Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-12-29

lay. II under such clrcunslan the ffoei-
dent should end himself IN lbe 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 con.
sequences might be disastrous I, therefore,
recommend to Congress- 70 carry into effect
the provisions Of tho Constitution on this
subject, and TO pass law appointing some
day previous 10 the 4th Of March in each
year Of odd number for the election Of repre-
sentatives throughout all the States. They
have already appointed day for the election
Of electors for President and Vice President,
and this measure has been approved by the
country.
/ would again express a most decided
opinion in favor Of the construction Of Pa
ciiic railroad, for the reasons stated ia my
two last annual messages. When | reflect
upon what would DO the deienceless condi-
ton Of our States and Territories west Of the
Rocky Mountains in case Of war with a ma
vel power sufficiently strong to interrupt all
intercourse with them by the routes across
the Isthmus, | am still more convinced than
ever Of the vast importance OF this railroad.
have never doubted tae constitutional COM
potency Of Congress TO provide for lis con-
struction, but this exclusively under the war
making power. Besides, the Constitution
expressly requires, as an imperative duty,
that "the United States shall protect each Of
them the States against INVASION" am
at loss to conceive how this protection can
be afforded TO California and Oregon against
such u naval power by any other means.
repeat the opinion contained in my last an
nual message, that il would be inexpedient
e. - a., lraN q
work by agents Of its own appointment and
under its direct and exclusive control. This
would increase the patronage Of the Execu-
tive 10 dangerous extent, and would foster
a system Of jobbing and corruption which no
vigilance on the part Of the Federal officials
could prevent. The construction Of this
road ought, therefore, to be intrusted to in.
corporate companies, or other agencies, who
would exercise that active and vigilant SUI
pervision over il which can be inspired alone
/ by sense Of corporate and individual inter.
est. venture to assert that the additional
cost Of transporting troops, munitions o
war, and necessary supplies for the army a
cross the vast intervening plains to our pos
sessions ON the Pacific coast would be great
er in such war than the whole amount re
quired to construct the road. And yet thii
resort would, after all, be inadequate for thei
defense and protection.
We have yet scarcely recovered from thl
habits of extravagant expenditure, produced
/ by our overilowing Treasury, during severa
years prior to the commencement Of my ad
ministration. The financial reverses whicl
we have since experienced ought to teach u
all to scrutinize our expenditures with tn
greatest vigilance, and to reduce them to tn
lowest possible point. The Executive De
partments Of the Government have devoted
themselves TO the accomplishment Of this OBJ
ject with considerable success, as will appea
from their reports and estimates. To thes,
invite the scrutiny ofCongress, for the pur
pose Of reducing them still lower, if this b,
practicable, consistent with the great public
interests Of the country. In aid Of the poll
cy OF retrenchment pledge myselfto exam
inc closely the bills appropriating lands OF
money, so that if any should inadvertently
pass both houses, as must sometimes be the
case, l may afford them an opportunity for
reconsideration. At the same time we ought
never to forget that true public economy con-
sists, not in Withholding the means to accom-
plsh important national objects confided to
us by the Constitution, but in taking care
that the money appropriated for these pur-
poses shall be faithfully and frugally ex-
pended.
II will appear from the report Of the Secretary Of
the Treasury that 1t is extremely doubtful 10 say the
least, whether shall be able to pass through the
present and the next fiscal year without providing
additional revenue. This can only be accomplished
by strictly combining the appropriations within the es
Inmates Of the different departments, without making
allowance for any additional expenditures which Con-
gress may think proper, in their discretion 10 author
portion Of s2OOOd,OOO OF TesATury notes which have
been already issued. In the event OF deficiency
which consider probable this ought never to be sup
piled by a resort to additional loans Is would be
ruinous practice in the days OF peace and prospo rt
to go ON increasing the national debt TO meet the
dinary expenses of the government. This pOlie!
would cripple our resources and impair credit Il
case the existence of war should render IT necessar
to borrow money. Should such n deficiency occur
as approhend. Iwould recommend that the neces
sary revenue be raised by an increase of presen
duties on imposts. need not repeat the opinion
expressed in my last annual message as to the bes
mode and manner Of accomplishing this object, an
shall now merely observe that these have since ur
dergone change.
The report of the Secretary OF the Treasury will es
plain in detail the operation Of that department of tn
government.
The receipts into the treasury, from al
sources, during the fiscal year ending 30t
June, 1853, including the loan authorized b.
the act Of l4th June, 1868, and the issues
treasury notes authorized by existing law
were $91, ,692,471 OF, which sum, with tn
balance of $6,398 ,3l6 10, remaining in tn
treasury at the commencement of that fisca
year, made an aggregate for the service of tn
year of $sS,O907s7 IL.
, The public expenditures during the fisci
f year ending Both juno, 1859, amounted I
| $83,751 ,51l 81. OF this sum $17 ,405, 1856 4
. were applied to the payment of interest o
the public debt and the redemption Of tn
issues of treasury notes. The expenditure
for all other branches of the public seryic
, during that fiscal year, were therefore $66
r 346226 13.
The balance remaining in the treasury @
the 1st of July, 1859, being the commence
( ment of the present fiscal year, was $4,339
> 275 81.
The receipts into the treasury during tn
. first quarter Of the present fiscal year, con
mencing July 1st, 1859, were S20,618 ,SG5
t 85. OF this amount $3,S21 300 was recei'
: ed on account of the loan and the issue
treasury notes.-the amount Of $l6,797
: 565 85 having been received during the qua
= ter from the ordinary sources Of public re,
! enue. The estimated receipts for the r,
f naming three-quarters Of the present fisc;
year to Both June, 1860, are $50,246. 400
: Of this amount it is estimated that S5,75G
r 400 will be received for treasury nOtC
E which may be reissued under the fift
section Of the act of the Sd March last, an
4 $1,170000 on account of the loan authorize
: by the act Of June 14th, fascinating Sc
f 926400 from these extraordinary source
: and SAB, 100000 from the ordinary source
of the public revenue-making an aggrega
with the balance in the treasury on the i
/ of July, 1859, of $75,394,5 ,541 80 for the est
. mated means Of the present fiscal year en-,
ing June Both, 1860
l The expenditures during the first mart,