The daily comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1850-1856, 1853-12-13

conatItutfnn.
This new leegue OF amnitv and Of mutual
confidence and support, into which the peo-
pie of the Republic have entered. happily
affords induremcnt and opportunity for tho
! adoption Of more comprehensive and nm
embarrassed inc of policy and action, as TO
the great material interests ot the country,
whether regarded in themselves or In con-
nexion with the powers of the civilized
world.
The United S'ates have continued grad
| ually and steadily to extend. through DC.
1uistions of territory, which how much So
ever some Of them may have been question:
ed, are now universally seen and admitted
to have been wise in policy, just in char
ac,er. and great element in the advnnc-
ment OF our country. and with IL. of the
! human race, in freedom, in prosperity and
| in hnppiness The thirteen States have
grown to be thrly-one, with relations
reaching to Europe, on the one side. and on
the other to the dstan: realms of Asia.
am deeply sensible of the immense re-
snonsbility which the present magnitude
of the republic and the diversity and mUl-
tplicity of its interests. devolves upon me I;
the ale, iation of which, so far as relates TO
the immediate conduct of the public bus-
ness is, first, in my reliance on the wisdom
and pst,iolism of the two houses Of Con-
pre - and secondly. in the directions ailor.
dcd me by the principles OF public policy,
affirmed by Our fathers of the epoch Of 170S
aactioned by long experienced, and con-
sectatcd anew by the overwhelming voice
of the rsople OF tbe Uuited States.
Recurring 70 those principles, which
constitute tho organic basis Of union, we
percciyc that. vast NJ Are the functions and
| The duties of the Federal Government, vcs-
| ted 10 or entrusted TO- its three great de-
rartments the legislative, executive and
| indicia Yet the substantive power the
popular lnrrc. and The large capacities for
social aud material development, exist in
the re.peciv. States, which. all being of
themselves well constituted Republics, as
they preceded, so they alcne are capable
of malntainiSg and perpctusting The Amer
lean Union. The Federal Government has
its appropriate line oi action in the SPECIFIC
and limited powers conferred on It by the
constitution, CHIEFLY as to those things ~
which the States have n common
! interest in their relations to one
another nnd 10 foreign Governments; whiie
the rrraf mass Of intresis which belong TO
rultlvated tnefl. the ordinary business ot
life the springs of industry. all the diver.
! stl,d personal and domestic affairs ot socie-
fy. rest securely u'on the general reserved
| powers Of the people ot the several states.
! There is the effective democracy OF The
nation. and there the vital essence of its
| greatness.
Oithe practical corsr1uences which How
| from the nature oi the Federal Govern
meut. the primary ones s the duty OF all
rninls'ering with integrity and hdellty the
high trust reposed in it by the constitution
especially in the application of the ptib'ic
funds, as drawn by TAXATION from the peo-
pie. and appropriated to specific objects by
Congress: Happily | have no occasion to
suggest any radical changes in the financial
policy of the Government Ours is almost
II not absolutely, the solitary power OF
christiaudom. having n surplus revenue.
drawn Immediately from imposts on com
ucrcr, and therefore measured by the spon-
tanenus rnterprise ard national prosperity OF
the conutrv, with such indirect relation to
agriculture, manufactures, and the products
Of the e,'tA aud sea, rs 10 violate no con-
siiutional l'octri .; and yet vigorously pro-
mote the General welfare. Neither as to
the manner of keeping or managing 1t; does
any grave controversy now prevail their
being general acqulescence IN the wisdon
oI the present fysteui.
The repnti of the Secretary OF the Tres-
uft win exhibit IN detail, the state ol the
public finances. and the condition of the var
,ous branches of the public service admin
lstrrcd by that department Of the Govern
mcut
The reveruc Of the country, LEVIED al
most i.,scnsible to the tax payer, goes on
from year to year, increasing beyond elther
the interest or the prospective wants OF the
Government.
At the close Of the fiscal year ending
June 30. 1852, thete remained IN the Tres
urv balla &C Of fourteen million six hnn-
dred and thirty-ttvo thousand one hum
died and thirty six dollars. The public
revenue for tn. fiscal year ending June 30,
1859. amounted to fifty-cight million nioc
hundred and thirty-one thousand eight hum
,lred and sixty-hve dollars from customs.
and two million four hundred. and five
thousand seven hundred and eight dollars
from pnbllc lands, and other miscellaneous
sources, amounting together to slxly-ont
million three hundred and thrty-seven
thousand FIVE hundred md seventy-tour
dollars; while the public expenditures ioI
the same period, exclusive ri payments on
account of the public debt, amounted td
iorty-three million five hundred and tlIty-
four thousand two hundred and sxiy-t
dollars leaving a balance ot th'rty-two
million four hundred and twenty-five nous
and four hundred and forty-seven dollars o
receipts above expenditures, =,
This fact Of increasing surplus in the
Treasury. became the subject OF anxious