Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1857-12-19

the 1st Of July, 1856, the sum Of $789 500 T;
the gross revenue of the year, including the
annual allowances for the transportation of
free mail matter, produced $8, O53, 95l; and
the remainder was supplied by the appro-
priation from the treasury Of $2,256,0OO,
granted by the act Of Congress, approved
August, 1856, and by the appropriation of
$500, 1888 made by the act of March g., 1857,
leaving 1882, 1853 to be carried to the credit
of the department in the accounts of the
current year. | commend to your conside-
ration the report Of the over land mail route
from the Mississippi river to San francisco,
California. The route was selected with nv
full concurrence, as the one, in my iudg-
ment, best calculated to attain the impor
tant objects contemplated by Congress.
The late disastrous monetary revulsion
may have one good effect should it cause
both the government and the people to re-
turn to the practice of wise and iudicious
economy both in public and private expen-
ditures. y
An overaowing treasury has led to habits
of prodigality and extravaganza in our leg
islation. 1t has induced Congress to make
large appropriations to objects for which
they never would have provided had it been
necessary to raise the amount of revenue re-
quired to meet them by an increased taxa
ton or by loans. We are now compelled
to pause in our career, and to scrutinize our
expenditures with the utmost vigilance; and
in performing this duty, l 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
withholding the means necessary to accom-
plish important national objects intrusted
to us by the constitution, and especially
such as may be necessary for the common
defence. In the present crisis of the coun-
try it is our duty to confne our appropria-
tions to objects of this character, unless in
cases where justice to individuals may de-
mand different course. In all cases care
ought to be taken that the money granted
by Congress shall be faithfully and econom-
ically applied.
Under the Federal Constitution, &c every
bill which shall have passed the House Of
Representatives and the Senate shall, before
it becomes law, be approved and signed
by the President; and, if not approved,
6 he shall return it with his objections to
that house in which it originated" In Or
der to perform his high and responsible du-
ty, sufficient time must be allowed the Pres
ident to read and examine every bill pre-
sented to him for approval. Unless this be
afforded the constitution becomes dead let
ter in tn particular; and even worse, it be-
comes means Of deception. Our constitu-
ents, seeing the Presidents approval and
signature attached to each act Of Congress,
are induced to believe that he has actually
performed his duty, when, in truth, nothing
is, in many cases, more unfounded.
From the practice of Congress, such an
examination of each bill as the constitution
requires, has been rendered impossible. -
The most important business of each SEES
sion is generally crowded into its last hours,
and the alternative presented to the Presi-
dent is either to violate the constitutional
duty which he gives to the people, and ap-
prove bills which, for want Of time, it is i'm
possible he should have examined or, by his
refusal to do this, subjects the country
and individuals to great loss and inconve-
nience.
Besides, practice has grown up of late
years to legislate in appropriation bills, at
the last hour Of the session, and new and
important 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 appropriations for carrying into ef-
feet existing laws and the we'll established
policy of the country, and little time was
then required by the President for their ex-
animation.
For my own part, have deliberately de
termlned that shall approve no bill which
| have not examined, and it will be case
81 extreme and most urgent necessity which
shall ever induce me to depart from this
rule. I therefore respectfully, but earnestly
recommend that the two houses would allow
the President at least two days previous to
the adjournment of each session within
which no new bill shall be presented to him
for approvnls Under the existing joint rule
one day is allowed; but this rule has been
hitherto so constantly suspended in practice,
that Important bills continue to be present.
ed to him up till the very last moments Of
the session: In large majority of cases no
great public inconvenience can arise from
the want Of time to examine their proyis-
ions, because the constitution has declared
that it bill be presented to the President
within the last ten days of the session he is
not required to return it, either with an ap-
prevail or with a veto, "in which case it
shall not be law" 1t may then lie over,
and be taken up and passed at the next ses-
sion. Great inconvenience would only be
experienced in regard to appropriation bills:
but, fortunately, under the late excellent
law allowing a salary instead of per diem,
to members Of Congress, the expense and in.
convenience of called session will be great
ly reduced.
l cannot conclude without recommending
to your favorable consideration The interests
of the people of this District. Without a
representative on the floor Of Congress, they
have for this very reason peculiar claims
upon our just regard. To this know, from
long acquaintance with them, they are emf
nently entitled.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 1857.
For THE SENAToRsHIP.- CORES
pondent Of the Iowa City Republican
suggests VIM. Penn Clarke, of that
place, for the Senatorship, and the ed