Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1859-12-31
, .,o President is authorised to .dout such

~ the President is AUTHORISED 70 adopt such
quay, nres and use such force as in his judgment may
ns.cssary and advisable in the event Of refusal
inst satisfaction by the government Of Paraguay"
o. i J satisfaction for what? For "t6e attack on
''i1nted States steamer Water Witch, nd other
m stars referred to in the aRpuxl message Of the
nn'sss;'ent" Here the power IS expressly granted
non the condition that the government Of Paraguay
Ss refuse to render this "just satisfaction" In
.hs and other similar cases Congress have conferred
. UNIV and navy upon the happening Of contingent
saye events; and this most certainly is embraced
,,thin the power to declare war
Now. if this conditional and contingent power |
,onld be constitutonay conferred upon the Presi-
dsnt in the case Of Paraguay, why may it not be
conferred for the purpose Of protecting the lives
and property of American citizens in the event that
thew may be violently and unlawfully attacked in
ssSnc over the transit routes to and from Calfor
MIA, or assaled by the seizure of their vessels in
foreign port? To deny this power il to render the
navy in great degsec useless for the protection of
the lives and property of American citizens in coun-
tries where neither protection nor redress can be
otherwise obtained
The Thirty fifth Congress terminated on the Sd
Of March, 1859, without having passed the "act
making appropriations for the service of the Post
Office Department during the fiscal year ending the
S0,h June, 1860" This act also contained an ap-
preparation ito supply Deficiencies in the revenue
OF the Post Office Department for the year ending
the 3Oth of June, 1859" believe this is the first
instance since the origin of the federal government
now more than seventy years ago, when any Con-
gress went out of existence without having passed
all the general appropriation bills necessary to carry
on the government until the regular period for the
meeting Of new Congress This event imposed
the Executive grave responsibility. present
ed choice of evils.
Had this omission of duty occurred at the first
session of the last Congress the remedy would have
been plain. 1 might then have instantly recalled
them to complete their work-and this without ex
pe:.se to the government But on the 18th of March
last there fifteen of the thirty three States
which had not elected any representatives to the
present Congress- Had Congress been called to-
gcther Immediately, these States would have been
virtually disfranchised. Il an intermediate period
had BEEN selected several of the States would have
been compelled to hold extra sessions of their legis
lures, Mt great Inconvenience and expense to pro-
vide for elections at an earlier day than that prev
o;lsly fixed by law. In the regular course ten Of
these States would not elect until after the beginning
of August and five of these ten not until October
and November.
On the other hand, when came to examine CAREFUL
" the condition of the Post Office Department,
did not meet as many or great difficulties as had
apprehended. Had the bill which failed been con-
fined to appropriations for the fiscal year ending
the Both June next, there would have been no rea-
son of pressing importance for the call of an extra
session. Nothing would become due contracts
those with railroad companies only excepted) for
carrying the mail for the first quarter of the present
fiscal year, commencing the LIST of July, until the
lst of December-lcss than one week before the
meeting of the present Congress. The reason is
that the mail contractors for this the current year
did not complete their first quarters service until
the seth September last; and by the terms of their
contracts sixty days are allowed for the settle
ment of their accounts before the Department could
be called upon for payment
The great difficulty and the great hardship con-
sisted III the failure to provide for the payment of
the deficiency in the fiscal year ending the 30th
June, 1859. The Department had entered into Con.
tracts in obedience to existing laws for the service
of that fiscal year, and the contractors were fairly
enttle to their compensation as became due. The
deficiency stated in the bill amounted to s., $685.
72S but after careful settlement of all these &C
counts, it has been ascertained that it amounts to
S4,296009. With the scanty means at his com
maEd the Postmaster General has managed to pay
that portion of this deficiency which occurred in the
first two quarters of the past fiscal year, ending on
the 3lst December last In the mean time the con.
tractors themselves under these trying crcumstan-
ces have behaved in manner worthy of all com
mendation. They had one resource in the midst oil
their embarrassments. After the amount due tt
each of them had been ascertained and finally set
tied according to law, this became specific debt o
record against the United States, which enabled
them to borrow money on this unquestionable secu
rity Still they were obliged to pay interest in con
sequence Of the default of Congress- and on ever!
principle of justice ought to receive interest frou
the Government This interest should commenc
from the date when a warrant would have issued 70
the payment Of the principal had an appropriate
been made for this purpose. Calculated up to Is
December, it will not exceed $96, 6GO-a sum not
be taken into account when contrasted with tn
great difficulties and endorsements of public an
private character, both to the people and the State
which would have resulted from converting and holt
ing special session of Congress.
For these reasons | recommend the passage of
BILL at as early day as may be practicable to provid
for the payment of the amount, with interest du
to these aforementioned contractors, as well as I
make the necessary appropriations for the service
the Post Office Department for the current fisc,
year.
The failure to pass the Post Office bill necessaril
gives birth to serious reflections Congress, by r
fusing to pass the general appropriation bills nece
sary to carry on the Government may not only a
rest its action but might even destroy its exstenc
The army, the navy, the judiciary, in short ever
department of the Government can no longer pc
form their functions if Congress refuse the none
necessary for their support If this failure shoul
teach the country the necessity Of elccting a fl
Congress in sufficient time to enable the Preside
ly after the old Congress has expired, it will ha
been productive of great good In atime of sudd'
and alarming danger, foreign or domestic, which I
nations must expect to encounter in their progrcs
the very salvation of our institutions may be stak
upon the assembling Of Congress without delay.
II under such circumstances, the President shou
lind himself in the condition in which he was plac
at the close of the last Congress, with nearly HI
the States Of the Union destitute Of representative
the consequences might be disastrous. !. therefor
recommend to Congress to carry into effect the Pr
VISIONS Of the Constitution on this subject and
pass law appointing some day previous to the
March in each year Of odd number for the electi'
OF representatives throughout all the States. TIL
nave already appointed q day for the election
electors for President and Vice President, and Il
measure has been approved by the country.
would again express . most decided opinion
| isVor Of the construction of Pacific railroad,
me me reasons stated in my two last annual messag'
When reflect upon what wOuld he the defencele