Democratic banner., 1847-01-04
Presidents Message,
CONCLUDED

Of the existing law than any other class of
our citizens. They constitute a large ma
iority of our population: and it is well
known that when they prosper ali other pur-
snits prosper also. They have heretofore
not only received none Of the bounties or
favors of government, but by the unequal
operations of the protective policy have.
been made, BY the burdens of taxation.
which it imposed, to contribute to the buun-
ties which harc enriched others.
When a foreign as we'll as d home mar
ketis opened to them, they must receive, as
they are now receiving increased prices
for their products. They will find a readi-
er sale, and at better prices, for their wheat
flour, rice, Indian corn, beef, pork, lard,
butter, cheese, and other articles which
they produce. The home market alone is
inadequate to enable them 10 dispose of the
immense surplus of food and other articles
which they are capable of producing, even
at the most reduced prices, for the manifest
reason that they cannot be consumed in the
country. The United States can, from
their immense surplus, supply not only the
home demand, but the deficiencies Of food
required by the whole world.
That the redurod production of some of
the chief articles of food in Great Britain.
and other parts of Europe, may have cor
trIbuted to increase the demand for our
breadstuttS and provisions, is not doubtrd;
hut 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 certain. That our exports Of
food, already increased and increasing be-
yond former example, under the more .libcr-.
al policy which has been adopted, will be.
still vastly enlarged, unless they be check
ed or prevented by a restoration of the pro-
tectiVe policy, cannot be doubted. That
our commercial and navigatin1 Interests
will be enlarged in a corresponding ratin
with the increase of our trade, is equally
certain; while manufacturing Interests will
still be the favored interest Of the country.
and receive the Incidental protection afford
ed them by revenue duties, and more than
this they cannot Justly demand.
In my annual message of December last.
a tariff of revenue duties based upon the.
principles of the existing law was recon-
mended; and See no reason to change the
opinions then expressed. In view of the
iAONoOIS DSlGlCldl SHCCtS VI lsiAl ldN !
recommend that the policy establiohed by it
be maintained. 1t has but just commenced
to operate; and to abandon or modify it with.
out giving it a fair trial, would be inexpe-i
dent and unwiSe. Should defects in %%i1
of its details be ascertained By actual cx-I
perience to exist, these may be hereafter
corrected; but until such defects shall be-,
Come manifest, the act should be fairly test
cd.
1t is submitted for our consideration.
whether it may rot be proper, as a war
measure, to impose revenue duties on some
oil the articles now embraced in the free
list. Should it be deemed proper to impose.
Such duties, with a view to raise revenue
to meet the expenses ofthe war with Mexi-
co, or to avoid to that extent the creation
Of a public debt, they may be repealed
when the emer yency which gave rise to
them shall cease to exist, and constitute no.
part OF the permanent policy of the coun-.
try.
The act of the sixth of August last, ssto
provide for the better organization of the
Treasury, and for the collection, safc-kecp-.
ing, transfer, and disbursement Of the pub ,
lie revenue" has been carried into c~xecu-
ton as rapidly as the delay necessarily ari-
sing out of the appointment ofnew officers,
taking and approving their bonds, and pro-
per places for the safe keeping of the pub
lie money, would permit. 1t is not propo-
sed to depart in any respect from the prin- I
ciPles or policy on which this great mea- I
sure is founded. There are, however, de- :
fects in the details Of the measure, develop
ed by its practical operation, which are full
ly set forth in the report of the Secretary 9
of the Treaaury, to which the attention of :
Congress is invited. These defects would :
impair, to some extent, the successful ope-' ,
ration of the law at all times, but are esp pc q
ciaily embarrassing when the country is CHI =
gagged in a war, when the expenditures are +
greatly increased, when loans are to be eff =,
and the disbursements are to be :,
made at points many hurried miles distant. i
some cases, from any depository, and al;
large portion Of them in a foreign country. -
The notifications suggested in the report 9
of the Secretary of the Treasury are re-,
to your favorable cons;dera- +
"
In connection with this subject, I invite
ofkopfio,, - a. :,o =