Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1860-01-07

more are allowed for the settlement of thei.
accounts before the Department could be
called upon for payment.
The great difficulty and the great hardship
consisted in the failure to provide for tho
payment of the deficiency in the fiscal wear
ending the 3Oth June, 1859. The Depart
1nent has entered into contracts in obedience
to existing laws, for the service ufthat fiscal
year, and the contractors were fairly entitled
to their compensation as it became due. The
deficiency as stated in the bill amounted to
$3,838, 72S, but alter careful settlement Of
all these accounts, it has been ascertaincl
that it amounts to S4.296,CO9. With the
scanty means ut his command the Postmas-
ter General bas managed to pay that portion
0: his deficiency which occurred in the first
two quarters Of the past fiscal year, ending
on tho 3lst December last. In the mean
time the contractors themselves under these
trying circumstances, have behaved in a
manner worthy Of all commentator. They
had one resource in tine midst Of their EN-
barrassmcnts. After the amount due to
each Of them had been ascertaincd and finally
settled according to law, this became speci-
Aca debt Of RECORD against the United States,
which enabled them to borrow money on this
unquestionab!e security. Still they were
Obliged to pay interest in consequence Of the
default o; Congress, and on every principle
Of justice ought to receive interest from the
Department. This interest should com
:nence from the date when warrant would
have issued for the payment Of the principal
had an appropriation been made for this pur.
pose. Calculated up to the first Of Deem.
Der, it will not exceed $96, Goa sum not
to he taken into account when contrasted
with the great difficulties and embarra<s.
ments Of public and private character, both
to the people and the States, which would
have resulted from converting and holding q
special session in Congress-.
For these reasons recommend the passage
of bill, at as early q day as may be practi.
cable, to provide for the payment Of the
amount, with interest, due to these last men.
toned contractors, as we'll as to make the
necessary appropriations for the service o.
the Post Office Department for the curren,
fiscal year.
The failure to pass the Post Office bill ne.
cessarily gives birth to serious reflections
Congress by refusing to pass the general ap
pr'at'on bills necessary to carry on the Gov
eminent. may not only arrest its action, bu
might even destroy it's existence. The arm,
the navy. the judiciary-in short, every de.
partment Of Government-can not perform
their functions if Congress refuse the none,
necessary for their support. If this failure
should teach the country the necessity o.
electing full Congress in sufficient time tt
enable the President to convene them in an,
emergency, even immediately after the old
Congress has expired, it will have been pro
ductive o: great good. In time Of sudden
and alarming danger, foreign or domestic
which all nations must expect to encounte,
IN their progress, the very salvation OF GU,
institutions may he stakcd upon the assem-.
bling Of Congress without delay. IT. ;lnde,
such circumstances, the President should
find himself in the condition in which hs
was placed at the close Of the last Congress
witt, nearly half the States of the Unor
destitute Of represent atives, the conscquen.
ccs might be disastrous. I, therefore, re.
commend to Congress to carry into effect the
provisions of the constitution on this sub
jec:, and to pass law appointing some da,
previous to the 4th Of March in each year o
odd number, for the election Of representa-
tiycs throughout all the States. They have
already appointed a day for the election o
electors for President and Vice President
and this measure has been approved by the
country. -.....--- 0<r..-. -. 3d..
| l would again express a most decided
opinion in favor Of the construction Of Pr
citic railroad, for the reasons stated in IN,
two last annua: Messages. When I reflec
upon what would be the defenceles condition
OF our States and Territories west of The
Rocky Mountains in case of q war with {
naval power sufficiently strong to interrupt
all intercourse with them BY the route;
across the Isthmus l am, still more con
WINGED than ever Of The vast importance O
this railroad. l have never doubted thu
constitutional competency Of Congress t.
provide for its construction, but this exclu
s!vely under the making power. Be
sides, the constitution expressly requires
as an imperative duty, that 1.-The Unitet
States shall protect each Of them (the States
against invasion." am at a loss to con
ceive how this protection can be afforded t,
California and Oregon; against such a naya
power by any other means: l repeat tn.
opinion contained in. my last annual Mes
sage, that it would be inexpcdient for tn,
Government to undertake this great work
by agents Of it own appointment and under
its direct and exclusive control. This woule
increase the patronage of the Executive to 9
dangerous extent, and would foster system
! Of jobbing and corruption which no vigilance
on the part of federal officials could prevent
The construction Of this road ought, there
fore, to be entrusted to corpcrated compa
MES, or other agencies, who would exercise
that active and vigilant supervision over ii
which can be inspired alone by sense Of
corporate and individual interest ventul.
to assert that the additional cost Of trans
porting troops, munitions Of war, and nee
cssary supplies Tor the army across the vas
intervening plains to our possessions on the
Pucific coast, would be greater in such ;
war than the whole amount required to con
struct the road. And yet this resort would
after all, be inadequate for thoir delencc and
protection.
We have scarcely recovered from the hab
its Of cxtravagant expenditure produced BY
our ovcrfiowiis Treasury during severa
years prior 10 the commencement oi IN,
administration The financial reyerses which
We have since experienced ought to teach u,
all to scrut'nizc our expenditures with the
greatest vigilance, and to reduce them to the
lowest possible point. Executive Depart
mcnts of the Government. have devoted
themselves to the accomplishment of thi.
object wit1, rons ;1nrollo oc COLL -.