The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-12-13
and if he bad undertaken to exercise it in the

OnWiSe lsWS. Cqually with irregularities at
elections. are, in periods of great excitement.
the occasional incidents of even the freest and
best political institutions But all experience
demonstrates that in country like ours where
the right OF selfconstitution exists in the COM
pletest form, the attempt to remedy unwse
legislation by resort to revolution is totally
out Of place, inasmuch as existing legal insti-
buttons afford more prompt and efficacious
means for the redress of the wrongs. l conf
IDENTIFY trust that now when the peaceful con-
dition OF Kansas affords opportunity for calm
reflection and wise legislation, either the legis-
lative assembly Of the Territory, or Congress,
book violative Of the provisions of the Consti-
tuition. or subversvc Of the great objects for
which that was ordained and established, and
VIII take all other ecessary steps to assure to
its inhabitants the enjoyment without obstruc-
ton or abridgement to all the constitutional
rights, privileges and immunities Of citizens OF
the United States, as contemplated by the Or
ganic law of the Territory.
Full information in relation to iecent events
in that Territory, will be found in the docu-
ments herewith communicat d from the Depart
ments of State AID War. / refer you t the
report of the Secretary of the Treasury for
particular intormotlon concerning the financial
condition of the Government and the various
branches of the public service connected with
the Treasury Department.
During the last fiscal year the receipts
from customs were for the first time more
than siXtyfour million dollars, and from al!
sources seventy-three million nine hundred
and eighteen thousand one hundred and forty
one dollars; which, with the balance on hand
up to July lst, 1855, made tie total ,esource
OF the year, to amount to ninety-two million
eight hundred and fifty thousand one hun
drcd and seventeen dollars. The eXpendi-
lures, including three million dollars in exc
cution of the treaty with Mexico, and ex-
Guiding sums paid in account Of the public
debt, amounts to sixty million one hundred
and seyenty-two thousand four hundred and
one dollars; and including the latter, to sey
enty-two million nine hundred and forty
eight thousand seven hundred and ninety
two dollars, the payment Oh this account
having amounted to twelve million seven
hundred and seventy-siX Thousand three hun
dred and ninety dollars.
On the 4th of March, 1853, the amount
of the public debt was sixty-nine million
one hundred and twenty-nine thousand
nine hundred and thirty thousand dollars
for the debt of Texas-lnaking total of
seventy-one million eight hundred and
seventy-nine hundred and thirly-seven
dollars.
On examining the expenditures Of the
last five years, it will be seen that the
average, deducting payments on account
of the Public Debt, and ten millions paid
by treaty TO Mexico, has been but about
forty int millions dollars. 1t is believed
that under all economical Administration
of the Government, the average expendi
lures for the ensuing five years, will not
exceed that sum, unless an extraordinary
occasion for its increase should occur.
| There was subsequent increase of two mil
lions seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars
for debt of Texas, making II total of seventy
one million eight hundred and *cyenty-iine
thousand and thirty seven dollars. or this lii,
sum Of forty-hve million five hundred and TWEEN
| ty-iiye thousand three hundred and nineteen
dollars. including premium has been discharged
reducing the debt to thirty million seven hur
dred and thirty seven thousand one bundled
and twenty-nIne dollars: ali of which might
be paid within year wttou; embarrassing the
public service, but being not yet due. and only
redeemabe at the option of the holders cannot
be pressed to payment hy Ia" Government.
The acts granting hounty lands will soon
have been executed, whi!r the rAten-ion Of oui
| frontier settlements viii cause Il continued de
mand for lands and augmented receipts proba
| bly,. from that source.
These considerations will justify reduction
of the revenue from customs 50 us not to OK.
coed fOrty-eight or fifty millions of dollars.
think the eXigency for such reduction is inner
alive. and again urge it upon the consideration
of Congress- The amount of reduction. as well
as the manner of affect ng it. are questions OF
great and general int est. ii being essential
to industrial enterprise and the public pros
perity as well as the dictate Of obyious JUS
tice, that the burden Of taxation be made to
rest as equally as p bic upon all elias SEES
and all sections and interests Of the country -
! | have heretofore commended 10 vour consid-
Grafton the revision of the revenue laws pre-
pared under the direction q: the Secretary f
the Treasury. and also lrcislat:o Oh upon some
special questions Affecting business cfthat de-
partment: more esp cally The cnacimc of Il
law to punish the abstraction o. official book S
or papers from the files Of the Government.
aud requiring all such books and papers I'd
all other public property. to he turned over
by the outgoing officer. to his SuccessO of a
law requiring d;sbursing officers to deposit
al public money in the vaults Of The Treasury.
or in other legal depos;torits wli, re he same
are conveniently accessible. and q law to ex-
| tend eXlstlng penal pi ovisinns 10 all men who
may become possessed OF pnhi.c mDney !'y de-
pOsite or otherwise and who Shall refuse or
neglect, on due demand. 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
constantly employed against hostile Indians
in various quarters, that il can scarcely be
said with propriety of language, to have been
q peace establishment. Its duties have been
satisfactorily performed, and have reason TO
expect, as the result of the years operations,
greater security to the frontier inhabitants
than has been hitherto enjoyed. Extensive
| combinations among the hostile Indians of
| the Territories of Washington and Oregon
at ore time threatened tie devastation of the
newly f,,med settlements of that reno
portion OF the country. From recent infor-
nation we are permitted to hope that the en-
ergetic and successful operations conducted
there, will prevent such combinations in fu-
ture, and secure to those Territories an op-
portunity to make steady progress in the de-
velopment of their agricultural and mineral
resources. Legislation has been recon-
mended by me on previous occasions to cure
defects in the existing organization, and to
increase the efficiency of the army, and fur
Their observation has but served to confirm
me in the views then expressed, and to en-
force on my mind the conviction that such
measures are not only proper but necessary
L have in addition, to invite the attention
OF the Congress to change of the policy in
the distribution of the troops, and to the ne
cesssity of providing more rapid increase
OF the military armament For details of