present organization
| of ha ffn mt imam .ft1p.
efficiency but concur fully in the propriety of a d.
| vision OF the Bureau of Construction, Equipment,
and Repairs, into two BureauI. The subjects,
now arranged, incongruous, and require,
to certain extent, information and qualifications
altogether dissimilar.
Africa have been conducted with all due attention to
the object which led to its organization and | am
happy TO say that the officers and have enjoy
cd the best possible health under the system adopted
by the officer Command. Ii Is believed the nIted
States the only nation which has by its laws sub
jecled TO the punishment of DEATH as pirates those
who may be engaged in the slave-trade. A similar
enactment on the part of other nations would not fail
10 be aticaded by beneficial results.
Ia consequence of the difficulties which have eI.
listed in the way of occurring titles for the necessary
grounds ope atoms have not vet been CONNIE need to-
wards the establishment OF the Navy Yard at Mem
phs. SO soon the title is perfected, further de-
lay will be permitted 90 intervene Ii well worthy
of your consideration, whether Congress should not
direct the establishment of a rope-wolk, in connec-
ton with the contemplated Navy Yard, as a measure
not only of economy but as highly useful and neces-
sary. The only establishment Of the sort now con-
nected with the service is located at Boston aud the
advantages OF similar establishment convenient to
the hemP-gfowng region, must be apparent TO all.
The report Of the Secretary presents other matters
TO your consideration, of an important character in
connection with The service.
In referring you 10 the accompanying report of the
Postmaster General it affords me continued cause of
qualification TO be able TO advert TO the fact that the
affairs Of the Department, for the last four wears
have been so conducted from its unaded resources
TO meet It's large expenditures On my coming into Of
flee deb,of nearly $500 0O0 existed against the De-
partment which Congress discharged by appropra-
ton from the Treasury. The Department on the
4th Of March next will be found under he manage.
mont OF ITS present efficient head, free of debt or
embarrassment, which could only have been done
by the observance and practice Of the greatest
vigilance and economy The laws have contem.
plated. throughout that the Department should
be self sustained but II may become necessary with
the west regard to the public interests, to introduce
amendments and alterations in the system There
Is strong desire manifested in many quarters SO 10
alter the tariff Of letter postage as to reduce the
amount OF tax at present imposed. Should such a
measure be carried into effect, TO the full extent de-
srd, IT cannot well be doubted but that for the FIRST
years OF ITS operation, diminished revenue would
be collected, the supply Of which woule necessarily
constitute charge upon the Treasury. Whether
such esut would be desirable, it will be for Con
gress, IN It's wisdom, TO determine. II may in gene
raj be asserted thai, radical alterations in any system
should rather be brought ab.ut gradually, than by
sudden changes and by pursuing this prudent policy
IN the reduction OF letter postage the Department
might still sustain tself through the revenue which
would accrue by the increase OF letters. The state
and condition OF the public Treasury has heretofore
been such as TO have precuded the recommendation
OF any material change. The difficulties upon this
head have however, ceased and larger discretion is
now left to the Government
cannot too strongly urge the policy Of authorizing
the establishment Of line Of steamships regularlS
to ply between this country and foreign port.
and upon our own waters, for the transporta.
ton oil the mail. The example of the British Gov