Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-12-10

rctlye 20 icy by Great Britain and the u States,
new and important markets have already been
opened for our agricultural and other products;
and navigation have received a new
impulse labor and trade have been released
from the artificial rammels which nave SO long
t tered them; aud to a great extent reciproci.
", in the exchange Of commodities, has been
Introduced a; the same time by both countries,
and greatly for tue beuefit Of both. Great Bri
50 has been forced. by the pressure ofeircum-
ss4nces at home, 10 abandon a policy which has
ben upheld foi ages, and to open her markets
Tor our immense surplus oil breadsiuffs: and il
Njs confidently believed that other powers Of
Europe wil ultimately see the wisdom, ifthey
h not competed by the pauperism and suffer
lsgs OF Ihe:f crowded population, 10 pursue a
slm1ar policy.
Our farmers are more deeply interested in
maintaining the just and liberal policy OK the
txisllng law than any other class Of our citi-
Gems. They constitute a large majority of our
population and il is well known that when
ttey prosper, all other pursuits prosper also.
fiey have heretofore not only received none
III tme bountles or favors of Government, but,
by the unequal operations of the protective po-
lry, have been made, by the burdens Of taxa
ton which II imposed, to contribute to the boun-
tes which have enriched others.
VAena foreign as well MS a home MARKETS
aptBed to them, they must receive, as they are
bow receiving, increased prices for their pro-
duets. They will find a reader sale, and at
liter prices. for then wheat, -four, rice, Indian
corn, beef, pork, lard, butter, cheese, and other
articles, whichthey produce. The home mar
sft alone IS inadequate TO enable them TO dis
pose ol he immense surplus Of food and other
articles VIII CHI they are capable of producing,
syen at the most reduced prices, for the mani
tesi reason that they cannot be consumed ia the
country. The L. States can. from their inn
utnhs surplus, supply not only the home de-
uian', but the Deficiencies Of food required by
the whole world.
That the reduced production Of some Of the
chef articles of food in Great Britain, and 9TH
e. parts Of Europe, may have contributed TO in
crease the demand for our breadstuils and pro-
visions, is not doubted but that the great and
Efficient cause Of this increased demand. and OF
increased prices, consists in the removal ofar-
tlelaI restrictions heretofore imposed, is deem
al 70 be equally certain. That our exports of
food, already increased and increasing beyond
former example. under the more liberal policy
which has been adopted. will be still vastly en-
klrged, unless they be checked or prevented by
a restoration Of the protective policy, cannot be
doubted. That our commercial and navlga
ting interests will be enlarged in a correspond
my ratio with the increase of our trade, is equl-
iy certain; while our manufacturing interests
will still be the favored interests Of the country,
sud receive the iaeidental protection afforded
thru by revenue duties and more than this
they cannot Justly demand.
In my annua message Of December last, a
tariff Of revenue duties based upon the prlnci-
pies Of the existing law was recommended;
and have seen no reason 10 change the opIn-
ions then expressed. In view of the proba-
be beneficial effects Of that law, | recommend
that the policy established by it be maintained.
1t has but just commenced 10 operate and TO
abandon or modify ii without giving it a fair
trial, be mex pedIentand Should
defects IN any Of It's details be ascertained by
actual experience TO exist, these may be here
after corrected but until such defects shall be-
rome manifest, the act should be fairly tested.
II is submitted for your consideration wheth-
or II may not be proper, as a wal measure, TO
impose revenue duties on some OF the articles
now embraced in the free list. Should il be
deemed proper 10 impose such duties, with a
view to raise revenue 10 meet the expenses of
the war with Mexico, or to avoid to that exsn
the creation of a public debt, they may be re-
pealed when the emergency which gave rise
70 them shall cease to exist, and constitute no
part of the permanent policy of the country.
The act ofihe 6 of August last, 80 provide
for the better organization Of the treasury, and
for the collection, safekeeping, transfer, and
disbursement of the public revenue" has been
carried into execution as rapidly as the delay
necessarily arising out of the appointment Of
new officers, taking audapproving their bonds,
and preparing and securing proper places for
the safekeeping of the public money, would
permit It's not proposed TO depart in any
respect from the principles or policy on which
this great measure is founded. There are,
however, defects in the details Of the measure,
developed by its practical operation, which are
fully set forth in the report of the Secretary of
the Treasury, to which the attention Of Con-
gress is invited. These defects would impair
10 som extent the successful operation of the
law at all times, but are especially embarrass-
ing when the country is engaged in a war,
when the expenditures are greatly increased,
when loans are to be effected, and the disburse-
ments are to be made at points many hundred
miles distant. in some cases. from any deposi-
tory, and a large portion of them in a foreign
sounry. The notifications suggested in the
report of the Secretary Of the Treasury are re-
commended to your favorable consideration.
In c~o1nexion with this subject, | invite your
attention TO the importance of establishing a
branch Of the mint of the United States at New
York. Two. thirds of the revenue derived
from customs being collected at that point,
the demand Tor specie 10 pay uAe uuueS WIN De
large; and a branch mint, where foreign coin
aud bullion could be Immediately converted
into American coin, would greatly facilitate
the transaction of the public business, enlarge
the circulation of gold and silver, and be, at
the same time, a safe depository oil the public
money.
The importance of graduating and reducing
the price ofsuch Of the public lands as have
been long offered in the market, al the mini
mum rate authorized by existing laws, and re-
main unsold, induces me again to recommend
the subject to your favorable consideration
Many millions of acres of these lands have been
Offered in the market for more than so years,
and larger quantities for more than ten or TWEEN
ty years and being ofan inferior quality, they
must remain unsaleable for an indefinite peri
cd, unless the price at which they may be
purchased shall be reduced. To place a price
upon them above their real value is not only
TO prevent their sale, and thereby deprive the
treasury Of any income from that source, but
is unjust to the States in which they lie, be-
cause il relards their growth and increase OF