The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-12-17
purchase the Floridas from Spain. These


appropriations were made to facilitate negotia-
tions, and as u means to enable the President
to accomplish the important objects in view.
Though 1t did not become nectcs sary Tor the
President to use these appropriations, yet a
state OF things might have arisen ln.whlch 1T
would have been highly important for him to
do so, and the wisdom or making them cannot
be doubted. l, is believed that the measure
recommended at your last session met with
the appreciation Of decided majorities in both
forms, bill making appropriation of two
millions OF dollars passed each House, and 1t
is much to be regretted that it did not be-
come law. The reasons which induced me
to re- ommend this measure at that time still
exist and | again submit the subject for
your consideration. Should the appropria-
main in the Treasury should it be deemed
proper to apply in whole or in part, it will
be accounted for as other public eXpendi
lures.
Immediately after Congress had recogni-
sed the existence Of the war with Mexico, my
attention was directed to the danger that prl-
v;,teers might be fitted out in the ports OF Gu
ba and Porto Rico to prey upon the commerce
i
cial attention of the Spanish Government to
the l 18th article OF or Treaty with that Pow
er of the goth OF October, / 1875, under which
the citizens or subjects Of either nation who
shall take commlss ons OF Letters Malql to
act as psivatecrs against the other "shall be
punished as pirates"
1t affords ne pleasure to inform you that
have received assurances from the Spanish
a, al, Il. a.
shall be faithfully fulfil ed on its part.
recommend that Congress should immc
diatcly provide by law for the trial and pun
iShme mt of Spanish subjects who, escaping
the vigilance of their Government shall lie
found guilty of privateering against the Uni
ted States. do not apprehend serious dan
ger fir ON these privaeers. Our navy will be
constantly on the alert to project our COM
merce. Besides, in case prizes should bc
made of American vessels, the utmost vigil
ance will be exerted by our blockading sqad-
ron to prevent the captorS from taking them
into Mexican ports, and it is not apreheEdee
that any nation will violate its neutrality by
suffering such prizes to be condemned and
sold within its jurisdiction.
recommend that Congress should imme-
diately provide by law for granting letters of
marque an reprisal against vessels Under the
Mexican Flag.
The annual report of the Secretary of the
Treasury will exhibit detailed statement OF
the condition of the finances. The imports
of the fiscal year ending. the 18th Of June last
were OF the value of one hundred and twenty
one million six hundred and ninety one thous-
and seven hundred and nine>y seven dollars
of which the amount exported was eleven
million three hundred and forty Fix thous-
and six hundred and twenty three dollars
leaving the amount retained in the country
for domestic consumption one hundred and
ten million three hundred and torty-iiye
thousad one hundred and seventy four dollars
The value Of the export for the same period
was one hundred and thirteen million four
hundred and eighty eight thousand five hun
dred and sixteen dollars of whit h one hun
bred and two million ore hundred and forty
one thousand eight hundred and ninety three
dollars consisted of domestic productions,
and eleven million three hundred and forty
six thousand six hundred and twenty three
dollars of foreign articles.
The receipts into the Treasury for the same
year We're twenty nne million four hun
dred and ninety nine thousand two hundred
and forty seven dollars and six cents; of
which there was derived from customs twenty
six million seven hundred and twelve thout-
and six hundred and sixty seven dollars and
eighty seven cents from sales OF public
lands two million six hundred and ninety five
thousand four hundred and fifty two dollars
and forty eight cents, and from incidental
and miscellaneous sources iilety two thou
sand one hundred and twenty six dollars
and seventy -one cents. The expenditures
for the same period were twenty eight million
thirty one thousand one hundred and four
teen dollars and twenty cents, and the balance
in the Treasury on the first day of July last
was nine million one hundred nd twenty six
thousand four hundred and thirty n.ne dol
lars and eight cents.
The amount of the Public Debt, including
treasury Notes, the st OF the present month,
was twenty four millions two hundred and fiji
ty six thousand four hundred and ninety
four dollars and sixty cents !; of which the
sum of sevneteen million seven hundred and
ninety nine dollars and sixty two cents was
outstanding on the 4th of March, 1845, leav-
ing the amount incurred since that time SIX
million four hundred and sixty seven thou5-
and six hundred and ninety four dollars and
ninety eight cents
In order to prosecute the war with vigor
and energy, as the best means of bringing it
to a speedy and honorable termination, a far
ther loan will be necessary, to meet the ex-
penditures of he next fiscal year - If
the war should be continued until the 30h
Of June 1Sl8-being the end of the next fs-
cal year-it is estimated that an additional
loan of twenty three millions of dollars will
be required. The estimate is made upon the
assumption that it will be necessary to re-
tain constantly in the Treasury four mil
lions of dollars, to guard against contingent
cies. If such loan were not required to be re-
tained, then loan of nineteen millions of dol
lars would be sufficient If, however Con-
gress should, at the present Sc. sion, impose
revenue duty on the principal articles now
embraced in the free list, it is now estimated
that an additional annual revenue of about
two millions and half, amounting, it is est.