Washington telegraph., 1852-12-22

Government to which this branch of the pub
lie business is intrusted Our intercourse
with foreign powers has of late years in
creased, both in consequence of our own
growth. and the introduction Of many new
States into the family of nations In this
way the Department of State has become
overbardened. 1t has by the recent estab-
hshment of department of the Interior,
been relieved Of some portion Of the domes-
tic business. If the residue of the business
of that kind, such as distribution of Con-
gressional documents, the keeping, publish
ing, and distribution of the laws of the Uni
ted States, the execution Of the COPYRIGHT
law, the subject of reprieve and pardons,
and some other subjects relating to internal
administration, should be transferred from
the Department of State, it would unques-
tionably be for the benefit of the public serv-
ice. would suggest also that the building ap-
propriated to the State Department is not
fire 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 collec-
tion of manuscript papers of Washington,
Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, and Mon
roe, are exposed to destruction by fire
A similar remark may be made Of the build
ings appropriated to the War and Navy De-
partments.
The condition of the Treasury is exhibit
ed in the annual report from that depart
ment.
The cash receipts in the Treasury for the
fiscal year ending the 3Oth of June last ex-
elusive of trust funds, were $40, ,728, S26 &c.
The expenditures for the same period, like
wise exclusive of trust funds, were $50, ,007,-
S96 20 of which SO, ,455,S15 SO was on ac-
count of the principal and interest of the
public debts, including the last installment
of the indemnity to Mexico, under the treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo, leaving balance of
$14,631, 1876 81 in the Treasury on the first
day of July last. Since this the latter peri
cd further purchase of the principal Of the
public debt was made to the extent of ST.
456, ,547 49; and the surplus in the Treas
ury will continue to be applied to these OBJ
jects whenever the stock can be purchased
within the limits as to price authorized by law.
The value of foreign merchandise import
ed during the last fiscal year was Sl20. .240,-
10l, and the value of domestic productions
exported was Sl49, ,S6l,911. besides ST.
204,026, of foreign merchandise exported
making the aggregate of the entire exports
$l67 ,065, ,937, exclusive of the above, there
were exported $425,072 IS in specie; and
imported from foreign ports So ,46-
In my first annual message to Congress, [
called your attention to what seemed to me
to be 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 coun-
try. Nothing has since occurred to change
my views on this important question.
Without repeating the arguments contain
ed in my former message in favor of discr;m-
mating protective duties, | deem it my duty
to call your attention to one or two other
considerations affecting this subject The
first is the effect of large importations of for
eign currency Most of the gold of Califor-
mia, as fast as it is coined. finds its way 9i-
rectly to Europe in payment for goods rur-
chased. In the second place, as our manu-
featuring establishments have broken down
with competition with foreigners. the capital
invested in them is lost: thousands of hon
est 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
destruction of our manufactures leaves the
foreigner without competition in our market,
and he consequently 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 stimulated TO exertion by
finding ready market for his surplus pro-
ducts and benefited by being able to ex-
change them. without loss of time or expense
of transportation for ma lufactures which his
comfort or convenience requires This is
always done to the best advantage when a
portion of the community in which he lives
is engaged in our pursuits. But most man.
ufactures require an amount Of capital and
practical skill which cannot be commanded
unless they be protected for time from
ruinous competition from abroad. Hence
the necessity of laying those duties upon i'm
ported goods which the Constitution author
ICES for revenue in such manner as to pro-
tect and encourage the labor Of our own cit
izens.
Duties, however should not be hxed.at a
ratio so high as to exclude the foreign article
but should be so graduated as to enable the
domestic manufacturer to fairly compete with
the foreigner in our own markets, and by this
competition to reduce the price of the manu-
factured article to the consumer, to the lowest
rates at which it can be produced This pol
icy would place the mechanic by the side Of
the farmercreate mutual interchange Of theil
respective commodities, and thus stimulate