Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-12-31
The failure TO pass the Pos, once hnl uece..


alton bills necessary 10 carry on the government,
may not only arrest US action, but might even
destroy its existence. The army, the navy, the
judciary-in short, every department of the gov
ernment-cau no longer perform their functions
II Congress refuse the money necessary TOR their
support. II this failure should teach the country
the necessity Of eecting a full Congress IN
sufficient time TO enable the president to con-
veue them in any emergency, even Immediately
after the old Congress has expired, II Will nave
been productive of great good Ia time of
sudden and alarming danger, foreign or domestic,
which all nations must expect to encounter in
their progress, the very salvation of cur institu'
tons may be staked upon the assembling of Con-
gress without delay. II, under such crcum-
stances, the president should find himself in the
condition in which he was placed at the close Of
the last Congress, with nearly half the states Of
the Union destitute of representatives, the conse'
queuces might be disastrous. |, therefore, recon-
mend to Congress 10 carry into effect the pro-
visions of the constitution on this subject, and 10
pass a law appointing some day previous TO the
4th OF March 10 each year of odd mum Der for the
election of representatives throughout all the
states. They nave already appointed day for
the election of electors for president and vice
president, and this measure has been approved by
the country.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
would again express 4 most decided opinion
in favor Of the construction of a Pacific railroad,
for the reasons stated IN my last two annual
messages When reflect upon what wolld be
the defenseless condition Of our states and terri
tories west OF the Rocky Mountains in case OF
war with a naval power sufficiently strong 20
interrupt all intercourse with them by the routes
across the Isthmus, am still more convinced
than OF the vast importance OF this railroad.
| nave never doubted the constitutional compe-
tency CT Congress TO provide for its construction,
but this exclusively under the war making power.
Besides, tie constitution expressly requires, as
an imperative duty, that "the lutte States shall
protect each of them (the states) against inva-
SION" | am at O loss TO conceive how this pro-
lection eau b. afforded TO California and Oregon
against such naval power by any other means.
| repea. the opinion contained in my last annual
message, that It would be ineNpedient for the
government to undertake this great Work by
agents Of lis own appointment AMI under lis
direct sbd exclusive contTo. Inis would increase
the patronage of the executive 10 a dangerous
extent, aud would foster system oil JObDing and
corruption when no vigilance on the part Of
federal ofiici could prevent. The construction
of this road ought, therefore, 10 D. entrusted 10
incorporated companies, or other agencies Who
would exercise tDAt ecINe ami Nisilaut super
VISION over II winch can be INSPIRED only by
sense OF corporate ana individual interest.
veuture to assert that the additional cost OF
Transporting troop, munitions of war, and nece,-
Sary supplies for toe army across tue vast inter-
vening plains TO our possessions IN tue Pacific
coast wsud be greater III sucn war than the
whole amount required 10 construct the road.
Aud YET This resort would, after all, be inadequate
ior their defense and protection.
We have yet scar, ely recovered from the habits
OF eXrayag4nt expenditure, produced by our
oveifi lwing treasury, duriOg several years PRIOR
To the commencement OF nv administration
Tee financial reverses which we have since ex.
perieucsd ought 10 teach u al % scTutiuize our
expendr ures win tie greatest vigilance, and TO
reGuce them 10 the lowest possible point. The
executive departments OF the government have
devoted themselves 10 the accom- plis hment of this
orjscE with considerable success, as Will appear
from their different reports and estimates. To
tgese | invite the scfuuuy OF Congress, Tor the
purpose OF reducing them still lower 1t tbs be
precucAbe, consistent vita the great public
Interests OF the country. In aid OF tue policy Of
retrtnchment, pledge myself 70 examine closely
the bills appruprlatng lands or money, 81 that If
any OF tnese should inadvertently pass both
souses, as must sometimes be the case, | may
afford them an opportunity for RECOMMENDATION.
AT the same time We ought never TO forget that
true public economy consists not in Withholding
the means necessary TO accomplish important
Datohai objects connded 10 by the constitution
but in ny care that the money appropriated
for these purposes SHALL be faithfully ana
expended.
ADDITIONAL REVENUE REQUIRED.
1t Will appear iron the report OF the secretary
Of the treasury that IL is extremely doubtful, TO
say the least, whether We Saall De able 10 pass
through the present and the next fiscal year
without providing additional revenue. This can
only be accomplished Dy strictly cOntning the
appropriations within the estimates OF the differ
emf departments. without making al allowance
for any additional expenditures which Congress
may think proper, IN their discretion, 10 authorize,
ard without PROVE Ing for the redemption of any
portion Of the $50 600 900 OF treasury notes which
| have been already issued. In tue event OF def
cheney which consider probable this ought never
| 10 be supplied ny resort - additional loans.
II would be runous practice in the days Of peace
and prosperity TO 20 on increasing the patonal
debt to meet the ordinary expenses OF the gov
eminent. This policy would cripple our re-
| sources and impair our credit in the exist.
ence OF war should render II necessary 10 borrow
| money. Should such a deficiency occur as ap-
| prehend, would recommend that the necessary
| revenue De raised by an increase OF our present
| duties on ports. need not repeat the opin-
| ions expressed in my last annual message as 10
| the best mode and manner of accomplishing this
| object, and shall nov merely observe that these
| have since und .rgOne no change.
The report of the secretary of the treasury will
| explain in detail the operations OF that d, part
| ment Of the government
| RECEIPTS INTO THE TREASURY.
The receipts into the treasury from all sources
| during the fiscal year ending 3Oth June, 1879
including the loan authorized by the act OF Ian
| June, lSJS sud the issues OF treasury notes
authorized by existing laws, were Ssl 6J2 AL .0l
| which sum, win the balance of S0,5Js $40 lU re
| naming 10 tue treasury at the commencement oi
| that fiscal year, inside an aggregate Tor the serv
| ice OF the wear OF SIS go 7S7 IL.
Inc public expenditures during the hscal wear
| 5ll.J7. OF this sum 81, i15 2Sj "A were applied
| 10 the payment of interest on the publ debt and
| the redemption of the issues OF treasury notes
| The expenditures for all other branches OF the
| puohc service during that fiscal year were there
| fore 500 3i6, 226 H.
The balance remaining in the tr, asury on the
| lst July, 1889, being the commencement OF the
| present fiscal year, was 81 339 27554.
The receipts into The treasury during the frs
quarter of the present fiscal year. commencing
July /, 1853, were 0,6lS, So IS. or this amour
50 SCI 800 was received on account Of the loar
and the issue of treasury notes.-the amount o
Sic. 1871, a65. So having been received during tn,
| quarter from the ordinary sources of pubic reve.
nue. The estimated receipts for the remaining
three quarters of the present fiscal year 10 30tl
| June, 1860, are S50,426. 400. OF this amour
1t is estimated that $3.50 400 will be received
for treasury notes which may be re issued IN de
the filth section of the act OF 80 March last
and one million one hundred and seventy thou
sand dollars Isl, 40 00O) on account of the oar
authorized by the act OF June Ii, lSjs-makinl
six million nine hundred and twenty SIX thous anC
four hundred dollars (s6, 926, 4O0) from these ex
| tranrdluarV and hr,a MILAN n.