Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-29

ing danger, 70 eign or domes ic, which all nations
must expect to encounter in their progress, the very
salvation OF our Institutions may be staked upon tho
assembling of Congress without delay. II, under
such circumstances, the President should find him
self in tho condition in which he wns placed at the
close of the last Congress-, with half the States of
the Union destitute of representatives, tho consc-
quence might be disastrous. !, therefore, recon-
mend TO Congress TO carry into effect the provisions
of the Constitution on this subject, and to pass n
law appointing some day previous To the 4th March
in each year of odd number for the election of rep
resentatiyes throughout all the States. They have
already appointed u day for the election of electors
FOR President and Vice-Prcsidcnt, aud this measure
has been approved by The country.
| would again express Il most decided opinion in
favor of the construction OF n Pacific railroad, for
the reasons stated in my last annual messages
When reflect upon what would be the dcicncclcss
condition OF our States aud Territories west of the
Rocky mountains in case OF q war with n naval
power sufficiently strong to interrupt all intercourse
with them by the routes across the ~isthmas, ! am
still more convinced than ever Ut the vast impor-
tance Of this railroad. | have never doubted the
constitutional competency of Congress to provide for
its construction, bat 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 (tho States against
INVASION am nj II loss 10 conceive how this pro-
lection can be afforded to California and Oregon
against such Il naval power by any other means.
repeat the opinion contained in my last annual mess
age, that it would be incXpedicnt for the Government
to Undertake this great work 10y agents OF its own
appointment and under its direct and exclusive con-
troll. This would increase the patronage Of the FIX
ecutive 10 a dangerous extent, and would foster a
system of jobhing and corruption which no vigilance
on the part of federal officials could prevent. The
construction of this road ought therefore, To be IN
trusted to incorporated companies, or other agencies,
who would exercise that active and ~vigilnnt super
vision over it which can he inspired alone hy II sense
of corporate and individual interest. venture to
assert that the additional cost of transporting troops,
munitions Of war, and necessary supplies for the
army across the vast Intervening plains to our pos
sessions ON the Pacific coast would be greater in such
n war than the whole amount required tn construct
the road. And yet this resort would, after all, be
inadequate for their defense and protection.
We have yet scarcely recovered from the habits ot
cxtravagant expenditure, produced by our overflow
ing Treasury, during several years prior 10 the com
menccmcnt of my administration. The financial re-
verses which we have since experienced out TO teach
MS all to scrutinizc our expenditures with the great
est vigilance, and to reduce them to the lowest
possible point. The Executive Departments of the
Government have devoted themselves to the accom-
p"lislmcnt of this object with considerable success, hs
will appear from their different reports aud estimates.
To these | invite the scrutiny OF Congress-, Tor the
purpose of reducing them still lower, il this be prac-
ticable, consistent with The great public interests of
the country. In aid of the policy Of retrcnchment,
| pledge myself to examine closely the bills appro-
priating lands or money, 50 that II any OF these
should inadvertently pass both Houses. rs must some
times be the case, | may afford them an opportunity
for reconsideration. At the same time we ought
never to forget that true public economy consists
not in Withholding the means necessary to accom-
plish important national objects confded to us by
the Constitution, but in taking care that the money
appropriated for these purposes shall be faithfully
and frugally expended.
1t will appear from the report of the Secretary Of
the Treasury that it is extremely doubtful, to say the
least, whether we shall be able to pass through tho
present and the next fiscal year without providing adj
ditionnl revenue. This can only be accomplished by
strictly combining the appropriations within the csti-
mates of the different Departments, without making
an allowance for any additional expenditures which
Congress may think proper, in their discretion, to
authorize, aud without providing for the redemption
of any portion Of the $50, 900 900 of Treasury notes
which have been already issued. In the event of II
deficiency, which | consider probable, this ought
never to be supplied by II resort to additional loans.
1t would be n runious practice in the days of peace
and prosperity to go on increasing the national debt
to meet the ordinary expenses OF the Government.
This policy would cripple our resources and impair
our credit in case the existence of war should render
it necessary 10 borrow money. Should such II deli
cheney occur, as | apprehend, would recommend
that the necessary revenue be raised by m increase
of our present duties on Imports. ! need not repeat
the opinions expressed in my last annual message ms
to the best mode and manner of accomplishing this
object, and shall now merely observe that these have
since undergone no change.
Inc report Of the secretary Ul the treasury VIII
explain in detail the operations Of that department.
of the government.
The receipts into the Treasury from all sources
during the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1859, inclu-
ding the loan authorized by the act of l4th June,
1853, and the issues of treasury notes authorized by
existing laws, where cighty-onc million six hundred
and nincty-two thousand four hundred and seventy
one dollars and one cent, tSSl ,G92,47l OIL which
sum, with the balance of six million three hundred
and sixteen dollars and ten cents (S6,39S,3lG 100
remaining in the treasury nj the commencement of
that fiscal year, made an aggregate for the service Of
the year of lightweight million ninety thousand
seven hundred aud eighty-seyen dollars and eleven
cents (SSS.G907S7 1l)
The public expenditures, during the fiscal year
ending 30th June, 1889, amounted to eighty-thrce
million seven hundred and ~fifty-onc thousand fyc
hundred and eleven dollars and ffty-seycn cents
(Ss3,7ji,5l1 80 Of this sum seventeen million four
hundred and five thousand two hundred and eighty
five dollars and f%orty-tour cents, (Sl7,iO5 ,285 49,
were applied to the payment of interest on the public
debt and the redemption of the issues of treasury
notes. The expenditures for all other branches of
the public service during the fiscal year were there
fore sixty-six million three hundred & ~forty-six thou
sand two hundred aud twcnty-six dollars and thirteen
cents ($GG,34G ,22G 49,
The balance remaining in the treasury on the LIST
July, 1859, being the commencement of the present
fiscal year, was four million three hundred and thirty
nine thousand two hundred and seventy-fye dollars
and ~filty-four cents (S4,339,275 54)
The receipts into the treasury during the first qua
ter of the present fiscal year, commencing July lst,
1859, were twenty million six hundred and eighteen
thousand eight hundred and sixty-fve dollars and
eighty-Gyc cents, (S2O,Gl8.8G5 81 OF this amount
three million eight hundred and twenty-one thousand
three hundred dollars ($3,S2l 1907 was received on
account of the loan and the issue of treasury notes
the amount of sixteen million seven hundred and
ninety-sevcn thousand FIVE hundred and ~sixty-Gve
dollars and eighty-iye cents (Sl6,797 5C5 85) having
been received during the quarter from the ordinary