Newspaper Page Text
Tol. IV.
for it to proceed until the opening of the next
spring.
In the month of October l ist, the accompany
ing communication was received from the gov
ernor of the temporary government of Oregon,
giving information of the continuance of the In
dian disturbances, ami of the destitution and de
fenceless condition of the inhabitants. Orders
were immediately transmitted to the commander
of our squadron in the Pacific, to despatch to their
assistance a part of the nival forces on that sta
tion, to furnish them with arms and ammunition,
and to continue to give them such aid and protec
tion as the navy-could afford, until the army could
reach the country. •
It is the policy of humanity, and one which’ Bas
always been pursued by the United States, to cul
tivate the good will of the aboriginal tribes of
this continent, and to restrain them froipjmaking
war, and indulging in excesses, by mi-id means,
rather than by force. That this could have been
been done with the tribes in Oregon, had that Ter
ritory been hrongTft under the government of our
laws at an earlier period, and hid suitable meas
ures been adopted by Congress, such as now ex
ist in our intercourse with oth *r Indian tribes
within our limits, can not lie doubted. Indeed,
the immediate, and only c-uise of the existing hos
tility of the Indians of Oregon is represented to
ha ve been, the long delay of the United States in
making to them some trifling compensation, in
witch articles as they wanted, fertile country now
occupied by our emigrants, which the Indians
claimed, and over which they formerly roamed.—
This compensation lndVen promised to them by
the temporary government established in Oregon,
but its fullihnont had been |mMponed from time to
time, for nearly two years, whilst those who made
it had boon anxiously waiting for Congress to es
tablish a territorial government >v *r tiio country.
The Indians became at length distrustful of their
good faith, and sought redress by plunder and
massacre, which finally led to the present difficul
ties. A few thousand dollars in suitabl • presents,
as a compensation for the country which hud been
tit ken possession of by our citizens, wotd I have
satisfied the Indians, and have prevented the war.
A small amount properly distributed, it is confi
dently believed, would soon restore quiet. In this
Indian war our of Oregon have
liven compelled to take tin* field in their own de
fence, have jierlomteil valuable military services,
and been subjected to experts* > which have la!l**n
heavily upon them. Justice demands that pro
vision should be mail • by (’migress to com ionsato
them for their services, aiid Jo ref nnd in hen the
necessary expenses which they have inn rre 1.
! repeat tin* recommendation heretofore m ule to Con
gress. that provision I><* made lor the appointment of a
suitable number of In Item agents to re vide among the
trifios of Oregon. and tint asm ill sum lie appropriated to
enable these agents to • titivate friendly relations with
them. If this be done, the presence ol a small military
force will be all that irf necessary to keep them in check,
and preserve pence.
1 recommend that similar prvisi-m b • made as regards
flu? trilies inhabiting northern Texas. New .Mcxiro, (’all*
fornia, and'the extensive region lying between onr set
tlement* ii tln-ff por-evsion*. as the mmst
elireiiv c n0*:".75 •ri—fTe-'i . , -it .. <r
and within tbc recently acquired territories.
TIt1: A <1 ’ It Kr’s It 12 rOIt T.
The Secretary <>f the Treasury will present in his an
nual report a highly satisfactory statement of the condi
tion of the finances*.
‘J’lie imports for the fiscal year ending on the. thirtieth
of June last were of the value of one blind red and fifty
four million nine hand red and seven* y-seven thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six dollars : of which the
amount exported was twenty one. million one hundred
and twenty-eight thousan 1 an I ten dollars, leaving one
hundred and thirty-three million eight hundred and
forty-nine ihon.-and eight him lie I and sixty-dx dollars
jn the country for domestic u jc.
The value of the exports for the same p riod was one
hundred and fifty-four million thirty-two thousand one
hundred and thirty-one dollars, cousisting of domestic
productions amounting to one hundred anil thirty-two
million nine hundred and four thou :m I one hundred
and twenty-one dollars, and t weir y.on • millionone linn
ilreil and twenty-eight thousand and l-ri dollars of for
eign articles.
The receipts into the treasury f*r the same period, ex
clusive of loans, amounted to thirty-five million tour
hundred and lliiriv-m ihou-and seven hundred and fifty
dollars and fifty-nine cetm : of which there was derived
from customs thirty-one million seven hundred and fiftv
aeven thousand and seventy dollars and ninety-six cents;
from sales of public lands, tim e million three hundred
ami twenty-eight thousand six hundred and forty-two
dollars and fifty-six cent? ; and fro;a miscellaneous an I
incidental source.-*, three hundred and fifty-one thousand
and thirty-seven dollars and seven cents.
It will Ik* perceived that tin* revenue from customs for
the last fiscal year exceeded by seven hundred and fifty
seven thousand and seventy dollars and ninety-six conn*
the estimate of the Secretary of the Treasury in his last
annual report; and that the aggregate receipts during the
same period from customs, lauds, and miscellaneous
sources, also exceeded the estimate by the sum of five
hundred and thirty-six thousand seven hundred and fifty
dollars and fifty-nine cents—indicating, however, a very
near approach in the estimate to the actual result.
The expenditure during the fiscal year en ling on the
thirtieth of June last, including those. lor the war, and
exclusive of payments of principal and interest for the
public debt, were forty-two million eight hundred and
eleven thousand nine hundred and seventy dollars and
three cents.
It is estimated that the receipts into the treasury for
the fiscal year ending on the thirtieth of June, 18FJ. in
cluding the balance in the treasury on the first of July
Inst, will amount to the sum of fifty-seven million forty
eight thousand nig 1 hundred and sixtv-nine dollars and
ninety cents; of which thirty-two millions of dollars, it
is estimated, will be derived from custom- ; three mill
ions of dollars from the sales of the public land* ; and
one million two hundred thousand dollars from miscella
neous and incidental sources, including the premium
upon the loan, and the amount paid and to be paid into
(he treasury on account of military contributions in Mex
ico, and the sales of arms and vessels and oilier public
property rendered unnecessary for the use of the govern
ment by tle termination of the ’ war ; and twenty mil
lion six hundred and ninety-five thousand four hundred
and thirty-five dollars thirty-five cents from loans ul
rea.jy negotiated.* including treasury notes funded,
•which, together with the balance in the treasury on the
first of July last, make the sum estimated.
The exjiendiiures for the same period, including the
necessary payment on account of the principal and in
terest of the public, debt, and the principal and interest
of the first instalment due to Mexico on the thirtieth of
May next, and other expenditures growing out of the
war. to he paid during the present year, will amount,
including the reimbursement of treasury notes, to the
sum of fifty-four million one hunered and ninety-five
thousand two hundred and seventy-five dollar* and six
cents ; leaving an estimated balance, in the treasury on
the first of July, 1H49. of two million eight hundred and
fifty-three thousand six hundred and ninety-four dollars
and eighty-four cents.
The Secretary of the Treasury w ill present, as requir
ed by law, the estimate of the receipt* and expenditures
for the next fiscal year. The expenditures as estimated
for that year are thirty-three million two hundred and
thirteen thousand one hundred and fifty-two dollars and
seventy-three cents, including three million seven hun
dred and ninety-nine thousand one hundred and two
dollars and eighteen cents for the interest on the public
debt, and three million five hundred and forty thousand
dollars for the principal and interest due to Mexico on
the thirtieth of May. 1850; leaving the tutu f twenty
five million eight hundred and seventy-four thousand and
fifty dollars and thirty-five cents, , which, it is believed,
w ill be ample for the ordinary peace expenditures.
THE TAKIFF.
The operations of the tar iff act of 1816 have been such
during the past year as fully to meet the public expecta
tion, and to confirm the opinion heretofore expressed of
the wisdom of the change in our revenue system which
was effected by it. The receipts under it into the* tr us
ury for the first fiscal vear after its enactment exceeded
by the sum of five million forty-four thousand four hun
dred and three dollars and nine cents the amount collec
ted during the last fiscal year under th** tariff art of 1812,
ending the thirtieth of June, Hl6. The total revenue
realised from the commencement of its operation, on the
first oITHa einb *r 1846, until tin* clo-e of the lust quar-
“AS LITTLK GOVERXMEXT AS POSSIBLE ; THAT LITTLE EMANATING FROM A flO CONTROLLED BY TIIE PEOPLE, AND UNIFORM IN ITS APPLICATION TO YLL.”
ter. on tlie thirtieth of September last, being twenty-two
m mihs, was fifty-six million six hundred and fifty-four
thousand five hundred and sixty-three dollars anil se
venty-nine cents—being a much larger sum than was
ever before received from duties during an equal period
i under the tariff acts of 1824, 18*23, 1832, and 1812.
Whilst by the repeal of highly protective and prohibitory
duties the revenue has h *en increased, the taxes on the
people have been diminished. They have been relieved
from the heavy amounts with which they were burden
ed under former laws in the form of increased prices or
bounties paid classes and pursuits.
The predictions which were made, that the tariff act
of 181 G would reduce the amount of revenue below that
collected under the act of 1842, and would prostrate the
business and destroy the prosperity of the country, have
not been verified. With an increased and increasing
revenue, the finances are in a highW flourishing condi
tion. .. e*hnme.rc';\ and navigan'om are pros
i porous; the prices of manufactured fabrics, and of other,
products, hre much less injuriously affected than was to
have been anticipated, from the unprecedented revul
sions, which, during the la.st and the present year, have
, uv-rwlielrp *d the industry and paralyzed the credit and
j comm ree of so many great and enlightend nations of
Europe. .
S,commercial revulsions abroad have always
heretofore operated to depress, and often to affect disas
trously, almost every branch of American industry.—
The temporary depression of a portion of our manufac
! luring interests is the effect of foreign causes, and is Un
less severe than has prevailed on all former similar oc
! casions.
It is believed that, looking to the great aggregate of all
our interests, the whole country was never more pros
ix*.roils than at the present jx-riotl, and never more rapid
ly advancing in wealth and population. Neither the
f ireign war in which we have been involved, nor the
loans which have absorbed so large a portion of ourcap
ii;il. nor the commercial revulsion in Great Britain in
1847, nor the paralysis of credit and commerce through
out Kurone in 1813, have ufleeted injuriously to any
consideraole extent arty of ilie great interests of the
country, o; rested our onward march to greatness,
wealth, and power.
j Had the disturbances in Europe not occured, our com
• tneroc would undoubtedly have been still more extend
ed, aid would have added still more to the national
wealth and public prosperity. But notwithstanding
these distuifiances, the operations of the revenue sys
tem established by the tariff act of 181 G have been so
generally beneficial to the government and the business
of the eoimtfV. that no change, in its provisions is de
uriudeiTbv a wise public policy, and none is recommend
ed.
TIIE SUB-TREASURY.
The. operations of the constitutional treasury establish
ed by the act of th * sixth of August, 1816, in the receipt,
custody, and disbursement of the public money, have
continued to he successful. Under this system the pub
lic finances have been carried through a foreign war, in
volving the necessity of loans and extraordinary expend
itures, and requiring distant transfers and disbursements,
without embarrassment, and no loss has occured of any
of the public money deposited under its provisions.—
\Vhiint it ha* proved to he. safe and useful to the govern
ment, its effects have been most beneficial upon the
business of the country. It has tended powerfully to
secure an exemption from that inflation and fluctuation
of the paper currency, so injurious to domestic industry,
nn I rendering so uncertain the rewards of labor, and it
is believed lias largely contributed to preserve the
whole country from aserio M s commercial revulsion, such
as often occurred under the bank doposite system. In
the year 18 47 there was a revulsion in the business of
Great Britain of great extent and intensity, which was
followed by failures in that kingdom unprecedented in
number and amount of losses. This b believed to bo
the firsi.ia tanee when such disastrous bankruptcies, oc
j earring it a country with which we have such exten
sive com •. *rcc. produced little Or no injurious up
on jbr. >~i * or mirrenciv ccmafond but iiujv affuTs
| ted in our lAoney market, and our business and industry
were still mrofperous and progressive,
j During te present year, nearly the whole continent
of Europe pas been convulsed by civil war and revolu
tions, attended by numerous bankruptcies, by an unpre
| cedented fall in their public securities, and an almost
universal paralysis of commerce and industry ; and yet,
although our trade and the prices of our products must
have been somewhat unfavorably affected by these cau
ses, we have escaped a revulsion, our money market is
| comparatively easy, an 1 public anJ private credit have,
advanced uni! improved.
’ It is confidently believed that wc have been saved
from their effect by the salutary operation of the consti
tutional treasury. It. is certain, that if the twenty-four
millions of specie import id into the country during the
fiscal year ending on the thirtieth of June, 1847. had
gone into the banks, as to a great extent it must have
done, it. would, in the absence of this system, have been
made the basis of augmented bank paper issues, probably
to an am Mint not less than sixty or seventy millions of
dollars, producing, as an inevitable consequence of an
; inflated currency, extravagant prices fora time, and
\v;l 1 speculation, which must have been followed, on
tic* reflux to Europe, the succeeding year, of so much
of that specie, by the prostration of the business of the
c ountry, the suspension of the bank*, and most exten
sive bankruptcies. Occurring, as this would have done,
at a jieriod when the country was engaged in a foreign
war; when considerable loans of speceie were required
for distant disbursements, and when the banks, the fiscal
agents of the government, and the depositories of its
money, were suspended, arid public* credit must have
sunk, and many millions of dollars, as was the case
during the war of 1812, must have been sacrificed in
discounts upon loans, and upon the depreciated pa
per currency which the government would have been
compelled to use.
Under the operations of the constitutional treasury,
1 not a dollar has been lost by the depreciation of the cur
rency. The loans required to prosecute the war with
M exico were negotiated by the Secretary of the Treas
ury above par, realizing a large premium to the govern
ment. The restraining effect of the system upon the
tendencies to excessive paper issues by banks has saved
the government from heavy losses, and thousands of our
business men from bankruptcy and ruin. The wisdom
of the system has been tested, by the experience of tlie
last two years ; and it is the dictate of noun 1 policy that
it should remain undisturbed. The modifications in
I some of the detail? of this measure, involving none of its
| essential principles, heretofore recommended, are again
presented for your favorable consideration.
THE PUBLIC! DEBT.
In my message of tlie sixth of July last, transmitting
| to Congress the ratified treaty of peace with Mexico, I
i recommended the adoption of measures for the speedy
1 payment of tlie public debt. In reiterating that rccorn
i mendation, I refer you to the considerations presented in
; that message in its support. The public debt, including
that authorized lo be negotiated, in pursuance ofexising
j laws, and including treasury no*es, amounted at that
time to sixty-five million town hundred and seventy
eight thousand four hundred and fifty dollars and forty- \
one cents.
I Funded stock of tin* United States, amounting ‘ >
about lmlf a million of dollars, lias been purchased, as
authorized bylaw, since that period, and tbc public
| debt ha* thus been reduced ; the details of which will
Ik* presented in tlie annual report o r the Secretary of the
j Treasury.
The estimates of expenditure? for tlie next fiscal
! year, submitted by the Secretary of the Treasury,
i it is believed will be ample ftr all necessary purpo
j ses. If the appropriations made by Congress shal 1
i not exceed the amount estimated, the means in the
| treasury w ill he sufficient to defray all the expenses of
the government; to pay off tlie next instalment, of three
j millions of dollars to Mexico, which will fall due on
; the thirtieth of May next ; and still a considerable sur
plus will remain, which should be applied to the further
! purchase of the public stock and reduction of the debt.
| .Should enlarged appropriations be. made, the necessary
• consequence will lie to postpone the payment of the debt,
j Though our debt, as compared with that of most other
nations, is s*nall, it is our true policy, and in harmony
with the genius of our institutions, that we should pre
sent to tlie world the rare spectacle of a great republic
possessing vast resources and wealth, wholly exempt,
1 front public indebtedness. This would add still more to
j our strength, and give to us a still more commanding
i position among the nations of the earth.
Tlie public expenditures should be economical, and
j bt* confined to such necessary objects as are clearly
within tlie powers of Congress. All such ns arc not ah
j sol me I y demanded should iv* postponed, and the payment
of the public debt at the earliest practicable jieriod should
i Ik: a cardinal principle of our public policy.
BRANCH MINTS PUBLIC LANDS.
For the reason aligned in my last annual mosnttg*\ I
repeat the recommendation that a branch of the mint of
tie* United States be established at tin* city of New \ <>rk.
Tlio importance of this measure is greatly increased by
the acquisition of the rich mines of the precious metals
in New Mexico and California, especially in the hitter.
I repeat the recommendation, heretofore made, in
I favor of the graduation and reduction of the price of
• Mich of the public lands us have been long offered in
the market, and have remain’ and unsold, mid m favor of
AND MERCANTILE ADVERTISER.
COLUMBUS, Georgia, Tlanrsjrlay Evening, December I S, IS4B.
extending the rights of pre-emption to actual sell!era
on the unsurveyed as Well as the surveyed lands.
WAR AND NAVY DEPARTMENTS.
The condition and ope rations of the army, and the
state of other hrances of the public service under thd
supervision of the War Department, are satisfactorily
pi<>onted in the accompanying report of the Secretary
of mir.
On the return of peace, our forces were withdrawn
from Mexico, and the volunteers and that, portion of tlie
regular army engaged for the war were disbanded. Or
ders have been issued for stationing tlie forces of our
permanent establishment at various positions in our ex
tended country, where troops may be required. Owing
to the remoteness of some, of these positions, the dettrh
ments have not yet reached their destination Notvfi th-
Manding the extension of the limits of our eminlrc . • ,
the tbrrCK required in the new ui.-iftoritfe, it i conit
ly believed that our present military establishment is
* sufficient for all exigencies, so long as our peaceful rela
tions remain undisturbed.
Os the amount of military contributions collected in
M exico, the sum of seven hundred and sixty nine thou
sand six hundred and fifty dollars was applied towards
the payment of the first instalment due under the treaty
with Mexico. The further sum of three hundred anil
forty-six thousand three hundred and sixty-nine dollars
and thirty cents has been paid into the treasury, and
ulw- ded balances still remain in the hands of dis
btn ’ - g officers and those who were engaged in the col
lection of these moneys. After the proclamation of peace,
no further disbursements were made of any unexpended
moneys arising from this source. The balances on hand
were directed to be paid into the treasury, and individ
ual claims on the fund will remain unadjusted until
Congress shall authorize their settlement and payment.
These claims are not considerable in number or amount.
I recommend to your favorable consideration tlie sug
gestions of the Secretary of War and the Secretary of
the Navy in regard to legislation on this subject.
Our Indian relations are pJesented in a most favorable
view in the report from the War Department. The
wisdom of our policy in regard to the tribes within our
limits, is clearly manifested by their improved and ra
pidity improving condition.
A most important treaty with the Menomonies lias
been recently negotiated by tlie Commissioner of Indian
Affairs in person, by which nil their land in the State of
Wisconsin—being about four millions of acres—has
been ceded to the United States. The treaty will be
submitted to the Senate for ratification at an early pe
riod of your present session.
Within the last four years, eight important treaties
have been negotiated with different Indian tribes, and
at a cost of one million eight hundred and forty-two
thousand dollars ; Indian lands to the amount of m-ire
than eighteen million five hundred thousand acres, have
been ceded to the United Slates; and provision Ims
been made lor settling in the country west of the Miss
issippi the tribes which occupied this large extent of the
public domain. The title to all the Indian lands within
the several States of our Union, with the exception of a
few small reservations, is now extinguished, and a vast
region opened for settlement and cultivation.
The accompanying report of the Secretary of the Na
vy gives a sat isfactory exhibit of tlie operations and con
dition of that I ranch of the public service.
A number of small vessels suitable for entering the
months of rivers were judiciously purchased duriug the
war, and gave great efficiency to the squadron in the
Gulfof .Mexico. Outlie return of peace, when no lon
ger valuable for naval purposes, and liable to constant
deterioration, they were Hold, and the money placed in
the treasury.
The number of men in the naval service authorized by
law during the war, lias been reduced by discharges
below the maximum fixed for the peace establishment.
Adequate squadrons are maintained in the several quar
ters ol the globe where experience lias shown their ser
vices may be most usefully employed ; and the naval
Horvi**e was nv-r in a condition ot higher discipline or
greater efficiency .
1 invite attention to the recommendation o i the sv*(*re
tary of the Navy on the subject of the marine cor pc*.—
The reduction of the corps at the end of the war requir
ed that four officers of each of the three lower grades
should be dropp'd from the rolls. A board of officers
made the selection ; and those designated were necessa*
sily dismissed, but without any alledged fault. Icon
cur in opinion with the Secretary, that the service would
be improved by reducing the number of landsmen, ami
increasing the marines. Such a measure would justify
an increase of the number of officers to the extent of the
reduction by dismissal, and still the corps would have
fewer officers than a corresponding number of tnen in the
army.
MAIL STEAMERS.
The contracts for the transportation of the mail in
steamships convertible into war-steamers, promise to re
alize all the benefits to our comm *rce and to the navy
which were anticipated. The first, steamer thus secured
to the government was launched in January, 1317.
There are now seven; and in another year there will,
probably, be not less than seventeen afloat. While this
great national advantage is secured, our social and com
mercial intercourse is increased and promoted with Ger
many, Great Britain, and other parts of Europe, with
all the countries on tlie West (‘oast of our continent,
especially with Oregon and California, and between the
northern and southern sections of the United States.—
Considerable revenue may be expected from postages ;
but the connected line from New* York to Cliagres, and
thence across the isthmus to Oregon, cannot fail to ex
ert a beneficial influence, not now to be estinuted, on
the interests of the manufactures, commerce, naviga
tion, and currency of the United States. As on impor
tant part of tlie system, I recommend to your favorable
consideration the establishment of the proposed line of
steamers between New Orleans and Vera Cruz. It
promises the most happy results in commenting f.ie.’i'lsEp
between the two republics, arid in extending reciprocal
benefits to the trade and manufactures of both.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Tlie report of the Postmaster General will make
known to you tlie operations of that department for the
past year.
It is gratifying to find the revenues of the department,
under the rates of postage now established by law, so
rapidly increasing. ‘File gross amount of postage** dur
iug the last fiscal year amounted to foo million three
hundred and seventy-one thousand an i- verity-seven
dollars,exceeding the annual average received for the
nine years immediately preceding the passage of he act
of the third of .March, 1815, by the nun of mx thoiifand
ffeitfUiindred and fifty-three dollars, and exceeding the
amount received for the year ending the thirtieth
ofjnn *, 1317, by the sum of four hundred and twenty
five thousand one hundred and eightv-four dollars.
The expenditures for the year, excluding the sum of
ninety-four thousand six hundred and seventy-two dol
lars, allowed by Congress at its last session to in lividual
claimants, and including the sum of one hundred thou
sand live hundred dollars paid for the services of the line
of steamers between Bremen and New \ ork. amounted
to four million one hundred and ninety-eight thousand
eight hundred and forty-five dollars, which is less than
the annual average for the nine years previous to the
act of 1845, by three hundred thousand seven hundred
and forty-eight dollars.
.The mail routes, on the thirtieth day of Ju ie hist,
one hundred and sixty-three thousand two hundred
and eighty miles in extern—being an increase during the
last year <f nine thousand three hundred and ninety
miles. The mails were transported over then, during
the same time, forty-one million twelve thousand live
hundred and seventy-nine imh s ; making an increase
of transpo tauon for the year of two million one hun
dred and twenty-four thousand six hundred and eighty
miles, whilst the expense was less than that of the pre
vious year by four thousand two hundred and thirty
five dollars.
The increase in thr* mail transportation within the hist
three years has been live million three hundred and
seventy-eight thousand three hundred and ton mile*,
w hilst, the expenses were reduced four luindre I and fif
ty-six thousan 1 seven hundred an 1 ihirty-eight dollars
—making an increase of service at the rate of fifteen per
cent., a reduction in theexpense of m ire than fifteen
per cent.
During the prist year there have been employed, un
der contracts with the Postofliee Department, two ocean
st- arn rs in conveying the mails monthly between New
York and Bremen, and one, since October last, perform
ing semi-monthly service between Charleston and 11a*
vanna; and a contract has been made for the transpor
tation of the Pacific mails across the isthmus from emig
res to Panama.
Under the authority given to the Secretary of the Na
vy. three ocean steamers have been constructed and
sent to the Pacific, nn I are expected to enter upon lie*
mail service between Panama and Oregon, and them
t'-rmedialu ports, on the first of January next, and a
fourth Ims Umn engaged by him for the service between
I lav anna and Cliagre* ; so that a regular monthly mail
lino will Is* kept up after that time between the l uited
Slates and our territories on the Pacific.
Notwithstanding this great increase in the mad ser
vice, Should lie* revenue continue to increase the present
year us it did in the last, there will be received near
four hundred ttt.d fiftv thousand dollars more, than the
expenditures.
“Jg * 7 . :T I
These considerations have satisf-:d the P<
General that, with certain modi Heat ion of tl
1345, the revenue may he still further inerw
reduction of postages made to a uniform ca ee
w ithout an interference with tlie prim
bean constantly anej. properly enforced, of irtH
department sustain ifseti.
A well-digested cheap postage system is tlie U t
means of diffusing intelligence, am oig the people, and Is
of so much importance in a country so extensive as that
\ of the U. Stales, that 1 recommend to your favorable
I consideration the suggestion of the Poslftianor ’general
V lor its improvement.
AMERICAN SYSTEM.
f Nothing can retard the onward progress of our coun
try, and prevent us from assuming and maii\tit:ing tlie
rank among the nations, but a disregard of the ex
■fcTSCirrC .. .mm, and are*i., t jn, ; ;.o on unwis ypuV
lie policy. We have just closed u foreign war ny tin
honorable peace—a war rendered necessary and una
voidable in vindication of the country is similar in some
respects to that which existed immediately after the
close of the war with Great Britain in 1815, and the oc
casion is deem .and to he a proper one to take a retrospect
of the measures of public policy w hich followed that
war. There was at that period of our history a depar
ture from our earlier policy. The enlargement of the
powers of the federal government by construction, which
obtained, was not warranted by any just interpretation
of the constitution. A few years after tly close of that
war. a series of measures was adopted w’Tmng j bed and
combine . constituted what was termed
and advocates the “ American system.”
The introduction of the new policy was for a time
favored by the condition of tlie country ; by the heavy
debt which had been contracted during the war; by the
depression of the public credit: by the deranged state of
the finances and the currency : and by the commercial
and pecuniary embarrassment which extensively pre
vailed. These wore not the only causes which led to
its establishment. The events of the war with Great
Britain, ami the embarrassments which had attended its
prosecution, had left on the minds of many of our states
men the impression that our government was not strong
enough, and that to wield its resources successfully in
great emergencies, and especially in war, more power
should he concentrated in its hands. This increased
power they did not s.ek to obtain by the legitimate and
prescribed inode—an amendment of the constitution—
hut by roustruclion. They saw governments in the old
world based upon different orders of socic’y. and so con
stituted us to throw the whole power of nations into the
hands of a few, who taxed and controlled the many with
out responsibility or restraint. In that arrangement
they conceived the strength of nations in war consisted.
There was also something fascinating in the ease, luxu
ry, and display of the higher orders, who drew* their
wealth from the toil of tin*, laboring millions. The au
thors of the system drew their ideas of political economy
from what they had witnessed in Europe, and particu
larly in Great Britain. They had viewed the enormous
wealth in few hands, and had seen the splendor of the
overgrown establishments of an aristocracy which was
upheld by the restrictive policy. They forgot to look
down upon the poorer classes of the English population,
upon whose daily ami yearly labor the great establish
ments they so much admired were sustained and sup
ported. They failed to perceive that the “scantily-fed and
half-clad operatives were not only in abject poverty, but
were hound in chains of oppressive servitude for the ben
efit of favored classes, who were the exclusive objects
of the care of the government.
It was not possible to reconstruct society in the*. United
States upon the European plan. Here there was a writ
ten constitution, by which orders and titles were not
recognised or tolerated. A system of measures was
therefore devised, calculated if not intended, to with
draw power gradually and silently from the States and
the mass of the people, am! by construction to approxi
mate our government to the European models, substi
tuting an aristocracy of wealth for that of orders and ti
tles-
VV iihont. reflecting upon the dissimilarity STTiOr in
stitutions, ami of the condition of our people and those
of Europe, they conceived the vain idea of building up
in the United States a system similar to that which they
admired abroad. Great Britain had a national hank of
large capital, in whose hands was concentrated tlie con
trolling monetary and financial power of tlie nation; an
institution wielding almost kingly power, and exerting
vast influence upon all the operations of trade, and upon
the policy of the government itself. Great Britain had
an enormous public debt, and it had become a part of
her public policy to regard tin’s as a “public blessing.“
Great Britain had also a restrictive, policy, which placed
fetters and burdens on trade, and trammelled the produc
tive industry of the mass <f the nation. By her combin
ed system of policy, tlie landlords and other property
holders were protected and enriched by the enormous
taxes which were levied upon the labor of the country
for their advantage.
NATIONAL BANK.
Imitating this foreign policy, the first step in establish
ing the’new system in the United Slates was the crea
tion of a nation.d bank. Not. foreseeing the dangerous
power and countless evils which such an institution
might, entail on the country, nor perceiving the connex
ion whif.h it wit* designed to form between the bank and
tin* other branches of tlie miscalled “American system,”
but feeling the embarrassment* of the treasury, mid war,
some of our statesmen who had held different and sound
er views were induced to yield their scruples, and, in
deed, settled convictions of its unconstitutinnality, and
to give it their sanction, a* an expedient which they
vainly hoped might produce relief. It was a most unfor
tunate error, ns tlie subsequent history and final catas
trophe of that dangerous and corrupt institution have a
buudanlly proved. Tlie hank, with its numerous
branches ramified into the States, soon brought many of
the cative political and commercial men in different sec
tions of the country into the relation of debtors to it,and
dependants upon it for pecuniary favors; thus diffusing
throughout tlie mass of society a great number of indi
viduals of power and influence to give to public opinion,
and to act in concert in cases of emergency. The corrupt
power of such u political engine is no longer ama tter of
speculation, having been disptaye 1 in numerous in
stances, but most signally in the political struggles of
JS32-*3-'4, in opposition to the public will represented
by a fearless and patriotic President.
But the bank was but one branch of the new system.
A public debt of more than one hundred and v ‘
millions ofilolliirsexisted; and it is ii"t tob
many of the authors of tlie new system did - sfSnl its -
speedy paym mtas essential to the public-prosperity, hut
looked upon it- continuance as n j national evil. “Whilst
tlie debt existed, it furnished aliment to the national
bank, and rendered increased taxation necessary to the
amount of the interest, exceed img seven millions of dol
lars annually.
This operated in harmony with the next branch of the !
new system, which was a high protective tariff. This i
was to afford bounties to favored classes and particular
pursuits, at the expense of all others. A proposition to
tax the whole people for the purpose of enriching a few. j
was too m Jiistrous to be ojienly made. Tile scheme was,
therefore, veiled urid *r the-plausible bn l , delusivj pra* !
text of a in *.asure to protect “home industry;” and many
of our people were, for a time led to believe that a tax j
which in ihe main l’*!l upon labor, was for the benefit j
of the laborer who paid i‘. ‘Fins branch of the ysteui
involved a partnership between thogovernm mi! cud th *
favored clause?—the former receiving the proceeds of the
tax impored on articles imported, ad tlu? lat’ *: - the in
creased price of similar articles produce.iitMs’ •> .’
ed by such tax. It is obvitnn that. Hie portion t > be re- *
oeived by the favored cla-s s would..is a > ml
be increased in proportion to the iuorea e of th • ret
of tax impose ! and diminished as those rates w re re
duced to the re. Venn • standard required by the want of
tlie government. The rales require Ito produce u suffi
cient revenue for the ordinary expenditures of govern
ment-, for necessary purposes, were not likely to give to
the private partners in-this scheme profits sufficient to
satisfy their cupidity : and hence a variety of exp jdieots
and pr t *xts wer resorted to for the purpose of enlarg
ing tlie expendi tires, and thereby creating a necessity
for keeping up a high protective tariff. Th** effect of
this policy was to interpose artificial restrictions upon
tlie natural course of the business and trade of the coun
try, and to advance the interests of large capitalists and
monopolists, at the expense of the great in iss of the peo
ple, who were taxed to increase their wealth.
INTKRN A I IMPROVKMENTS,
Another branch o* thi*-v-tem was a comprehensive
scheme of internal improvements, capable of in definite
enlargement.,artd -ufiiciciii to swallow upas many mil
lions annually as could Ik* exacted from the foreign com
merce of the country. This was a convenient and ne
cessary adjunct of the protective tariff’. It was to l*
the great absorbent ol any surplus which might at any
time accumulate in tlie treasury, and of the taxes levied
on the |wople. not ior the necessary revenue purpose's,
hut for the avowed object ol affording protection to the
fovored classes.
\u\iliary to the s.im • end, if it was not nti essential
part ol the system itself, was the scheme which, at a la
ter |k?riod, onlaitied for distributing the proceeds of the
►ales of the public lands among the State*. Ollier exj*c
dient* were deyint and to take money out of the treasury,
and prevent in coining in from an\ other huiiy'*. than
os'ie monu fact aremsvif®*-'. Mriff. The authors and Supporter* of the
that 1 hiive'TiriMiht*nlvo-nues of the largest ‘expendi
-1 was troubled v?j|hAO(V“<ft>r necessary or useful purposes or not,
mediately the expenditure* tho greater was the
system taxes in tlie form of protective duties.
1 bi x rrrf*sYsT km — kit rcts.
measures were unstained by popular
nam.:7* n -td plausible arguments, by •which thousands
wwv deluded. The bank was 1 ttrbe ari in
disposable fiscal agent for the ffoyerimi'uit: was to c
qii ilize exchanges, and torcgu&to and .Vnish a sound
currency, always and everyvvhtfro of and .iform value.—
‘Flic protective tariff was to give eniploynrerit to “Amer
ican labor” at advanced prices • was to protect “home
industry,” and furnish a rjjfitt for the farmer.
Internal improvements were. into every
neighborhood and enhance tlie value f ‘ l v( , V man’s p. o
ijHirUy. The and ist op of * ’.wrin.n • jjwus . -.enrich
the Snip* j, finish tli-*:*'public works. piSljpiiiiieflh tdo- /
out their b irders, and relieve th**m frfnn taxation. But
the fact, that for every dollar taken out of tlie treasury
for these object a much larger sum was transferred from
tlie pockets of the people to the favored classes, was
carefully concealed, as was also the tendency if not the
the ultima to design of the system to build up an aristoc
racy of wealth, to control the masses of society, and mo
nopolize tho political power of the country.
The several branches of this system were so intimate
ly blended together, that in their operation each sustain
ed and strengthened the others. Their joint operation
was to add new* burdens of taxation and to encourage a
largely increased and wasteful expenditure of public
money It was the interest of the bank that tho reve
nue c .‘ilfcmd and the disbursements made by the gov
’ erntnent should be large, because, being the depository
us the public money, the larger the am milt the greater
would o * tlie bank profits by its use. It was the inter
est of the favored classes, who were enriched by the pro
tective tariff, to have the rates of that protection as high
as possible ; for the higher those rates, the greater would
be their advantage. Jt was the interest of the paople
of ail those sections and localities who expected to he
benefitted by expenditures for internal improvements,
that the amount collected should he as large as possible,
to the end that the sum disbursed might also be the
larger. The States being the beneficiaries in the distri
tiou of tlie land money, (tad an interest in having the
rates of tax imposed by the protective tariff large e
nough to yield a sufficient revenue from that source to
meet the wants of the government, without disturbing
or taking from them the laud fund; so that cao.i of the
branches constituting the system had a common inter
est in swelling tlie public expenditures. They had a di
rect interest in maintaining the. public debt unpaid, and
increasing its amount, because this would produch an
annual increased drain upon the treasury, to the amount
of the interest, and render augmented taxes necessary.—
The operation and necessary effect of the whole system
were to encourage large and extravagant expenditures,
and thereby to increase the public patronage, and main
tain a rich and splendid government at the expense of a
taxed and impoverishsd people.
It is manifest that this scheme of enlarged taxation
and expenditures, had it continued to prevail, must soon
have converted tlie government of the Union, intended
by its framers to be a plain, cheap, and simple confeder
ation of States, united together for common protection,
and charged with a few specific duties, relating chiefly
to our foreign affairs, into a consolidated empire, de
priving the States of their reserved rights, and the peo
ple of their just power and control in the administration
of their government. In this manner the whole form
and diameter of the government would be changed, not
by an amendment of the constitution, hut by resorting
to an unwarrantable and unauthorized construction of
that instrument.
The indirect inode es levying the taxes by a duty on
imports, prevents the mass of the people from readily
perceiving the amount they pay, and has enabled the
few, who were thus enriched, and who *eek to wield
the political power of the country, to deceive and de
lude thorn. Were th>? taxes enl&n&d by a direct levy
Upofl UK CS.'C hfeybu s XuU-k this! CuuLJ
not occur.
UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OF TIIE BANK AND TARIFF.
The whole system was resisted from its inception by
many of our ablest statesmen, some of whom doubted its
constitutionality and its expediency, while others be
lieved it was, in all its branches, a flagrant and danger
ous infraction of the constitution,
That a national bank, a protective tariff,levied not to
raise the revenue needed, but for protection merely, in
ternal improvem-uts, and the distribution of the pro
ceeds of the sales of the public lands, are measures with
out the warrant of the constitution, would, upon the
matiirest consideration seem to be clear. It is remarka
ble that no one of these measures, involving such mo
mentous consequences, is authorized by any express
grant of power in the constitution. No one of them is
“incident to, as being necessary and proper for the exe
cution of. the specific powers” granted by the consti
tution. The authority under which it has been attempt
ed to justify each of them is derived from inferences and
constrruetiou of the constitution which its letter and
its whole object and design do not warrant. It is
to be conceived that such immense powers would
have been left by the framers of tho constitution
to mere inferences and doubtful constructions ? Hud
it been intended to confer them oil the federal gov
ernment, it is but reasonable to conclude that it would
have been done by plain and unequivocal grants.—
This was not done; but the whole structure of which the
“American system” consisted, was reared oil no other
or better foundation than forced implications and infer
ences of power which its authors assumed might be in
duced by const ruction from the constitution.
But it has been urged that the national bank, which
constituted so essential a branch of this combined sys
tem of measures, was not anew measure, and that ns
constitutionality had been previously sanctioned, be
cause a bank hud been chartered in 17‘JI, and Irul re
ceived the official signature of President Washington.—
A lew facts will show the just weight to which this pre
cedent should he entitled as bearing upon the question
of constitutionality.
Great division of opinion upon tho. subject existed in
Congress. It is well known that President Washington
entertained serious doubts both as to the constitutionali
tydlhd expediency of tlie measure; an 1 while the bill
before him for his offieial approval or disapproval,
so great were these doubts, that lie required ’ the opin
ion in writing” of the members oi his cabinet to aid
him in arriving at a decisicn. His cabinet gave their
opinion, and were divided upon the subject—General
Hamilton being in favor 01. uud Mr. Jetl rsou and Mr.
Randolph b *ing opposed to the constitutionality and ex
pediency of the hank. It is well known, also, that
President Washington retained the bill from Monday,
the fourteenth, when it was presented to him, until Fri
day, the twenty-fifth of February—being the last mo
ment permitted him by the coasitution to deliberate,
when li • finally yielded to it his reluctant assent, arid
gave it his signature. If is certain that as late as the
twenty third of February—being the ninth day after 1 he
bill was presented to him—he had arrived at no satisfac
tory conclusion ; for on that day he addressed a note to
General Hamilton, in which lie informs him that ** this
bill was presented to me by the joint committee of Con
gress at 12 o'clock on Monday, tlie fourteenth instant;” *
and lie requested his opinion ** to wh it precise period, by
legal interpretation of tlie constitution, can the Presi
dent retain it in his possession, be lore it becomes a law
by the t ipe of ten days.” If the proper const ruction
was, that the day on which the bill was presented to the
President, and the day on which his action was had up
on it. w *re both to he counted inclusive, then the tim:
gkjl wed him. within which it wotilJ he competent for
him jo return it to the House in which it originated with
his ‘bjection*. would expire on Tnursday, the livonty
fotirtli'*’ February. Gen. il imiltou on the same day
returned an answer, in winch lie states: “ 1 give it as
mv opinion that you have ten days exclusive of that on
which tin* hill was delivered to you, and Sunday*;
hence in the present ca<e. if it is returned on Friday, it.
will he in time.” By this construction, whieli the Pres
i lent adopted, lie gained another day f*r deliberation,
and it was not until tlie twenty-fifth of February that he
signed the. bill ; thus affording conclusive proof that he
ha l at last obtained his own consul to sign it not with
out great and almost insuperable difficulty. Additional
light lias been recently shed upon the serious doubts
which lie had n the .>iibjeet, amounting at one time to a
conviction that it was hi? duty to withhold hi* approval
from the hill. This is found am ng the manuscript pa
per* of Mr. M nli<on, auth irized to he purchased for the
use of the govcrunvfU by nn act of tlie session of Con
gress. and now for the first tun • act essible to the public.
From these papers, it appears that President U idling
ton, while he yet held the kink bill in his hands, actu
ally requested M.\ M id,son, at that time a member of
the House of Representative*. i prepare the draught of
a veto message for him. Mr. M i limn, at Ins request,
did prepare the draught of siieSt a in ■ -sage, an I scut it
to him on the tw nty-fii-t “i I “hiirtrv. l/ I JI. A copy
of this original draught in Mr. Malison'* own hand
writing, vya* care fully preserved by him, and is am mg
tliH paper* lately pnrdi.i •I by Conifers. It i*preceded
by a note, written on the *.une sli *et. whi h i** aln in Mr.
Madison's handwriting; *• li* full • *
•• February 2Dt. 17'JI Copy o|'.i piper made out and
unit to the Prifsid *nt at hi* ■ j"* t. to ie*id\ hi •
Uittji]!ljn)ii>ri,t*h*itiM fj ~J!y .itgaiti*tYti>* bill tor in
rorjK>r;iting it jiutio.ud bill iteitig then be ft/ >
him.’’
Among 1 1 ic object inn. l ; jt*iisnsd in this paper Co'the bill,
nnd which were submitted lor the cotiniderauyt* sff th©
“resident, arc the following.:
I object to the hill, because it is an cssenticL?’-. ‘
of the government that powers not delegated by the derfb
Nutrition cannot hi* rightfully exercised ; because the
power proposed by the bill to be exercised is not expressly
delegated, and berans. F cannot satisfy myself that it
results from any express power by fair and -,afe rules of
interpretati n.’ ?
The vveig ~f. y. precedent of the bank of 1791, o-nd
the sanction ul tire gre.c: Aiamcof Waahunriou which has
been so often tuvuked- * CU!n< a; meaty went
ened by thv*Uelop/ >sllu,l, s \e facts. The%xperb
tmtfmssiat .
re. :<*b I- ‘ ■ fortunate
lor the country, - l. -id 11 . is from bankruptcy
and ruin, had our pub
porary pressure of the tow* upon our financial ami pe
cuuiary Interests, and refused to charter the second bank.
Os this the country became abundantly satisfied, and at
the close of its twenty years’ duration? n.-.i,i the case of
the first bank, it niso ceased to exist. Under the repeat
ed blows of President Jackson, it reeled and ill, and a
subsequent attempt to charter a similar institution was
arrested by the veto of President Tyler.
Mr. Madison, in yielding his signature to the charter
of 1816, did so upon the ground of the respes-to
precedents; and as he subsequently declared, “the
Bmk of the L niied States, though, on the original
question, held to he unconstitutional, received the Exec
utive signature.”
It is probable that neither the bank of 1791, nor that
of 1810, would have been chartered but for the embar
rassmemsof the government in its finances, the derange
ment of the currency and the pecuniary pressure which
existed—the first the consequence of the war of the rev
olution. the second the consequence of the war of 1819.
Both were resorted to in the delusive hope that they
would restore public credit, and afford relief to the gov
ernment, and to tiie business of the country.
Those of our public men who opposed the whole “Am
erican system” at its commencement, and throughout its
progress, foresaw and predicted that it was fraught with
incalculable mischiefs, and must result iu serious inju
ry to tle best interests of the country. For a series of
years their wise counsels were unheeded, and the sys
tem was established. It was soon apparent that its prac
tical operation was unequal and unjust upon different
portions of the country, and upon the people engaged iu
different pursuits. All were equally entitled to the fa
vor and protection of the government. It fostered and
elevated the money power, and enriched the favored
few by taxing labor, ami at the expense of the many.—
Its effect was to make the rich richer, and the poor poor
er - ’ Its tendency was to create distinctions m society
based on wealth, and to give to the favored classes undue
control ami sway in our government. It was an organ
ized money power, which resisted the popular will, ar.d
sought to shape and control the public policy.
Under the pernicious workings of this combined sys
tem of measures, the country witnessed alternate sou
sons of temporary apparent prosperity ; of sudden and
disastrous commercial revulsions; of unprecedented
fluctuation ol prices, and depression of the great inter
ests of agriculture, navigation, and commerce ; of gener
al pecuniary suffering, and of final bankruptcy of thous
ands After a severe struggle of more than a quarter
of a century, the system was overthrown.
The bank has been succeeded by a practical system of
finance, conducted and controlled solely by the govern
input. The constitutional currency has been restored ;
th e public credit maintained unimpaired, even in a po
riod of foreign war : and the whole country has become
satisfied that banks, national or State, ore not necessary
as fiscal agents of the government. Revenue duties
have taken the place of the protective tariff. The distri
bution of the money derived from the sale of the public
-.jj bec.i abandoned, and flic corrupting ...sum of
internal improvements, u is hoped, has ueeu effectually
checked.
It is not doubted, that if this whole train of me&sors©
designed to take wpal h from the many, and bestow it
upon the few, were to prevail, the effect would be to
change the entire character of the government. One
only danger remains. It is the seductions of that branch
of the system, which consists iti internal ‘mprovements,
holding out as it does, inducements to the people of par
ticular sections an 1 localities to embark the government
in them wi.bout stopping to calculate the inevitable cou
sequences. This branch of the system is so intimately
combined and linked with the others, that as surelv us
an effort is produced by an adequate cause, if it he re
suscitated and revived, and firmly established, it re
quires tio sagacity to foresee that it will necessarily and
speedily draw alter it the re-establishment of a national
bank,the revival of a protective tariff, the distribution of
the land money, on 1 not only the postponement to the
distant future of-the payment of tiie present national
debt, but its annual increase.
I entertain the solemn conviction, that if the internal
improvement branch of the “ American system” be not
firmly resisted at this time, the whole series of meaMirna
composing it will be speedily re-established, and the
country be thrown back from i:s present high state of
prosperity, which the existing policy has produced, and be
destined again to witness all tite evils,commercial revul
sions, depression of prices, ami pecuniary embarrass
ments, through which we have passed during the last
twenty-five years.
To guard against consequences so ruinous, is an object
of high national impoitnnce, involving in my judgment
the continued prosperity of the country.
THE VETO POWER.
F have felt it to be an imperative obligation to withhold
my constitutional sanction from two bills which had pass,
ed the two houses of Congress, involving the principle
of the internal improvement bran- It of the “ American
system,*’ and conflicting in their provisions with the
views here expressed.
This power conferred upon the President by the con
stitution, I have on three occasions, during my adminis
tration of the executive department of the government,
deemed it my duty to exercise ; ami on this last occasion
of making to Congress an annual communication “ of the
state of the Union,” it i* not deemed inappropriate tore
view the principles and considerations which hove gov.
erned my action. I deem this the more necessary be
cause. nfter the lapse of neurly sixty years since the
adoption of the constitution, the propriety of the exer
cise of ili s undoubted constitutional power by the Presi
dent has for the first time been drawn seriously in ques
t on by a portion of my fellow-citizens.
The constitution provides that “ every bill which shall
have passed the II use of Representatives and the
Senate slul!. before it become a law, be presented
to tin* President of the U. S. if lie approve, he shall sign
it, but if not, he shall return it with his objections, to
that house in originated, who shall
enter the nl.jei-M. ns their journal ami pro
to i ©consider it
The preservation from infraction
is the President’s highest duty, He is bound to dis
charge that duty. at whatever hazard of incurring the
displeasure of those who may differ with him in opinion.
He is bound to discharge it, us well by his obligations to
tlm people who have clothed him with his exalted trust,
ns by his oath of office, which he may not disregard.—
Nor are the obligations of the President in any degree
lessened by the prevalence of views different from his
own iu one or both houses of Congress. It is not alone
ha*tv an ! inconsiderate legislation ’hat he is required to
cherk ; but if at any time Congress shall, alter apparent
ly lull deliberation, resolve on measures which he deems
subversive of the constitution, or of the vital interests of
the country, it is his solemn duty to stand in the breach
and resist them. The President is bound to approve, or
disapprove, every bill which pac-sra Congress nnd is pre
sented to hi in for his signature. Tne constitution make*
this his duty, and he cannot escape it if lie would. He
his no election. In deciding upon any bill presented to
him. he must exercise his own best judgment. If he can
not improve, the constitution command-him to return the
bbl tii the house in winch it originated, with l is ol jec
lions; mil if he fail to do this within ten days, (Sundays
excepted ) it shall become a law without liis signature
Right or wrong, he may be overruled by a vote of two
thirds of each bouse ; til l, in •hut event, the hid be
com*s n law without his -miction. If his objections be
liot thus overruled, the subject is only postponed, and is
referred to the Slates and the people for their considera
tion and decision. The President** power is negative
merely, and not affirmative. He can enact no law.
only effect, therefore, of his w ithholding his approval f
a bill passed by Congress, is to sutler the existing laws
to remain unchanged. md th-* delay occasioned is only
that required to enable ti-e States and the people to con
sider ami act upon the snbj-et in the election ul public
n ;ciu who will carry out their wishes and instruction*.
Anv attempt to coerce the President to yield his sanction
l‘i itit* pur. 1 , wiii.'li h** ennnot appfnvH. witulii l*. - viol.-
ii.... in.. *|ii, it ufill, (-nn-lill' ,| n, palpable nnil flagrant ;
Mil tit ml woulil hr.uk ilnwn ih iinli'p.ilil.iir- or
tiii* MXMi-.i.ivtt liepitiini-nt, nut! multi’ the Pr.Mrl.nt. eler*.
|M,| t, N th,. i.Mople. mill I'lmlie.l by the cnniUtutim with
II ,W.*V to .lull'll.! tli-ir rijjhti, the mere Inutrunvitl'if
nii.jiriiy Ml I t.iiigresi. A surretilef, n In- purl, pi’ lit”
So. 50.