The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-12-17

thority to purchase the stock and pay it off
at an earlier period, at its market value, out
OF any surplus which may at any time be in
the Treasury applicable TO that purpose.
The balance IN the Treasury OH the LIST
day OF July last exceeded nine millions Of
dollars, notwithstanding several expcndi-
lures had been made for the war during the
months OF May and June proceeding But
for the war, the whole public debt could and
would have been eXtinguished within u short
period ; and it was part Ofmy settled pol
icy to do so, and thus relieve the people from
its burden, and place the Government in u
position which would enable it to reduce the
pnblic expenditures 10 that economical STAN
darl which is most consistent with the general
welfare and the pure and whole some prog
ress of our institutions. N
! Among our just causes of complaint against
! Mexico, arising out Of her refusal to treat
forpeace, as well before as since the war so
unjuStly commenced OH her part, arc the OK
traordinary expenditures in which we have
! been involved. Justice to our own people
make it proper that Mexico should he held
responsible for these expenditures.
In my annual message of December last, q
tariff OF revenue duties based upon the pfin-
cipleS of the. existing law was recommended,
and have seen no reason 10 change the opn-
ions then expressed. In view of the probably
beneficial effect OF that law, | recommend
that the policy established by it be maintain
ed 1t has but just commenced to operate;
and to abandon or modify it without giving it
Il fair trial, would be inexpcdient and unwise.
Should defects in any OF its details be ascer-
tanned by actual experience 10 exist, these
may be hereafter corrected; but until such
detects shall become manifest, the act should
, be fairly tested.
1t is submitted for your consideration
whetherit may not be proper,as war measure,
to impose revenue duties on some of the arti-
cles now embraced in the free list. Should
it be deemed proper 10 impose such duties,
with view to raise revenue to meet the OK
penseS of the war with Mexico, or to avoid to
that extent the creation of public debt, they
may be repealed when the emergency which
gave rise to them shall cease to exist, and con-
stitute no part Of the permanent policy of the
{ country.
The act of the 9th of August Last, "to provide
for the better organization Of the Treasury,
and for the collection saic-keeping, transfer
and disbursement Of the public revenue" has
been carried into execution as rapidly as the
delay cessar!l yar,,ing out Of the appointment
OF new officers, taking and approving their
bonds, and preparing, and securing proper
places for the safe keeping 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 sounded. There
are, however, defects in the details of the
measure, developed by its practical operation
which are fully set forth lii the report Of the
! Secretary Of the Treasury, to which the at
tention ofCongress is invited. These defects
would impair to some extent the successful
operation of the law at all times, but are es-
pecially embarrassing when the country is en-
gagged in war, when the expenditures are
greatly increased, when loans are to be eff
tected, and the disbursements are to be made
at points many hundred miles distant, in some
cases, from any depository. and a large portion
of thcmin a foreign country. The notifications
suggesedin the report of the Secretary otthc
| Treasury are recommended to your favorable
, consideration.
| In connection with this subject invite
your attention to the importance of estab
fishing branch of the Mint of the United
States at New York Two-thirds of the revc-
nue. derived from customs being collected at
/ that point, the demand for specie to pay the
duties will be large and branch mint, where
foreign coin and bullion could be Immediately
converted into American coin, would greatly
facilitate the transaction of the public bust
ness, enlarge the circulation Of gold and silver,
and be, at the same time, Il safe depository of
the public money.
1t will be important, during your present
session, to establish Il territorial government
and to extend the jurisdiction and laws of the
/ TTr;tol a. ri
Our laws regulating trade and intercourse
with the Indian tribes east ofthe Rocky Mount
aims should be extended to the Pacific ocean :;
and for the purpose of executing thcm and
preserving friendly relations with the Indian
tribes within our limits, an additional number
of Indian agencies will be required, and
mcnt of Custom Houses and of Post Offices and
Post Roads, and provision for the tran3porta-
ton Of the mail on such routes as the public
conveyance will suggest, require legislative
authority 1t will be proper, also, to establish
a Surveyor Generals Office in that Territory,
and to make provision for surveying the pub
lie lands, and bringing them into market
As our citizens, who now reside ia that distant
region have been subjected to many hardships,
privatons, and sacrifices in their emigration,
aux ny thciT iii I)roNementS nave cnnahccu
the value of the public lands in the neighbor-
hood of their settlements, it is recommended
that liberal grants be made to them of such
portions Of these lands as they may occupy,
and similar grants or rights Of presumption be
made to all who may emigrate thitler, within
a limited periol, to be prescribed by law.
The progress and condition of the mail SER
vice for the past year are fully presented in
In . a
revenue for the year ending on the thirticth
Of June last amounted to three million four
hundred and eighty seven thousand one hun
and ninety-nine dollars, which is eight hun
dred and two thousand six hundred and forty
two dollars and forty-five cents less than that
of the preceding year. The payments for
that denartment dnlinr the snlne time amount