The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-12-07


the part Ofthe Executive.
Peace has also been restored within the
Territory Of Utah, which at the commence.
meni Of my administration was in q state Of
open rebellion. This was the more danger.
Gus as the people, animated BY fanatical
spirit. and entrenched within their distant
fastnesSes. might have made long and for.
midable resistance. Csst what II might, il
was necessary to bring them into subjection n
to the constitution and the laws. Sound
policy, therefore, as we'll as humanity, re.
quired that this object should, II possible, be
accomplished without the effusion of blood.
This could only be effected by sending
military force into the Territory sufficiently
strong to convince the people that resist.
auce would be hopeless, and at the same
time to offer them pardon for past offences
on condition OF immediate submission to the
government. This policy was pursued with
!: eminent success aud the only cause for re-
gret is the heavy expenditure required to
march large detachment Of the army to
that remote region, and TO furnish it subsist.
ance. Utah is new comparatively peaceful
and quiet, and the military force has been
Withdrawn, except that portion of it neces-
sary to keep the Indians in check, and to
protect the emigrant trains on their way to
our Pacific possessions.
In my first annual message I promised to
employ my best exsrtions, in CO operation
with Congress, to reduce the expenditures
of the government within the limits of wise
and judcious economy. An overhowing
treasury has produced habits OF prodigality
and extravaganza which could only be gra-
daally corrected. The work required both
time and patience applied myself dill
gently to this task from the beginning and
was aided by the able and energetic efforts
OF the heads OF the different Executive De-
partments. The result of our labors in this
good cause did not appear in the sum total
of our expenditures for the first two years,
msinly in consequence Of the extraordinary
expenditure necessarily in the Utah expedi.
tion, and the very large amount of the con-
tiugent expenses Of Congress during this
period. These greatly exceeded the pay
and mileage OF the members. For the year
ending 30th June, 1858, while the pay and
mileage amounted to $l,390,2l4 the con-
tingent expenses rose to So 093 309 10, and
for the year ending 30th June. 1859, whilst
the pay and mileage amounted to $3.50 093,.
66, the contingent expenses amounted to
$l,43l ,565,TS. lam happy, however, to be
able TO inform you that during the last fiscal
year, ending on the 30th June. 1860. the to.
tai expenditures of the government in all its
brunches-legislative, executive and judicial
exclusive Of the public debt, were reduced
to the sum Of $55, ,4O2, ,455 46. This con
clusiyely appears from the books Of the
Treasury. In the year ending on tho 3oth
June, 1858, the total expenditure, exclusive
OF the public debt, amounted to S7l 90l,-
1873 II, and that for the year ending 30tt
June, 1859, to $66 6,346,226 l3. Whilst the
books oi the Treasury show an actual ex
pendturs of $59S49,474 u for the yea
ending on the 30th June, 1860, including
$l, ,040 667 "a for the contingent expenses
Vt Congress, there must be deducted iron
this amount the sum Of $S4296 009 26, witt
the interest upon it Of $780, 900, appropri i
ted by the act of 18th February, 1860, "fo
the purpose OF supplying the deficiency il
the revenues and defrayiD9 the expen1es o
the Post Office Department for the yea
ending the 3oth ofJune, 1852" This gum
therefore, justly chargeable to the year 1859
must be deducted from the sum of $50 ,549,
474 70, in order to ascertain the expendi.
ture of the year, ending on the 30th OF June
1869, which leaves balance for the eX'
penditures OF ths. year of $55, ,402, ,465 As
The interest on the public debt, including
Treasury notes for the same fiscal year end,
lug on the 30th June, 1860, pmourtei t,
$3, ,l773l 81, which, added to tbs aboy'
sum OF $55, ,402, ,465 46. makes the osgre
gate Of $5s,579 .73o 0S.
1t ou Lht in justice to be observed tha
several of the estimates from the depa t
ments for the year ending 30,h of June
1860, were reduced by Congress below wh1
was and st II is deemed compatible with tn
public interest. Allowing liberal margin
of So 100000 for this reduction, and 70
other causes, it may be safely asserted tina
the sum of $6l 200 900, or at the most $62,
0O,O0O is amply sufficient TO administer th
government and to pay the interest on tn
public debt, unless contingent events shoul
hereafter render extraordinary expenditure
necessary.
This result has been attained in a consid
cradle degree by the care exercised by th
appropriate departments in entering ipt
public contracts. have myself never in
terfered with the award OF any such contrac
except in single case with the Colonz
ton Society, deem ing it advisable to cas-
{ the whole responsibility in each case, Of
the proper head of the department, with th
/ general instruction that these contract
J should always be given to the lowest an
| best bidder. 1t has ever been my Opinion
that public contracts are not q legitimat
| a. m ho
personal or political favortes; but that il
all such cases public officer is bound t
f act for the government as prudent individ
= ual would act for himself.
: 1t is with great satisfaction commun
Q cate the fact that since the date of my las
: annual message, not single slave has bee
+. imported into the United States in violatio
q of the laws prohibiting the Mrican slav
trade. This statement is founded upon
d thorough examination and investigation 9
n the subject. Indeed, the spirit which pre-
/. vailed some time since among a portion q
1 our fellow citizens in favor of this trad
3 seems to have entirely subsided.
j.. / also congratulate you upon the publ
s sentiment which row exists against tn
}. crime OF setting on foot military expedition
8 within the limits Of the Unitsd States, {
r proceed from thence and make war upon tn
g people of unoffandiug States, with whom W
# are at peace. u In this, respect, q hspp
Y change he's been effected since the con
}. mencement of my administration. 1t SURE
i. ly ought to be the prayerol every Christia
}. and patriot that such expeditions may nevt
d again receive countenance in our country
H. nr denart from our shores.
}, II would be a useless repetition to d
# more than refer, with earnest commend,