Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-06


now denied to belong, in some extent or other, tc
those Powers respectively
Fastening, however, for the present, from theme
so inviting to discussion the part of the Message
which concerns the Oregon question, we turn te
the next most Immediately interesting topic of the
Message, being that which concerns
j OUR RELATIONS WITH MEXICO.
i OF the present Administration it may certainly be
said, to its credit, that keeps its secrets much bet
ter than It's predecessor could do. We learn, with
equal pleasure and surprise, from the Message, that
not only had the Executive made overtures to Mex
leo for amicable negotiation, at the time that the
Executive organ was vilifying this paper in the
foulest language of viuperation for recommending
that Ucry policy in preference to taking the way
the French took for settlement of our differences
with Mexico, but it had almost, if not actually, at
that very day, appointed 81 distinguished citizen OF
Louisiana" who has already departed upon his
mission, to be Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary to Mexico We are happy to
find in this instance that the counsels of Peace have
prevailed with this Administration against the fero-
cious recommendation OF an opposite course, which
we had occasion some weeks ago to rebuke. We
have sincere satisfaction in congratulatng the friends
of peacein other words, the friends of their coun
try's best interests-throughout the length and
breadth of the land, upon the prospect of an adjust
ment with Mexico terms recprocally advanta-
geous to both countries.
The next subject of the Message to which the
attention of every reader is likely to be directed is
THE TARIFF
On this question the Message is explicit enough.
The President reafirms doctrines which, before
his elevation to his present high station, he was
known to profess and has always acted upon, in
regard to the Protective System. He is against IL
against the Tariff act Of 1912, as he has often be-
fore declared himself to be- and recommends re-
vision and modification of the act with view to
the reduction of the duties imposed by it, Now,
then, the question arises, as propounded some time
ago by one of the shrewdes adjutants Of the Ad-
ministration, WHAT WILL CONGRESS DO Which
question we will answer, as satisfactorily as we
can in the Delphic style of another of the main
props of the Administration, Nous gerrons
Besides the reference to the ANNEXATION OF
TEXAS, and the glorfcation in which the President
INDUCES upon the success of that measure-and we
should say not without reason, it possible for
US to view the matter in the same rosy-colored light
that ne does-the only remaining topics of the
Message which our time allows to specify, are,
first
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
OF this important public domain, the President
proposes to reduce the price to one dollar per acre.
and to graduate the price to lower rates upon such
portions as shall remain for any considerable time
unsold. We cannot perceive any effect likely TO
flow from this measure, of sufficient consequence.
even that of convenience to the People, to counter
balance the certain reduction of the sum of revenue
from that source which will certainly result from it.
And, secondly
THE SUBTREASURY PLAN
The lesson Of the political campaign of ls4ol
appears to have been lost upon the President; for
he has brought forward, to undergo second enact
ment by Congress, and condemnation by the Peo
pie, the reprobated and repudiated Subtreasury
scheme, rot now recommended even by the insuff.l
clent arguments upon which il formerly carried
through Congress. OF this, however, more anon.
To take more general view of the Message, itsl
great length, to which we have already alluded, is
scarcely ont of proportion to the magnitude of the
public conjuncture which it will but too probably
be the effect of the policy, now plainly announced
to create We look on it, in word-should the
measures which it suggests be executed-as per-
haps the most important document of the sort
which the country has for long term of years had
presented to It.
As far as the Executive authority or influence
can do so, and as far as the open taking of posi-
tons so decisive indicates an assured reliance q, ,
legislative support sufficient to carry them out 10
national action, the Message seems to us dist;nc,
public crisis OF very startling magnitude and. ifI
crisis, it is as clearly entirely voluntary and
artificial.
There is nothing to urge us to difficulties with
England; there is every thing to solicit us to good
understanding with her--a Christian love Of peace
the honest desire of gain, the warnings of at least
much prudence tells us that contest with her
must involve calamtes for which the event can
afford US little compensation but the dreadful one
of having inflicted loss as terrible as we shall have
suffered. At home, the legislation of 1912 seems.
at least, to have brought back one general flow of
prosperity, of rewarded and happy labor in nearly
every branch of industrial production. And, hand
in hand with this gradual and healthy recovery,
has come the very utmost which, in that particular
people need desire, or its government hope to ac-