The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-12-16
FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER Is, 1854
The Message.

More than one-halfo of the Presidents Mes
sage is occupied in the discussion of foreign
matters, and the elaboration Of the foreign pol
icy Of our Government : and the largest por.
ton of space given to any one subject is devot
ed to an explanation of the Greytown affair."
The President, of course, makes out as good a
case in defence Of the act as ht can.
An effort is being made to have all the Eu-
ropean governments adopt as a principle o
International law. that free ships make free
carsoes" in all the ports and upon all the high
seas of the world in times of war as we'll as in
peace. The new Ministry of Spain is thought
TO be more favorably inclined towards our gov.
ernment than those recently in power in that
country. The President wishes to cultivate
friendly relations with Mexico, and gives the
flibusters what they deserve. We make an
extract
Il has been my anxious desire 10 maintain
friendly relations with the Mexican republic
and to cause its rights and territories to be re-
spected, not only by our citizens. but by for
eigHers. who have resorted to the United States
Tor the purpose OF organizing hostile eXpcdi-
tons against some of the States of that Repub-
lie. The defenceless condition in which its
frontiers have been left. has stimulated law
less adventures to embark in these enterprises.
and greatly increased the difficulty of entor-
ing our obligations Of neutrality. Regarding
il as my duty to fulfil these obligations, not
only toward Mexico but other foreign nations
l have exerted all the powers with which am
invested. to defeat such criminal proceedings,
and to bring to punishment those who by ia
King part therein, violated our laws The en-
crgy and activity CT our civil and military au.
h1r firms fraf fail . .n a
who meditatcd expeditions OF this character,
except in two instances. One of these, COM
posed OF foreigners. was at first ccuntenanced
and aided by the Mexican Government itself,
il having been deceived as to its real object
The other, small in number. eluded the ~ig-
lance of the ma istrate at San Francisco and
succeeded in reaching the Mexican territories
But the effective measures taken by this Gov
-rnment comp He'd the abandonment OF the I'M
uertakiDg.
The home portion OF the Message sets out
the country. as follows:
Passing from foreign to domestic affairs, your
attention is naturally directed to the financial
condition OF the country. always subject OF
general interest. For complete and exact in
formation regarding the finances, and the va
TiJus branches ot the public service connected
thercwith. refer you to the report of the Sec
rcta-y of TIE Treasury from which it will APP
pear that The amount of revenue during the
last fiscal year from all sources. was seventy
Ihrec mlllol i've hundred and five dollars ::
and that the public expenditures for the same
period, exclusive of payments Oh account of
she pIbl.c debt. amounted to ifiy-oue million
eighteen thousand TWO hundred and iurt>ninc
,.O.iLr-.
Daring the same period The payments made
"a redemption OF the pIblic debt inc luding in
!cr.-t aud premium. amountr'lt 10 twenty four
million three hundred and tliirty-siy thousand
,hgre hundred and eighty dollars. To this sum
total of the receipts of that year is to be added
:. balance remaining in the Treasury at the com
IhcncemeGt thereof. amounting &c twcnty-onc
million nine buGdrcd aud forty-two thousand
eight hundred and ninty-two dollars and at
the Close of the same ycar.a corresponding bal
aYcc amounting to twenty million one hundred
and ihiTty-scvrn thousand nine hundred and
siAty->cven dollars OF receipts above eXpcndi-
,ur,s. also remain in the Treasury. Although,
ia the opinion Of The Secretary oi the Treasury.
s.ie receipts OF the currcnt fiscal year are not
likely To equal in amount those Of the last
wear vet they will undoubtedly exceed the
amount OF expenditures by at least fifteen mil
lions Of dollars
| shall. therefore, continue 10 direct that the
su,plus revenue be applied. So far as can be
uIdiciously aud economically done. TO the re-
,iuciiun oil the public debt the amount of which
Ut the commencement of the last fiscal year.
vas sixty-scvca million three hundred and for
- thousand six hundred and twenty eight dol
lars: of which there had been paid on the
twentieth day of November. 1851 the sum OF
txeaty-two million three hundred and sixty
Ike Thousand one hundred and scvcntytw
dollars leaving !, balance of outstanding pub
lie dct:t Of only fort flour IN lli"n ninc hundred
and seventy-l;yc Thousand funr hundred and
fiiy six dollars. rcd"cina1lc at different peri
uis within fourteen years.
There are also remnants of other govern
meat stock most of which are already due. and
on which the interest has ceased, but which
have rot yet been presented for payment
amounting 10 two huIdrrd and thir,y-thrcc
thousand one hladrc,l and scvcnt -iinc dol
lars The statement exhibits the fact that the
sagsl income OF the government greatly en-
..,1. Is the amount OF the public debt which lat
I.r remains unpaid. only because the time o
,.aympnt has not maiured. and il cannot he
discharged at oncr, except at the option OF pub
lie creditors who prefer TO retain the sccuri
lies Of the Uniic,! States and the other fact
no: les; striking. that the annual revenue ron
all sources cXcrcIs. by many millions of dol
iars. the amount needed Tor prudent and
economical administration Of the Government
The cs mates TT scented to Congress from The
different Executive Departments. at the las
.e<.ion. amounted to thiriy-eigbt million foul
hundred and six thousand iivc hundred AMI eigl
ty-onc dollars; and the appropriations amount
Cd to the sum OF lifty-cight million one hui.
.rcd and fifteen thousand nine hundred and for
iy-cight dollars. Of this excess OF appropria
Il n. over estimates, however. more than TWEEN
~ millions was applicable to extraordinary
objects. having no reference to the usual eS
penditures Among these objects. was en-
braccd ten million 10 meet the third article o
the treaty between the United States and Mex
leo so that. in fact. for Objects OF ordinary eX
pen,iiturc. the appropriations were limited t.
considerably less than forty millions OF dollars
therefore renew my recommendation Tor re
.luction OF the duties on imports. The rcpor
of the Secretary of the Treasury presents St
series uf tables, showing the operation OF tn
revenue system for scyeral successive years
and as the general principle OF reduction OF du
lie. with 4 Wow to rev nme and not to prOteC