New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-12-12

raj 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 States have common interest II
their relations to one another and to foreign
Governments; while the great mass of interests
which belong to cultivated men, the ordinary
business of life, the springs of industry, all
the diversified personal and domestic affairs o.
society, rest securely upon the general reserved
powers of the people of the several states
There is the effective democracy Of the nation
and there the vital essence of its greatness.
Of the practical consequences which flow from
the nature of the Federal Government tht
primary one is the duty of administering witt
integrity and fidelity the high trust reposed il
it by the Constitution, especially in the applca
ton of the public funds, as drawn by taxation
from the people, and appropriated to specific
objects by Congress. Happily 1have no occasion
to suggest any radical changes in the financis
policy of the Government Ours is almost, il
not absolutely, the solitary power of chrsten'
dom having a surplus revenue, drawn imme-
diately from imposts on commerce, and there
fore measured by the spontaneous enterprise
and national prosperity of the country, with
such indirect relation TO agriculture, manu-.
features, and the products of the earth AND
sea, as to violate constitutional doctrine, ano
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 being general acquiescence in the wis.
dom 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 branch.
es of the public service administered by that de.
partment of the Government.
The revenue of the country, levied almost in.
sensibly to the taxpayer, goes on from year tC
year increasing beyond either the interest or thu
prospective wants of the Government.
At the close Of the fiscal year ending June 80
| 1852, there remained in the treasury balance
of fourteen million six hundred and thirty two
thousand one hundred and thirty six dollars
The public revenue for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1858, amounted to fifty eight million
nine hundred and thirty-one thousand eight
hundred and sixty-five dollars from customs
and two million four hundred and five thousand
seven hundred and eight dollars from public
lands and other miscellaneous sources, amount.
ing together to sixty one million three hundred
and thirty seven thousand five hundred and
seventy-four dollars; while the expenditures fol
the same period, exclusive of payments on &C,
count of the public debt, amounted to forty three
million five hundred and fifty.fbur thousand two
hundred and sixty-two dollars; leaving bal
twsntv.fve t5onsanj fonr bund,ed and fortx
seven dollars of receints above exnend;tures
| This fact, of increasing surplus in the Trea
sury, became the subject of anxious considera
ton at a very early period Of my administra
ton, and the path of duty in regard to it seemed
to be obvious and clear, namely first to apply
the surplus revenue to the discharge of the pub
lie debt, so far as it could be judiciously done
and secondly to devise means for the orsduo
| rodrot;on az Tho rovanro - tha s,.rJanS 20 ~
| public exipencies IF,
or these objects the first hos been in tho conrs
| of accomnl;sbment in a mannsr and 20 q Saaro,
| HIGHLY satisfactorv The amdnnt of tbe mn hi
debt. of Mi kinds was. the fonrtb If Maroh
1854 sixtv-n;ne million one bnndred and ,,;net,
| Thousand and tbirty.savon dolIors No ,,,,an
| ON account of which have been made since ~
period. to the amount of twelve million seve,
hundred and three Thousand three bundred on,
twenty nine dollars, leaving unpaid. and in tn
continuous course of Iou;da ron ,ba s,,n, !.
6ftv.six million four hundred and s;,h 81,
| thousand seven hundred and egbt dollars Tbes
payments. although made at The martst nr;c
| of the respeetiye classes of stocks have heen Of
fected readily. and to the genera, adva ntano =
the treasury, and have at III same fine nrove,
of signal utility in the relief tbev have ncidert
ally afforded TO the money marl.t and ~ A.
! industrial and commercial mrsuits Of the cow
| try
The second of the aforementioned oh;a,ts
that of the reduction of the tariff Is Of rrsot IN,
portance. and the plan SUGGESTED bv the Seoro
| tary of the Treasury. which il To rcduce tho d.
ties on certain articles. and IN add IN tbo fra
list MANY articles now taxed. and al,
such as enter into manufactures and ora :, =
largely, or at all produced in the country /
commended to YOUR candid and careful cons;dor
alton.
! You will find in the report of the Socretarv n
the Treasury, also, abupdeut nroof of tbe ent;r
adequacy of the present fiscal system to meet al
the requirements of the public service and IN y
while properly administered. II nnerates 70 ~,
| advantage of the community in ordinary br.;
| ness relations 'i
| respectfully ask vour attention 70 srrdr,
suggestions of the improvements in the settle
ment of accounts, especially as regards III Il rg
sums of outstanding arrears dine 70 tho Co,arSs
ment, and of othea, reforms in the adm;n;strativ,
action of his department. which are indicate
by the Secretary: as also 10 the nroorass nod,
in the construction of marine bospitais cns,on,
houses, and of new mint in California ond 49,
say Office in the cty of New Yort bsratofam,
provided for by Congress; and Also To the an;
nently successful progress of the Coast Survey
and of the Light house Board.
Among the other objects meritinp vour atten
ton will be important recommendations from, N,
Secretaries of War and Nayy. lam fullv ,.t;s
fed that the Navy of the United States Il mot IL
condition of strength and efficiency comm.rsu.
rate with the magnitude Of our commercial anf
other interests and commend to your esnecia
attention the suggestions on this snb;.ct n,ad.
BY the Secretary of the Navv 7 resnoo,f,,i1