Litchfield enquirer., 1846-12-17

claI tr0mmclA which have so long filtered them-anL t0 great extent reciprocity in the exchange Ofcom,n adilIes, has bec! introduced ut the same time by both na, :ions, and greatly for the benefit ot both Great Britain has been forced hy the pressurs of circumstances at home, to a oaadon policywhich has been upheld by ages, and to open her markets for our i'm menso surplus of bread stuffs-and 1t is confidently believed that other p ,wers ot Europe will ultimately sec the wisdom if they be not cnmpclled by the paupe rism aLG sutterings ot their crowded popula. ton, to pursue similar policy.
 Our farmers are more deeply interested 'n maintaining the just and liberal poli- cy of the existing law than any other class os our citizens. They constitute n large majority of our popu!a,ion-and i, 'S well known that when they prosper. aii other pursuits prosper also. They have heretofNre not only received none of the oounties of government, but by the operations of the protective policy, have been made by the burdens of taxation which it imposed, 10 contribute to the bounties which have enriched others.
 When foreign as well as home mar. ket IS opened to them, they mus, receive as they ars now receiving, increased pri. ces for ;heir products They will find a ready sale and better prices for their wheat, flour, rice, corn, beef, pork, lard, butler, cheese, and other articles which they produce. The home market alone is inadequate 10 enable them to dispose of the immense surplus of food and other articles which they are capable of pro. ducIng. even at the most reduced prices, for the manifest reason that they cannot be consumed in the country. The U. s. can from, their immense surplus, supply not only the home demand, hut the deficien- cies of food required by the whole world.
 That the reduced production of some of the chief articles of food of Great Britain, and other parts of Europe, may have con tributed to increase the dema nd for onr bread stuhs and provisions, is not doubted; but that the great and efficient cause of this in creased demand, and of increased prices. consists in the removal of artificial reslric- tons heretofore imposed, is deemed to be eqnaily certain. That our exports of food, already increased and increasing beyond former example, under the more liberal poli cy which has been adopted, will be still vastly enlarged, unless, they be checked or presented by a restoration of the protective policy, cannot be doubted. That our com. mercial and navigating interests will be en- iarged Tn corresponding ratio with the in crease oi our trade is equally certain while our 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 tariff of revenue duties based upon the principles of the existing law was recom- mended, and have seen no reason te change the opinions then expressed. la view of the probable beneficial effects of that law, recommend that the policy established by it be maintained. It has but just comme nc ed to operate; and to abandon or modify 1t without giving it a fair trial, would be in expedient and unwiSe. Should defects in any of it's details be ascertained by actual experience 10 exist, these may be hereafter corrected but until such defects shall be. come manifest, the act should be fairly tested.
 It is submitted for your consideration whether it may not be proper, as a war measure, 10 impose revenue duties on some of the articles now embraced in the free list. Should it be deemed proper 10 impose such duties, with view 10 raise revenue to meet ihe War with Mexi- co. or to avoid to that cxten, the creation ot public debt. they may be repealed when the emergency which gave rise to them shall cease to exist. and consti- ute 10 part of the permanent policy of the country.
 The act of the 9th of August last, "to provide for the better organization of ,he Treasury, and for the collection, safe keeping, transfer and disbursement of the public revenue" has been carried into execution as rapidly as the delay necessarily rising out of th.. appointment of new officers. taking md approving their bonds, and preparing and secur- ing proper places for the safe keep. ing of tho public money would per. init. I, is not proposed to depart in my respect from the principles or policy on which this great measure is based. There are. however, defrcis in the details of the n,ensurc, developed by it's prnc- teal operation, which are fully set forth in the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, 10 which the attention of Con gross is invited. These defects would impair to some extent the successful op. era,on ofthe law al all times, but are especially embarrassing when the coun try is engaged in M war, when the cxpen- ditures are greatly increased, when loans are 10 be effected, and Inc disbursements are 10 be made at points many hundred miles distant, in some cases, from any depository, and a large portion of them in foreign country. The notifications suggested in the report of the Secretary fthe Trea sury are recommended % your fayora ble consideration.
 In connection with this subject, in. vi,e your attention 10 he importance of establishing a branch nfthe Min, of inc United States a; New York. Two-thirds of the revenue derived from customs be. ing collected at that point. the d''mand for specie 10 pay the duties will be large {; and a branch mini. where foreign coin and bullion could be immediately con ver,td into American coin, would greatly facilitate the transaction of ihe public hu,;nn.a enla rUe the CiPcul,fi0n of voiJ