Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-09

the United States aud our territories the Pacific
Notwithstanding this great in the mail service,
should the revenue continue to increase the present
as did IN the last there will be received near four hundred
and fifty thousand dollars than the expenditures
These considerations have satisfied the Postmaster General
that with certain notifications of the act Of s45, the
may be still further increased and reduction of post
made TO uniform rate of five cents, without inter-
ference with the principle which has been constantly and pro-
pery enforced of making that Department sustain itself
weldigested cheap postage system the best of
dtusng intelligence among the people, and is of so much i'm
that OF the United States,
that recommend your favorable consideration the sugges
lions OF the Postmaster General for its improvement
Nothing retad the onward progress Of country, and
prevent Us from assuming aud maintaining the first rank
among nations but disregard OF the experience of the past
and unwse public policy. We have just
closed foreign by honorable peacea rendered
necessary and unavoidable in vndcaion OF the national rights
and honor The present condition Of the country is similar
in some respects that which existed Immediately after the
close of the with Great Britain in 1875 and the occasion
is deemed be proper take retrospect Of the
of public policy which followed that There
at that period OF history departure from earlier poll
cy. The enlargement Of thu powers Of the Federal Govern
any just Interpretation of the constitution few years after
the close of that series OF adopted which,
united and combined, constituted what termed by their
authors and advocates the 'Ametcan system"
The introduction of the policy for time favored
by the condition of the country by the heavy debt which had
been contracted during the by the depression Of the pub
lie credit by the deranged state Of the finances and the
ency and by the commercial and pecunary embarrassment
which extensively prevailed. These not the only
which led to its establishment The events Of the with
Great Britain, and the cmbarassmens which had attended
its prosecution, had left the minds Of many of states
the impression that Government not strong
enough and that to WELD its successfully in great
emergencies and especially in war; power should be
concentrated in its hands This increased power they did
seek obtain by the Legitimate and prescribed mode-an
amendment Of the consliuionbut by construction. They
saw in he
orders of society," and constituted to throw the whole
power of nations into the hands Of few who taxed and
ocd the many, without responsibility or restraint In that
arrangement they conceived the strength of nations in
consisted There also something fascinating in the
luxury, and display of the higher orders, who drew their
wealth from the toll of the aborng millions The authors of
the system drew their ideas OF political economy from what
they had witnessed in Europe, aud particularly in Great B
tain They had viewed the wealth concentrated
in few hands, and had the spendo of the ovegrown
establishments of aocrscy which upheld by the
srctve policy They forgot to look down upon the poorer
classes OF the English popuaon upon whose daily and yearly
labor the great establishments they much admired
sustained and supported They failed perceive that the
scanti fed ard hacad operatives only in abject
poverty but bound in chains Of oppressive servude for
the benefit of favored classes who the exclusive objects
of the of the Government.
II not possible reconstruct society in the United States
upon the European plan Here there written constu
on by which orders and titles recognised toeat
ed system of measures therefore DEVISED calculated
from the States the Of the people, and by construction
TO approximate Government to the European models sub
shutting an asocacy Of wealth for that Of orders and titles
Without rejecting upon the dsuary of our institutions,
and OF the condition OF people and those of Europe they
conceived the vain idea Of building up in the United States
system similar to that which they admired abroad. Great
Britain had national bank of large capital in whose hands
concentrated the controlling monetary and financial power
Of the nations institution welding almost kngy power and
exerng influence upon all the operations of trade, and
upon the policy of the Government itself Great Britain had
public debt and had become apart OF her pub
lie policy to regard this publc blessing Great Britain
had also restrictive policy, which placed letters and burdens
trade, and amneled the productive industry of the
Of the nation By her combined system Of policy the land
lord and other property holders protected and enriched hy
the enormous taxes which levied upon the labor OF the
country for their advantage.
Initiating this foreign policy the first step in establishing
the system in the United States creation of
national bank Not foreseeng the dangerous power and
countless evils which such institution might entail the
country, percelvng the which designed
form between the bank and the other branches OF the mis-
called American system, but feeling the embarassments
the Treasury and Of the business Of the country,
quent upon the war, Of statesmen who had held
different and sounde views induced TO yield their
pies and, indeed, settled convictions Of its unconstnonay,
and 10 give their SANCTION expedient which they
ly hoped might produce relief 1t most unfortunate
the subsequent hstsy and final catastrophe of that
dangerous and corrupt institution have abundanty proved
The bank with its branches ramed into The States
brought many OF the active political and Commercial
different sections the country into the relation Of debtors
to 1t and dependents upon for pecunay iavors thus DIFF
fusng throughout the Of society great number OF in
dvduas Of power aud influence give public opinion
and 10 in concert emergency. The corrupt
power Of such political engine is longer matter Of
speculation, having been displayed in instances
but most sgnay in the political struggles Of ls3234, in
opposition to the public viii represented by fearless and pa
tnoic President.
But the bank was but one branch Of the new system
public debt Of more hundred aud twenty millions Of
dollars sled and il is to be disguised that Of the
authors Of the system did regard its speedy payment
essential TO the public prosperity but looked upon is
unuance national evil. Whilst the debt existed fur
nshed amcn the national bank, and rendered increased
taxation necessary to the Of the interest," exceeding
millions Of dollars annually
This operated IN harmony with the branch Of The
system, which high protective tariff This to
afford bounes 10 favored classes and particular pursuits
the expense Of all others proposition 10 tax the whole
people for the purpose OF enrchDg few monstrous
he openly made. The scheme was, therefore, veiied
der the plausible but preeSt Of TO protect
" home industry; and many Of people were, for time,
led believe that tax which in the main fell upon labor
for the benefit Of the aborer who paid This branch Of the
system involved partnership between the Government and
the favored cashc former receiving the proceeds OF the
tax imposed articles imported and the latter the increased
price OF similar articles produced home, caused y such
II obvious that the portion 10 be received by the favor
ed classes would general rule be increased in proportion
the increase Of the rates OF imposed and diminished
those reduced TO the standard required by
the OF the Government The required produce
sufficient for the ordinary expenditures Of Govern
Necessary purposes, likely give TO the
private partners in this scheme profits sufficient satisfy their
cupdty, and hence variety Of expejents and peteSs
~ r.