Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-12-15

'.Pft'cso. nc iniTteeu Odtt5 nave gfoWu W
be thirty one, with relations reaching to Europe
on the one side, and on the other to the dstan;s
relms of Asia.
| am deeply sensible of the immense spnr :
sioility which the present magnitude Of Inc re-
public, and the diversity and multiplicity of its
interests, devolvcs upon me the alienation of
which, so far as relates to the immediate con-
duct of the public business it, first, in my reli
ance on the wisdom and patriotism Of the two
houses OF Congress; and, secondly, in the dl
reetion afforded me by the principles of public
policy affirmed BY our fathers Of the epoch Of
1898, sanctioned by long experience and conse.
Grated anew by the overwhelming voice Of the
people of the United States.
| Recurring 10 those principles, which consti-
tute the organic basis of union, we pelceWe that
vast as are the functions and the duties of the
federal government, vested in, or entrusted to,
its three great departments the Legislative, ex-
ecutive and Judicial, yet the substantive power,
the popular force, and the large capacities for
social and material vclnpment, exist in the re-
spectve States, which all being Of themselves
well constituted republics, as they proceed, so
they alone are capable of maintaining and per-
petuating the American Union. The federal
government has its appropriate line Of action in
the specific and limited powers conferred on it
by The constitution chiefly as to those things IN
which the State have common interest in their
relations to one another and 10 foreign govern
ments while the great mass Of Interests which
belong to cultivated men, the ordinary business
of life, the springs Of industry, all the diversi-
fed personal and domestic affairs Of society rest
securely upon the geue.al reserved powers oil
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 reposed in it
by the constitution. especially in the application
of the public funds, AS drawn by taxatun from
the people, and appropriated 10 spec &; objects
Thy Congress. Happily have nj occ ,son TO
suggest any radical changes in the financial
policy of III, government. Ours Is almost, if
not absolutely, the solitary power Of Christen-
dom having surplus revenue, drawn lmme-
diate'y from uiposts on CO nlnerce, and there
fore measured by the Spontaneous enterprise and
national prosperity OF the coantry, with such
indirect relation to agriculture, manufactures,
and the products Of the earth and sea, us to vio-
late no constitutional doctrine, and yet visor
tously promote the general welfare. Mel her as
to the sources OF the public treasure, nor as 10
the manner Of keeping and managing it, does
any Craze controversy now prevail, thre being
general acqnlescehce in the wisdom IF the
present system
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
will exhibit, in detail the state of the public f.
nances, and the condition Of the various branch
es If the public service administered by that
department of the govern nenf.
The revenue OF the country levied almost
insensbly to the tax payer, goes on from yeaI
toyear increasing beyond either the interests Oh
the prospective wants OF the government.
At the close of the fiscal yenr ending June 80
1852, there remained in the Treasury balance
OF $l4,632, l36. The public revenue for the ifs
CA year ending June Both, 1888, amounted tt
$50 93l 865 from customs, and to $2,405 7Ot
from public lands and other miscellaneous sour
ces, amounting together TO $6l 1897 ,5H whil'
thu public expenditures for the same period, ex
elusive Of payments on account OF the publ,
debt announced to $43,554 1862; leaving q bal
ance of $32425, 447 uf receipts above expendl
lures.
This fact of increasing surplus in the treasur
became the subject of ANXIOUS consideration a
a very early period OF my administration, and to
path OF duty Ia regard to 1t seemed to ~ nbvi
Gus and clear, namely first to apply TIE snrplu
revenue to the discharge Of the public debt, 8
far as it could lndlclou1y be done; and, sec
ondly, to devise means for the gradual reductio
of the revenue to the sta ndard oi the public ex
gencIes.
OF these objects the first has been ia th
course of accomplishment, in manner aud to
degree highly satisfactory. The amount ot til
public dctt, OF all classes, was on the 4th
March, 1853 500, 100 037 payments on accnur
of which have been made, since that PERIOD |
the amount of SIP 703,329, leaving unpaid, an
in the coulinnpns course Of liz ldation, the SIT
oil $50 1856 70S. These payments althoug
made AT The market price Of the respective elias
ses of stocks, have been effected readily, and I
the general advantage of the treasury, and hav
at the same time proved of signal utility in tn
relief they have incidentally afforded to tn
money market and to the industrial and CONNER
cial interests Of the county.
Tn" seco d of the above mentioned object.
that of The reduction Of the tariff, is Of gres
Importance, and the plan suggested by the Sec
retaIy of the Treasury, which is to reduce tn
duties on certain ARTICLES, and to add to the fire.
list many articles now taxed, and especially sue
as enter into manufactures, and are not largel,
or at all, produced in the country, is eommende
to your candid and careful consideration.
You will fud in the report of the Secretary
the Treasury, also, abundant proof of the enlr
adequacy oil the present fiscal system to meet
the r. qulremens OF the publi; service, and tina
while properly administered, it operates to tn
advantage OF the community in ordinary bushes
relations.
respectfully ask our attention to sundr
suggestions Of Improvements in the setllemer
OF accounts. especially as regards lbe larg
sums OF outstanding arrears due to the govern
ment, and OF other reforms in The administrative
action OF his department, which are indicated
the Secretary as alsn to the progress made
the CONSTRUCTION of marine hospitals. custo,
houses, and OF new mint in California, an
assay Office in New York, heretofore provide
for By Congress- also to the emncntly success
iul progress OF the coast survey, and Of the Ligt
house Board a.
Among the objects merlting your attentio
will be important recommendations from Nh
Sec Etaras of War and Navy. am fully sa
isfied that the navy of the Ulitcd States is M
IN condition OF strength and efficiency cor
mensurate with the magnitude OF our CONNER
clal and other interests; and commend to yn,
especial attention the suggestions on this subjet
made by the Secretary OF he Navy, | respec
fully submit that the army, which. under OF
system, must be regarded with the highest in,e
est as nucleus around which the voluntet
forces Of the nation gather in the hour Of DANCE
requires augmentation, or modification to ada
it to the present extended limits aud ironti(
relation OF the country, and the condition of til
Indian tribes in the interior OF the con,in Mt, tn
necessity Of which will appear in the conmun
cations of the Secretaries Of War and the Int
rior.
10 the administration of the Post Office d.
partlnent for the fiscal year ending June 30, les;
The gross expenditure was 81 952756; and III
gross receipts during the same period, $5942
134 showing that the current revenue failed