The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-12-14
luties of the federal government, vested in

duties of the federal government, vested in,
or entrusted to, its three great departments,
the legislative, executive, and judicial, yet
the substantive power, the popular force,
and the large capacities for social and ma
terial development, exist in the respective
States. which, all being of themselves well
constituted republics, as they preceded,
so they alone are capable of maintaining
and perpetuating the American Union.
The Federal Government has its appro.
pirate line of action in the specific and
limited powers conferred on it by the Con.
slitution, chiefly as to those things in which
the States have a common interest in their
relations to one another, and TO foreign
governments; while the great. mass of in
teresis which belong to cultivated men,
the ordinary business Of life, the springs OF
industry, all the diversified personal and
domestic affairs Of society, rest securely
upon the general reserved powers Of the
people of the several States. There is the
effective democracy of the nation, and
! there the vital essence Of its being and its
greatness.
OF the practical consequences which
1ow from the nature of the federal govern
mont. the primary one is the duty Of ad-
minis,ering with integrity and fidelity the
high trust reposed in it by the constitution.
especially in the application of the public
funds, as drawn by taxation from the peo-
pie. and appropriated 10 specific objects
by Congress. Happily | have no occa-
sio. to suggest any radical changes in the
financial policy of the government. Ours
is almost. if not absolutely, the solitary
power of Christendom having a surplus
revenue, drawn immediately from imposts
on commerce, and therefore measured bv
the spontaneous enterprise and national
prosperity Of the counirv, with such indi.
} rect relation 10 agriculture, manufactures,
and ..his products of the earth and sea. as
to violate no constitutional doctrine, AMI
yet vigorously promote the general well
fare. Neither as to the sources of the
public treasure. nor as to the manner ol
: keeping and managing it. does any grave
5 controversy now prevail. there being a
general acqaiescence in the wisdom of the
, present system.
: The report OF the Secretary Of the Treas
, ury will exhibit, in detail. the state of the
public finances, and the condition of the
/ various branches ofthe public service adj
i minis,erod by tha, department of the gov.
: erlment.
The revenue Of the country, levied al
> most insensbly to the taxpayer, goes or
! from year to year increasing beyond eli
,her the interests or the prospective want:
! Of the government.
: At the close OF the fiscal year ending
: June 80. 1859. there remained in the treas
ury balance Of fourteen million six hun
i dred and thiriy-two thousand one hundred
: aad thirty six dollars. The public reve
y nue. for the fiscal year ending June 80
j 1858, amounted 10 fifty y-eigh million nin'
hundred and 'thiriy-one thousand eigh
: hundred aud sixty-fve dollars from Gus
i toms. and to two million four hundred ant
d five thousand seven hundred and eigh
u dollars from public lands and other mis-
e celaneous sources. amounting together Il
$ sixty -one million three hundred and thirty
u seven thousand five hundred and seventy
II four dollars; while the public expenditure
n for the same period, exclusive of payment
, on account of the public debt, amounted
g 20 forty three million five hundred and fl
: ty.four thousand two hundred and sixty
z two dollars; leaving q balanceof lhiriy-tw
e million four hundred and twenty five thou
o sand four hundred and forty seven dollar
Of receipts above expenditures.
II This fact. OF increasing surplus in tn
q treasury. became the subject OF anxiou
n consideration ala very carly period Of m
e administration, and the path of duly in re
.e gard to it seemed to me obvious and clear
namely: first, TO apply the surplus revenu
'e 10 the dischargelof the public debt. SO ia
A. as il could judicou .ly be done; and, sec
ondly, TO devise means for the gradual re
ie duc,ion of the revenue. to the standard {
the public exigences.
10 OF these objects, the first had been j
ID ner and 10 a degree highly satisfactory
t The amount of the public debt. of a
ID classes, was. on the fourth Of March, IS;
is sixty.nine million one hundred and ninet
a thousand and ihiriy-seven dollars; pay
sr ments on accouD, Of which have bee
IS made. since that period, TO The amount {
III twelve million seven hundred and thre
al thousand three hundred and twenty min
e. dollars; leaving unpaid, and in the COZ
$ ,inuous course Of liquidation, the sum
ID fifty-slx million four hundred and eight,
y six thousand seven hundred and eight do
I'd lars. These payments, although made {
=. the market price of the respective classe
'e OF stocks, have been effected readily, an
r. 10 the general advantage Of the treasur.
III and have al the same time proved Of 81!
Is nal utility in the relief they have incider
n. tally afforded to the money market and
,h the industrial and commercial pursuits
u. the country.
Id The second OF the above mentioned oil
ne iects, that of the reduction of the tariff
Of gre at Importance. and the plan sugges
al ed by the Secretary ofthe Treasury, whic
lie is to reduce the duties on certain article
p. and 10 add to the free list many article
ty now taxed. and especially such as entt
We into manufactures, and are not largely, {
c. at all, produced in the country, is con
OF mended 10 your candid and careful cor
n sideration..
of You will find in The report OF the Seer
tary the Treasury, also. abundant pro-
D. Of the entire adequacy Of the present fsc
G. system to meet all the requirements oi ii
i, nr,hljc service and that. while properl