Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-12-23
PRESIDENTS
M E SIS AG E. :.
TcoNTrNuED.1 I

I ODgress To the condition OF that depart
meni Of Government TO which this branch
of the public business is intrusted. Our
intercourse with foreign powers has Of
late years greatly increased, both in con-
sequence oi our own growth, and the in
PRODUCTION Of many new States into the
family of nations. In this way the De-
partment Of State has become overbur-
dened. Ii has by the recent establish.
ment Of a Department of the Interior,
been relieved Of some portion of the do
mestic business. Ii the residue OF that
kind. such as distribution of Congress.
ional documents, the keeping. publishing
and distribution of the laws of the United
States. the execution OF the copyright
law, the subject Of reprieve and par
dons, and some other subjects relating
10 internal administration, should be
transferred from the Department Of State
il would unquestionably be for the bene-
ii Of public services. | would suggest,
also. thar The buildings appropriated to
the Sale Department is not fire proof,
that there is reason 10 think there are de-
fects in its construction, aud that the ar
chieves Of the Government in charge Of
The Department, with the precious col
lection OF manuscript papers Of Washing
ton, Jefferson, Hamilton. Madison and
Monroe, are exposed to destruction by
FIRE. A similar remark may be ma le Of
the buildings appropriated TO the War &
Navy Departments. Is
The condition of the Treasury is ex.
hibi'ed in the Annual Report from that
Department.
The cash receipts in the Treasury for
the fiscal year ending the 30,h of June
last, exclusive of trust fund were $43.-
72s,3s6 80. The expenditures for the
same period, like wise exclusive of trust
fund. were s46.O07, 1896 20. of which
S9.455,Sl5 80 was on account of the
principal aud interest Of the public debts.
including the las, instaliment Of The in
demnily 10 Mexico, under the treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo--leaving balance
OF $l4,63l.l36 81 in the Treasury on
the first day of July LAST. Since this lat
ter period. there has been further pur-
chase OF the principal Of the public debt
to the extent Of %, ,456.547 As, anG the
surplus in the Treasury will continue to
be applied to these objects. whenever the
Stock can be purchased within the lin
its as 10 price, authorized by law. .. .-
The value Of foreign merchandise i'm.
ported during the las. fiscal year. was
S207 ,240.l0l, and the value of domestic
productions exported exported was O. 40,
s6l,9ll, besides $l7,2O4 O26 of foreign
merchandise exported, making the aggre-
gate of the entire exports $l66. .065, 1897. I.
Exclusive Of the above there was export,
ed, s42 ,5O7 .2s5 in specie, and imported
from foreign ports $5.252, CAB. ~
In my first annual message TO Con
gress, called your attention TO what
seemed to me TO be some defects in the
present tariff, and recommended such
notifications as in ny Judgment were
bes, adapted to remedy its evils and pro-
mote The prosperity Of the country
Nothing has since occurred to change
my views on this important ueslion.
Withou, repeating the arguments con-
.ained in my former message in favor
Of discriminating protection duties,
deem i, my duty 10 call your attention to
one or two other considerations affecting
this subject The first is the effect of
large importa,ions of foreign currency.
Most Of the gold oi California, as il is
,oined. finds it's way directly to Europe
IN psyme for goods purchased. In
the second place, as our manufacturing
establishments have broken down with
competition with foreigners, The capital
invested in them is lost. Thousands of
honest Il industrious citizens are thrown
ont Of employment. and the farmer to
that extent is deprived Of home mar.
ke. for the sale Of his surplus produce.
ln the third place; the destruction Of our
manufactures leaves the foreigner with
out competition in our market, and he
consequently raises the price OF the ar
ticle sen, 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 stimulated to
exer,ion BY finding ready marke, for
his surplus products. and beneft,ed by
being able 10 exchange them, wilhou,
loss of time or expense oftranspor tation
for manufactures which his comfort or
convenience requires. This is always
done to the best advantage when por
tion Of the community in which he lives
is engaged in other pursuits. But mos,
manufacturers requires an amour, of cap
ital and practical skill which cannot be
commanded. unless they be protected
for time from ruinous competition from
abroad. Hence the necessity of aging
those duties upon imported goods which
the Constitution authorizes for revenue.
in such Q manner as to protect and en-
courage The labor of our own citizens.
Duties, however. should mol be fixed
at rate so high as to exclude ihe foreign
article. bit should be 50. graduated as Il,
enable the domestic manufacturer fairly
To compete with The foreigner in our own
markets, aud by this competition TO re.
duce the price of The manufactured ar,i.
Gle 10 the consumer. to the lswest rates
a. - n "a