Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-12-14
THE IOWA CAPITAL REPOR ER :.

given 10 the subject. Brazil tnrOn5n WHOSE
territories it passes into the ocean, has hitherto
persisted in policy SO restrictive In regard to
The use of the river, as to obstruct and nearly
exclude foreign commercial intercourse with
the States which lie upon its tributaries and
upper branches. Our minister to that country
is instructed TO obtain a relaxation Of that poll
icy, and to use his efforts to induce the Brazil
Ian government t" open TO commerce, under
proper safeguards, this great national highway
for international trade. Several OF the South
American States are deeply interested in this
at tempt to secure the free navigation of the
Amazon, and it is reasonable to expect their
cooperation in the measure.
As the advantages Of free commercial inter
course among nations are better understood,
more liberal views are entertained as to the
common rights Of all to the free use of those
means which nature has provided for interna-
tional communication. To these more liberal
and enlightened views il is hoped that Brazil
will conform in her policy, and remove all I'M
neces sary restriction upon The free use of a
river traversing SO many states, and so large a
portion Of the continent. am happy to inform
you that the Republic of Paraguay and the Ar
genuine Confederation have yieded to the lib
cral policy, though still obstructed by Brazil
in regard to navigable rivers within their re-
spectIve territories. Treaties embracing this
subject among others, have been negotiated
ed to the Senate at the present session.
A new branch Of commerce, importan. to the
agricultural interest of the United States, has
within a few years past been opened with Peru
Notwithstanding the inexhaustible deposits oil
guano upon the islands of that country, CON
siderable difficulty has been encountered in Sc
curing more abundant importation OF the ar I
icle. Unfortunately shere has been SCI
collision between our citizens, who have re
tad To- No cha vcln Ia far nd 4 h.
Peruvian authorities stationed there. Redress
for the outrages committed by the latter wa:
promptly demanded by our minister at Lima
This subject is now under consideration, anC
there is reason to believe that Peru is dispose,
to conclude adequate indemnity to the aggriev
ed parties.
We are thus not only at peace with all foreign
countries, but in regard to political affairs ar,
exempt from any cause of serious disquetudt
in our domestic relations. The controversies
which have agitated the country heretofore
are passing away with the causes which pro
duced them, and the passions which they hav,
awakened; or, if any trace of them remains, il
may be reasonably hoped that it will quick y
be perceived in the Jealous rivalry of all gooo
citizens to testify their respect for the rights o
the States by their devotion to the Union, ant
Their common determination that each one o
the States its institutions, its welfare and it
the sacred agis of the Constitution. I his new
league of amity, Of mutual confidence and com
fort. into which the people Of the Republic
have entered, happily affords inducements anc
opportunity for the adoption of a more compac
Uni,n and unembarrassed line of policy an,
action, as to the great material interests Of thu
country, whether regarded in themselves, o
in common with the powers Of the civilized
world.
The United States have continued gradual,
to expand their acquisitions of territory, which
how muchsoever some Of them may have beef
questioned are now universally seen and ad
mitted to have been wise in policy just in char
acter, and a great advancement of our country
and with it, of the human race, in freedom, IL
prosperity and in happiness. The thrice,
states have grown to be thiriyone with rela
tions reaching to Europe on The one side; OF
the other, to the distant regous Of Asia.
| am deeply sensible Of the immense respon
sibili.y which the present magnitude of tn
republic. and the diversity and multiplicity o
ITS interests devolve upon me, the alienation
duct OF the public business, is first in my reli
ance ON the wisdom and the patriotism of tn
two Houses Of Congress. and secondly in tn
directions afforded me by the principles o
public policy affirmed BY our Fathers of tn
epoch Of l779, sanctioned by long experience
and consecra,ed anew by the overwhelming
voice Of the people Of the United States.
tute the organised basis of union, we perez iv
that vast as arc the functions and duties r,f th
Fedora! Government vested or entrusted Co il
three great departments, Legislative, Fy ecutiy
aud Judicial, yet the substantial rover, tn
popular source and the large cape cities for Sc
cial and material developemeps exists in tn
respective States with all. Being of themselve
well constituted republics, rs they proceed, S
ihey are capable OF maintaining and perpstu1
ting the Union. The federal government ha
its appropriate line of action in the specific
and limited powers con ierred upon it by tn
Constitution, chiefly as to those things i
which the States lave common interest, il
their relations to One another, and to foreig
governments; While the great mass of interests
Which u pehooves us TO cultivate in the ordin
airy business Ut life. the springs Of industry
and all the diversified personal and domesti
affairs OF society, rest upon the general reserv
ca powers OF the people of the several states
ms IS the effective democracy Of the nation
and this the vital essence of its being. and tn
greatness OF the practical consequences whicl
flow from the nature of the federal govern
ment. The primary fact is the duty of admin
isterlng with integrity, fulfilling the high trus
reposed IN US by the constitution, especially il
the appropriation of the public funds as draw
oy taxation from the people aud devoted I,
specific objecss by Congress. Happily hav,
no occasion to suggest any radical changes il
the financial policy of the government. Our,
Is almost, not absolutely, the solitary powe
OF Christendom, having the surplus revenu,
drawn from imposts and commerce, and there
tore measured by the spontaneous enterprise
cnt natural prosperity of the country, with
suc.s Indirect relation to the Agriculture, Man
ufactur.s snd produce of the Earth and Sea a.
to violate 10 constitutional doctrine and vet
vigorously prolu,'te the general welfare. Meth
er as 10 TIE resour,e s Of the public treasury nor
as to the keeping and Damaging it does any
controversy now prevail. there being general
acquiescence in the wisdom If The present
system.
The reports 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 insensibly
% the tax payers, goes on from year To year in
,reasing beyond either the interests or the
Prospective wants Of the government. At the
;tose Of the fiscal year ending June 80, 1853.
mere remained in the treasury balance Of
Sl4 G32 .636.
The puolic revenue for the fisca, year ending
Juae 80, 1853, amount to SIS. 93l SOS from
Customs, and 81 ,404 ,70S from Public Lands
and other miscellaneous sources, amounting
together to $6l 1886 ,573; while the public ex.
penditures Tor the same Ierod, exclusive of
the pubic dtbs. amounted to S43 55l 262 leay-
ing ba'ance Of S32 .425. IA of receipt. above
This fact OF increasing surplus in the Urea
sury, became the subject of anxious considera.
ton at very early period of my administra.
ton, and the path of duty in regard to it seems
70 me obvious and clear; viz: First, to apply
the surplus revenues T. the discharge of the
public debt, so far as it could judiciously be
done. Secondly, to devise measures for the
gradual reduction Of the revenue to the stand.
ard OF the public exigencies. Of these objects.