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At length the message of the President to the Legislature of the United States has been received. It was not delivered till the 24th of Decem- ber—three Nvecks after the session of Congress commenced. The delay was occasioned by the conflicting claims of a double set of representa- tives from the State of New Jersey. The VAN BUREN or Administra- tion party received most votes at the election ; but the Governor of New Jersey, On the plea that a number of those votes were illegal, gave to their Whig or Opposition opponents the usual certificates of election. Both sets of candidates appeared on the floor of the House of Repre- sentatives ; and so closely were parties balanced, that on the 17th of December no decision had been made, and it was resolved to proceed to the election of Speaker, excluding the New Jersey delegation. After several ballots, which occupied two days, and a multiplicity of memo- vres,resembling the proceedings in the divan of Cardinals when a Pope is to be chosen, Mr. R. N. J. HUNTER, member front Virginia, and a 'Whig or Conservative (meaning the same thing in the United States) was elected by a vote of 119 to 113—six malecontent Van Burenites having deserted the Administration. A Speaker having been put in the chair, the swearing in of members commenced ; and then again arose the question, which party from New Jersey should take the oaths. This point had not been settled on the 24th of December ; but it was disposed of for the time by an expedient which might have been sooner resorted to—that of referring it to a committee. The House of Repre- sentatives reported itself " organized ;" and the President's message was delivered.
This document, very elaborate as usual, touches upon every subject foreign arid domestic, interesting to the American Republicans ; but President VAN BUREN reserves his main strength for questions on which the next election for the Chief Magistrate of the Union will turn—the Sub-Treasury and the Banking system. The message is, in fact, an electioneering manifesto ; and in no other point of view can it be looked upon as very important, even in the United States, Mr. VAN liontist sets out with congratulating the country, that not- withstanding disease and fires have ravaged portions or the Union, and commerce lots been embarrassed, " exuberant harvests have lavishly recompensed well-directed industry," and " general prosperity" called for gratitude to the " Author of all Good." He strongly recommends attention to agriculture, as " nothing can compensate it people Ihr de- rendenee upon others for the bread they eat." The state of' foreign rela- tions is satisihetory. The settlement not only or the North-eastern Boundary, lint of the dividing line between the British territory and that part of the Union which lies between " the entrance to Lake Supe- rior and the most North-western point of the Lake of Woods," is the subject of amicable discussion with England. The President 'complains of unfriendly language used at some Canadian meetings towards the Citizens of the United States ; but rejoices that, although sullordinate functionaries of the British Government encouraged the expression of bostile feeling, the "chief officers" of Canada repudiated them, and thus " prevented excesses that must have been fatal to the peace of the two countries." The renewal of frontier disturbances is not likely to occur ; nor does the President anticipate any obstacle to the continu- ance of a good understanding between the States and England. With the Governments of Continental Europe the Republic continues on terms of amity ; and with Sardinia and the Netherlands advantageous commercial treaties have been concluded. The friendly disposition of Texas is mentioned ; and with the South American States treaties are in progress for the settlement of claims of compensation for injuries inflicted on the commerce of the United States by privateers. Having disposed of foreign affairs, President VAN BUREN proceeds to discuss at length the financial condition of the Union. He recommends strict economy in the expenditure of the General Government, as the receipts front duties on foreign merchandise imported—the chief source of revenue—are constantly declining, in consequence of the gradual re- duction of the tariff. In the year 1842, the duties will fhll to 20 per cent. ael valorem ; and the annual loss of the revenue from that source is estimated at about five millions of dollars. Notwithstanding aid from land-sales, the most prudent management will be required to make the income and expenditure of the General Government balance each other. In 1834 and 1835, the expenditure was between Set eutuen and eighteen millions of dollars ; in 1830, it had swelled to twenty-nine mullions ; in 1837, to thirty-three millions ; in 18:18, rather less ; in 1839. twenty-six millions ; and the estimates for 1840 showed a further diminution of about five millions.
A " presumptive law in behalf of the settlers on public lands," and a scale of prices graduated in reference to quality, had been " attended with the happiest consequences." The organization of militia, the erection of permanent barracks, the employment of the Navy in suppression of the African slave-trade, the increase in the Post-office receipts, and in the " extent of post- roads covered by mail-service," with suggestions of' advantages to be derived front railways and canals in the transmission of correspondence, are separately noticed : and then the President grapples with the sub- ject uppermost in the minds of all American politicians.
And whatever may be alleged against the doetrineu Mr. VAN DUREN proposed, or the motives which influence him in the course he takes, it must he admitted that he encounters his foes manfully. He Fastens upon the Banking system and the United States Bank. History fur- nishes him with proof that the a National Bank," and its successor the United States Bank of Pennsylvania, have sacrificed the pttblic inte- rests to the profits of their stockholders ; and, so far from upholding the credit of the country, maintaining specie payments, and supporting weaker institutions, have led the way to insolvency and involved others in their own disgrace. He is at pains to show the incompatibility of the two faactons of regulating the currency and making large divi- ekm4for,s1tiOklo1ders; in which respect the United States Bank is, he
;NINehlari.s, is a • aim' ar position to the Bank of England. With coml.
4erab1e foree'erid Mr. VAN BUREN turns the recent suspension of
specie payments to the support of his grand scheme of a national tres. sury, independent of and unconnected with banks of any description, and receiving and disbursing coin alone. Banks of every kind he dis. approves of, and appears to lament the impossibility of abolishing them--
" In a country so commercial as ours banks in some form will probably always exist : but this serves only to make it the more incumbent on us, not- withstanding the discouragemcnts of the past, to strive in our respective sta. Bons to mitigate the evils they produce,. to take from them as rapidly as the obligations of public faith, and a careful consideration of' the immediate inte. rests of the community will permit, the unjust character of monopolies; to check, so far as may be practicable, by prudent legislation, those temptations of interest, and those opportunities for their dangerous indulgence, which beset them on every side; end to confine thmem strictly to the performance of their paramount duty, that of aiding the operations of commerce, rather than con- sulting their own exclusive advantage.'
Knowing the weak point of his countrymen, Mr. VAN BUREN re- minds them, that London is the grand centre of the monied world; that though the United States Bank, by its superior capital, may con. trol minor establishments in America, the London bankers can control the United. States Bank itself; that, thus, no slight degree of political influence may be exercised by the wealthy men of England ; amid that national independence is endangered by the banking system.
The President gives the Republicans some excellent advice on the subject of their debts. Ile reminds them that they owe to England already about two hundred millions of dollars ; and that the way to re- duce their " indebtedness" is—not to contract new obligations. Al- though the debt is onerous, it nmst be honourably dischared-
" I.et the filith of' the tltat es, corporations, and individuals, already pledged, be kept with the most punet 'lions regard. It is due to our national character, as well as to justice, that this should, on the part of each, he a fixed principle of' conduct. But it behoves its all to be more chary in pledging .d. By ceas- ing to run in debt, and applying the surplus of our crops and incomes to the discharge of existing obligations, buying less and selling more, nod managing all affairs, public and 'ideate, with strict economy and frugality, we shall see our country soon recover from a temporary depression, raisin,* not from natural and permanent causes, lint from those I have enumerated, band advance with renewed vigour in her career of prosperity."
The " immense results" of the last harvest are referred to as the means of discharging existing obligations, not as an encouragement to contract new ones.
We have now noticed all the leading topics of the President's com- munication to Congress. The matter speaks for itself: of' the style it may he remarked, that it is more business-like and less verbose than moos: American messages.
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