The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1857-12-24

the invasion of a foreign enemy. The con-
stitution has, therefore, left nothing on this
point to construction but expressly requires
that "the United States Bhall protect each Of
them (the States) against invasion"
Now, If a military road over our own terri
tories be ndispensaby necessary TO enable
us TO meet and repel the invaders, it follows
as natural consequence not only that we
possess the power but &c is our imperative
duty 60 construct such q road. II would be
an absurdty to invest government with the
unlimited power TO make and conduct war,
and at the same time deny TO it the only means
Of reaching and defeating the enemy at the
frontier. Without such road it is quite evil
dent we cannot Uprotect" California and our
Pacific possessions "aganst Invasion" We
cannot by any other means transport men and
munitions of war from the Atlantic States in
sufficient time successfully 10 defend these
remote aud distant portions Of the Republic.
Experience has proved that the routes across
the lsthmus Of Central America are at best but
very uncertain end unreliable mode of COM
munication. But even if this were not the
case they would at once be closed against us
IN the event Of war with a naval power so
much stronger than our own us TO enable IL TO
blockade the ports at either end Of those
rou tes. After all, therefore we can only RELY
upon a military road through our own terri
tOries; and ever since the origin Of the gov
ernment Congress hae been in the practice Of
ippropriatng money from the public Treasu-
rY for the construction Of such roads.
THE TEXAS AND oILA ROUTE RECOMMENDED.
The difficulties and expense Of constructing
La military railroad TO connect our Atlantic aud
Pacific States have been greatly exaggerated,
The distance on the Arizona route near the
32d parallel Of north latitude, between the
: western boundaryof Texas on the Rio Gwnde
and the eastern boundary Of California on the
CoIoradoi from the best explorations nowwith-
in our knoWie dge does not exceed four humid
rcd and seventy miles, and the face Of the
country is, in the main, favorable. For OBJ
vious reasons the government ought not to
undertake the work itself by means Of lis own
agents. This ought 10 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 beneficial for the country.
, Provision might thus be made not only for
the safe, rapid and economical transportation
of troops and munitions Of war, but also for
the public mails. The commercial interests
IOf the whole country, both east and west
would be greatly promoted by such a road,
aud above ALL, it would be powerful addition
al bond of union. And although advantages
Of this kind, whether postal, commercial, or
Z political, cannot confer constitutional power,
yet they may furnish auxiliary arguments I'm
favor OF eXpediting a work which, I'm my
judgment, is clearly embraced in the war ma
king powers. For these reasons | commend
10 the friendly consideration Of Congress the
subject Of the P0cifc Railroad, without fl
nally committing myself to any particular
route.
STATE or THE TREASURY.
, Tho report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
Twill furnish detailed statement Of the c0uli-
tion Of the finances and Of tho respective
branches Of the public service devoIyed upon
that department Of the government.
By this report II appears that the amount Of
revenue received from all sources into the
treasury during the fiscal year ending the 30lh
June, lS57, was S6S ,63l ,5l3.G7, which
amount, with the balance Of SlJ,9Ol 1926 As, re-
naming in the treasury at the commencement
, of the year, made an aggregate for the service
Of the year Of SSS 532 $50 -.
The public expenditures for the fiscal year
ending June 2Oth, 1851 amounted TO $40, ,S22 =
! I2l So, of which S5,9l3S96.9l, were applied
to the redemption Of the public debt including
premium, leaving 10 the treasury at the COM
mencement Of the present. fiscal year, on the
LIST July, 1857, Sl7,u0,II42I
The receipts into The treasury for the first
, quarter of the present fiscal year, commencing
lst July, 1857, we're ~ 90 I,sl9 81, and the
estimated receipts Of the remaining three
quarters TO the Both June, $685. are S3j,7 $780,
900, making with the balance before stated an
I aggregate Of SIS 1853, ,93IOS for tle services OF
the present fiscal year.
The actual expenditures during the first
quarter Of the present fiscal year were S23 .,
. I7l4,52937, Of which $3.50 ,2i2.37 were ap
piled to the redemption Of the public debt, in
cludiug interest aud premium.
The probable expenditure Of the remaining
three quarters, TO Both June, 1858, ure SOL =
2I9, 5000, including Interest on the public
. debt, making an aggr gate Of S74,9G3 ,OJS.4l
. leaving an estimated balance in the treasury
at the close OF the present fiscal year oi
S425, ,s75.G7.
The amount Of the public debt at the com,
meucement Of the present fiscal year wa,
; $293, 600, ,OS6.90.
The'omount redeemed since the LIST Of July
} was $3.50 353.39- leaving a balance uure
. deemed at this time Of S25, 5,l65I5I5l.
The amount of estimated expenditures fo
!, the remaining three quarters Of the presen
y fiscal year will, In all probability, be increase,
/, from the causes sci forth i'm the report Of the
= Secretary. His suggestion, therefore, that au
. thurity should bo given TO supply any tempo
y rary deficiency by the issue Of a limited
70 amount OF treasury notes, Is approved, au'
i accordingly recommend the passage Of sucl
" a law.
As stated In the report Of the Secretary, tn
= tariff of March 3, 1857, has been I'm operation
Y for so short a period Of time, and under cir
J cumstances 50 uulavorabe to a just develope
- ment OF its results as a revenue measure tina
- huo Alu IeBafu IL as tApeulenLt az ltuhL 10
y the present, 10 undertake ifs revision.
= transmit herewith the reports made TO m
! by the Secretary Of War aud Of the Navy, o
the Interior aud the Postmaster General.
s They all contain valuable uud important inlOr
10 moiion'and suggestions which ! commend {
the favorable consideration Of Congress,
INCREASE or THE ARMY.
Mt have already recommended the raising O
n- four additional regiments, and the report q
w thesSecretary Of War presents sirOug reason
ed IprOVing this increase OF tho uTmy, unoe
IFS existing circumstance to be indispensable.
ct NEW WAR STEAMERS
I would Gull the special attention Of Con
al greFs to the recommendation Of the Secretar
ly Of the Navy In favor of the Construc ion d
H. ten small war steamers Of light draught Fo
oh some years the government has been oblige
Is on many occasions 10 hire such steamer
al from individuals 10 supply lis pressing wants
- Al the present time we have NO armed yes
Iiu sells In the navy which eau penetrate int
,le China. We have but few which can ente
he any Of the harbors south Of Norfolk Hlthoug
a. many millions Of foreign and domestic CON
merce annually pass in aud out OF those haI
bors. Some Of our most valuable points an
thus left exposed. This class Of vessels 4
ne light dmught, great speed, aud heavy gum
lt- would be formidable In coast defence. I'll
he cost OF their construction Will not be grea
sl aud they will require but a comparativel
small expenditure TO keep them In commission
ng Ina time Of peace they will prove as effective
or much larger vessels, aud Often more useful
gh One Of them should be at every static