Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-12-11

The application of steam 10 the general pur-
pose OF navigation is becoming daily more
common, and makes it desirable 10 obtain
fuel and other necessary supplies at convent
ent points on the route between Asia and our
Pacific shores. Our unfortunate countrymen
who from time 10 lime suffer shipwreck on
the coasts OF The eastern seas are entitled TO
protection. Besides these specific objects,
the general prosperity of our States OIL the
Pacific requires ,hai an attempt should be
made TO open the opposite regions of Asia 10
a mutually beneficial intercourse II is obvi-
ous that this attempt could be made by no
power TO so great advantage as by the Uni
ted States, whose constitutional system ex-
cludes every idea of distant colonial depen-
denotes. | have accordingly been led 10 or
der an appropriate naval force 10 Japan, un-
der the command of discreet and intelli-
gent officer of the highest rank known 10 our
service. lie is instructed TO endeavor TO OBJ
tain from the government OF that country
some relaxation of The inhospita5le and anti
social system which it has pursued for about
two centuries He has been directed par
ticularly TO demonstrate in The strongest Ian.
suage against the cruel treatment 10 which
our shipwrecked mariners have often been
subjected, aud 10 insist that they shall be
treated with humanity. He is instructed
eminent the amplest assurances that the OBJ
ects of the United States are such and such
only as have indicated, and that the eXpe-
dilion is friendly and peaceful. Notwih-
standing the Jealousy with which the gov
ernmens Of Eastern Asia regard all over
tues from foreigners, am not without hopes
OF beneficial result of the expedition
Should il he crowned with success, the ad-
vaniages will not be confined to the United
States, but, as in the case OF China, will bc
equally enjoyed by all The other maritime
powers. ! have much satisfaction in sta
ting that in all the steps preparatory TO this
expedition the Government Of the United
States has been materially aided by the
good Offices Of the King OF the Netherlands,
the only European power having any com
mefclal relations with Japan.
In passing from this survey of orr foreign
relations, | invite the attention of Congress
TO the condition Of that department OF the
Government 10 which this branch of the pub
lie business is entrusted. Our intercourse
with foreign powers has OF late yeats greatly
increased, both in consequence Of our ow
growth and the introduction of many new
States into the family OF nations. In This
way the Department OF State has become
overburdened. II has, by the recent es,ab-
lishmeui Of the Department OF the Interior,
been relieved of some portion of the domes-
tic business Ii The residue OF the business
of that kind, such as the distribution Of Con.
gressional Documents, the keeping, publish
ing and distribution Of the laws Of the Uni.
ted States, the execution Of the npyrigh,
law, the suhJec, OF tepricyes and paIdors
and some "Ler subjects relating TO interior
!.nimi>iTaiion, should be transferred from
me Department of State, il would unQues.
llonably be for The benefit OF the public SER
vice. | would also suggest that the building
appropriated 10 the State Department is not
fire proof, that there is reason TO think there
are defects IN lis construction, aud that the
archives of the Government in charge Of the
Department, with the precious collections of
the manuscript papers of Washington, JetIer-
son, Hamilton, Madison, and Monroe, are
exposed 10 destruction by fire. a similar re-
mark may be made Of the buildings appro-
priated 10 The War and Navy Departments
The condition Of the Treasury is exhibited
in The animal report from that department.
The cash receipls into the Treasury for the
fiscal year ending The 10Th June last, eXclu-
slve OF Trust funds, Were iorly.nlue millions
seven huidrcd and tW eniy eight thousand
thee hundred aud eighly-siN dollars aud
eiahty.ninc cents. $50, 72S 3sG 50 aud the
expenditures for The same period, likewise
eAcus We OF trust funds, were ioriy-siX mil
lions seven thousand eight hundred and nine
ty.siN dollars and twenty cents, (S46; ;O07,-
$50 20 y Of which nine millions four hun
dred anI hfy.Gve thousand eight hundred
and fifteen dollars and eighiy-lhree cents,
so, 9,I55.Sl5 S3) was on account Of the prin-
cp;tl and interest OF the public debt, mclud-
ing the lasl inslalment OF the indemnity TO
MeAico, under the treaty OF Guadalupe Hi
dalgo, leaving a balance Of $ll632. 1876 81
in the Treasury Oh the first day Of Jolly last.
Since this latter period, further purchases OF
the principal Of the public debt have been
made 10 the extent OF two millions four hun
dred and lilly-siX thousand five hundred and
iouy-seven dollars and ioriy-niue cents, tS2,-
456,5 ,5i7 10, and the surplus in the Treasury
will continue TO be applied 10 that object,
whenever The stock can be procured within
he limits, as 10 price, authorized By law.
The value of foreign merchandise import
ed during the last fiscal year was two hun
dred and seven millions two hundred and
forty thousand one hundred and one dollars,
(S2O7, 2i0 lOl J and The value of domestic
productions exported was one hundred aud
lorly-uiue millions eigh, hundred and siAiy-
one thousand nine hundred and eleven dol
lars, (SlI9 SCI, ,9li J besides seventeen NIL
lions lwo hundred and four thousand and
lNti') 'sIh hOlIdlS. lCli VI lOltlSH
merchandl2e exported making The aggre-
gate of the entire exports one hundred and
sixty seven millions sixty thousand nine
hundred and lhiriy-sryen dollars, l$l67 ,065,-
937 \ exclusive OF The above there was en-
ported lorty-two millions five hundred aud
seven thousand two hundred and eiahly.ive
dollars, (S42, 207, 285) in specie; and import
ed from foreign ports five millions Two hun
dred aud sIAty-lwo thousand six hundred and
iory-lhree dollars. (S5, 262 6l3
In my first annual message 10 Congress |
called your attention TO what seemed 10 me
some defects in the present tarltl, and recon-
mended such notifications as m my judg-
ment were best adapted TO remedy its evils
and promote the prosperity of the county
Nothing has since occurred TO change my
views on this important question.
Without repeating The arguments csntain-
ed in my former message, in favor OF dis.
eliminating, protective duties, deem it my
duty 10 call your attention TO one or two 9TH
er considerations affecting this subject. The
first is, the effect of large imporlalions Of
foreign goods upon our currency. Most OF
the gold OF California, as fast as il is coined
finds its way directly TO Europe in paymeni
for goods purchased In the second place.
as our manufacturing establishments are bro
ken 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 a home market Tor the