Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-03
NUMBER 27.

express my cordial approval of the seuti-
mcnts imbodicd BY the President in his an
il,.al mes age, in which he deelars that
Nm OVERLOOKING treasury has led to
habits 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
i heen necessary to raise the amount Of
revenue required to meet them by increased
taxation or by loans. We are now com
PEELED to pause in our career, and to seru-
tlnlze our expenditures with the utmost
vigilance; and in performing this duty, I
pledge MY cooperation to the extent Of my
constitutional competency.
cit ought to be observed at the same
time that true public cconomydocs not con-
sist in withholding the means necessary TO
accomplish important national objects In
trusted to US by the constitution, and es-
ipecially such as may be necessary for the
common defence. In the present crisis of
the country it is our duty to confine our
appropriations to objects Of this character.
unless in cases where justice to individuals
may demand a different course In all
cases care ought to be taken that the money
granted by Congress shall be faithfully and
economically applied.
"Under the federal constitution. 'eyerv
bill which shall have passed the House of
Representatives and the Senate shall, be-
fore it becomes law be approved and
signed by the President; and, if not approx
led, he shall return it with his objections to
that house in which it originated In or
der to perform this high and responsible du 4
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
letter in this particular and even worse, it
becomes a means of deception. Our con-
stituents, seeing the Presidents approval
and signature attached to each act Of Con-
gress, are induced to believe that he has
actually performed this duty, when, in
truth, nothing is, in many cases, more un-
founded.
"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 ses-
sion is generally crowded into it's last hours.
and the alternative presented to the Presi-
dent is either to violate the constitutional
duty which he owes to the people, and APP
prove bills which, for want of time, it is
! impossible he should have examined, or,
by his refusal to do this, subject the coun-
TRY and individuals to great loss and incon-
|venlence.
Besides, practice has grown up of late
years to fcgislate in appropriation bills al
the last hours of the session on new and i'm
portant subjects. This practice constrainy
the President either to suffer measures to
become laws which he does rot approve, or
to incur the risk of stopping the wheels of
the government by Tetoing 81 appropria-
ton bill. Formerly, such bills were con
fined to specific appropriations for carrying
into effect existing laws and the wcll-es-
Itablished policy Of the country, and little
time was then required by the President
for their examination"
Conservative men Of all parties have ex-
pressed their appreciation of these senti,
ments and it should be the cause Of gratu-
lation with all that the President has adher-
ed to them with SO much frmness end cour-
Iage. His course at this session has saved
millions of dollars that would have been
Iuselcssly expended. It has given to the
country cleaner appropriation bills than we
have heretofore had during my service in
Congress He has in this respect inaug,i-
rated policy that will insure results i'm
Iportant to sound legislation, and of lasting
b. n fit to the people. 1t is practical mea-
sure, we'll calculated to bring about a much
needed economy in public expenditures.
For it he deserves the thanks of the people,
and they will be gratefully accorded.
So true friend to economy has the Pre-
sident shown himself, and so anxious is he
to secure it in his administration of the 60
vernment, that he has again, this day, in q
special message, endeavored to impress up
on Congress his views on this interesting
subject. Who can fail to endorse those
sentiments in his special message? Who
can hesitate to accord to them his entire
approval p?
"Advcrsity teaches useful lessons to ma
tons as well as individuals. The habit Of
extravagant expenditures fostered by a
large surplus in the treasury must now be
corrected, or the country will be involved
in serious financial difficulties.
"Under any form of government extrav-
agance in expenditu, e1must be the natural
consequence when those who authorize the
expenditure feel no responsibility in provi-
ding the means of payment. Such had been
for number of years our condition prcvi-
ously to the late monetary rcvulsion of the
country Fortunately, at least for the cause
OF public economy, the case is now revers-
ed !; and to the extent of the appropriations,
whatever these may be, engrafted on the
different appropriation bills, as we'll as those
made by private bills, over and above the
estimates of the different departments, it
will be necessary for Congress to provide
the means of payment before their adjourn
ment. Without this, the treasury will be
exhausted before the first of January. and
the public credit will be seriously impaired
This disgrace must not fall upon the coun-
try"
concluded ners Week.
AN INFIDEL CONVERTED.
Tho Enrl;ch oorroccorJo~x &c u.,