Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1852-12-11

maritime powers. have much satisfaction in
stating that in all the steps preparatory to this
expedition the Government Of the United
States had heen materially aided by the good
offices of the King of the Netherlands, the ouly
European power having any. commercial rela-
tons with Japan.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
In passing from this survey of our foreign re-
lations, invite the attention of Congress to the
condition of that department of the Govern
ment to which this branch of the public bust
ness is entrusted Our intercourse with foreign
powers has of late years greatly increased, both
in consequence of cur own growth and the in
PRODUCTION of many new States into the family
of nations. In this way the Department of
State has become overburdenee. 1t has, by the
recent establishment of the Department Of the
Interior, been relieved of some portion of the
domestic business. IF the residue of the bust
ness of that kind, such as the distribution of
Congressional documents, the keeping, publish
ing and distribution of the laws of the United
States, the execution of the copyright law the
subject of reprieves and pardons, and some 9TH
er subjects relating to interior administration,
should be transferred from the Department of
State, it would unquestionably be for the benefit
of the public service. | would also suggest
that the building appropriated to the State De-
partment is not fre-prOof; that there is reason
to think there are defects in its construction,
and that the archives of the Government in
charge of the Department, with the precious
collections Of the manuscript papers Of Wash
ington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, and Mon
roe, are exposed to destruction by fire, A SIM
liar remark may be made of the buildings APP
propriated to the War and Navy Departments.
CONDITION OF THE TREASURY
The condition of the Treasury for the fiscal
year ending the 30th Of June last, exclusive of
trust funds, were forty-nine millions seven hun
bred and eighty-siX dollars and eighty-nine cts.
($49, 728, 386,89,) and the expenditures for the
same period, likewise exclusive of trust funds,
were forty-sx millions seven thousand eight
hundred and ninety-six dollars and twenty cents,
tS46,007,S9 20;) Of which nine millions four
hundred and fify-fve thousand eight hun
dred and fifteen dollars and eighty-three cents
(9,455,SI5 83) was on account of the principal
and interests of the public debt, including the
last installment Of the indemnity Of Mexico, IN
der the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, leaving a
balance of $I4,632, 1876 81 in the Treasury on
the first day of July last. Since this latter pc
Rod, further purchases of the principal of the
public debt have been made to the extent of two
millions four hundred and ffty-six thousand five
hundred and forty-Seven dollars and forty-nine
cents $2.456,547 40, and the surplus in the
Treasury viii continue to be applied to that OBJ
iect whenever the stock can be procured with
in the limits as to price, authorized by law.
The value of foreign merchandise imported
during the fiscal year was two hundred and sew
en- millions two hundred and forty thousand
one hundred and one dollars, ($207, 240, 1919
and the value of domestic productions exported
was one hundred and forty-nine millions eight
hundred and sixty-one thousand nine hundred
and eleven dollars, $l49, 66l ,9ll:) besides sew
enteen millions two hundred and and four thou
sand and twenty-six dollars ($l7, 204,026) of
foreign merchandise exported; making the az
gregate of the entire exports one hundred and
sixty-seven millions sixty-fve thousand nine
hundred and thirtyseven dollars ($l67 ,O65 ,937;)
exclusive of the above there was exported for
ty-two millions FIVE hundred and seven thousand
two hundred and eightyfve dollars (S42, 5O7,-
1851 in specie; and imported from foreign ports
five millions two hundred and sixty-two thousand
six hundred and fortythree dollars, ($5, 462 643.
THE TARIFF.
In my first annual message to Congress I
called your attention to what seemed to me some
defects in the present tariff, and recommended
such notifications as in my Judgment were best
adapted to remedy its evils and promote the
prosperity of the country. Nothing has since
occurred to change my views on this important
question.
Without repeating the arguments contained in
my former message, in favor Of discriminating,
protective duties, deem it my duty to call your
attention to one or two other considerations af
fecting this subject. The first is, the effect of
large importations of foreign goods upon our
currency. Most of the gold of California, is fast
as it is coined, finds its way directly to Europe
in payments for goods purchased. In the sec
ond place, as our manufacturing establishments
are broken down by competition with foreigners
the capital invested in them is lost thousands of
honest and industrious citizens are thrown out
of employment and the farmer to that extent is
deprived of home market for the sale of his
surplus produce. In the third place, the destruc-
ton of our manufactures leaves the foreigner
without competition in our market, and he conse-
quently raises the price of the article sent here
for sale, as is now seen in the increased cost of
iron imported from England. The prosperity
and wealth of every nation must depend upon
its productive industry. The farmer is stimula-
ted to exertion by finding a ready market for
his surplus products, and benefited by being
able to exchange them, without loss of time or
expense of transportation, for the manufactures
which his comfort or convenience requires
This is always done to the best advantage where
a portion of the community in which he lives is
engaged in other pursuits. But most manufac
lures require an amount of capital and prac-
teal skill which cannot be commanded, unless
they be protected for time from ruinous COM
petition from abroad. Hence the necessity of
laying those duties upon imported goods which
the Constitution authorizes for revenue, in such
a manner as to protect ard encourage the labor
of our own citizens. Duties however, should not
be fixed at rate so high as to exclude the for
eign article, but should be so graduated as to
enable the domestic manufacturer fairly to COM
pete with the foreigner in our own markets, and
by this competition to reduce the price Of the
manufactured article to the consumer to the
lowest rate at which it can be produced. This
policy would place the mechanic by the side of
the farmer, create a mutual interchange of their
respective commodities, and thus stimulate the
industry of the whole country, and render us
independent of foreign nations for the supplies
required by the habits or necessities of the peo-
pie.
Another question: wholly independent of pro-
lection, presents ITSELF and that is, whether the
duties levied should be upon the value of the
article at the place of shipment, or, where it is
practicable, the specific duty, graduated accord
ing to quantity, as ascertained by weight or