The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-12-16


miles of post road, including 22,530 miles Of
railroad, on which the mails are transported.
The expenditures Of the post Office depart
ment for the fiscal year ending on the 30th June,
1851. as adjusted by the Auditor, amounted to
$lI,670, 000- To defray these expenditures
there was to the credit of the department on the
LIST July, 1856. the sum of $779, 599: the gross
revenue of the year, including the annual allow
ances for the transportation of free mail matter,
produced $8,053, 1851; and the remainder was
supplied by th-eappropriation from the Treasury
of $2,250,00O granted by the Act of Congress
approved August 18th. 1856, and by the appro-
priatIon Of $685. ,ee3, made by the Act of March
Sd, 1857, leaving $3.50, 1853 to be carried to the
credit of the department in the accounts of the
current year.. / m to your consideration
the report of the department in relation to the
establishment of the overland mail route from
the Mississippi river to San Francisco, Califor-
MIA. The route was selected with my full con-
currence as the one, in my judgment, best cal
culated to attain the important object conternpla-
ted by Congress.
The late disastrous monetary reyulsion NAV
have one good effect should it cause both the
Government and the people to return to the prac
tice of a wise and judicious economy both in
public and private expenditures.
An oyerhowing Treasury has led to habits of
HProdigallty and extrava gance in our legislation.
1t has induced Congress to make large appro-
priations to objects for which they never would
have provided had it been necessary to raise the
amount of revenue required to meet them by
A$A ocNa VI ny lOdQ6. W. aI6 now
compelled to pause in our career, and to scruti-
nize enr expenditures with the utmost vigilance;
and IN performing this duty, 1 pledge my CO.
operation to the extent of my constitutional
competency.
1t ought to be observed at the same time that
true public economy does not consist in with
holding the means necessary to accomplish inn
portant national objects intrusted to Us by the
Constitution, and especially such as may be nee
essary for the common defence. In the present
crisis of the country, it is our duty to confne
our appropriations to objects of this character,
unless in cases where Justice to individuals may
demand a different course. In all cases care
ought to be taken that the money granted by
shall be faithfully and economically
applied.
Under the Federal Constitution. eevery bill
which shall have passed the House of Represen-
tatives and the Senate, shall. before it becomes
a law" be approved and signed by the Presi-
dent and if not approved. che shall return it
with his objections to that house in which it
originated. In order to perform this high and
responsible duty, sufficient time Inust be al
lowed the President to read and examine every
bill presented to him for approval. Unless this
be afforded, the Constitution becomes a dead
letter IN this particular; and even worse, it be-
eomesa means of deception. Our Constituents
seeing the Presidents approval and signature
attached to each act of Congress, are induced to
believe that he has actually performed this du-
ty' when, In truth, nothing is. in many cases,
more unfounded.
From the practice OF Congress, such an ex-
of each bill as the Constitution re-
quires has been rendered impossible. The most
business of each session Is generally
crowded into its last hours, and the alternative
to the President is, either to violate
The constitutional duty which he owes to the
people and approve bills which, for want of
time, 1t 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
20 legislate IN appropriation bills at the last
arrrro Af fha 80
ects. This practice constrains the President
s1ther to suffer measures to become laws which
ne does not approve, or to incur the risk of stop
ping the wheels ofthe Government by yetoing
In appropriation bill. Formerly, such bills
we're confined to specific ppopriations for car
into effectexisting laws and the well es-
policy of the country, and little time
vas then required by the President for their
l.
For my own part. I have deliberately deter
mined thatI shall approve no bill which l have
lot examined, and 1t will be a case of extreme
nd most urgent necessity which shall ever in
luce me to depart from this rule. / therefore
esPectfully, but earnestly, that the
Houses would allow the President at least
days previous to the adjournment of each
ession within which no new bill shall be pre-
rule, one day is allowed; but this rule has I
.een hIthertoso constantly suspended in prac 4
ice that important bills continue TO be present :
d to him up to the very last moments of the I
cssAOA: 1dISe maJOIJIy OF caSeS,nO great 4
ublic Inconvenience can arise from the want of
to examine their provisions, because the
constitution has declared that if a bill be pre- !,
ented to the President within thelastt ten DAYS '
with an approval or with a veto, /" in ];
case it shall not be a law" It mayhem l
c over, and taken up and passed at the next
asslon. Great Inconvenience would only be !,
experienced IN regard to appropriation bills :
ut. fortunately. nnder the late excellent law /
a salary, instead ola per diem, to mem. !
ers of congress. the expense andinconvenienee |
+ a called session will be greatly reduced. f
/ cannot conclude without CONNIE nding to .
our favorable consideration the interests of the I
eople of this District. Without a representa- C
We on the ioorof Congress, they have for this
cry reason peculiar claims upon our Just re !
ard. To this / know, from my long acquain. q
nee with them, they are eminently entitled. /.
JAMES BUCHANAN. y
WASHINGTON, Dec. s. 1857.