The Shasta courier., 1854-01-21
The Presidcni's Message.

appeared III Sacramento simultaneously with its
issue IN the Bay city. We expected to lay it
entire before our readers, through the assistance
OF some of our editorial friends below but regret
to say that we have been disappointed in doing
SO; and now at this late hour, after our paper Is
almost entirely made up ready for the press, we
are compelled to give most meagre synopsis
of but a portion of the topics npon which it
treats. The synopsis that we published two
weeks since, however, will make up in a slight
degree for the present deficiency.
The ground that the President has taken in the
Koszta affair." will not fail to meet the cordial
appreciation Of every American. He says:
After careful examination of the case came
10 the conclusion that Kotza was seized without
legal authority at Smyrna that he was wrong
fully detained on board of the Austrian brig Of
war; that at the lime of his seizure, he was
clothed with the nationality of the United States;
and that the acts OF our officers, under the cir
cnmslances OF the case, were iustifiable and
their conduct has been fully approved by me-
and compliance with the several demands of
The Emperor of Austria has been declined.
With regard to the growth of the Republic, he
says:
The United States have continued gradually
and seadIly to expand, through acquisitions of
territory 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 ad,
vancelnent of our country. and, with it, of the
human race, in freedom, in prosperity. and in
happiness. The thirteen States have grown to
bc tlrty-one. with relations reaching to Europe
on the one side, and on the other to the distant
realms of Asia.
He says that he has no occasion to suggest
any radical changes in the financial policy of
the government. Neither as to the sources of
keeping or managing it, does any grave contro-
versy now prevail.
AT the close of the fiscal year ending June 30,
1852, there remained in the treasury a balance
of $14632 1885, The public revenue for the fis-
Cal year ending June 30, 1853, amounted to $751;
931 1865 from customs, and to SO, ,4O5 ,7OS from
public lands and other miscellaneous sources
amounting together to So 1897 ,574: while the
public expenditure for the same period, exclu-
sve of payments on account of the public debt
amounted to $43,554262, leaving a balance of
$50, ,425, AL of receipts above expenditures.
In order to get rid Of some of the surplus re-
venue now on hand, he would have the tariff
reduced ON certain articles, and other articles
added to the free list particularly such as enter
into manufactures, and not largely, or at all,
produced in the country
The amount of the public debt, of all classes,
was on the 4th OF March, 1853, sixty-nine mil
lion one hundred and ninety thousand and thirty.
seven dollars; payments account of which
have been made, since that period, to the amount
OF twelve million seven hundred and three thou
sand three hundred and twenty-nine dollars,
leaving unpaid, and in the continuous course of
liquidation, the sum of fifty-six million four hun
dred and eighty-six thousand seven hundred and
eight dollars.
In the administration of the Post Office De-
partme nj for the fiscal year ending June 30 1853,
the gross expenditure was 81, ,9S2 1861 and the
gross receipts during the same period, $5,942,-
734; showing that the current revenue failed to
meet the current expenses of the department by
the sum of 50, ,042 80.
He is opposed to appropriations for local i'm
provements.
He is evidently opposed to the construction of
the Pacific Railroad by the General Government
All experience he says, affirms that, wherever
private enterprise will avail, it is most wise for
the General Government to leave to that and in
dividual watchfulness the location and execution
of all means of communication.
The following paragraphs viii enable the rea-
der to form some idea of how far he would be
disposed to lend the aid of Government to the
building of the road -
1t is not believed to be within the intent and
meaning of the constitution, that the power to
dispose of the public domain should be used
otherwise than might be expected from pru /.
dent proprietor therefore, that grants of
land TO aid in the construction of roads. should
be restricted to cases where it would be for the
interest of proprietor, under like circumstan-
ces, thus to contribute to the construction of
these works.
Within this limit, and to the extent Of the in
terest OF the Government involved it would
seem both expedlent and proper, if an economi-
cal practicable route shall be found, to aid by all
constitutional means, in the construction of a
road, which will unite, by speedy transit the
population of the Pacific and Atlantic States To
guard against mlsconception, it should be re-
marked that, although the power to construct.
or aid III the construction Of a road within the
limits OF a territory, is not embarrassed by that
question of jurisdiction which would arise with
in the limits OF State it is nevertheless held to
be of doubtful power, and more than doubtful
psopriety, even within the limits of a territory,
Tor the General Government to undertake to ad-
minister the affairs of railroad. canal or other
similar construction, and therefore that its con-
nection with work OF this character should be
incidental rather than primary. will only add,
at present. that fully appreciating the magnitude
OF the subject, and solicitous that the Atlantic
and Pacific shores of the Republic may be bound
together by inseparabie ties of common interest,
as Well as common fealty and attachment to the
cnion' shall be disposed. SO far as my own ac-
uon Is concerned, to follow the lights of the con-
suiuilon. as expounded and illustrated by those,
whose opinions aud expositions constiiute the
standard OF my political faith in regard to the
powers of the federal government