The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-06

and contract has been made for the transportation OF
the Pacific malt the isthmus from Chagres 10
Panama
Navy, three ocean steamers have been constructed and
TO the Pacific, and are expected TO enter upon
the mail service between Panama and Oregon, and the
intermediate ports, the first OF January next. and
fourth has been engaged by him for the service between
Havana and Chagres; so that regular monthly mai
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 10 increase the present year
it did in the last, there will be received four
hundred and fifty thousand dollars than the
pendures.
These considerations have satisfied the Postmaster
General that, with certain notifications OF the act OF
1885, the revenue may be still further increased and
reduction of hostages made 10 uniform rate of five
cents, without Interference with the principle, which
has been constantly and properly enforced, of making
that department sustain itself
well-digested cheap postage system is the best
means of diusng intelligence among the people, and is
OF so much importance In country extensive that
Of the United States, that recommend to your favorable
consideration the suggestions OF The Postmaster General
for It's improvement
Nothing can retard the onward progress of country
and prevent US from assuming and maintaining the first
rank among nations, but disregard OF the experience OF
the past, and recurrence TO an unwlse public policy
We have Just closed foreign war by an honorable
peace-a rendered necessary and unavoidable in VIM
dicaton OF the national rights and honor The present
condition OF the country is similar in some respects to that
which existed Immediately after the close OF the war
with Great Britain in 1915 and the occasion is deemed
to be proper one 10 take retrospect OF the measures OF
public policy which followed that war There was
al that period OF history departure from earlier
policy. The enlargement OF the powers of the federal
government by construction, which obtained, was not
warranted by any Just Interpretation OF the constitution
few years after the close of that war, series of meas
adopted which, united and combined, const-
ued what termed by their authors and advocates
the american system"
The introduction of the new policy for time
favored by the condition of the country by the heavy
debt which had been contracted during the war; by
| tha pnft Tho h1tc bt tha pnaI
state OF the finances and the currency and by the
commercial, and pecuniary embarrassment which
tensiyey prevailed These were not tho only causes
which led its establishment The events of the
with Great Britain, and the embarrassments which
had attended It's prosecution had left on the minds Of
many OF statesmen the impression that government
not strong enough, and that TO WELD its
successfully In great emergencies, and especially in
more power should be concentrated in its hands. This
increased power they did no, seek to obtain by the eg
mate and prescribed mclean amendment OF the cons
tuton-but by construction They governments in
the old world based upon different orders OF society, and
so constituted as to throw the whole power of nations
into the hands of few, who taxed and controlled the
many without responsibility or restraint. In that ar
rangement they conceived the strength OF nations in war
ease luxury, and display OF the higher orders, who
drew their wealth from the toll OF the laborng mil ions
The authors of the system drew their ideas OF po-
litcal economy from what they had Witnessed in
| Europe, and particularly in Great Britain. They
! had viewed the enormous wealth concentrated in
few hands, and had seen the splendor of the over
|
held by the restrictive policy They forgot to look down
upon the poorer classes of the English population upon
whose daily and yearly labor the great establishments
they so much admired were sustained and supported
They failed to perceive that The scany-ied and half clad
operatives were not only in abject poverty but were
bound in chains of oppressive servude for the benefit Of
favored classes who were the exclusive objects OF the
care of the government.
Ii possible reconstruct society in the United
States upon the European plan. Here there was writ
constitution, by which orders and titles not
recognised tolerated. system OF measures was
therefore devised calculated If not intended, TO withdraw
power gradually and silently from the States and the
mass OF the people, and by construction to approximate
our government TO the European models substituting an
aristocracy OF wealth for that OF orders and titles
Without rejecting upon the dissmlarity OF our insti
ttions and of the condition OF people and those OF
Europe, they conceived the vain idea OF building up in
admired abroad Great Britain had a national bank Of
large capital in whose hands concentrated the con-
trolling monetary and financial power of the nation
institution welding almost kingly power and exerting
vast influence upon all the operations of trade and upon
the policy of the government itself. Great Britain had
enormous public debt and it had become part OF her
Britain had also restrictive policy, which placed letters
and burdens trade, and trammelled the productive in
dusry OF the OF the nation BY her combined sys-
tenn OF policy, the landlords and other property holders
protected and enriched by the enormous taxes
which levied upon the labor OF the country for their
advantage
Initiating this foreign policy the first step in establish
ing the new system in the United States the crea-
ton OF national bank. Not foreseeing the dangerous
power ana countless evils winch sucn an 1nSltut
might entail on the country, pecevlng the connexion
which il was designed to form between the bank and the
other branches OF the mscalled American system,
but feeling the embaTassmens OF the treasury, and
of the business of the country, consequent upon the
war, OF our statesmen who had held different
and sounder views induced to yield their scrupes
and, indeed settled convictions of It's unconstutionay
ana to give Their sanction, as an cxpedent which they
vanly hoped might produce relief 1t most unfor
error the subsequent history and final caastro
phe OF that dangerous and corrupt Institution have abun
dainty proved The bank, with It's numerous branches
ramihed into the States brought many OF the active
political and commercial in different sections of the
upon it for pecuniary favors; thus diiusng throughout
the mass of society great number OF individuals OF
power and influence TO tone 10 public opinion, and
TO act in concert in cases OF emergency. The corrupt
power OF such political engine longer matter OF
speculation, having been displayed in numerous nsan.
ls32-3l, in opposition to the public will represented by
a fearless and patriotic President.
| But the bank but branch of the new system.
public debt of than hundred and twenty mil
lions of dollars eysled and is not to be disguised that
many of the authors OF the system did not regard its
speedy payment essential to the public prosperity but
looked upon It's continuance national evil. Whilst
the debt existed it furnished ament to the national bank
and rendered increased taxation necessary to the amount
Of the interest, exceeding millions Of dollars
nually
This operated in harmony with the next branch of the
new system, which high protective tariff. This
to afford bountes TO favored classes and particular
pursuits at the expense OF all others proposition to
tax the whole people for the purpose OF enrichng iew
was too monsrous to be openly made The scheme was,
therefore, veiel under the plausible but deusve pre,ext
of measure protect "home industry" and many of
which in the main fell upon labor, for the benefit
of the aborer who paid it. This branch of the system