The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-12-08


ate at the present session.
new branch Of commerce, important to
the agricultural interests Of the United States
has, within few years past been opened with
Peru. notwithstanding the inexhaustible de-
posts of gusno upon the islands of that coun
try, considerable difficulties are experienced in
obtaining the requisite supply. Measures have
been taken to remove these difficulties, and 10
secure more abundant importation of the
article. Unfortunately, there has been ser-
Gus collision between our citizens, who have
resorted TO the Chncha islands for IT, and the
Peruvian authorities stationed there. Redress
for the outrages, committed by the latter. was
promptly demanded by our minister at Lima.
This subject is now under consideration. and
there is reason TO believe that Peru is disposed
to offer adequate indemnity to the aggrieyed
parties.
We are thus not only at peace with all for.
eign countries, but in regard to political affairs,
are exempt from any cause Of serious disauie-
tude in our domestic relations.
The controversies, which have agitated the
country heretofore, are passing away with the
causes which produced them and the passions
which they had awakened Or if any trace of
them remains, it may be reasonably hoped
that it will only be perceived IN the Jealous
rivalry of all good citizens to testify their re-
spect for the rights of the States. their devo-
ton to the Union and their common determi-
nation that each one of the States, Its institu.
tons, its welfare, and its domestic peace, shall
lie held alike secure under the sacred segis of
the Constitution
This new league of amity and of mutual con.
fdence and support, into which the people of
the Republic have entered, happily affords in
ducement and opportunity for the adoption of
a more comprehensive and unembarrassed
line cf policy and action, az to the great ma
teral interests of the country, whether regard
ed IN themselves, or in connection with the
Powers of the civilized world
The United States have continued gradually
and steadily to expand, through acquisitions
OF territory, which, how much soever some of
them may have been questioned, are now uni.
versally seen and admitted to have been wise
IN policy, Just in character and great ele-
ment In the advancement Of our country, and
with II, Of the human race, in freedom in
prosperity and in happiness. The thirteen
States have grown to be thirty one, with rela-
tons reaching to Europe on the one side, and
On the other to the distant realms of Asia.
| am deeply sensible of the immense respon-
sibility which the present magnitude of the
Republic, and the diversity and multiplicity of
Its interests, devolves upon me the alienation
of which, SO far as relates to the immediate
conduct Of the public business, is, first in my
reliance on the wisdom and patriotism of the
two Houses Of Congress and, secondly, in the
directions afforded me by the principles of pub
lie polity, affirmed by our fathers of the epoch
of 1898, sanctioned by long experience, and
consecrated anew by the overwhelming voice
of the people of the United States.
Recurring to these principles, which cOnsti-
| tute the organic basis of union, we perceive
that vast as are the functions and the duties
of the Federal Government, vested in, or in
trusted to, it's three great departments, the
| Legislative, Executive, and Judicial, yet the
substantive power, the popular force, and the
large capacities for social and material devel-
opment, exist in the respective States, which,
all being of themselves well constituted repub-
lies as they preceded so they alone are capable
of maintaining and perpetuating, the American
Union. The Federal Government has its APP
propriate line of action in the specific and
limited powers conferred on it by the Con-
stitution chiefly as to those things in which
the States have common interest in their re-
lations to one another and to foreign Govern
ments while the great mass of interests which
belong to cultivated men, the ordinary bust
ness of life, the springs of industry, all the d.
versifed personal and domestic affairs Of socie-
| ty, rest securely upon the general reserved pow
ers 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 flow
from the nature of the Federal Government,
the primary one is the duty of administering
with integrity and fidelity the high trust re.
posed in it by the Constitution, especially in
the application Of the public funds, as drawn
by taxation from the people, and appropriated
to specific objects by Congress. Happily,
have no occasion 20 suggest any radical changes
in the financial policy OF the Government Our
is almost, if not absolutely, the solitary Power
Of ChrstendOm having n surplus revenue
drawn Immediately from imposts on commerce
and therefore measured by the spontaneous en-
terprise and national prosperity of the country
with such indirect relation to agriculture man
ufactures, and the products of the earth anc
sea, as to violate no constitutional doctrine, anC
yet vigorously promote the general welfare
Neither as to the sources of the public treasure
nor as to the manner of keeping and managing
it. does any grave controversy now prevail
there being a general acquescence in the wis
dom Of the present system.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
will exhibit, in detail, the state Of the public
finances, and the condition of the various
branches OF the public service administered by
that department of the Government
| The revenue of the country, levied almost in.
sensbly to the tax payer goes on from year to
| year increasing beyond either the interests or
| the prospective wants of the Government
tba al IF ha
| 30 1882, there remained in the Treasury n
balance of fourteen million six hundred and
| thirty-two thousand one hundred and thirty-six
dollars. The public revenue for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1853, amounted TO fifty.eipht
| million nine hundred and thirty-one thousand
| eight hundred and sixty-five dollars from GUS
toms, and to two million four hundred and five
| thousand seven hundred and eight dollars from
| public lands and other miscellaneous sources
amounting, together, to sixty one million three
hundred and thrty-seyen thousand five hun
| dred and seventy-four dollars while the public
expenditures for the same period, exclusive of
| payments on account of the public debt
| amounted to forty.three million five hundred
| and fifty-four thousand two hundred and sixty
two dollars leaving balance Of thrty-two
| million four hundred and twenty-five thousand
| four hundred and iorty-seven dollars Of receipts
above expenditures.
This fact of increasing surplus in the Treas.
| ury became the subject Of anxious considera-
ton at very early period Of my Admioistra-
ton, and the path Of duty in regard to it seem
ed to me obvious and clear, namely: first to
apply the surplus revenue to the discharge of
the public debt, 80 far as it could judicously
be done and, secondly to devise means for the
gradual reduction Of the revenue to the stand
ard of the public exigcncies
OF these Objects the first has been in the
course Of accomplishment, in manner and to
| degree highly satisfactory. The amount Of
the public debt Of all classes was, on the 4tb
of March, 1853, sixty-nine million one hun.