Democratic banner., 1848-12-25

On TO the Secretary Of the Navy, three ocean
steamers have Teen constructed and sent to the
Pacific, and are expected &c enter upon the mail
service between Panama and Oregon, and the
intermediate points, on tia first Of JanaAry, Of
next year; aud a iousth hes l,sen engaged BY
him, Tor the service between Havana and Char.
ges. so thai a regular mail line will be kept up,
after that time, between the. United States and
our territories on the Pacific.
Notwithstanding this great increase in the
mail service, should the revenue continue to
increase the present year. as it did in the last,
there will be received near Jour hundred and
fifty thousand dollars more than the expenses.
The considerations have satisfied tho Post
master General that, with certai6 notifications
Of the act Of 1915. the revenue may be still
further increased, and q reduction Of postage
made to . uniform rate Of five cents. without
any interference with the principle which has
been constantly and properly enforced, OF max
ing that Department sustain itself.
A well digested postage system is the best
means OF difusing intelligence among the peO-
pie, and is Of so,much Importance in a country
60 extended as that of the United States, that !
recommend, for your favorable consideration, the
suggestions of the Postmaster General for its
Improvement.
Nothing can retard the onward progress OF
our country, and prevent US from assuming and
maintaining the first position among nations, but
. disregard Of the experience of the past.
The introduction Of the new policy was for a
time favored by the condition of the country, by
the heavy debts which had been contracted dur
ing the war, by the depression Of the public
credit, by the deranged state Of tire finances and
the currency, and by the commercial and pecu-
mary embarrassment which extensively prevail
ed.
lHere follows a long able argument a.
ga;nst the policy of the early advocates Of
q strong government, aud the measures
that grew out of 1.-THE Bank, Protective
Tariff, &c., which our limits requires US to
omit, it being of less immediate interest
than any other portion.]
The Bank has been succeeded by a prac-
tical system Of finance, conducted and con.
trolled solely by the government. The con.
stitutionai currency has been restored. The
public credit maintained unimpsired, even
in q period of foreign war; and the whole
country has become satisfied that the banks,
Nationsl-oE State, are not n necessary as fs-
cal agents Of the government. The Reve-|
nue. duties have taken the place of q pro-
tective tariff. The distribution of the pro.
ceeds derived from the sale of the public
lands hes been abandoned, and the corrupt.
ing system of internal improvements, it isl
hoped, has been efectuslIy checked. 1t is
not doubted that if this whole train of meas
ures, designed to take wealth from the ma
ny ard 6estow it Oh the few, were to pre-
vail, :he effect would BIZ to change the en-
tire character Of the government. Only
one danger remains-it is the reduction of
that branch Of the system which insists on
internal Improvement; holding out as it does
Inducements to stIe people Of particular
sections and locations to embark the gov
rnmen in thea, without stopping to cal.
culate the inevitable consequence. This
branch Of the system is Sd inevitably link.
ed and combined with the others that as
surely as an effort is procured by an ade-
qGate cause, if it be resus,ained and firmly
establishes, y reqHires no sagscity to fore
see that it vii necessarily and speediIyl
draw after it, the establishment Of a Ma
tionsl Bank, the revivalof a protective Ia.
riff, the distributions Of the land money, sndl
not ohly the pnstponement to the future oil
the payment Of the present National debt,
but its amount will annually Increase.
entertain a soAmn conviction, that if the
internal Improvement branches ofthe Amer.
lean system, be not firmly resisted at this
time, the Whole series of measures CON-
posing it, will be speedily established, and
the country will be thrown back from its
present high state of prosperity, which the
existing policy has produced, and be des-
tlnan again "A nusfn.s. Ill " - |