Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1860-01-05

this is the first instance since the formation
of the Federal Government. now more than
seventy-years ago, when any Congress
went out of existence without having pass
Ell all the general appropriation bills ne
cessary TO carry on the government until
the regular period for the meeting Of new
Congress. This event imposed on the Ex-
ecutive grave responsibility. Itpresent-
ed choice Of evils.
Had this omission occurred at the first
session of the last Congress. the remedy
would have been plain. might then have
instantly recalled them to complete their
work-and this without expense to the
government. Blu on the 4th Of March
last there were fifteen of the thirty three
States which had rot elected any represent
tative to the present Congress. Had Con
gress been called together Immediately,
these States wou,d have been virtually dis
! franchised. II an intermediate period had
been selected, several of the States would
have been compelled TO hold extra sessions
of their Legislatures. at great Inconvenience
and expense. to provide for elections at an
earlier day than that previously fxcd by
law. In the regular course, ten of these
States would not elect until after the be-
ginning of August, and five of these ten
not until October and November.
On the other hand, when / came to ex-
anime carefully the condition OF the Post
Office Department. did not meet as ma
ny or as great difficulties as | had appre-
hendcd. HID the bill which failed been
confined to appropriations for the fiscal
year ending on the 30th Of juno next,
there would have been no reason of press
ing importance for the call of all extra
session. Nothing would become due oil
contracts (those with railroad companies
only exceptcd) for carrying the mail for
the Grst quarter of the present fiscal year.
commencing on the lst of July. until the
LIST OF December-less than one week be-
fore 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 30th of
September last: and by the terms-of their
contracts sixty days more are allowed for
the settlement of their accounts before the
Department could be called upon for pay
ment. f
The great difficulty and the great hard
ship consisted in the failure to provide for
the payment of the deficiency in the fiscal
year ending the 30th June, 1850 The
Department has entered into contracts, in
obedience to existing laws. for the service
Of that fiscal year, and the contractors
were fairly entitled to their compensation
as it became due. The deficiency as stated
in the bill. amounted to So, 1873. 72S. but
after careful settlement of all these ac-
counts, it has been ascertaincl tina. it a.
mounts to S4,296.009. With the scanty
means at his command the Postmaster Cen
eral 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 contractors themselves, under
these trying circumstances, have behaved
in a manner worthy Of all commentator.
They had one res ource in the midst Of their
embarrassments After thu amount ,ne o
each of them had been aScertained and final
I ly settled according to law. this became a
specified debt of record against the United
States. which enabled them to borrow mo-
ney on this questionable security. Still
they were obliged to pay interest in conse-
quencc of the default of Congress, and on
every principle of justice ought to receive
interest from the government. This inter
est should commence fiom the date when a
warrant would have issued for the payment
of the principal had an appropriation been
made for this purpose. Calculated up to
LIST December, it will not exceed sos. $50
! "a sum not to be taken into account when
contras;e,i with the great difficulties and
character. both to the people and the
1 States. which would have resulted from
converting and holding special session of
Congress.
! For these reasons | recommend the pas
sage of bill. at as early day as may be
practicable, to provide for the payment OF
the amount, with interest, due to these
last mentioned contractors as well as to
make the necessary appropriations for the
service of the Post Office Department for
the current fiscal year.
The failure to pass the Post Office bill
necessarily gives birth to serious reflections.
Congress, by refusing to pass the general
appropriation bills necessary to carry on
the Government. may not only arrest ac-
ton. but might even destroy its existence
The army, the navy. the juilciary-in
short, every department of government,
cannot perform their functions if Con
gress refuse the money necessary for their
support. II this failure should teach the
country the necessity of electing full
! Congress in sufficient time to enable the
President to convene them in any emer.
gency, even Immediately after the old Con
gress expired, it will have been productive
Of great good. In a time of Sudden and
alarming danger. foreign or domestic
which all nations must expect to encounter
in their progress. the very salvation of ou'
institutions may be staked upon the assem-
bling of Congress without delay. If I'M
der such circumstances, the President sho {
find himself in the condition in which h
was placed at the close of the last Con
gress, with nearly half the States of thu
Union destitute Of representatives the cor
sequences might he disastrous. |. there
fore, recommend TO Congress to carry int
effect the provisions of the constitution oil
this subject. and to pass law appointin!
, some day previous to the 4th of March il