Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-06-18
a ns'..s. from the Frssidsat-conaision of


the Treasury.
The President on the 12h ult., sent inte Con-
gress message on the condition Of the nation
al finances. After speaking Of the insufficient
ey of the appropriations heretofore asked by
the Secretary Of the Treasury, be says:
g Adversely teaches useful lessons to nations
as well as individuals. The habit Of extrava.
CANT expenditures, fostered BY large surplus
in the Treasury, must now be corrected, or the
country will he involved in serious financial
difficulties. Under sJy form Of Government,
extrsysgaHee in expenditure must be the natur.
al consequences, wbeL those who authorize the
expenditures teei no responsibility in providing
the meaLs OF payment. Saeh had been for a
number Of yearB cur condition, previously to
the monetary revHlsioh in the country. For
tunetely, at least for the cause Of public econ
omy, the case is reversed; and to the extent Of
the appropriations. Whsiever these nav be,
engrafted on the different appropriation bills,
as well as those made BY private bills, and
above the estimates oP the different Depart
ments, It will be necessary for Congress to pro-
vide the means Of payment before their adi0urn-
nent. Without this the treasury will be ex
Aausted before tire 1st Of January, and the pub
lie credit will be seriously impaired. This
disgrace must not fall upon the country.
1t is impossible sDr NE, however, now to
ascertain this amount; nor does there at pres
ent seem to be The least probability that this
can be done, and the necessary means provided
by Congress to meet any deficiency which may
exist in the treasury. before Monday next at
II O'Clock, the hour fixed for the adjournment,
II being now Saturday morning az half-pssi
eleven O'Clock. To accomplish this object, the
appropriation bills, as they shall have finally
parsed by Congress. must be before me, and
time must be allowed to ascertain the amount
OF the m lney appropriated, and te enable Con-
gress 70 provids the necessary means. At this
writing, it is understood that several Of these
bills are yet before the Committee Of Confer
enee, and the amendments to some Of them have
not even been printed. FJresesing that such
state of things might exist at the close Of the
session, stated in the annual message to Coh-
gress-
[ Here follows a quotation from the annual
message, in which the President declared bis
determination to approve no bill which be bad
not examined
q The preseIt condition Of tie Treasury ab-
sOlutely requires that | should adhere to this
resolution en- the present occasion, for the rea-
sons which | have heretofore presented.
10 former times, it was believed to be the
true character OF an apPTOpristi0n bill simply
to carry into effect existing laws, AID the es-
tablished policy of the country. A practice,
has, however, grown up Of late years to ingrsft
On such bills at the last hours Of the session
large appropriations fer new and important OBJ
Jscts not provided for BY e-existing laws, and
no time is left 20 the Executive for their exam-
inatien and investigation. No alternative is
thus left to the Presicent, but either to approve
measures without examination, or, BY vetoing
an appropriation Eli, seriously to embarrass
the operation Of the Government. This prac-
tiee could never have prevailed without a sur
plus in the Treasury sufficiently large to cover
an indefinite amount of appropriations. Ne
cessity now compels US to arrest it, a, least 80
far as to afford time to ascertain the amount sp
propristed, and to provide the means Of pay
ment.
For all these reasons, Ireeonmend to Con-
gress to postpone the day OF adjournment for
brief period. promise that not an hour shall
be lest 10 sscertsining the amount of appropri
atioBs made by them, for which it will be ne
cesssTy to provide. | know it will be incon-
venient for the members to attend a called ses-
sien, and this, above all things, desire to
avoid. JAMES BUCHANAN"
WAsHIssToE CITY, June II, is5s.