Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-08-27
Congress--Extra Session.

coS-~GAtId session,
In pursuance of the Presidents Proelaraa.
tion. Congress, which had adjourned on Mon
day, met again on Thursday in extra session,
"a quorum of members being present in
both branches. As soon as Congress was or
ganized, the following Message from tho Prss.
ident was received:
Presidents Message
fefto+c-Cnisens Of the Seaats and IXOuas of
Representatives.
In consequence of the failure Of Congress
at ITS recent session, to make provision for ,bs
support of the Army, it became imner,t;r.i,,
incumbent on me to exercise the power whicI
the Constitution confers on the Executive for
extraordinary occasions; and promptly to CON
vene the two Houses, in order to afford them
an opportunity of reconsidering a subject nf
such vital interest to the welfare of the nation
With the exception of a partial aathofity
vested by law IN the Secretary of War, TO con-
tract for the supply of clothing and subsi,-
tencc, the army is wholly dependent OF the
appropriations annually made by Congress
The omission of Congress to act in this 70.
spect before tho termination of the fi.cal vos-
had already caused enibarrassments to tbs
service which were overcome only in the c,.
pectatIon of appropriations before the close If
the present month. If tie requisite funds In
not speedily provided, the Executive will n,.
longer be able to furnish the transportation
equipments, and munitions which are esssp.
tiai TO the effectiveness of a pIilit ~ force IN
the held. With no provision for The nav NJ
troops the contracts of enlistment would ba
broken, aud the army must, in effect. be dis
banded, the consequences of which would 10
SO disastrous as 10 demand all possible effort.
to avert the calamity.
1t is not merely that the officers and enlist,
cd men OF the army are to be thus deprived
OF the pay and emoluments 10 which they ara
entitled by the standing laws, but the con.true.
tioh OF arms at the public les. the re-
PAIR snd constructor of ordins Dce'at the ar,e-
mails, and the manufacture of military cIotb
q ID camp 'quip'g must BE- discontinued
ana tie p' r-ons coLnected with this branch cf
the public service, thus be deprived suddc,-
~, OF the employment essential TO their sub-
slstence. Nor Is 1t merely the rs:e conso-
quent on the forced abandonment of tbc sca-
board Notifications and Of the inferior ~ lit.
~ posts and other establishments. and tho
enormous expense of recruiting and re-orcan-
'z!ng the army. aud again ds:Ji! utin. il over
the vast regions which it now oceupie.--
lhese are evils which NAV, it is true be -.
pared hereafter by taxes impoaed on the
country. But other evil. are involved which
no expenditures how yer lavish. could rome
dy, ana IN comparison with which local and
personal injuries or intcrc sts sink int. iusi-.
nifcance.
y great part of the army Is situated On 4.
remote frontier, or in tue deserts and n,,,,,n-
Ialn: IN the interior. To discharge l,rg.
bodies OF men IN such places, without IN.
means of rcgaining their homes. and wber.
few, If any, could obtain Subsistence hv b.r-
est industry, would be TO subject them 10 SUI
fcring and temptation, with disregard of
justice and right most d,rogatcry to govern
ment.
In the Territories of Washington ,n3 Orr
gon. numerous bands of Indians are in srp,,.
and are waging war of determination ao.;Dst
the white inhabitants. and although our trcg.fs
are actively carrying on the campaign, we
have no intelligence of a successful result. On
the Western plains notwithstanding the in.rc-
sing display Of military force recently made
there, and the chastisement inflicted ON ;bs
rebelllous tribes, others. far from being dis
mayed, have manifested hostile intention. and
been guilty Of ouorages which if not DESIGN
ed prove conflict, serve to shsx that m.
apprehension of it is sufficient vs5Ily To re.
STRAIN their vicious propcnsities s strouc.
force III the State of Texas has PRODUCED a
temporary suspension of hostilities thele. bu,
IN New Mexico incessant activity on the rar.
OF the troops is required to keep in check iLs
marauding tribes which infest that Territorv
The hostile Indians have not been removed
from the State of Florida, and The Withdraw
al of the troops therefrom, having that oIiecl
unaccomplishcd. would be most Injurious 70
the inhabitants. and breach Of the positive
engagement of the general Government. To
refuse supplies to the army, therefore. is 50
compel the complete cessation of all its opcr-
atoms, and its practicable iisbandment, AMI
thus to irrite the bordes Of predatory savages
from the Western plains and the Rocky Mour-
tains, TO sorcad devastation along frontier
OF more than four thousand miles IN extent,
and to deliver up the sparse populat ton Of 8
vast tract OF country to rapine and n1urder
Such, IN substance. would be the direct aad
immediate effects of the refusal of Congress
for the first time in the history of the Govern
ment to grant supplies for the maintenance
OF the army; the inevitable waste of mi ilions
OF the public treasure the infiction Of ex-
teme wrong upon all persons connected with
the military establishment, BY service employ
ment OF contracts tie recall of our forces
from the field; the fearful 81 crifce of life and
ineaiculable destruction of property on the re
mote frontiers; the striking of our natioI al
flag on the battlements of the fortresse. which
defend our maritime cities against foreign II
vasion; the violation of the public honor ard
good faith. and the discredit of the United
States in the eyes of the civilized world.
| confidently trust that these considerations
and others appertaining ro the domestic peace
of the country, which cannot fail to suggest
themselves to every patriotic mind, will. on
reflection be duly apnreciated hv botb uorS..