The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-12-15


plicity Of its interests devolve upon me, tn
alleviation of which so far as relates to tn
immediate conduct of the public business, i
first in my reliance on the wisdom and th
patriotism Of the two Houses of Congress
and secondly in the directions afforded m,
by the principles of public policy affirmed b,
our Fathers Of the epoch of l779. sanction
ed by long experience and consecrated anew
by the overwhelming voice OF the people Of
the United States.
Recurring to these principles which con
stitutc the organised basis of union, we per
ce!ve that vast as arc the functions and du
! ties oil the Federal Government vested OF
entrusted To its three great departments
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial vet the
substantial power, the popular source. and
the large capacities for social and material
development exists in the respective States
with all. Being Of themselves we'll consti-
tuted republics, as they proceed, 5 0 they are
capable of maintaining and perpetuating the
Union. The Federal Government has its
appropriate line of action in the specified
and limited powers conferred upon It by the
Constitution, chiefly as to those things in
which the States havc common interest,
in their relations to one another, and to for
eign governments; while the great mass Of
interests, which it behoovcs US to cultivate
in the ordinary business of life, the springs
Of industry, and all the diversified personal
and domestic affairs of society, rest upon the
general reserved powers ofthe people of the
several States. This is the effective DEM
ocracv Of the nation, and this the vital cs-
scnce of its being, and the greatness of the
practical consequences which flow from the
nature Of the Federal Government The
primary fact is the duty Of administering
with integrity, fulfilling the high trust re-
posed in us BY the constitution. especially
in the appropriation of the public funds as
drawn by taxation from the people and de-
voted to specific objects By Congress
Happily have no occasion 10 suggest any
radical changes in the financial policy of the
government. Ours is almost, il not abso-
Iuteiy, the solitary power Of Christenaom,
having the surplus revenue drawn from i'm
posts and commerce, and therefore measured
by the spontaneous enterprise and natural
prosperity Of the country, with such indirect
relation to the Agriculture, Manufactures
and Produce of the Earth and Sea as to yio-
late no constitutional doctrine and yet Wig
orousiy promote the general welfare. Nei-
thcr as to the resources OF the public treas
ury nor as 70 the keeping and managing it
does any controversy now prevail, there be-
ING general acguiescence in the wisdom Of
the present system.
The reports cfthe Secretary Of the Treas
ury will exhibit in detail the state of the
public finances, and the condition of the
IF H. Ia, /
Mustered by that Department Of the Gov
ernmeHt. The revenue Of the country lev
ied almost insensibly to the tax payer, goes
On lrAyear to yeatincreasing beyond either
The interests or the prospective wants Of the
government. At the close Of the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1853. there remained in the
treasury balance of Sl4,G3e, ,63G.
Tho public revenue for the fiscal year
ending June 30. 1853. amounted to :sjS .93 H.
S85 trcin Customs, and S2,i04.7os from,
Public Lands and other miscellaneous
sources. amounting together to S6l, ,336,-
J73; while the public expenditures for -thc
same period, exclusive Of the public debt
amounted to d3,554,262. leaving bal.
ince Of S32, i25,4i7 Of receipts above ex
pcuGitures
This fact Of increasing surplus in the
Treasury, became the subject of anxious
consideration at very early period of my
administration, and the path of duty in re-
gard to it seems to me obvious and clear:
viz: First, 10 apply the surplus revenues to
the discharge OF the public debt, so far as it
ouId judiciously be done. Secondly, 10 de-
wise measures for the gradual reduction Of
he revenue to the STANDARD of the public ey-
igenccs OF these objects, the first has
been in the course of accomplishment in
manner and to degree highly satisfactory.
The amount of public debt of all classes.
vas on the 4th OF March, 1853. S69, ,l9oo37:
,ayments on account OF which have been
made since that period to the amount o!
.Sl2 ,TO3 ,325 leaving unpaid and in the con
tinuous course Of liquidation, the sum OF
SJ6.IS6,7 70S.
These payments, although made at the
market price of the respective classes ot
stocks. have been effected readily, and l.
the general advantage of the Treasury, and
nave at the same time proved of signal utii.
ity in the relief they have incidentally al.
tiorled to the money market, to the indus
tria! and commercial industry Of the coun-
..y,
You will ind in the report of the Secre-
tarv otthe Treasury also abundant proof OF
the entire adequacy OF the present fiscal sys-
tenn to rncet all the requirements of th'
public services, and that willie properly ad-
min:ttcrad. it operates to the advantage of
The community in ordinary business reia-
lous.
respectfully ask your attention to sun
dry suggestions of improvement in the set
dement, Of accounts, especially as regards
the large sums of outstanding accounts due
to the government and of other reforms in
the administrative action olths Department.
which are indicated by the Secretary. as also
10 the progress made in the construction OF
Marine II ,spitals, Custom Houses, and OF a
new Mint in California, and assay Offices IN
the city of New York heretofore provided
for by Congress, and also tc the emlnently
succc ssfu progress of the Coast Survey, and
of the Light House Board.
Among the objects needing your attention
will be Important recommendations from
the Secretaries Of War. and Navy. | am
fully satisfied that the Navy of the United
-tutes is not in condition ot strength and
efficiency commensurate with the magnitude
Of our commercial and other interests, and
commend to your especial attention the
suggestions on this subject made b. th, Sec
rotary Of the Navy.
Irrspectfully submit that the Army, which
under the present state, must always be re-
rarded with the highest interest as Il nucleus
around which the volunteer force ofthc ma