Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-11

other powers OF Europe VIII u",'na'sS
wisdom, il they be mol compelled oy inc pauPer
ism and su6erlnss OF their crowded popuia'ion
10 pursue similar policy. .,,a i
maintaining the Just and liberal policy OF the
existing law than any other class OF our citizens
They constitute a large m -Jority OF our poPuia-
lion and it is well known that when they pros
rer, all other pursuits prosper also. They nave
heretofore no, only received none OF the houn'ies
or (avors of Government, bnt, BY The unequai op-
eIalions of the protective policy, have been made
nv the burdens of taxation which il imposed, %
contr,bnle 10 The bounlies which have enriched
others.
When foreign as well as home market Is
opened TO them, they must receive, as tney are
now receiving, increased prices for their proof
They will find reader sale, and at oelIer prices
for heir wheat flour, RICE Indian corn, peel
pork, lard butler, cheese and other arlcles, whici
they produce. The home. market alone IS MADE
ouale 10 enable them 10 dispose OF the immense
surplus of food and other articles which they
are capable of producing, even al Inc mos. re,
duced prices. .vr The manifest reason that they
cannot be consumed in The country. The uniled
States can, from their immense surplus, supply
moi only the home demand, but the dehciencies OF
focd required by the whole world.
Thai the reduced production OF some oi The
chief articles of food in Great Britain, and Other
parts oil Europe, may have contributed to increase
The demand for our bTeadsnls and provisions, IS
not doubled but that the great and efficient cause
OF This increased demand, and Of increased prices
consists in The removal of artificial restrictions
heretofore imposed. is deemed TO be equally Ger.
Tain. That our exports of food, already increas-
ed and increasing beyond former example, under
the more liberal policy which has been adopted
viii lie still vastly enlarged, unless they be
checked or prevented by a restoration oil The pro-
leclive policy, cannot be doubted. That our
commercial and navigating interests will be en-
larged in corresponding ratio with the increase
of our trade, is equally certain; while our manu-
featuring interests will still be the favored inter
esls of The country, and receive The incidental
protection afforded them by revenue duties; and
more than this they cannot Justly demand.
In nv annual message of December last, Ia
riff'ol revenue duties based upon the principles
OF The existing law was recommended; and
have seen no reason TO change the opinions then
expressed In view Of The probable beneficial
effects OF that law, recommend that the policy
established by il be mania ned. IL has but Just
commenced 10 operate; and 10 abandon or modl-
fy il without giving il lair trial, would be mex
pedenl and unwise. Should defects in any OF It's
details be ascer;ained BY actual experience 10 ex-
is, these may be hereafter corrected; but until
such defects shall become manifest, the ACT should
be fairly Tested.
Ii is submitted for your consideration, whether
it may moi be proper as war measure, TO i'm
pose revenue duties on some oil The articles now
embraced 10 the Tree list. Should il be deemed
proper TO impose such duties with view 10 raise
revenue 10 meet The expenses Of the war with
Mexico, or TO avoid to that extent The creation oil
public deb, they may be repealed when The
emergency which gave rise 10 them shall cease 10
exist, and constitute no part the permanent po-
Icy Of The country.
The act OF the sixth OF August last, ITO provide
Tor the better organization OF The treasury, and Tor
The collection, sale-keepns, transfer and disburse-
ment OF the public revenue" has been carried in
to execution as rapidly as the delay necessarily
arising out Of the appointment of new officers,
taking and approving their bonds, and preparing
and securing proper places for The salekeeping Of
the public money, would permit. It is not pro-
posed 10 depart in any respectfrom the principles
OF 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 sci forth in The report of the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury, 10 which the attention Of
Congress is invited. These defects would impair
10 some extent The successful operation oil the law
al all times, but are especially embarrassing when
the country is engaged in war, when The expen-
dtures are greatly increased, when loans are 10
be effected, and The disbursements are 10 be made
at points many hundred miles distant, in some
cases, from any depository, and large portion OF
Them in foreign country The notifications sug-
gesled in the report Of The Secretary OF the Treas
ury are recommended TO your favorable conside-
ration.
In connection with this subject, invite your al
iention lothe i'm porlance ofesa bishng branch
of The min, OF the United States al New York.
Two-hirds Of the revenue derived from customs
being collected al that point, The demand foI
specie to pay The duties will be large; and Il
branch mint, where foreign coin and bullion
could be Immediately converted into American
coin, would greatly facilitate the transaction OF
the public business, enlarge The circulation oigo
and silver, and be, al The same lime, a safe de-
posiiory OF The public money
The importance Of graduating and reducing
The price o such Of the public lands as have been
long offered in the market, al the minimum rate
authorized by existing laws, and remain unsold,
induces me again TO recommend the subject 10
your favorable consideration. Many millions
of acres of these lands have been offered in the
market for more than thirty years, and larger
quantities for more than len or twenty years. and
being Of an inferior quality, they must remain
unsaleable for an indefinite period, unless The
price al which they may be purchased shall be re-
duccd. To place price upon them above their
real valne is not onlylo prevent their sale, and
thereby deprive the treasury OF any income from
that source, but il is unjust TO the States in which
they lie because il retards their growth and in
crease ofpopulalion, and because they have no
power 10 levy tax upon them as upon other
dc i'm fhoir linoifc hsld hv thor nrODrip-
tors Than The United States, for The support Of
their local Governments.
The beneficial effects Of The graduation prin-
cip!e have been realized by some oil The States
owning the lands within their limits, in which il
has been adopted They have BEEN demonstrated
also by the United States, aching as the trustee Of
the Chckasaw tribe Of Indians in the sale OF their
lands lying within the States OF Mississippi and
Alabama. The Chickasaw lands, which would
moi command In The market the minimum price
established by tie laws OF the United States for
the sale Of their lands, were, in pursuance Of the
treaty OF 1884 with that tribe, subsequently, offered
for sale graduated and reduced rates for limited
periods The result was, thai large quantities OF
these lands were purchased, which would olher-
wise have remained unsod The lands were
disposed of at their real value, AMI many persons
OF limited means we're enabled 10 purchase small
tracts, upon WnlCH lney ndFc setlieu WIN fcii Ia
miles. That similar results would be produced
by the adoption Of The graduation policy by the
United States, in all The States in which they are
The owners of large bodies of lands which have
been long in the market, cannot be doubted. II
cannot be sound policy TO withhold large qnan-
titles Of The public lands from The use and occu-
patton of our citizens, by fixing upon them prices
which experience has shown they will not COM
mand On the contrary il is wise policy TO al.
ford facilities 10 our citizens to become the own
ers, al low and moderate rates, Of freeholds Of
their own, instead OF being The tenants and de-
pendants OF others. II il be apprehended thai
these lands, if reduced in price, would be Sc
cured in large quantities by Spectators or capital
ISIS The sales may be restricted, in limited guam
titles, 10 actual settlers or persons purchasing for
purposes OF cultivation.
In my last annual message, submitted for the
consideration Of Congress the present system oi
managing The mineral lands of The United States,
and recommended that they should be brought
into market and sold, upon such terms and under
such restrictions as Congress might prescribe
BY The acl of the th July last, "the reserved lead
mines aud contiguous lands in the States oil Hi
nois and Arkansas, and the Territories Of Wis
consin and Iowa." were authorized TO be sold.-
The ae is confined, in its operation, TO "ead mines