Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-08-29
CONGRESS-Extra Session.
WAsHISGroN, Thursday, Ang 81.
SENATE.

and read. 1t is as follows:
/ Felloc- citizens Of the Senate ard
House of Representatives.
In consequence of the failure OF Con-
gress at its recent session to make pro-
vision for the support of the Army. 1t
became imperatively incumbent on me to
exercise the power which the Constita-
ton confers on the Executive for extra
ordinary occasions, and promptly to con-
venc the two Houses in order to afford
them an opportunity of reconsiderlns
subject Of such vital interest to the
peace and welfare of the Union.
With the exception of partial au-
thority vested by law in the Secretary of
War to contract for supply of clothing
and subsistence. the Army is wholly
dependent on the appropriations annual
ly made by Congress. The omission OF
Congress to act in this respect before
the termination of the fiscal year, had
already caused embarrasments to the
service. which were overcome only IN
expectation OF appropriations before the
close of the present month. If the req
usite funds be not speedily PROVIDED.
the Executive VII DO longer be able to
furnish for transportation the equipments
and communion which are essential to
the effectiveness of a military force IN
the field. With no provision for the pay
of the troops. the contracts OF enlistment
would be broken, and the army must, IN
effect. be disbanded, the consequence OF
(which would be SO disastrous as to de-
mand all possible efforts to avert the ca
lamity.
1t is not merely that the officers and
enlisted men OF the army are to be thus
deprived Of the pay and emolumcnts to
which they are entitled by standing laws.
but that the construction of ordnance at
the arsenals. and the manufacture Of mil
itary clothing and camp cquipase, must
be discontinued, and the persons con.
nected with this branch of the public
service thus be deprived suddenly Of the
employment essential to their subsis-
tence Nor is it merely the waste con-
sequent on the forced abandonment OF
the seaboard Notifications, and ofthe IN
terror military posts and other establish
ments, and the enormous expense OF re-
cruiting ard recognizing the Army, and
again distributing it over the vast regions
which it now occupies. These are evils
which may, it is true. be repaid hereafter
by taxes imposed on the country, but
other evils are involved which no ex-
penditure, however lavish, could, in COM
parison with which local and personal in
juries or Interest sink into in>igniticance
A great part of the Army is situated
on the remote frontier, or in the deserts
and mountains OF the interior. 10 dis
charge large bodies OF men in such places
without the means of rcgaining their
homes, and where few. if any, conld o5
taiu subsistence by honest ndIstry.
would be to subject them to suffering
and temptation, with disregard Of justice
and RICH, most derogatory to the gov
ernment.
i In the territories Of Washington and
Oregon numerous bands of Indians are
IN arms, and are wasing a war Of exter
nination against the white inhabitants;
and, although our troops are actively
carrying on the campaign, we have no
intelligence as yet CT a successful result.
On the Western plains, notwith stand
ing the imposing display of military
force recently made there, and the chas-
tisement inflicted on the rebellious tribes,
others, far from being dismaye5. have
manifested hostile intentions and have
been guilty of outragcs which, if not de-
signed to provoke a conflict. serve to
show that the apprehension of it is in
sufficient wholly to restrain their vicious
propensities.
A strong force in the State of Texas
has produced the temporary suspension
of hostilities there; butin New Mexico,
incessant attention on the part of the
troops is required to keep in check the
marauding tribes which intest that terri
tory.
The hostile Indians have not been re-
moved from the State Of Florida, and the
withdrawal of the troops therefrom.
leaving that object unaccomplished,
would be most injurious to the inhabi
tants. and breach OF the positive en-
gagemont of the general government.
10 refuse supplies to the Army, there.
fore. is to compel the complete cessation
of all its operations, and practical dis
bandment, and TINS to invite boards of
predatory savages from the Western
plains and Rocky Mountains to spread
devastation along frontier gilmore than
1000 miles in extent, and to deliver up
the sparse population of vast tract of
country to rapine and murder.
Such, in substance, would be the d.
rect and immediate effects of the refusal
of Congress, for the first time in the his
tory of the government, to grant supplies
the inevitable waste of millions of pub
lie treasure-the infection of extreme
wrong upon all persons connected with
the military establishment, by service,
employment, or contracts-the recall OF
our forces from the feld-the fearful
sacrifice of life, and incalculable destruc-
ton of property on the remote frontiers
the striking ofo national flag on the
battlements of the fortresses which de-
fend our maritime cities againat foreign