The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-01-11

orce as in his judgment may be necessary
nd advisable in the event of a refusal OF just
abstraction BY the government of Paraguay"
I Just satisfaction" Tor whats For "the
Witch" and "o:h.r matters referred TO in
The annual message Of the President" Here
he power is expressly granted upon the con-
iition that the government OF Paraguay shall
refuse to render this "just satisfaction" In
this and other similar cases Congress have
conferred upon the President power in ad-
vance to employ the army and navy upon
the happening Of contingent future events
and this most certainly is embraced within
the power to declare war.
Now. if this conditional and contingent
power could be constltutionally conferred
upon the President in the case Of Paraguay,
why may it not be conferred for the purpose
Of protecting the lives aud property Of Anne
rican citizens in the event that they may be
violently and unlawfalIy attacked in passing
over the transit routes to and from Calitor-
MIA, or assaulted by the seizure of their yes.
sells in foreign porte 10 deny this power
is to render the navy in great degree use
less for the protection Of the lives and pro
perry Of Amerlcan citizens in countries where
neither protection nor redress can be other
wise obtained.
The Thirty-ffth Congress terminated on
the Sd Of March, 1859, without having pass
ed the "aet making appropriations for the
service Of the Post Office Department, dur
ins the fiscal year ending s0th June. 1900"
This act also contained an appropriation " TO
supply deficiencies in the revenue of the
Post Office Department for the year ending
the 50th Of June. 1859" | believe this is
The first instance since the origin Of the ted
eral government, now more than seventy
wears ago. when any Congress went out Of
existence without having passed all the gen
eral appropriation bills necessary to carry on
the government until the regular period for
the meeting Of a new Congress. This event
imposed on the Executive grave response
bility. Ii presented choice OF evils.
Had this omission Of duty occurred at the
first session Of the last Congress the remedy
would have been plain. might then have
\ instantly recalled them 10 complete their
/ work-and this without expense to the go.
vernment. But on the 4th of March last
there were fifteen of the thirty-three States
which had rot elected any representative to
The present congress. Had Congress been
called together immediately, these States
would have been virtually DISTINGUISHED. II
an intermediate period had been selected,
several of the States would have been COM
PEELED to hold extra sessions Of their legisla-
lures, al great inconvenience and expense,
a.. laxr
that previously fixed by law. In the regu-
lar course. ten Of these States would not elect
until after tie beginning 81 August, and five
OF these ten not until October and NOyem-
Der.
On the other hand, when came TO exam
Inc carefully the condition of the Post Office
Department, did not meet as many or as
great difficulties as had apprebended. Had
the bill which faled been confined 10 apprO-
pratiOns for The fiscal year ending on the
50lh June next, there would have been no
reason Of pressing Importance for the call Of
an extra session. Nothing would become
due on cotracts those with railroad cOmpa-
MES only excepted FOR carrying the mail for
the first quarter Of the present fiscal year,
commencing on tie lst Ut July, until the
FIRST Of December--lrss than enc week be.
fore the meeting Of the present. Congress.
The reason is that the mai contractors for
this the current year did not complete their
first quarters service until the 50th Sepiem.
Der last; aud BY the terms Of their contract,
sixty DAYS more are allowed for the settle
ment 81 their accounts before the Depart
ment coald be called upon for payment.
The great difficulty and the great hardship
consisted IN the failure TO provide for the
payment Of the deficiency in the fiscal year
ending the jUlh June, 1859. The Depart
ment had entered into contracts, IN obcdi-
ence u existing laws, for the service o. that
fiscal year, ard the contractors were fairly
entitled to their compensation as it became
due. The deficiency as stated in the bill
amounted 10 S5,s5S, rs, but. alter careful
settlement Of all these accounts, it has been
a-certained that il amounts 10 s4,296, goo.
With Tie .eanty means ai his command the
Postmaster General has managed 10 pay that
portion Of this deficiency which occurred in
the fret two quarters Of the past fiscal year,
endibg on tie ji.i December last. Ia the
mean lime tie contractors themselves under
these trying circumstances, have behaved
worthy ii all eammendaiiun. They had one
resource ii tie midst III their embarrass
ment.. After the amount due TO each Of
them had been asteriained aud finally set.
tied according 10 law. this became a specific
debt 81 record against tie United states.
which enabled them 70 borrow mpney on this
BnqgesliOnablr security. Still they were
obliged - pas interest 10 consequence 81 the
default II Congress, and Oh every principle
81 justice, ngghl u receive interest from the
Government. This interest should com.
mFnCe from tie date when warrant would
have is.ged luf The psyment Of the principal
had aa appropriation been made ior this pur.
ppse. Lalealsistl W 70 1T December, il
will not exceed 100 .GbD--a sun not 10 be
taken into account when contfasied with the
great difficulties aud embarfassmenis Of a
public and private character, both 10 the
people aud Tie States. which would have re-
salted from concerning and holding special
sfs .iou al laHgfess