Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1846-12-17

parts OF Europe, may nave CoHtIouIeu 10 increase
the demand for our breadstuffs and PROVISIONS. is
not doubted but that the great and efficient canse
of this increased demand, and of increased prices,
consists in the removal of artificial restrictions
hitherto imposed, is deemed to 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 enlarged, unless they be checked or pre-
vented by the restoration of the protective policy,
cannot be doubted. That our commercial and
navigating interests will be enlarged in cores
pondlng ratio with the increase of our trade, Is
equally certain; while manufacturing interests
will still be the favored interests of the country,
and receive the incidental protection afforded them
by revenue duties; and more than this they cannot
Justly demand.
In my annual message of December last, ia
riff of revenue duties based upon the principles of
the existing law was recommended; and | have
seen no reason to change the opinions then ex-
pressed. In view of the probable beneficial ef-
fects of that law, | recommend that the policy
tablished by it be maintained. 1t has but just
commenced to operate; and to abandon or modify
it without giving it fair trial, would be neXpe-
dient and unwise. Should defects In any OF its
details be ascertaned bv actual experience TO ex-
ist, 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 not be proper war measure, TO impose
revenue duties on some OF the articles now en-
braced in the free list. Should 1t Ge deemed pro-
per to impose such duties, with view to raise
revenue to meet the expenses 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public debt, they may be repealed when the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 constitute no part OF the permanent pol
icv of the country.
The act of the sixth Of August last, TO provide
for the better organization OF the treasury and for
the collection, safekeeping, transfer and dsburse
ment of the public revenue" has been carried into
execution as rapidly as the delay necessarily ari-
sing out of the appointment of new officers, taking
and approving their bonds, and preparing and Sc
curing proper places for the satekeeping of the
public money would permit 1t is not proposed
to depart in any respect from the principles or pol
icy on which this great measure is founded
There are, however, defects in the details of the
measures, developed by its practical operation,
which fully set forth in the report OF the Sec
retary of the Treasury, to which the attention OF
Congress is invited. These defects would impair
to some extent the successful operation OF the law
at all times, but are especially embarrassing when
the country is engaged in war, when the expen-
ditures are greatly increased, when loans are to
be effected and the disbursements are to be made
at points many hundred miles distant, IN some case
from any depository, and large portion OF them
in foreign country The notifications suggest
ed in the report of the Secretary of the Treasury
are recommended to your favorable consideration.
In connection with this subject, invite your at
tenton to the importance of establishing 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 for spe
r. n he a
mint, where foreign coin and bullion could be i'm
mediately converted into American coin, would
greatly facilitate the transaction of the public bus
mess, enlarge the circulation of gold and silver,
and be, at the same time, safe depository of the
public money.
The importance of graduating and reducing the
price of such of the public lands have been long
offered in the market, at the minimum rate author
lied by existing laws, and remain unsold, induces
me again tOsrecommend the subject to your favor
able 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 ten or twenty years; and being of an
inferior quality, they must remain unsaleable for
an indefinite period, unless the price at which they
be purchased shall be reduced To place price
upon them above their real value is not only to
prevent their sale, and thereby deprive the Treas
ury of any income from that source, but it is un-
just to the States in which they lie because it re-
tards the growth and increase of the population,
and because they have no power to levy tax up
on them as upon other lands within their limits,
held by other proprietorS than the United States,
for the support of their local governments.
The beneficial effects of the graduation princi-
pie have been realized by some of the States own
ing the lands within their limits, in which it has
been adopted. They have been demonstrated al
so by the United States acting as the trustee of
the Chickasaw tribe of Indians in the sale of their
lands lying within the States cf Mississippi and
Alabama. The Chickasaw lands, which would
not command in the market the minimum price es-
tablshed by the laws of the United States for the
sale of their lands. were in pursuance of the trea-
ty of 1884 with that tribe, subsequently, offered for
sale graduated and reduced rates for limited Pc
riods The result was, that large quantities of
these lands were purchased, which would other
wise have remained unsold. The lands were dis
posed of at their real value, and many persons of
limited means were enabled to purchase small
tracts, upon which they have settled with their
families.
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. 1t cannot
be a socnd policy to withhold large quantities of
the public lands from the use and occupation OF
our citizens by fixing upon them prices which ex-
perience has shown they will not command. On
the contrary, it is wise policy to afford facilities
to our citizens TO become the owners, at low and
moderate rates, of Teeholds of their own, instead
of being the tenants and defendants of others II