American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-12-06
IMoR9AMToSyM:
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1856.


OF inc Ilerce scflcS) 100 late 10 give IL
in our paper Of this week. The delay
in its reading before the House of Rep.
resentatives, accustomed by the Kansas
discussion, is the reason Of its late re-
ccption. The Message was not read to
the House until Wednesday noon, and
We did not receive Il copy Of it until
Thursday night, after our type were
mostly set up for to days paper.
The President opens up his message
with dissertation upon the late cleo
ton, its issues and results. More than
half the document is occupied with the
history Of the slavery agitation-just
the IDEAS and arguments advanced and
urged by Locofoco editors and stump
speakers in the late canvass-and on
these topics, throughout, the patient
reader is not rewarded, for his pains,
by single original idea, and even the
old song Of 1.ocofocoisln, assung by the
President, lacks sprightlincss Of pre-
scntation. The Psychologists poll
cy which rcopercd agtation-thc re-
peal Of the Missouri COMPREHENSIVE
Executive policy which permitted muir
der and riot for months in Kansas
are attempted to be aOhttcwaghed after
the most approved Locofoco fashion.
If it were not the President that was
talking upon these topics, We could ca
SLY and truthfuily characterize their
treatment as very aSiShy-waShy, and as
exhibiting abilities for special pleading
not to be surpassed by any third-rato
lawyer in the land. But our readers
shall have the benefit of forming their
own conclusions upon the Exccutives
pleading next week; and We pass this
part Of the message to give such ex-
tracts Of general interest as our space
will permit:
The receipts from customs, during
the fiscal yoar were, for the first time,
more than G4 million dollars. and from
all sources S73,918, al; which with
tho balance on hand up to the Ist July
1855, made the total resources Of tho
year to amount to 500, 850,117. The
expenditures, including three million
dollars in execution of the treaty with
Mexico, and excluding sums paid on
account Of the public debt amounted to
500, 172, 4O1; and including tho latter
to $T2, 948,792, the payment on this
account having amounted 10 $12, 49,
800.
On examining the expenditures ofthc
last FIVE years, it Will be seen that the
average, dcducting payments on ac-
count of the public debt and ten mil
lions paid by treaty to Mexico, has
been but about forty eight million dol
lars. 1t is believed that, under an C..
economical administration Of the gov
crnmcnt, the average expenditure for
the ensuing five years will not exceed
that sum,unless extraordinary occasion
for its increase should occur. The acts
granting bounty lands will soon have
been executed, while the extension of
our frontier settlements will cause a
continued demand for lands and aug
mcntcd receipts probably from that
source. These considerations will JUS
tify u reduction of the revenue from
customs, so 90 not to exceed forty eight
or fifty million dollars. | think the
cxigency for such reduction is impera-
tive, and again urge it upon the CON
sdcration Of Congress.
The army during the past year has
boon SO constantly employed against
hostile Indians in various quarters, that
it can scarcely be said with propriety
Of language, to have been a peace oS-
Enlistment. Its duties have been sat
isfactorily performed, and We have rca-
son to expect, as result Of the year (
operations, greater security Of the
frontier inhabitants than has been hi!h-
frto enjoyed. Extensive combina-
tons among the hostile Indians Of the
territories Of Washington and Oregon
at one time threatened the devastation
of the newly formed settlements Of that
remote portion Of tho country. From
recent information, sc are permitted to
hope that the cacrgetic aud successful
operations conducted there will prevent
such combinations ia the future, and
secure to those territories IN opportu-
nifty to make steady progress in the
development Of their agricultural re-
sources.
The President recommends lcgiGla-
ton to cure defects in the present or.
sanizatiou, and TO increase the e0ieieh.
cY Of The army: also q chanpe oc noli.