The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-01-02
APoLoor.O Owing to the illness of Mr.. Kee-
seeker, we have been obliged to issue our paper
with less quantity Of reading matter than usu-
II sSss5 t s5, 49,

seeker, we have been obliged to issue our paper
with less quantity Of reading matter than usu-
NJ.
Presidents Message.
We have gratifed the curiosity Of our readers
by presenting to their anxious view this first of
fcial synopsis Of the doctrines Of the Taylor adj
ministration So fur us the Cabinet has choosed
10 commit itself, we are now aware of the senti-
ments by which their actions shall be Judged
Coming to the Message itself, and comparing it
with statesman-like productions of its predeces-
sors, it sinks down into pucrrlity, imbecility and
contracted cautiousness.
You look in vain for the exalted thought, the
dignifed comprehension, the statesman-like FORE
sight, which have always characterized the Mes
sages ofthe American Executive. Brevty with
out comprehension, and caution without sagaci-
y, are the principal features stamped upon this
FIRST essay of the second Washington. The
whole Message, with the exception of the pous
and patriotic paragraphs stuck on to keep it bal
anced, betfays either want of information on
the great exciting and important questions by
which the conflicting interests of individuals and
Of liberty and disturb the harmony of the Confed-
eracy; or the same duplicity which masked the
sentiments Of the Candidate, is still to veil from
the peoples sight the principles by which the
Executive feels bound to be governed
The President, though elected by party
whose ideas of government were different from
those ofhis predecessor, finds himscfn the awk-
ward and humliating position of being obliged
to approve Of the acts of the late administration
There are few exceptions to this rule, which
tirely inconsistent. Among these are his few
words on the tariff. On this question he is Or
thodox with the Wings of the North, while by
the South and West his recommendation of spe-
cifc duties will be deprecated.
The President may well commit himself upon
this question; the present Congress will hardly
trouble him for his signature to any law embody
ing his specific recommendation.
In connection with this subject the Pre- sident
says 81 look to the wisdom and patriotism of
Congress for the adoption of system which
may place home labor on sure and permanent
footing; and by due encouragement of manu-
features give new and increased stimulus to
Agriculture" Now this is strange manner of
encouraging Agriculture and the President ought
to have all the credit Of the discovery How
Agriculture is going to be encouraged by pro-
tecting Manufactures, is something above our
comprehension, and it would seem that the Pres
ident himself is in the same predicament, for he
recommends it to the "wisdom of Congress- -
We very much fear that the sagacity of Congress
will be tasked too much in the effort to devise
plan by which Agriculture shall be promoted
over the shoulder of the Manufacturer.
Leaving Congress to their task we will now
turn to the opening paragraph of the Message,
and quoting the language of the President we
must forget the existence of the people-the ex-
istence of any power above or beyond the Con-
gress Of the United States "Sixty years have
elapsed" says the President, "sincc the estab-
lishment ofour government by the Congress of
the United States" True as regards the time,
but what ofthe establishment of the government
BY sCongress' We had always supposed that
the Congress was the creature of the govern
ment, an emanation from the supreme power
THE pcople;-but alas we have lived and thrived
lin ignorant security for sixty years and more
under the fattering hallucination that this gov
|ernment was an emanation of the peoples will,
acting through representatives in convention, in
(which our Constitution was clothed with Ian
|gunge, and in obedience to the dictates of which
|Our Congress was presumed to act. We had
hoped to live on undisturbcd in this belief, but
The second Washington, in one brief sentence,
kears our faith away and sends us back to the
dusty records of the time when the people pro.
blamed Let Constitution be formed-and it |
Vas done. Let our representatives in Congress
be sworn to obey it-and they did swear, and
have at each succeeding session of their body,
bwon to preserve the Constitution of the United
6tates
Another brief sentence Of the same paragraph
equally fraught with the sublimated idea with
khich the President regards the Congress-
Hear upon what a foundation does he rest the
estiny of the American people: "Upon Con-
ress will ultimately depend the tendency of our
government, and of the transmission of it unim-
aired to Rosterity" What becomes of the sew
{ral coordinate branches in the ten
ency Of our government Where is the dread
b power of the Executive; the conservative in
hence Of the judiciary; the supreme power of
he People? They are not mentioned once ex-
ept to disclaim on the part Of the Executive any
toht to even q legitimate influence. All is
|anded over to Congress bound hand and foot,
la left to its wisdom and its patriotism. After
fvinR utterance to. sentiments at utter variance
tith fact in his opening sentence, it is no great
tonder to find the President arriving at conclu-
6ns 90 subversive, SO inimical to the spirit of
81 institutions, and SO unpatriotic, as to place
e tendency Of the government at the will and
Ssler the sole influence of the Legislature
n.