The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-10

mia and cur Pacific possessions "against lnva'
sion" We cannot by any other means trans
port men and munitions of war from the Atien
tic States in sufficient time successfully to oe
fend these remote and distant portions OF the
Republic.
Experience has proved that the routes across
the isthmus Of Central America are at best ou'
a very uncertain and unreliable mode OF COM
munication. But even if this were not the case,
thew would at once be closed against us In the
event of war with a naval Power so much
stronger than our own as to enable it to block
ade the ports at either end of these routes Alter
all, therefore, we can only rely upon military
road through our own Territories; and ever
since the origin of the Government, Congress
has been in the practice of eppropriating money
from the public treasury for the construction OF
such roads.
The difficulties snd the expense OF construct
ing military railroad to connect our Atlanta
and Pacific States have been greatly exagger-
ated. The distance on the Arizona route, near
the 32d parallel of north latitude, between the
western boundary Of Texas on the Rio Grande
and the eastern boundary of California on the
Colorado, from the best explorations now with,
in our knowledge, does not exceed four hundred
and seventy miles, and the face of the country
is, in the main, favorable. For obvious reasons,
the Government ought not to undertake the
work itself by means of It's own agents. Inns
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 con-
ditions as they may deem most beneficial tor
the country. Provision might thus be made
not only for the safe, rapid, and economical
transportation of troops and munitions OF
war, but also of the public mails. The com
mercial interests of the whole country, both
IL he ~ tod hu
such a road and, above all, it would be pow
erful additional bond of union. And although
advantages of this kind, whether postal, COM
mercial, or political, cannot confer constitution
al power, yet they may furnish auxiliary argu-
ments in favor of expedting a 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 my
self to any particular route.
The report Of the Secretary of the Treasury
will furnish detailed statement of the condi-
ton 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 3Oth June,
1851, was sixty eight million six hundred and
thirty-one thousand five hundred and thirteen
dollars and sixtyseven cents, 1868 ,63l 1851
which amount, with the balance of nineteen
million nine hundred and one thousand three
hundred aud twenty-five dollars and forty five
cents, (Sl9, 90l, 1925 45,) remaining in the treas
ury at the com mencement of the year, made an
aggregate for tie service of the year of eighty
eight million five hundred and thirty-two thou
sand eight hundred and thirty nine dollars and
twelve cents. 1888, 532 839l2)
The public expenditures for the fiscal year
ending 30th June, 1857, amounted to seventy
million eight hundred aud twenty-five thousand
seven hundred and twenty-four dollars and
eighty-fv cents, (S70,822, 724 S5,) of which
five million nine hundred and forty three thou
sand eight hundred and ninety-six dollars and
ninety-one cents ($5,943, 1896 9l) were applied
to the redemption of the public debt, including
interest and premium, leaving in the treasury
at the commencement of the present fiscal
year, On the lst July, 1857, seventeen million
seven hundred and ten thousand one hundred
and fourteen dollars and twenty seven cents
($l7,7l0, ll4.27)
The receipts into the treasury for the first
quarter of the present fiscal year, commencing
LIST July, 1857, were twenty million nine hun.
dred and twenty nine thousand eight hundred
and nineteen dollars and eighty-one cents,
l,J
the remaining three quarters, to the 3Oth June,
1853, are thiriy-six million seven hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, 1886, 75O, OOO,) making
with the balance before stated an aggregate of
seventy.fve million three hundred and eighty
nine thousand nine hundred and thirty -four dol.
lars and eight cents, (S75, 389, 93408,) for the
service of the present fiscal year.
The actual expenditures during the first quar-
ter of the present fiscal year we're twenty-three
million seven hundred and fourteen thousand
five hundred and twauty.eght dollars and thirty
seven cents, 1923, 4,528.37,) of which three
million eight hundred end ninety.fve thousand
two hundred and thirtytw dollars and thirty
| nine cents (S3, 1895, 232 39) were applied to the
redemption of the public debt including inter
est and premium. The probable expenditures
of the remaining three quarters, to Both June,
1853, are ffty.one million two hundred and
forty.eight thousand five hundred and thirty
dollars and four cents, 1851 ,248, $1,000, inclu
ding interest on the public debt making an
aggregate Of seventy. four million nine hundred
and sixty-three thousand ffty-eight dollars and
| forty-one cents, (S74 963, 058.4l;) leaving an
estimated balance in the treasury at the close
of the present fiscal year of four hundred and
twenty-six thousand eight hundred and seventy
five dollars and sXty-seven cents, (S426 875.67.)
The amount of the public debt at the
! COMMENCEMENT vi Tue preSeuJ ueCai year WAS
twenty nine million eixty thousand three hun
dred ard eighysix dollars aud ninety cents,
| ($29,060, 1886 90.)
! Inc amount redeemed since the Isl of July
was three million eight hundred and ninety five
thousand two hundred and thirty.two dollars
and thirty nine cents, (S3,895, 232.39) leaving
a balance unredeemed at this time of twenty
five million one hundred and sixty Fl ye thousand
one hundred and ff, Y four dollars and fifty one
cents 1925, l65, l54 5l)
! The amount of estimated expenditures for
the remaining three quarters of the present fs-
cal year will, in all probability, be increased
from the causes set forth in the report of the
Secretary. Ills suggestion therefore, that au-
thor'ty should be given to supply any Temporal
| ry deficiency by the issue of limited amount
OF Treasury notes, is approved, and according
~ recommend the passage of such a law.
AS stated in the report of the Secretary, the
tariff of March 3, 1851 has been in operation for
so short period of time, and under circum-
stances so unfavorable to a just development OF
its results as revenue measure, that should re-
gard 1t as inexpedent at least for the present. to
/ undertake its revision.
| transmit herewith the reports made to me by
| the Secretaries of War and of the Navy of the
| Interior, and of the Postmaster General. They
| all contain valuable and important information
and suggestions which commend to the favor
able consideration of Congress
| l have already recommended the raising OF
| four additional regiments, and the report of the
! Secretary OF War presents strong reasons proving
this increase of the army, under existing circum-
| stances, to be indispensable.
| would call the special 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,