Mississippi Democrat., 1845-03-19

be Just. Any policy which will tend 10
favor monopoles, or the peculiar interests
of sections Of classes, must operate 70 the
prejudice Of the interests Of their fellow
citizens, and should be avoided II the
compromises Of tho constitution be pre-
served, If sectional iealousies and heart
burnngs be discountenanced,--il our laws
be Just, and the government be practically
administered strictly within the limits of
power prescribed 10 tive may discard all
apprehensions for the safety of the Union.
With these views of the nature, charac-
ter, and objects of the government, and
the value Of the Union, ! shall steadily op-
pose the creation Of those institutions and
systems which, in their nature,tend to pre-
vent il from its legitimate purposes, aud
make il the instrument Of sections, classes,
and individuals. We need no national
banks, or other extraneuous institutions,
planted around the government to control
or strengthen it in opposition TO the will Of
its authors. Experience has taught us
how unnecessary they are as auxiliaries
of the public authorities, how lmpotent
FOR good, and how powerful for mischief.
Ours was intended to be plain and fru-
gal government; and shall regard it to
be my daty to recommend TO Congress
and as far as the executive is concerned,
to enforce, by all the means within my
power, the stdctest economy in the expen-
diture of the public money, which may be
compatible with the public interests.
A national debt has become almost an
institution of European monarchies. II is
viewed in some of them as an essential
prop 10 existing governments. Melancho.
y is the condition of that people whose
government can be sustained only BY a
system which periodically transfers large
amounts from the labor Of the many 10 the
Golfers of the few. Such system is in
compatible with the ends fol which our
republican government was instituted--
Under wise policy the debts contracted
in our revolution and during the war of
1912, have been happily extinguished.
By a judcious application Of the revenue,
not required for other necessary purposes.
il is not doubted that the debt which has
grown out Of the circumstances of the last
few years may be speedily paid Off
] congratulate my fellow citizens on the
entire restoration Of the credit of the gen
eral government Of the Union, and that Of
many Of the States. Happy would it be
for the indebted States, if they were freed
from their liabilities, many of which were
incautiously created. Although the gov
ernment OF the Union is neither in a legal
nor moral sense bound for the debts Of
the Staies, and it would be violation Of
our compact of Union to assume them, yet
we cannot but feel a deep Interest in seq
inaak the States mNet their public liabill-
ties,dnd pay off th}ir Just debts, at the
earliest practicable period. That they
will do SO, as soon ns it can be done with
out imposing too heavy burdens on their
citizens, there Is no reason to doubt. The
sound, moral, and honorable feeling of the
people of the indebted States, cannot be
questioned; and we are happy to perceive
a settled disposition on their part, as their
ability returns, after season of uneyam-
pied pecuniary embarrassment, to pay off
all Just demands, and to acquiese in any
reasonable measure TO accomplish that OBJ
ject.
One Of the difficulties which we have
had to encounter in the pecuniary admins
tration of the government. consists in the
adjustment of the revenue laws, and the
levy of the taxes necessary for the support
Of government. In the general proposi-
tion that no moro money shall be collected
than the accessories of an economical ad-
ministraiion shall require, all parties seem
to acquesco. Nor does there seem to be
any material difference of opinions as the
absence of right in the government to tax
one section of the country, or one class Of
or one occupation, for the mere
profit of another. "Iustice and sound po.
Icy forbid, the federal government to fos-
ter one branch Of industry to the detr-
ment of another, or to cherish the inte.
rests of one portion Of our common coun-
try" | have heretofore declared to my
follow-citizens that, in any judgment, it
is the duty of the government to extend,
as far as it may be practicable to do 50, by
its power, fair and just protection 10 all
the great interests Of the whole Union em.
bracing agriculture, manufactures, the
mechanic arts, commerce ahd naviga-
ton"
| have also declared my opinions to be
in favor of tariff for revenue" and
that "in adjusting the details of such a
tariff, | have sanctioned such moderate
discriminating duties as would produce
the amount Of revenue needed, and, at
the same time, afford reasonable inci-
dental protection TO our home industry"
and that | was " opposed to tariff for
protection merely, and not for revenue"
The power "to lay and collect taxes,
Il, ] 4