The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-06
The Test OF Relevancy in a President's
Message.


mention of the $l55, 900 was not .'rele-
vant'' to the annual message of Mr.. Polk
To this point alone we desire to confne
ourselves at this time. We do not pro-
pose now to discuss the question whether
or not this defalcation was communicated
to Mr.. Polk. Our own information on
this subject does not correspond with that
of the defenders of Mr.. Mason. We have
been told, on pretty good authority, that
Mr.. Polk knew nothing of Mr. Denby's
default till the month of February last,
and was then extremely indignant because
the fact had been withheld from him.
Nor do we now propose to discuss the
point, raised by the Opposition journals,
that Mr.. Polk spoke in his message with
a mental reservation; and excluded the
foreign view Of the Sub-treasury act, con-
fning himself only to its domestic aspect
The single question of relevancy" is
that which we wish to consider.
The Constitution makes it the duty Of
the President, from time to time, to give
to the Congress information OF the state OF
the Union, and recommend to their con-
sderation such measures as he shall Judge
necessary and expedient. Under this pro-
vision the Presidents have taken very con-
siderable latitude, and in some cases have
discussed at great length controverted
questions of party politics. 1t may well
be doubted whether such was the de-
sign of the Constitution, but it has been so
interpreted and acted upon.
The last annual message of Mr.. Polk,
with the documents annexed, makes very
bulky volume. 1t fills nearly 1900 large
octave pages. The message alone is forty
four pages in length. 1t begins with bret
view of European affairs. 1t then gives
more elaborate statement of our relations
with Mexico. 1t then presents geographi-
cal and Typographical sketch oi'New Mex
leo and California. 1t discusses the ter
ritorial organization OF Oregon. 1t pre-
sents very full statements OF our fiscal
affairs, of our receipts and expenditures;
discussing, in this connexion, the results
of the tariff of 1916, and the operations OF
the constitutional treasury" 1t presents
similar statements with regard to our mil
itary and naval affairs, and to the General
Post Office. 1t then breaks ground on
matters of party difference. 1t hits hard
the "American SYSTEM" national bank,
high protective tariff, the scheme OF IN
ternal improvements, the distribution OF
the proceeds of the public lands; and con-
cludes with a long treatise on the veto
power. Four and-forty large octave pages
are thus occupied. Mr.. Polk considered
il his right and duty, under the constitu-
tional provision to which we have alluded
not merely TO give the people an account
of the state of the Union, but to discourse
az very considerable length on the mere
party topics Of the day.
To make the excuse of the defenders OF
Mr.. MAsoS, and the apologlsts OF Mr..
Polk, ineligible, We shall copy so much
of Mr.. PoLK's last annual message as re-
fers to the Sub-treasury
The operations Of the constitutional treasury,
established by the act Of the 9th Of August, ls4o,
in the receipt. custody, and disbursement Of the
public money, have continued 10 be successful.
Under this system the public finances have been
carried through foreign war, involving the ne
cessity of loans and extraordinary expenditures,
and requiring distant hdngers and disbHsenaents
,cithOuf ENTERTAINMENT and loss has occurred "
anu Of Oh, public mOney deposited under ts TroU1,
mons, While il has proved 10 be safe and useful 70
the GOvenH>af. lie effects have been most bench
cial upon the business Of the country. u has
tended powerfully 10 secure an exemption from
that imitation and huctuaton Of the paper curren
cy, 90 injurious 10 domestic industry, and renuSr
ing 10 uncertain the rewards Of labor. and Il u
believed has largely contributed 10 preserve th'
whole country from serious commercial revul
sion such A. often occurred under the bank de
poetic system. In the year lS47 there re
vulsion In the business Of Great Britain Of groa
extent and intensity, which was followed by fail
ures in that kingdom unprecedented in numbe
and amount Of losses. This Is believed 70 be thu
first instance when such disastrous bankruptcies
occurring in a country with which We have sucl
extensive commerce, produced little or no inJuri
Gus effect upon our trade or currency. We re
manned but little affected in our money market
and our business and industry were still prosper
Gus and progressive.
f" During the present year nearly the whole cont
nent Of Europe has been convulsed by civil wal
and revolutions attended by numerous Bankrupt
cies, by an unprecedented fall in their public -
curties, and an almost universal paralysis Of com
merce and industry; and yet, although our trade
and the price Of our products must have beef
somewhat unfsvorably affected by these causes
we have escaped a revulsion, our money marke
IL comparatively easy, and public and privat
credit have advanced and improved.
ct il confidently believed that We have beef
saved from their effect by the salutary operation
Of the constitutional treasury. II IL certain tina
the twenty four millions ofspecie imported int
the country during the fiscal year ending on th'
sOth Of June, lsf7, had gone into the banks, as L
great extent IL must have done, il would, Ia tb
absence Of this system, have been made the bass
Of augmented bank paper issues, probably 70 AZ