Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-12-16

ofpreserving our soil from the invasion of for
eign enemy. The Constitution has, therefore, lett
ho;nng on this point e sapstrlcon put express
each Of them 1.-THE Statesl against inyasion.-
NOW, II military road oyer our own Territories
be indispensably necessary to enable us to meet
and repel the invader, tfoilows as a necessary
consequence not only that we possess the power,
but 1t is our imperative duty, to construct sucn
road. 1t would be an absurdity to invest a gov,
ernment with the unlimited power to make ana
conduct war, and at the same time deny TO IL the
only means Of reaching and defeating the enemy
at the frontier. Without such road 1t Is quite
evident we cannot protect California anu our
Pacific possessions ''against invasion. We eau
not by any means transport men and munitions OF
war from the Atlantic States in suthcent tine SUI
cessfully to defend these remote and distant Por
lions ofthe republic.
Experience has proved that the routes across
the isthmus of Central America are at pest put q
very uncertain and unreliable mode OF communl-
cation. But even ii this were not the case, they
would at be closed against us In the event OF
war with a naval power so mach stronger IMAM
our own as to enable it TO blockade the ports az
either end OF those routes. After all, therelore,
we can only rely upon military ROAD through
our own territories and ever since the origin OIL
the government Congress has been in the practice
of appropriating money from the public treasury
for the construction of such roads.
The difficulties and the expense OF constructing
a military railroad to connect our Atlantic ana
Pacific States have been greatly exaggerated,G,
The distance on the Arizona route near the Szd
parallel of north latitude between the western
boundary of Texas on the Rio Grance and the cas-
tern boundary of California on the Colorado, from
the best explorations now within our knowledge,
does not exceed four hundred and seventy miles,
and the face of the country is, in the main, favor
able. For obvious reasons the government ought
not to undertake the work itself by means OF its
own agents. This ought to be committed to other
agencies, which Congress might assist either by
grants OF land or money, or by both, upon such
terms and conditions as they may deem most ben
eficial for the country. Provision might thus be
made not only tor the safe, rapid, and economical
transportation of troops and munitions OF war, but
also of the public mails. The commercial interests
of the whole country, both East and West, would
be greatly promoted by such road; and, above
all, it would be powerful additional bond Of un-
ion. And although advantages of this kind, whe-
Their postal, commercial, or political, cannot con-
fer constitutional power, yet they may furnish
auxiliary arguments in favor Of expediting work
which, in my Judgment, is clearly embraced within
the war-making power.
For these reasons commend to the friendly
consideration of Congress the subject of the Pacific
railroad, without finally committing myself to any
particular route.
The Report of the Secretary of the Treasury win
furnish detailed statement OF the condition of the
public finances and Of the respective branches OF
the public service devolved upon that department
OF the government. BY this report it appears that
the amount OF revenue received from all sources
into the treasury during the fiscal year ending the
S0th June, 1857, was sixty-eight million six hun
dred and thirty. one thousand five hundred and
thirteen collars and sxty-seveu cents, (6S63l 5l3
67) which amount, with the balance of nineteen
million nine hundred and one thousand three hun
dred and twenty-five dollars and forty-6ye cents,
(SlS,90l ,325 45,) remaining in the treasury at the
commencement of the year, made an aggregate for
the service OF the year of eightv-Cne million five
hundred and thirty-two thousand eight hundred
and thirty mine dollars and twelve cts, (SsS, 6S2,
$50 I'D
The public expenditures for the fiscal year end
ing 30th June, 1857, amounted to seventy million
eight hundred and twenty-five thousand seven hun
dred and twenty -four dollars and eighty-ive cts,
l70,s22, IA S5,) Of which five million nine hun
dred and forty-three thousand eight hundred and
ninety dollars and ninetyone cents (5,94S, 1896
9l( were applied to the redemption Of the public
debt, including interest and premium, leaving in
the treasury at the commencement of the present
fiscal year on the LIST July, 1857, seventeen million
seven hundred and ten thousand one hundred and
fourteen dollars and twenty cents, ISL,
27.)
The receipts into the treasury for the first quar-
Ter OF the present tisca! year, commencing LIST july
1851, were twenty million nine hundred and twenty
nine thousand eight hundred and nineteen dollars
and eighty -one cents, $780, 929, $40 81, and the
estimated receipts of the remaining threequarters
to the 3OtA June, 1857, thirty-six millions
en- hundred and fifty thousand dollars, (S36, $780,,
0O0,) making with the balance before stated an
aggregate Of seventy-five million three hundred
and eighty-nine thousand nine hundred and thirty
four dollars and eight cents (S75, $780, for the
service Of the present fiscal year.
The actual expenditures during the first quarter
of the present fiscal year were twenty million
seven hundred and fourteen thousand five hundred
and twenty eight dollars and thirty-seven cents,
(23, 7l452S 81, of which three million eight hun
dredand ninety-five thousand two hundred and
thirty-two dollars and thirty mine cents (S3, $685.
232 39) were applied to the redemption of the pub
ncuSg n.ere as RETAINING three
70 S1G ane, 1885, are ftyone million two
hundred and forty-eight thousand five hundred
and thirty dollars and four cents, ($5l $50 04)
including interest on the public debt, making an
aggregate Of seventyfour million uine hundred and
sixtythree thousand fifty-eight dollars and forty
one cents, (S74, 1858, 05S H. leaving an estimated
balance in the treasury at the close of the present
fiscal year of four hundred and twenty-six thou
sand eight hundred and seventy-fve dollars and
sixty-seven cents, (S426, S75 67.) '.tt
The amount Of the public debt at the commence
ment Of the present fiscal year twenty-nne mil
lions sixty thousand three hundred and eighty-six
dollars and ninety cents, (S29, 060, 1856 90.)
The amount redeemed since the 1st of July was
three million eight hundred and ninety-ive thou
sand two hundred and thirty two dollars and thir-
ty-nine cents (S3,s95, 232 39)-leaying balance
hundred and sixty-fve thousand one hundred and
ffsy-four dollars and tiftyone cents, (S25, 1885,
l4 5l.)
The amount of estimated expenditures for the
remaining three quarters ofthe present fiscal year
will, in all probability, be increased from the
ses set forth in the report of the Secretary. His
suggestion, therefore, that authority should be
given to supply any temporary deficiency by the
issue OF limited amount OF treasury notes, is APP
proved, and accordingly recommend the passage
of such law.
As stated in the report of the Secretary, the ia
riff of March 3, 1857, has been in operation for
short period of time, and under circumstances
so unfavorabe to just development of its results
as a revenue measure, that should regard it as
inexpedient, at least for the present. to undertake
its revision.
/ transmit herewith the reports made to me by
the Secretary of War and of the Navy, of the In
terror and of the Postmaster General. They all
contain valuable and important information and
suggestions which commend to the favorable
consideration of Congress.
have already recommended the raising Of four
additional regiments, and the report of the Secre-
tary of War presenss strong reasons, proving this
increase of the army, under existing circunstan-
ces, to be indispensable.
would call the especial attention Of Congress
TO the recommendation Of the Secretary OF the
Navy in favor of the construction of ten small war
steamers of light draught. For some years the
government has been obliged on many occasions
to hire such steamers from individuals to supply
its pressing wants. At the present moment we
have no armed vessel in the navy which can pene-
trate the rivers of China. We have but few which
can enter any of the harbors south of Norfolk, al
though many millions of foreign and domestic COM
merce annually pass in and out of these harbors.-
Some of our most valuable interests and most vul-
nerable points thus left exposed This class of
vessels Of light draught, great speed, and heavy
guns, would be formidable in coast defence. The
cost of their construction will not be great, and
they viii require but comparatively small expen-
diture to keep them in commission. In time of
peace they win prove as effective as much larger
vessels, and often more useful. One of them should
be at every station where we maintain a squadron,
and three or four should be constantly employed
on our Pacific coast Economy, utility, and eff
cheney combine to recommend them as almost in
6ispensable Ten of these small vessels would be
of incalculable advantage to the naval SERVICE and
the whole cost Of their construction would not ex