Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1856-12-06


inherent in the nature Of things. Congress
legislated upon the subject in such terms as were
most consonsnt with thesprinciple of popular soye
reignty which underlies our government. 1t
could not have legislated otherwise without doing
violence to another great principle of our insti-
tutions, the imprescriptble right of equality of
the several States.
We perceive, also, that sectional interests and
party passions, have been the great-impediment
to the sautary operation of the organic prin-
ciples adopted, and the chief cause of the sue
cessive disturbances in Kansas. The assump-
ton that, because in the organization of the Ter
ritories of Nebraska and Kansas, Congress ab.
stained from imposing restraints upon them to
which certain other Territories had been SUBJ
ject, therefore disorders occurred in the latter
Territory, is emphatieally contradicted by the
fact that none have occurred in the former.
Those disorders were not the consequence, in
Kansas, of the freedom Of self-goyernmens con-
coded to that Territory by Congress, but of I'M
just interference on the part of persons not in
habitants Of the Territory. Such interference,
wherever it has exhibited itself, by acts of insur-
rectionary character, or of obstruction to pro-
cesses of law, has been repealed or suppressed,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 il
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 needs 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
people of the United States ere themselves the
all-sufficient guardians of their own rights; and
to suppose that they will not remedy, in due sea-
son, any such incidents of civil freedom, is to
suppose them to have ceased to be capable of
selfgovernment. The President of the United
States has not 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 II he had such power
the government might De republican in form, but
it would be monarchy in fact; and if he had
undertaken to exercise it in the case of Kansas
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, are, in periods of great excitement,
the occasional incidents of even the freest
and best political institutions. But all expe-
rence demonstrates that in a country like ours
where the right of sefconstitution exists in
the completest form, the attempt to remedy un-
wise legislation by resort to revolution is totally
out of place; inasmueh as existing legal ins!itu-
tions afford more prompt and efhcacious means for
the redress of wrong
confidently trust that now, when the pea eful
condition Of Kansas affords opportunity for calm
reflection and wise legislation either the legislative
assembly of the Territory or Congress, will see
that no act shall remain on its statute-book viola
tive of the provisions of the Constitution, or sub
versye of the great objects for which that was Or
dained and established and will take all other me-
cessary steps to to its inhabitants the en-
joynent without obstruction or abridgment, of all
the constitutional rights, privile es, and mmuni-
ties of citizens of the United States as csntemplat-
ed by the organic law Of the Territory.
Full information in relation to recent events in
this Territory will be found in the documents
communicated herewith from the Departments of
State and War;
refer you to the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury for particular information concerning
the 6nantial 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 that sixty
four million dollars and from all sources seventy
three million nine hundred and eighteen thousand
one hundred and forty-one dollars; which, with
the balance on hand up to the LIST of July, 1855,
made the total resources of the year to amount to
ninety-two million eight hundred and fifty thous-
and one hundred and seventeen dollars. The ex-
penditures including three million dollars in exc
ution Of the treaty with Mexico, and excluding
sums paid on accotnt of the public debt, amount.
ed to sixty million one hundred and seventy-two
thousand four hundred and one dollars, and in
GLIDING the latter, to seventy-two million nine
hundred and forty-eight thousand seven hundred
and ninety-two dollars, the payment on this &C
count having amounted to twelve million seven
hundred aud seventy six thousand three hundred
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
seven dollars There was subsequent increase
of two million seven hundred and fifty thousand
collars for the debt of Texas-making a total Of
seventy-ons million eight hundred and seventy
nine thousand niue hundred and thirty-seven dol
lars. OF this the sam of forty-fFe million five
hundred and twenty-five thousand three hundred
and nineteen dollars, including premium, has
been discharged reducing the debt to thirty mill
ion seven hEOdred and thirtvseven thousand one
hundred and twenty-nine del srs; all which might
be paid within a year without embarrassing the
public service; but being not yet due, and 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 dedueting
payments on account of the public debt and ten
millions paid by treaty to Mexico, has been but
about forty-eight million dollars. 1t is believed
that, under an economical administration Of the
government, the average expenditure for the en-
suing five years will not exceed that sum, unless
extraordinary occasion for IFS increase should oc-
c2r; The acts granting bounty lands will soon
have been executed, while the extension of our
frontier settlements will cause continued demand
for lands and augmented receipts probably, from
that source. These considerations will Justify
of the revenue from customs so as not
to exceed forty-eight or fifty million dollars l
think the exigency for such redr s'ionlis impera-
tive, and again urge it upon the cosideratiOn of
Congress. ..
The amount Of reduction, as well as the manner
Of efecting it. are questions OF great and genera.
interest; it being essential to Industrial enterprise
and the public prosperity as well as the dictate OF
obvious justice, that the burden of taxotion be
made to restas equely as possible upon all classes
and all sections and interests of the country
have heretofore recommended to your consid-
grafton the revision of the revenue laws, prepared
lnder the direction of the Secretary of the Trea-
'ury, and also legislation apOn some special ques-
ions affecting the business of that department, |
more especially the enactment of law to punish |
me abstraction of official books or papers from the
lies of the government, and requiring all such |
books and papers aud all other public property to
De turned over by the outgoing officer to his sue
lessor; of law requiring disbursing officers to de-
>osit all public money in the vaults of the treasu-
y or in other legal repositories, where the same
Il l.