The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-12-23

produced So, ,053,95l; and the remainiler
was supplied by the appropriation from
the Treasury of $2,250,0OO granted by
the act Of Congress approved August 8,
1856, and by the appropriation of $685.
SS3 made by the act of March 8, 1857,
leaving $252,763 to be carried to the
credit of the department in the accounts
of the current year.
l commend to your consideration the,
report of the department in relation to the
establishment of the overland mail route
from the Mississippi river to San Fran
cisco, California. The route was selected
with my full concurrence, as the one, in
my Judgment best calculated to attain the
important objects contemplated by Con-
gress.
The late disastrous monetary revulsion
may have one good effect should it cause
both the government and the people to
return to the practice of wise and judi
cious economy both in public and private
expenditures.
An overfowing treasury has led to hab-
its of prodigality and extravaganza in our
legislation. 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 required to meet them by in
creased taxation 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, | pledge MY cooperation 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 necessa-
ry to accomplish important national OBJ
jects iRtrusted to US by the constitution,
and especially such as may be necessary
for the common defence. In the present
crisis of the country it is our duty to
con6ne our appropriations to objects of
this character, unless in cases where JUS
tice to individuals may demand differ
ent course. In all cases care ought to be
taken that the money granted by Congress
all be faithfully and economically rplied.
Under the federal constitution, "every
bill which shall have passed the House oil
Representatives and the Senate shall, be-
fore it becomes law" be approved and
signed by the President; and, if not ap-
proved, "he shall return it with his objec.
tions to that house in which it originated y
In order to perform this high and respor
sible duty, sufficient time must be allowed
the President to read and examine every
bill presented to him for approval. Un-
less this be afforded, the constitution be-
comes dead letter in this particular; and
even worse. it becomes means tf decep
ton. Our constituents, seeing the Presi
dents approval and signature attached to
each act of Congress, are induced to be-
leve that he has actually performed thi'
duty, when, in truth nothing is, in man,
cases, more unfounded.
From the practice of Congress, such al
examination of each bill as the Constitu
tion requires has been rendered impossi
BILE. The most important business of eacl
session is generally crowded into its las
/ hours, and the alternative presented I,
the President is either to violate the con
, stitutonal duty which be owes to the peo
pie, and approve bills which for want q
time, it is impossible he should have ex
| amined, or, by his refesa to do this, sub
: Iject the country and individuals 70 grea
. loss and Inconvenience. Te6
| Besides, practice has grown mp 0
/. late years to legislats in sppropriatio
, bills, at the last hours of the session, d
: new and important subjects. This prac
5 tice constrains the President either t
$ suffer measures to become laws which h
does not approve or to incur the risk .
, stopping the wheels of the government b
) vetoing an appropriation bill Formerl
such bills were confined to specific appre
/, priations for carrying into effect existing
: laws and the wel-established policy of tn
t country, and little time was then require,
: by the President for their examination
3 For my own part, have deliberatel
determined that / shall approve no bill
which l have not examined, and it vii
be case of extreme and most urgent ne
, eessity which shall ever induce me to de
, part from this rule / therefore respect
fully, but earnestly recommend that tn
two houses would allow the President a
least two days previous to the adjourn
ment of each session within which no new
bill shall be presented to him for approval
Under the existing joint rule one day i
allowed; but this rule has been hithert,
3 so constantly suspended in practice, tha
important bills continue to be presented
to him up till the very last moment of til,
session. In large majority Of the case
no great public Inconvenience can aris,
, from the want of time to examine thei
4 provisions, because the constitution ha
, declared that if a bill be presented to tn,
i President within the last ten days of th,
session, he is not required to return it
either with an approval or with q veto
.in which case it shall not be law"
j 1t may then lie over, and be taken ut
and passed at the next session. Grea,
Inconvenience would only be experienced
in regard to appropriation bills; but for
tunately. under the late excellent law al