The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-12-23
NUMBER So

336 miles; and in the year 1887 there were
2i2, 69I miles OF The post road, including 22,.
$50 miles Of railroad, on which the mails are
transported.
The whole number OF Indians within onf
territorial limits is believed TO be. from ths
bes, data in the Interior Department, about
$4,000.
The tribes of Cherokees, Choctaws, Chic
kasaws, aud Creeks, seled in The territory
So, apart for them west Of Arkansas, are rap
idly advancing in education and in all Ihs
arts Of civilization and government; and
We may indulge the agreeable anticipation
that n, no very distant day they will be IN
corpotaled into the Union as QUE of the SOW
ereiau States.
II will be seeu from the report Of The Post
master Gen'l that the Post Office department
still continues to depend on the Treasury,
as ii has Oeen compelled TO do Tor several
years past, for an important portion oi tho
me ans of sustaining and extending its OPERA
tlous Their rapid growth and expansion
are shown by decennial tIs,ement oi ths
number of post offices, and the length ol post
roads commencing with the yeat 1921. Ia
thu, year there were 1000 post offices; in
1897, IL, III in 1917, l5 ilG; and in 1887
they number 90, 5S6. In tbs year | 725 poe,
Offices have been established and 70i die.
continued, leaving met increase OF l,0ei
rhe posmasieIs OF 363 offices are sppon,ed
ty the President
The expenditures OF the department for the
fiscal year ending on The 30th June, 1857,
rs adjusted by the Auditor, amounted 10
Sll ,507 90. To defray tn ese expenditures.
there was to the credit of the department on
the Isl July, 1853, lhe sum OF 1878, 500, the
gross revenue OF the year, including the an.
| nual allowances for the transportation OF fres
! free mail matter, produced $3,053, ,s5i; aud
the remainder was supplied by The appropri.
alton from the treasury of S2,250 600 gran.
ted by the acl of Congress approved August
is, 1856, and BY the appropriation of $685..
Ss3 made by the &C, OF March 3,IS57. leav-
! ing $685., 1853 10 be carried 10 the department
| in the accounts of the current year. ! COM
mend TO your consideration The report Of the
! department in relation to the establishment
of the overland mail roule from the Missis.
sipp river 10 San Francisco, California. The
route was selected with my full concurrence
as the one, in my judgment, bes, calculated
10 attain the important objects contemplated
by Congress.
| The late disastrous monetary revolutions
may have one good effect should il cause
! both The government and the people 10 return
! TO The practice of wise and judicious econ.
omy both in public and private expenditures.
An overaowing treasury has led TO habiIs
Of prodigalily and exlravagance in our lesis-
lation. 1t has induced Congress 10 make
large appropriations 10 objects for which
, they never would have provided had il been
necessary 10 raise the amount OF revenue rs.
quireI 10 meet them by increased taxation
or by loans. We are now compelled 10 pause
in our career, and 10 scrulinize our expendi-
lures with The utmost vigilance and in per-
forming this duly, pledge my co operation
to the extent Of my constitutional compe,en.
cy.
Il ought 10 Ge observed, at The same time,
lla, true public economy does not consist in
Withholding The means necessary 10 accom-.
plish impouanl national objects inlrusied 10
us by the Constitution, and especially such
as may be necessary for The common de-
tsnce. In the present crisis Of the country
il is our duty 10 coufne our appropriations
10 objects OF This character, unless ia cases
where juslce 10 individuals may demand q
different course. In all cases, care ought 10
be taken that the money granted by Congress
shall bs faithfully aud economically applied.
Under the federal Constitution, "every bill
! which shall have passed the House of Repfe.
sen'alives and The Senate shall, before il be-.
/ comes law" be approved aud signed by
the Presiden'; and, if not approved, che shall
return ii with his objections TO that House in
which it oTigmaed.' In order 10 perform
his high aud responsible duty, sufficient,
time must be aowd Ihe Pfesiden, 10 read
and examine every bill presented 10 him for
approval. Unless this be afforded, the Con-
slilution becomes dead letter in this par
tIcuiar; and even worse, il becomes a means
ot deception. Our constituents, seeing The
Presidents approval aud signature attached
10 each Act OF Congress, are induced 10 be.
/ Ileve that he has actually performed this du-
ty, when, in truth, EoIhing is, in many cases,
more uniounded.
From The practice of Congress, such an
examination of each bin as the Consultation
requires, has beenrendered impossible. Ths
most important business OF each session is
genery crowded into its last hours aud the
alternative presenled to the President is eilh.
er 10 violate the constitutional duty which
he owes 10 The people, and approve bills
which, for want of time, it is impossible he
should have examined or by his refusal 10
do this subject the couutry and individuals
10 great loss and Inconvenience.
Besides. practice has grown up of late
years 10 lsgisla'e in appropriation biIls,. at the
last hours ofihe season, ou new and impor.
iant subietcs. This practice constr aims the
Dresdant aithar IN euHa.