Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-12-16
ll)eckIn free })ress.
FRIDAY, DEC. Ii, 1853
Remarks on the r,esiden,,, Messuse.

Remarks Oh the Presidents Message.
\ Presidents Message should state. in few
words and precisely, the nam points in our /
him to demand Il positive action from Con-
grcss and what he thinks ought to be done
on them. Beyond that he cannot 20 to amy
useful purpose. If he undertakes to touch
upon every public matter, about which II talk I
can be- made. the result must be a long string
of everyday remarks on subjects which no
one cares to have him SAY word about. If
he sets out to argue his positions he will do
no better. Nine times in ten, his friends
when the time comes, will make ADLER argu-
mcnts than he can. by leaving that work
for them, he will give his opponents no chance
to cay lac is shallow, unfair or muddy-hcadcd
In all these respects, the Message isl decided
failure. \ large part Of it is made up Of
common remarks, of which many are true
enough. but Of no more consequence Tor the
President to" make, than talk about the
weather would have been
OF the really important topics, there is
and there is such general wordincss, that
one is left half in doubt whether the haze
which is lift over his opinions came from the
writer's intention or from Il want of clear
views in his own mind.
Take for instance the half column where he
begins with oar domestic relations. Can any
one til what the writer is driving at Dues
he point to any law to b. made, amended, or re-
pciled \ wagner half dozen Of wordy para
graphs were never s,cn in Il school boys first
essay on the greatness, glory ana rrrlctQity
/ of American social and political institutions.
The serious trouble of having more money
D. in the public Treasury than WAC wanted
seems to have been relieved in some degree,
~ the President thinks, very happily, by buy
inc up0f a 9ooa roWad premitUa lrt Of the
t. ) Stoke before they fell due. lat meas
urc has hncn he SAYS for the gcnC'M Gdran-
iogt IF the Treasury and has hc!prl the mon
cy market very 4rnsihly. Quite discovery
that, all must admit. No doubt if the Tr"a-
sury will bid high enough il can buy in all
the rest of lis outstanding paper and thus d..
pirtc til" public chest to more healthy con-
lition. This G,ttcning up process lie think.
may be stopped Ivy letting in more free arti
cl2s and by lowering the tariff on othcrs-a
} any rate that is worth thinking of. While Con
: grer4 are Shrinking about it, we hope they vii
also give a Thought or two to the qpc4tioI
whether it you'd not DE q'ite az we'll, or bet
ter to 50 s'lapc the Tariff that our people
shall buy less abroad and build up more Il
home, That would seem TO be the obvivu
: way to promote an Independent and thrift,
l condition.
We do not s'c that a half column or NOR
Oh the subject Of internal improvements, come
t to anything more IMAM tnls. tnat II II were
: settled thing that congress would never max
any appropriations i0r works which coul
: benefit commerce in any particular places,
is quite likely that some other way would b
! found out to build what the people could no
do without.
As to the Pacific Railroad, on which Their
, is rambling talk Of Il column length, We de
: ry any one to state what the President mean
D to recommend. or what dcfnit" notions he h;s
:, on the subject. IL wand,rs about among mil
= itarv roads which may be necessary, ;racklcs
y deserts, territorial and state rights, "-slilabi
T. points where patriotic people are ready an
. able to protect Them doubtful powers, AN
: other indefinite things, till he : rm to b. com
: llrtcIy brtj. ID, and ends with a. Graruia
Jnol ,r.t II Al, thar I've is III Suns. ri f., fdloy RI