Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-12-06

l snah shrink from no responsibility, and
snail endeavor to meet events as they NAV
arse, with frmness, as well as prudence and
discretion.
The appointing power is one of the most
delicate with which the Executive is invested.
L regard it as a sacred trust, to be exercised
with the sole view Of advancing the prosperity
and happiness of the people. It shall be nv
eftort to elevate the standard of official EN-
ployment, by selecting for places of impor-
lance individuals fitted for the posts to which
they are assigned, by their known integrity.
talents, and virtues. In SO extensive a coun-l
Try with SO great a population, and where
rev persons appointed to Office can be known
70 the appointing power, mistakes will some
times unavoidably happen, and unfortunate
appointments be made, Notwithstanding the
greatest care. In such cases, the W. Of
removal may be properly exercised and
neglect Of duty or malfeasance in Office will
be no more tolerated in individuals appointed
by myself than in those appointed by others.
l am happy in being able to say that no
unfavorabie change in our foreign relations
has taken place since the message at the
opinion of the last session of Congress. We
are at peace with all nations, and we enjoy
In an eminent degree the blessings of that
peace, in a prosperous and growing commerce
and in all the forms of amicable national in
tercourse. The unexampled growth of the
country, the present amount of its population
and its ample means of self-protection, assure
for it the respect ofall nations /; while it is
trusted that its character for justice, and a
regard to the rights of other States, will cause
that respeett to be readily and cheerfulIy paid.
4
| refer you to the report of the Secretary
of the Treasury for a detailed statement Of
the finances.
The total receipts in the Treasury, for the
year ending Both of June last, were forty
seven million four hundred and twenty-one
thousand seven hundred and forty-eight dol
lars and ninety cents, ($47 ,421, 748 CO.,
The total expenditures during the same
period were f~ortythree million two thousand
one hundred and sixty-eight dollars and
ninety cents, (S43, 0O2, 168 90.)
J The public debt has been reduced, since
the last annual report from the Treasury
Department, four hundred and ninety-fve
thousand two hundred and seyenty-six dol
lars and seyenty-nine cents, (S495, 276 79.)
| By the 18th section Of the act Of 18th
january, 1847, the proceeds of the sales Of
the public lands were pledged for the inter.
est and principal of the public debt. The
: great amount of those lands subsequently,
5 granted by Congress for military bounties,
[ will, It is believed, very nearly supply the
3 public demand for several years to come, and
but little reliance can, therefore, be placed
on that hitherto fruitful source of revenue.
Aside from the permanent annual expen-
ditures, which have necessarily largely in,
l creased, aportion of the public debt, amount
/ ing to eight million seventy-6ve thousand
I nine hundred and eighty-six dollars and fifty
b nine cents (SS,075,986 59) must be pro
vided for within the next two fiscal years.
1t Is most desirable that these acrcuing de
mands should be met without resorting t.
+ new loans.
( All experience has demonstrated the wis
b dom and policy of raising a large portion o
revenue, for the support of Government
from duties on goods imported. The poweI
to lay these duties is unquestionable, anC
= its chief object, of course is to replenish tn,
treasury. But if, in doing this, an inciden
s tai advantage may be gained by ~encOuragin.
y the industry of our own citizens, it is our du
ty to avail ourselves of that advantage.
A duty laid upon an article which canno
o be produced in this eountry-such as tea O
cofiee-adds to the cost of the article, and j
chiefly or wholly paid by the consumer
But a duty laid upon an article which ma,
be produced here, stimulates the skill anc
industry of our wi country to produce til,
same article, which is brought into the MAJ
= ket in competition with the foreign article
and the importer is thus compelled to re
ID duce his price to that, at which the domes
ID tic article can be sold, thereby throwing
st part of the duty upon the producer of Ii
foreign article. The continuance of tbi
e- process creates the skill, and invites the car
of ital, which finally enable us to produce Ii
al article much cheaper THANH could have bee
" procured from abroad, thereby bene6tin
ch both the producer and the consumer at home
,r- The consequence of this is, that the artisan
~ and the agriculturist, are brought, together
nd each affords a ready market for the produc
in of the other, the whole country become
prosperous and the ability to produce eve
of ny necessary of life renders US independer
is in war as well as in peace.
A high tariff can never be permanent
of 1t will cause dissatisfaction and will |
be changed. 1t excludes competition, an
Ike thereby invites the investment of capital
ma manufactures to such excess, that whe
lie, changed it brings distress, bankruptcy, an
or ruin, upon all who have been misled by i
,b- faithless protection. What the ~manufactur,
it wants, is uniformity and permanency, tn,
he may feel a confidence that he is not