Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-03-28

ment makes it manifest, therefore, that bad
the appropriations proposed IN the bill which
failed been intended to meet only the
liabilities of the next fiscal year, there would
have been no sufficient reason for calling
Congress together before The regular period
of its assembling.
Such. however. is not the case That bill
also provided "that the sum of S3, S3S. 1913 be
and the same is hereby appropriated, out or
any money in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, to supply deficiencies in the
revenues of the Post Office Department for
the year ending the Both June, 1859" Upon
a careful examination and investigation it has
been ascertained that the deficiency Will
amount 10 about the sum of 81 3S5 2sl95- 1t
ought however, 10 be observed that, after
the goth of June next, the sum of 100000
granted to the Department by the acts Of
March Sd, 1849, and March Sd, 1851, for the
transportation and delivery of free mail matter
may be applied in part to the extinguisbmens
of this deficiency. This will leave the balance
to be provided for So 6S5, PSI 95. OF this
sum of s4,3s5, 2sI95, the deficiency which
existed in tt a-4
The quarter ending on the 31st of December
That for the quarter ending SIS: March to 155 %
That for tile quarter ending 3Gth June 67l 2s5 OIL
49, e 1856, PSI IS
The 749.841.68-being the unpaid balance
Of the quartcr's liahilitier closing 3Ist Dccem-
Der, and payable 2Sth February-can and
will be paid by the Department within sixty
days from this date. The payment of the
principal part of it will be made within
thirty days. The effect of this will be to
divide the entire deficit of S43s5. 391 IS
between the quarters ending 3l>t March and
Both June, and payable 3lst May and 3lst
August; that the suspension of payment
on no part Of this Indebtedness will exceed,
beyond few days. six months before the
regular meeting OF Congress; on nearly one
half of it the suspension will be but for few
days more than three months.
Ii is grievous misfortune to the cOntrac-
tors that the Department has been left with
out the means of discharging this debt at its
maturity. Under existing circumstances,
however, it would be impossible to convene
| Congress in time to meet these responsible
ties without virtually excluding from that
body the representatives of several of the
sovereign States of this confederated Govern
ment. THIS would be a just cause of serious
complaint.
The choice of the President has been I'M
doubtedly choice between great evils; but,
in his jud gment, the lesser evil would be to
wait uutil the first Monday of December,
The debts due and to become due to the
contractors are of a sacred character. The
contracts out of which these debts arise,
have been entered into under the express
authority of existing laws of Congress. To
appropriate money for their payment is as
obligatory and binding upon Congress it
is to provide for the principal aud interest of
the national debt. There never will be
Republication Of this debt by the representa-
.,ft A ft.r
amount due to each Contractor, shall have
been ascertained and finally settled according
to law, this amount becomes spt cite debt OF
record against the United States. Its pay
mrnt is inevitable, and il the contractor
desires TO borrow money upon it the lender
could have no better security.
Besides, as Congress are in default for not
having made an appropriation to meet this
debt, it would be no more than strict Justice
for them to provide for the payment of inter
est on these accounts from the time of their
final adjustment by the accounting officers
OF the Department, and when a warrant
would have issued for their payment had an
appropriation been made. This interest-ex-
Guiding from view that on the S749,S4l now
in the course Of payment, and applying on
the LIST July to the extinguishment of the
principal the 100000 for free matter, which
will be then available, should Congress think
than 500 900, a sum not to be compared with
the great difficulties and embarraSsments of IA
public and private character which would re-
suit from holding special session of Con-
gress, to say nothing of the expense that
would necessarily be incurred, even though
the members should receive no additional
pay.
system Of retrenchmeut, so far as it may
be practicable under existing laws is now an
imperative duty in the administration of the
Department BY the act approved June IA,
1858, Congress established six hundred and
ninety-fve new post routes. the service of
Notwithstanding the st. Paul and Puget
Sound route established in March, 1855, but
not yet put into operation--it has been cst-
mated would require an annual appropriation
from the Treasury of $6040SS, over and
above the receipts accruing thereirom. Not
a dollar. however, has been appropriated for
this purpose, and, as necessary result the
contracts for these routes. though they have
been advertised and proposals received, can
net be closed until the necessary funds shall
have been provided by law.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. Holt.
To GEO. MArTINGLY, Esq.
Sup't Potomac Steamship Company Wash
ington.