Washington sentinel., 1853-12-07
aI.noo : ,ha ,reas,,v of sI4.632, ,l3s,

balance in the treasury of sl4,632,l36. The
public revenue collected for the year, ending
on the same day, from customs, sales of the
public lands and other sources, amounted to
SCI, ,337,574, whilst the expenditures for the
same period, ercllsire Of payments on account
ofthe public debt, Amounted to only $43554 ,262,
thus leaving an unexpended balance in the
treasury of $32, ,425,447. The President speaks
of this immense surplus as having caused much
anxious consideration at an early period of his
administration, and gives, as the result OF his
deliberation, determination, first, to apply it
to a iudicious reduction fthe public debt and
secondly, to introduce system that will grad
ually reduce the revenue TO the public necess-
ties. The first of these objects, the message in
forms us, has been for some time in successful
accomplishment, and of the debt, not get dae
of all classes, existing on the 4th OF March,
of $69, ,l9O,O37, there has been extinguished
$l2,7O3,329. For the accomplishment Of the
second object, above referred to, the President
refers to the plan suggested, in the forthcoming
report of the Secretary Of the Treasury, which
recommends certain notifications Of the exist
ing tariff, (which" he says "is to reduce the
duties on certain articles, and to add to the free
list many articles now taxed, especially such as
enter into manufactures, and are not largely, or
at all, produced in the country" This is a sub
ject of much Importance to the country, but we
can know nothing concerning the details OF the
plan proposed, until we see the secretary's re-
port
Several paragraphs are devoted to the con-
sderation of the subject of internal improve
ments. They state that no settled policy has
yet been established on this subject, and sub
nit that, where there is such contrariety and
difference, if it would not be better for some
plan to be devised and matured that would re-
lieve the subject of all difficulty. 1t says:
'Without perceiving any sound distinction,
or intending to assert any principle as opposed
to improvements needed for the protection
of internal commerce, which does not equally
apply to improvements upon the seaboard Tor
the protection of foreign commerce, submit
to you, whether it may not be safely anticipated
that, if the policy were once settled against ap-
preparations by the general government for
local improvements for the benefit of commerce,
localities requiring expenditures would not by
modes and means clearly legitimate and proper,
raise the fund necessary for such constructions
as the safety or other interests OF their com
merce might require"
In regard to the Pacific railroad-that sub
iect of great interest to all the States and all
the people of this confederacy, the message
has the following. We give the precise words
that there may be no mistake:
sThese difficulties, which have been encoun-
tered in period Of peace, would be magnifed
and still further increased in time of war. But
whilst the embarrassments already encounter
ed, and others under new contingencies to be
anticipated, may serve strikingly to exhibit the
importance of such work, neither these, nor
all considerations combined, can have an ap-
preciable value, when weighed against the OBJ
legation strictly to adhere to the Constitution,
and faithfully to execute the powers it conters.
Within this limit and to the extent Of the in
terest Of the government involved, it would
seem both expedient and proper, if an econom-
ical and practicable route shall be found, to
aid, by all constitutional means, in the con-
struction of a road which will unite, by speedy
transit, the populations Of the Pacific and At
lantic States. To guard against misconcep
ton, it should be remarked that, although the
power to construct, or aid in the construction OF,
road within the limits of territory is not en-
barrassed by that question of jurisdiction which
would arise within the limits Of State, it is never
theless held to be of doubtful power, and more
than doubtful propriety, even within the limits
of territory, for the general government to un-
dertake to administer the affairs of a railroad,
q canal, or other similar construction, and
therefore that its connexion with work of this
character should be incidental rather than pri-
mary. / will only add, at present, that, fully
apprecating the magnitude of the subject and
solicitous that the Atlantic and Pacific shores
of the republic may be bound together by in
separable ties of common interest, as well as OF
common fealty and attachment to the Union,
shall be disposed, so far as my own action is
concerned, to follow the lights Of the Constitu-
ton, as expounded and illustrated by those
whose opinions and expostions constitute the
standard of my political faith in regard to the
powers of the federal government. 1t is, |
trust, not necessary to say, that no grandeur OF
enterprise, and no present urgent inducement
promising popular favor, will lead me 10 disre-
gard those lights, or to depart from that path,
which experience has proved to be safe, and
which is now radiant with the glow of prosper
ity and legitimate constitutional progress We
can afford to wait but we cannot afford to over
look the ark of our security"
Such are the most important topics treated
Of in the message. We have given but sy-
nopsis Owing to the fact that we did not re-
ceive the message until late in the day, and in
consequence have not had the opportunity OF
reading it carefully, we feel it alike due to the
President and due to ourselves, that we shall
not speak hastily and without due reflection OF
SO grave and important an official document.
When time shall have been allowed us to study
it more thoroughly and to examine the reports
of the heads of departments, we will state more
fully our views and impressions in regard to its
recommendations.
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