Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-12-12
EASTERN TIMES.
Bath, Thursday, Dec. II, 1850.
The Presidents Message.

Is tersely wrltten, COMPREHENSIVE anu states
maalike document. The political principles
enunciated partake somewhat of +" fish, lesh
and fowr' character, and consequently well
adapted 10 the expanding genius of the great
universal fuctuating wing party. The utter
demolition of several cardinal principles OF
.whiggery. removes all suspicion of non-com-
mitalism, and characterizes the document I'M
nistakaBly. af -l
In the commencement, President Fiiimore
states some very good general principles upon
which intercourse with FOREIGN nations should
be rexuIat 3D. In abiding to domestic policy,
he patriotically adopts the Co"ssstatton as his
ruide, and declares that "he shall regard all
It's provisions as equally binding" The veto
nower is evidently viewed in less dangerous
light by President +. than that in which it was
viewed by lis illustrious predecessor in partic-
ular, and the whig party in general, a year or
two since. He reserves the power, according
to the most approved democratic policy. when
ever ..any act should pass the two houses OF
Congress which should appear to me unconsti-
tutional or an encroachment on the just pow
crs Of other departments, or with provisions
hastily adopted, and likely to produce conse-
quenccs injurious and unforeseen" These
sentiments are not very dissimilar to those en-
tcrsained and exercised by certain individual
who, like President Fillmore, raised to
power not entirely by the whis party, bpt ''by
q painful dispensation of Divine Providence.
La abiding to the rights of the states and
the duty of the Executive to that the laws
IRE faithfully executed, President Fillmore
tascourses eloquently and patriotically, and
enthusiastically foreshadows the national predi-
leciions of the administration. Partizan oppo
sition, no less than friendship, the country
o'cr, will bow in homage to such noble
stand
The next subject treated of is the "appoint-
ing power" and here we discover a reiteration
Of the patriotic mo friends to reward, no enc
raies to punish, nothing TO serve but my coun-
try" doctrine of his iilustricus predecessor
A fine pretext under which to exercise the
most ruthless prescription
A review of our foreign relations discovers
them to be in prosperous condition.
After reviewing the financial condition of
the country, President Fillmore commences an
onslough upon the great cardinal principle of
whiggery-a high PROTECTIVE tariF-which is de-
molishei with the most perfect ease imaginable
The wing doctrine of protection for its oaon sake
10 thus summarily thrown overheard and the
democratic policy of incidental protection, &C.
knowledgcd
All experience had demonstrated the wis
dom and policy of raising a large portion of
revenue, for the support of government, from
duties goods imported. The power to lay
these duties is unquestionable, and its chief
object, of course, is to replenish the treasury.
But if, in doing this, an incidental advantage
may be gained by encouraging the industry of
our own citizens, it is our duty TO avail our
selves of that advantage
The old whis argument, too, that the prices
a articles are not enhanced by the duties i'm
posed upon them is abandoned in the follow
ing remark of President Fillmore
A duty laid upon an article which cannot
be produced in this country-such as :ea or
coffse-adds to the cost of the article, and is
chiefly or wholly paid by the consumer"
Again, the democratic doctrine has never
been more clearly enuEciated, than in the fol-
lowing remark from the same high source =
"A high tariff can never be permanent. 1t
will cause dissatisfaction and will be changed.
II excludes competition, and thereby invites the
investment of capital in manufactures to such
excess, that when changed it brings distress,
bankruptcy. and ruin, upon all who have been
misled by the fathless protection"
What docs our co. emporary of the Tribune
mean by endorsing these sentiments"as sound
and statesman like :" Has he met with ga
sudden conviction of the truths that we have
been laboring for years to instll into his mind,
or does he but echo the "cue' given him from
Washington What new antic evolution will
our brother next attempt:
In relation to the system of levying duties,
tits commended by the President that specific
instead of I'D ralorem duties should be imposed
the latter offering too strong temptations 10
fraud and perjury. Now it is quite likely that
fraudulent devices have been adopted to evade
the law and defraud the government under
this system, but while the President suggests
a remedy, to vita home valuation or ap-
praisar' his reasoning is insufficient to satisfy
us of the necessity of a change of systems, with
the consequent inequalities of the specific sys-
tenn Specific duties may operate as ga strong
inducement to the importer TO bring the best
article, as he pays no more duty upon that,
than upon one of inferior quality" but the
masses are not always able to purchase neither
do they desire the best article-they demand
the necessartes of life, not the lurtries Upon
these necessaries of life. under the ad ralorem
system, discrimination is made and duty
imposed according to the value of the article
while under the specific, the luxuries or high
priced articles are taxed uniformly with the
low priced. With the evil complained of, OF
waited, i, must be apparent that the ad raloren.
or present rate of duties, is the most equal,
just and equitable.
President Fillmore recommends the estab-
lishment of mint in California-the extension
of our land laws over California, Utah, and
New Mexico-the appointment of Commission
ers 10 examine claims to land in California,
under Mexican and Spanish grants-the estab-
lishment Of an Agricultural; bureau with pro-
visions for the employment of chemist and
mineralogist-the- sale of the mineral lands-an
asylum. for disabled soldiers-a new regiment
of cavalry to protect our own and Mexican
frontiers against Indians. according to treaty
aud Commissioner to settle all nr;v,,o oIa;,,s