In Andrew Jackson's second year of his presidency, he reported to Congress that receipts in the Treasury or revenue exceeded expectations by about $300,000. Even better, the revenue was just over $24 million almost double that of the total expenditures for the year. After paying the debt down by $11 million, the Treasury was left with $4,819,781. Just imagine, the shock today if our president announced today that government revenue was twice that of government spending. In his 1830 State of the Union Address, Andrew Jackson shared five accomplishments that aided int the prosperity of the country and Treasury.
1. Appointment of the Solicitor of the United States Treasury.
On May 29, 1830 Congress passed an act to replace the Agent of the Treasury with a Solicitor the Treasury Position. The solicitor was given charge of all public lands that had been transferred to the government as payment of debt, and all trusts given to United States in the same manner. As solicitor, this officer had responsibility for supervising all proceedings involving the collection of debts and was given responsibility " to establish such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with law, for the observance of collectors, district attorneys". Virgil Maxcy of Maryland was made the first Solicitor of the Treasury.
2. "The Revenue Cutter Service has been organized and placed on a good footing "
The United States Revenue Cutter Services was first established in 1790 to serve as an armed customs enforcement service. Their initial command was to enforce tariff laws and reduce smuggling off the coasts. A cutter is a small or medium sized sailing vessel built for speed and shallow waters. The initial "System of Cutters" included 10 vessels that were assigned to the coasts and bays along the East. During the Quasi-War and the War of 1812, the Revenue Marine were often used for military actions. In 1915, the Revenue Cutter service was combined with the Life-Saving Service to form the United States Coast Guard.
3. "Abuses in the allowances for fishing bounties" were corrected.
In 1813, the U.S. government revived the practice of paying bounties on fish and meat cured with imported salt and then exported. This allowance was done to offset the duties that were paid on the imported salt. In 1828, the duties on imported salt was lowered, but the bounties remained the same. In 1830, this inconsistency was corrected, resulting in a "material saving in that branch".
4. Improvements in the "system of expenditure" for sick and disabled seamen.
In 1798, President John Adams signed 'An Act of the relief of sick and disabled seamen' authorizing a deduction of twenty cents per month from the wages of seamen, for the sole purpose of funding medical care for sick and disabled seamen. In 1830, a review of this system was concluded showing that there were great irregularities in the expenditures of the same services across different locations resulting in a gradual diminishing of the funds. These irregularities were made "uniform and economical the benefits of the fund applicable to this object have been usefully extended."
5. Increased revenue of public lands.
In 1827, President John Quincy Adams reported that the United States had purchased 260 million acres of land from France and Spain or by extinguishing the "aboriginal titles". Of these lands, 139 million acres had already been surveyed, and 19 million had been sold. Many individuals had trouble making their payments, and Congress gave them extensions until July 4th, 1829. The resale of these lands and new lands acquired and the desire for Westward movement continued to be a lucrative source of revenue for the federal government.
Here is the full excerpt of President Jackson's State of the Union Address on the status of the U.S. Treasury in 1830.
"According to the estimates at the Treasury Department, the receipts in the Treasury during the present year will amount to $24,161,018, which will exceed by about $300K the estimate presented in the last annual report of the Secretary of the Treasury. The total expenditure during the year, exclusive of public debt, is estimated at $13,742,311, and the payment on account of public debt for the same period will have been $11,354,630, leaving a balance in the Treasury on [1831-01-01] of $4,819,781.
In connection with the condition of our finances, it affords me pleasure to remark that judicious and efficient arrangements have been made by the Treasury Department for securing the pecuniary responsibility of the public officers and the more punctual payment of the public dues. The Revenue Cutter Service has been organized and placed on a good footing, and aided by an increase of inspectors at exposed points, and regulations adopted under the act of [1830-05], for the inspection and appraisement of merchandise, has produced much improvement in the execution of the laws and more security against the commission of frauds upon the revenue. Abuses in the allowances for fishing bounties have also been corrected, and a material saving in that branch of the service thereby effected. In addition to these improvements the system of expenditure for sick sea men belonging to the merchant service has been revised, and being rendered uniform and economical the benefits of the fund applicable to this object have been usefully extended.
The prosperity of our country is also further evinced by the increased revenue arising from the sale of public lands, as will appear from the report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office and the documents accompanying it, which are herewith transmitted. I beg leave to draw your attention to this report, and to the propriety of making early appropriations for the objects which it specifies."
References
Presidency.ucsb.edu. (2019). Second Annual Message | The American Presidency Project. [online] Available at: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/second-annual-message-3 [Accessed 18 Apr. 2019].Anon, (1830). ACTS OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES,. [online] Available at: https://www.loc.gov/law/help/statutes-at-large/21st-congress/c21.pdf [Accessed 18 Apr. 2019].
Mayo, R. (1847). A synopsis of the commercial and revenue system of the United States. Washington: Printed by J. & G.S. Gideon, pp.Chapter 2, page 35.
Wagner, D. (2019). 1798 John Adams - 'An Act of the relief of sick and disabled seamen'. [online] Stateoftheunionhistory.com. Available at: http://www.stateoftheunionhistory.com/2016/02/1798-john-adams-act-of-relief-of-sick.html [Accessed 18 Apr. 2019].
Wagner, D. (2019). 1827 John Quincy Adams - Relief for Purchasers of Public Lands. [online] Stateoftheunionhistory.com. Available at: http://www.stateoftheunionhistory.com/2018/05/1827-john-quincy-adams-relief-for.html [Accessed 18 Apr. 2019].
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