Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-06

not nave legslated otherwise without dong Vlo-
lence to another great principle of our institu-
tions the inprescriptibe right of the equality of
the several States
/ We perceive, also, that sectional interests and
| party provisions, have been the great impede
ment to the salutary operation of the organic
principles adopted, and the chief cause of the
| successive disturbances in Kansas. The assump-
| ton that, because in the organization of the ter
ritories of Nebraska and Kansas, Congress alb
stained from imposing restraints upon them to
which certain other territories had been subject;
therefore disorders occurred in the latter terrific
ry, is emphatieally contradicted by the fact that
none have occurred in the former. Those disor-
ders we're not the consequence, in Kansas. of the
| freedom of selfgevernment conceded to that ter
ritory by Congress, but of unjust interference on
| the part OF persons net inhabitants of the terri
| tory. Such interference, wherever it has exhib-
tied ITSELF by acts of insurrectiOnary character,
! or OF obstruction to processes of law, has been
repealed or suppressed, by all the means which
the constitution and the laws place in the hands
| of the Executive.
In those parts of the United States where by
reason Of the infamed state of the public mind.
false rumors and misrepresentation have the
greatest currency, it has been assumed that it
was the duty of the Executive. not only to sup
press insurrectionary movements in Kansas, but
also to see to the regularity of local elections.
| 1t neeGs little argument to show that the Presi-
dent has no such power. All government in the
United States rests substantially upon popular
election. The freedom of elections is liable to
be impaired by the intrusion of unlawful votes
or the exclusion of lawful ones, by improper in-
| fuences, by violence, or by fraud. But the peO-
pie of the United States are themselves the all
sufficient guardians of their own rights; and to
suppose that they will not remedy, in due sea-
son, any such incident of civil freedom. is to
suppose them to have ceased to be capable Of
seltgovernment The President of the United
States has no power to interpOse in elections to
see to their freedom, to canvass their votes, or
to pass upon their legality in the Territories any
more than in the States. If he had such power
the government might be republican in form,
but 1t would be monarchy in fact; and if he
had undertaken to exercise it in the case Of Kan
sas, he would have been justly subject to the
charge of usurpation, and of violation of the
dearest rights of the people of the United States.
Unwise laws, equally with irregularities at
elections, a. e. in periods of great excitement, the
occasional incident of even the freest and best
institutions. But all experience demonstrates
that in a country like ours, where the right of
self constitution exists in the cOmpletest form,
the attempt to remedy unwise Legislation by re-
sort to revolution, is totally out of place. mas
much as existing legal institutions afford more
prompt and eficacious means for the redress OF
wrong.
l confidently trust that now, when the peaceful
condition Of Kansas affords opportunity for calm
reflection and wise legislation. either the legisla-
tive assembly Of the Territory or Congress, will
see that no act shall remain on its statute book
volative of the provisions Of the Constitution, or
subVersive of the great objects for which that
was ordained and established, and will take all
other necessary steps to assure to its inhabitants
the enjoyment without obstruction or abrldge-
ment, of all the constitutional rights, privileges
and immunites of citizens of the United States
as contemplated by the organic law of the Terri
tory.
L,1I int 20 4l
in this Territory will be found in the documents
communicated herewith from the departments Of
State and War.
l refer you to the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury for particular information concerning
the financial condition of the government and
the various branches of the public service con-
nected with the Treasury Department.
During the last fiscal year the receipt from GUS
toms were, for the first time, more than sxty-fOur
million dollars, and from all sources, seventy three
million nine hundred and eighteen thousand one
hundred aud forty-one dollars which, with the bal
ance on hand up to the the 1st ofJuly, 1855, made
the total resources of the year to to ninety
two million eight hundred and fifty thousand one
hundred and seventeen dollars. The expenditures,
including three million dollars in execution of the
treaty with xico and excluding sums paid on ac~
count of the public debt, amounted to sixty million
one hundred and seVenty-two thousand four hum
red and dollars; and including the latter, to
seventyStwo million nine hundred and forty eight
thousand seven hundred and niuety-two dollars
the payment on this account having amounted 10
twelve million seven hundred and seventy six
thousand three hundred and ninety dollars.
On the 4th of March, 1853, the amount Of the
public debt sixty-nine million one hunircdar d
twenty nine thousand nine hundred and thrty-se.
ven dollars. There was a subsequent increase q
two million seven hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars for the debt OF Texas-makiug total Of se-
venty-one million eight hundred and seventy shine
thousand nine hundred and thirty seven dollars
OF this the sum of fortysfve million five hundred
and twenty-five thousand three hundred and nine
teen dollars, including premium, has been dsc arg
ed, reducing the debt to thirty million seven hum
dred and thirty-sev thousand one hundred and
twenty nine dollars; all which nigh be paid within
year without embarrassing the public service
but being not yet due, aud only redeemable at the
option OF the holder, cannot be pressed to payment
by the government.
On examining the expenditures of the last five
years. it will be seen that the average, deductins
payments on account of the public debt and ten
millions paid by treaty to Mexico, has been but a.
bout forty eight million dollars. II is believed thai
under an economical administration of the govern
ment, the average expenditure for the ensuing five
years will not exceed that SUN, unless eXtraordi-
airy occasion tor its increase should occur The
acts granting bounty lands will soon have beer
executed, while the extension of our frontier settle
ments will cause a continued demand for lands anC
augmented receipts, probably, from that source
These considerations will justify reduction Of the
revenue from customs, so as not TO exceed forty
eight million dollars. think the exgeDcy for suci
reduction Is imperative, and again urge it upon the
consideration OF Congress.
The amount of reduction as well as the manner
of efecting it, questions OF great and general
interest; being essential to industrial enterprise
and the public prosperity, well the dictate oil
obvious justice that the burden OF taxation b.
made to rest as equally equally as possible upon
all classes, and all sections and interests of the
country.
have heretofore recommended to your cOnsiie
ration the revision OF tue revenue laws, prepared
under the direction of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, and also legislation upon some special ques4
tons affecting the business OF that department
more especially the enactment Of law TO punish
the abstraction of official books or papers from the
files of the government, and requiring all such
books and papers and all other public property TO
be turned over by the outgoing officer to his sue
cessor: OF law requiring discussing officers 10 de-
post all public money in the vaults of the treasury
or in other legal repositories where the same are
conveniently accessible; and a law TO extend ex-
isting penal provisions to all persons who may be-
come possessed OF public money by deposit or 9th
erwise, and who shall refuse or neglect on due de-
f mand, TO pay the same into the treasury. invite
your attention anew to each Of these objects.
The army during the past year has been so con-
stlntly employed against hostile Indians 10 various
quarters, that it scarcely be said, with propre
ty OF language, to have been peace establishment
Ia dates have been satisfactorily performed, and
We have reason 70 expect, as result of the years
operations, greater security 10 The frontier nhab
facts than has hitherto been enjoyed. Extensive
combinations among the hostile Indians of the
Territories of Washington and Oregon at one time
threatened the devastation OF the newly formed