Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-12-21


! supply. Measures have been taken to remov
: these difficulties, and to secure more abundan
: importation of the article. Unfortunately, ther
: has been q serious collision between our citizens
who have resorted to the Chincha Islands for il
l and the Peruvian authorities stationed there. Re
4 dress for the outrages committed by the latter
/ was promptly demanded by our Minister at Lii
ma This subject is now under consideration anC
there is reason to believe that Peru Is disposed
TO offer adequate indemnity to the aggrieved par
ties.
, We are thus not only at peace with all foreign
countries but in regard to political affairs, are eN
cmpt from any cause of serious disquietude in oul
domestic relations.
The controversies which have agitated the coun-
try heretofore are passing away with the causes
which produced them and the passions which they
mad awakened; or If any trace of them remains,
1t may be reasonably hoped that it will ouly be
perceived in the jealous rivalry of all good citizens
TO testify their respect for the rights of the States
their devotion to the Union and their common de-
Termination that each one of the States its insti-
tutiOns its welfare, and its domestic peace shall be
held alike secure under the sacred Ggis ofthe Con-
sttution.
This new league of amity and of mutual conf
dence and support, into which the people of the
Republic have entered, happily affords induce
ment and opportunity for the adoption of a more
| comprehensive and unembarrassed line of poll
cy and action, to the great material interests
OF the country, whether regarded 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 terri
tory, which, how much soever some of them may
have been questioned, are now universally seen
and admitted to have been wise in policy, just in
character, and great element in the advance
ment OF our country, and, with it of the human
race in freedom, in prosperity, and in happiness.
The thirteen States have grown to be thrty-one,
with relations reaching to Europe on the one
side, and on the other to the distant realms Of
Asia.
I of @1,n
bility which the present magnitude of the Repub
lie, and the diversity and multiplicity of its inter-
ests, devolvcs upon me; the alleviation of which
! so far as relates to the immediate conduct of the
public business is, first, in my reliance the wis
dom and patriotism of the two Houses of Con-
gress and secondly, in the directions afforded me
| by the principles of public poty, affirmed by our
fathers of the epoch of 1898, and sanctioned by
! long. experience, and consecrated anew by the
overwhelming voice of the people Of the United
| States
Recurring to these principles which constitute
the organic basis of union, we perceive that, vast
as are the functions and the duties of the Federal
Government, vested i'll, or 1ntrusted 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 mate
| rial development, exist in the respective States
which, all being of themselves well constituted Re-
publics, they preceded, so they alone are capa-
bic of maintaining and pcrpetuating the American
| Union. The Federal Government has its appropr-
ate line OF actlOn In the Speclllc ana pow
ers conferred on it by the Constitution chiefly as
| to those things in which the States have COM
mon interest in their relations TO one another,
and TO foreign Governments while the great mass
of interests which belong to cultivated men, the
ordinary business of lfe the springs Of industry,
| all the diversified personal and domestic affairs
of society, rest securely upon the general reserv-
| ed powers of the people in the several States
There is the effective democracy of the nation, and
there the vital essence of its being and its great
ness.
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 reposed in it by the
Constitution, especially in the application of the
public funds, as drawn by taxation from the peo-
pie, and appropriated to specific objects by Con-
grcss. Happily have no occasion to suggest any
radical change in the financial policy of the Gov
ernment. Ours is almost if not absolutely, the
solitary Power of Christendom having a surplus
revenue, drawn Immediately from imposts on
commerce, and therefore measured by the spon-
taneOus enterprise and national prosperity of the
country, with such indirect relation TO agricul-
| ture manufactures and the products of the earth
and sea, to violate no constitutional doctrine,
| and 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 be-
ing general acquiescence in the wisdom 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 insen-
sby to the taxpayer goes on from year to year in
creasing beyond either the interests or the pros
pectve wants of the Government.
| At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30
1852 there remained in the Treasury balance of
SD 632, 1856. The public revenue for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1853, amounted to $5S931 ,S65 from
customs, and to 81, ,4057 70S from public lands and
other miscellaneous sources, amounting together
to SCI 1897 574 while the public expenditures for
the same period, exclusive OF payments on account
of the public debt, amounted to $43 55i ,262 leav-
ing balance of $50, ,425, ,447 of receipts above ex
pendtures.
This fact, of increasing surplus in the Treasury,
became the subject of anxious consideration at a
very early period of my administration, and the
path of duty in regard to it seemed to me obvious
and clear namely first, to apply the surplus reve-
to the discharge of the public debt so far as it
could judciously be done; and secondly, to devise
means for the gradual reduction of the revenue to
the standard of the pubic eXigencies.
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 fourth of March,
1853, 500 l90,037: payments on account of which
have been made, since that period, to the amount
of S12 703 ,329; leaving unpaid, and in the continu-
Gus course of fliquidaton the sum of $50, ,4S6 70S-
These payments, altho made at the market price
of the respective classes of stocks, have been effect
ed readily, and to the general advantage of the
| Treasury, and have, at the same time, proved of
signal utility in the relief they have incidentally
afforded to the money market and to the industri-
al and commercial pursuits of the country
The second of the above mentioned objects, that
of the reduction of the tariff is of great importance
tho ,1Io hxyf Nff