Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-01-16
sr $3.50 0OvHRNOR,s MESSAGE. .
To the Senate and House of Rspr ssen,atircs.

...H.7 (CosCLuDED.) ftaa ..
The adjustment by Congress Of the rates of
duty on imports, is n topic thni continues to d.
vide public sentiment. In my message of the
9TH OF January, last, took occasion to express
the views which then entertained regarding
IT, and TO these views continue to adhere. |
can entertain no doubt of the constitutional
power OF the fedora government TO make such
determinations in the rates of duties on imports
as may afford reasonable encouragement to do.
mestlc manufactures and productions which
may be injuriously affected by foreign compe.
ution. This is a power incident to every so.
vereign State, and as the scperate States of this
Union nre by the express terms Of the constitu.
tion prohibited from lis exercise, il follows,
that. unless il resides in the federal government
the United States are without this essential ut.
tribute of National sovereignty.
The extent Of these discrmina tions, bearing,
as they do. upon conflicting interests, and in
some degree arraying those of one portion Of
the Union against another. can only be adjust.
Ell under the Influence Of that spirit Of conces.
spn. and compromise, which prevailed in the
adoption OF the Constitution itself The histo
ry OF our Legislation on this subject, demons
irotes most corclusvely, ,hot a tariff, to be
permanent. which is so essential TO the mann.
Hcturing Hs well AS all the other great inter
este OF the Country, must be reasonable md g.
qntsbc, and that III attempts to establish a rate
OF ultra protective. or low horizontal duties.
have only tended to keep the question in state
ut constant agitation, than which nothing can
be more 2rej1diciaI to the interest of the busi.
ness community.
IL am, therefore, in favor OF such Just disrri.
mnating duties may be sufficient to sustain all
our great National interests against injurious
competition from abroad such as viii give 10
the home manufacturer, and producer, reasonable
profits on his capital, and enable him TO pay his
workmen fair wages, without unnecessarily tax.
ing the consumer .r...
ponnsy ylvaDin. possessing MS che does, such
vast agricultural. manufacturing aud mineral
sources, and commercial advantages, has n pc.
cninr interes; in the adjustment Of this ques
ton. upon u permanent basis. Should tie
changes made in the rate Of duties, by the IA.
riff act of 1876, affect irjurlously any q! the
great interests ot the country we must unite
our efforts 10 induce Congress, tn whose care
md discretion the subject is committed by the
Constitution, and on who're wisdom and Justice
we may saely rely, to make all just and rea-
sonable amendments.
From all the rel ction have been uble TO
give this vcx'd and complicated SUBJECT, ! am
thoroughly convinced, that reasonable dscri.
ma ints ined, in connection with tho operations
Of the CONSTITUTIONS, Treasury. and sound cur.
rcncy. will do more to promote the permsnent
ard general prosperity OF all The great interests
OF the Country, than any other system of rolicy
which can be adopted High duties. with thr
employment oi banks as the deposories of the
pub ic moneys, aud consequent initiation OF pa
per currency. by which the advantage Of the
duty 10 the home manufacturer and producer is
destroyed, are as certain To hDsten md agcra.
vale those commercial revuisiuns. to which all
ralions are exposed as prof gacy and vice orc
to produce want and misery. .
The repeal. or modification uf the British
ports. while il was measure dictated nlikr by
sound policy. and humanity. toward the suffer.
ing population of the Un,ird Kingdom. has had
most hnppy influence upon ctr farming inter,
cs's This measure has already augmented the
demand tor our bread stuff. at enhanced prices
and there is renson to brlievr, it will continue
TO increase permanently our agricultural ex.
ports. which cannot fail II, add To the general
wealth and prosperity oi the State and Nation
/ In the last animal message expressed my
views at lenp,h, in regard to the policy of the
banking system. to which ! respectfully refer.
! To the opinions therein contained. ] continue
Ia adhere, At present there is reason ;u BE-
lieve that our banks are in a comparatively
sound condition. Without ascr5ng this cred.
liable and healthy stale of things entirely 20 the
puicy which has been adopted. OF limiting the
amount Of the banking capital, and king ham
kers individually liahle for the pnvment ofiheil
debts, | am persuaded that IL has a salutery in.
tlucnce in preserving N" soundness of the cur.
rency, and tha, il should be adhered TO infex
iblv.
refer yon with Grea: pleasure, 10 the able
report OF The Canal Commissioners. tor detail
cd statement OF the operations unon the public
improvements, during the past year.
The economy, skin nnd integrity, with " hicl
they have been managed, for a few wears past
have greatly tended to restore pnhlic confidence
and restablish the credit of the State, and jus,
" entities every member OF the respective
Boards Of Canal Commissioners, whU has hat
an agency IN producing this great reformation,
20 the gratitude ard confidence of the Who'll,
community. | refer to the fact, with no ordl
nary satisfaction, that during the lest lhre,
years there has rot occurred, AMONG all the ot
6cers and agents employed On the several lire
CT Improvements, a single case OF defaIcaii IN
The improvem,nis of the Ohio rivrr, .rom /,
mouth 10 the city Of Pittsburg, has nereiosir
been deemed an object OF sutice.,t nationsl i'm
portanee, 10 claim the attention Of the ieders
government. Numerous spproprisiio hag
been made Tor this p.rpose. but not Sufficient I
carry out any tfioient and useful system. Ma
ny OF the Western and Souih-Wpstern State
OF the Union. are Interested in ihis improvement
The connection, however, oc the main line
or canals and railroads at the city of pttsbars
renders its improvement an object OF the gret
test interest 20 this State. II II were made n,
, vigable during all seasons Of the year (excey
when ice.bound) for steamboats, Of a large elias