Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-12-17


act OF Congress approved August IS, 1856,
| and by the appropriation of $500, ,883 made by
the act of March 3, 1857, leaving 1852 ,663
to be carried to the credit of the department
in the accounts of the current year. | COM
mend to your consideration the report of the
department of the overland mail routes from
| the Mississippi river to San Francisco, Cali
fornla. The route was selected with my full
concurrence, as the one, in my Judgment, best
calculated to attain the important objects con-
| templated by Congress.
The late disastrous monetary revulsion may
have one good effect. should it cause both the
government and the people to return to the
practice OF q wise and judcious economy both
10 public and private expenditures
An orerflowng treasury has led to habits of
prodgality and extravaganza in our legislation
1t has induced Congress to make large appro-
prations to objects for which they never would
have provided had it been necessary to raise
the amount OF revenue required to meet them
by increased taxation or by loans We are
now compelled to pause in our career, and to
scrntinize our expenditures with the utmost
vigilance and in performing this duty pledge
my cooperation TO the extent of my constitu-
tiOnal competency.
1t ought to be observed at the same time
that true public economy does not consist in
withholding the means necessary to accomplish
important natiosal objects intrusted to US by
the constitution, and especially as much as may
be necessary for the common defence. In the
present crisis of the country it is our duty to
contne our appropriations to objects of this
character unless cases where Justice to individ-
uals may demand different course. Tn all
cases care ought to be taken that the money
granted by Congress shall be faithfully and
economically applied
Under the Federal Constitution every bill,
which shall have passed the house of Repre-
sentativeS and the Senate shall, before it be-
comes law" be approved and signed by the
President and, if not approved he shall re-
turn it with his objections to that house in
which it originated" In order to perform
this high and responsible duty sufficient time
must be allowed the President to read and ex-
anime every bill presented to him for approval
| Unless this be afforded, the Constitution be-
comes dead letter in this particular and
even worse, 1t becomes means of deception.
Our constituents, seeing the PreSdent's appro-
val and signature attached to each act of Con-
gress, are induced to believe that he has actu-
ally performed his duty, when, in truth, moth
ing IS, in many cases, more unfounded.
From the practice of Congress, such an eX-
animation of each bill as the Constitution re.
quires has been rendered impossible The
most important business of each session is gen
orally crowded into its last hours, and tie al
tentative presented to the President is either
to violate the constitutional duty which he
owes to the people. and approve bills which,
for want of time, it is impossible he should
have examined, or, by his refusal to do this,
subject the country and individuals to great
loss and Inconvenience.
Besides, a practice has grown up Of late
years TO legisate in appropriation bills. at the
last hours OF the session, on new and import
ant subjects This practice conStrains the
President either to suffer measures to become
laws which he does not approve,or to incur the
risk OF stopping the Wheels of the government
by vetoing an appropriation bill. Formerly
such bills were confined to specific appropria-
tlons for carrying into effect existing laws and
the we'll established policy of the country, and
little time was then required by the President
for their examination.
For my own part, | have deliberately deter
mined that | shall approve no bill which
have not examined, and it will be q case of
extreme and most urgent necessity which shall
ever induce me to depart from this rule |
therefore respectfully, but earnestly, recon-
mend that the two houses will allow the Pres
i'lent at least two days previous to the adjourn
ment Of each session within which no bill shall
be presented to him for approval Under the
existing joint rule one day is allowed but
this rule has been hitherto SO constantly sus-
pcuded in practice, that important bills contin-
tie to be presented to him up to the very last
moments of the session. In large majority
of eases no public Inconvenience can arise from
the want of time to examine their provisions,
because the constitution has declared that if a
bill be presented to the President within the
last ten days Of the session he is not required
to return it, either with approval or with a
veto " in which case it shall not be a law
1t may then lie over, and be taken up aud
passed at the next session. Great iEConveui-
ence wonld only be experienced in regard to
appropriation bills but fortunately, nnder the
late excellent law allowing a salary, instead Of
per diem, to members of Congress, the ex-
pense and Inconvenience of q called session will
he greatly reduced.
| cannot conclude without commencing to
your favorable consideration the interest Of
this District. Without representative on
the floor Of Congress, they have for this very
very reason peculiar claims upon our just re-
gard. TO this | know, from my long acquain-
tance with them, they are eminently entitled.
..-. ,......... JAMES BUCHANAN.
WASHINGTON, Dec. g. 1857.
N.rpow ESCAPE ON Tuesday afternoon