The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-12-14
tect the emigrant trains on their way to our
Pacific possessions.

tect the emigrant trains on their way to our
Pacific possessions.
FINANCES
In my first annual message promised to
employ my best exertions, in cooperation
with Congress, to reduce the expenditures
of the government within the limits of a
wise and judicious economy. An overflow
ing treasury had produced habits of prodi-
gall ty and extravaganza, which could only
be gradually corrected. The work required
both time and patience. applied myself
diligently to this task from the beginning,
and was aided by the able and energetic eff.
forts of the heads of the different Executive
Departments. The results of our labors in
this good cause did not appear in the sum
total of our expenditures for the first two
yaars, mainly in consequence of the extra
ordinary expenditures necessarily incurred
in the Utah expedition, and.the very large
amount of the contingent expenses of Con.
gress during this period. These greatly ex-
ceeded the pay and mileage of the members.
For the year ending 30th June, 1858, whilst
the pay and mileage amounted to 81 AGO.
ia, the contingent expenses rose to So, O93..
800 70; and for the year ending June,
1859, whilst the pay and mileage amounted
to sS59,O93 &c, the contingent expenses
amounted to slab, 565 IS. / am happy,
however, to be enabled to inform you that
during the last fiscal year, ending on the
3Oth of June, 1860, the total expenditures
of the government in all its branches
legislative, executive and judicial-exclu-
sive of public debt, were reduced to the
sum of SIS, 4O2 ,465 46. This conclu-
sively appears from the books of the Treas
ury in the year ending on the 3Oth June,
1858. The total expenditure, exclusive Of
the public debt, amounted to $780,
129 II, and that for the year ending Goth
June, 1859, to $65, BAG, 226 Is, whilst the
books Of the Treasury show an actual ex-
penditure of $50, S45, 474 % for the year
ending 3Oth June, 1860, including 81, O40,-
667 II for the contingent expenses of Con-
gress. There must be deducted from this
amount the sum of 81, 296, 009 26, with the
interest upon it of $4,000 appropriated
by the act of 18th February, 1860, for the
purpose of supplying the deficiency in the
revenues and defraylng the expenses of the
Post Office Department for the year ending
30th of June, 1859. This sum, therefore,
justly chargeable to the year 1859, must be
deducted from the sum of $50, S4S, 474 n,
in order to ascertain the expenditure for
the year ending 3Oth June, 1860, which
leaves balance for the expenditures of
that year of S55, 4O2, 465 46. The interest
on the public debt, including Treasury
notes for the same fiscal year ending on the
3Oth June, 1860, amounted to SO, Ill.,
GA 81, which added to the above sum of
S55, 4O2, 465 A., makes the aggregate of
S5S, $40, 7S9 OS. 1t ought in justice to be
observed, that several of the esti-
mates from all the Departments for
the year ending the 30th June, 1860,
were reduced by Congress below what
was, and still is deemed compatible with
the public interest. Allowing a liberal
margin Of $500 for this reduction, and
for other causes, it may be safely asserted
that the sum of SCI, OOO.O 900, OF at the most
SCI, OCO, 900, is amply sufficient to admins
ter the Government, and to pay the inter-
est on the pnblic debt, unless contingent
events should hereaf er render eXtraordina-
ry expenditures necessary. The result has
been attained in considerable degree by
the care exercised by the appropriate De-
partments in, entering into public contracts
l have myself never interfered with the
award of any such contracts, except in sim
gle case-that of the Colonization Society
[ deemed it advisable, while its responsible
ity in each case properly belongs to the head
OF the Department, with the general in
structiOn that these contracts should always
be given to the lowest and best bidder, it
has ever been SO given. 1t is my Opiuion
that public contractors are not legitimate
source of patronage to be conferred upon
personal or political favorites, but that in
all such cases public officer is bound to
act for the government as prudent indivi-
dual would act for himself.
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
1t is with great satisfaction that l commu-
nicate the face, that since the date of my last
annualmessage. not single slave has been i'm
ported into the United States, in violation of
the laws prohibitatiog the African Slave
Trade. This statement is founded upon a
thorough examination and investigation of
the subject. Indeed, the spirit which pre-
vailed some time since, among portion of
our fellow citizens in favor of the trade,
seems to have entirely subsided. I also
congratulate you upon the public
sentiment which how exists against the
crime of setting on foot military expeditions
within the limits of the United States, to
proceed from thence to make war upon the
people of unoffending States with whom we
are at peace. In this respect happy change
has been effected since the commencement
of my administration. 1t surely ought to
be the prayer of every christian and patriot
that such expeditions may never receive
countenance in our country, or depart from
our shores.
1t would be a useless repetition to do
more than refer with earnest commentator
to my former recommendations in favor of
the Pacific Railroad, of the grant of power
to the President to employ tho naval force
in the vicinity, for the protection of the
lives and property of our fellow citizens
passing in transit over the different Cen
trail American routes against audden
and lawless outbreaks and depreda-
tons, and also to protect American
merchant vessels, their crews and cargoes,
against violent and unlawful seizure and
confscation in the port of Mexico, and the
South American Republics when these may
be in disturbed and revolutionary cOndi-
ton. 1t is my settled conviction that
without such a power, we cannot afford
that protection to those engaged in the
commerce of the country which they have
right to demand.
ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
again recommend to Congress the passage of law
in of the provisions of the Constitution APP
pointing a certain day previous to the 4th of March,
in the year of odd number for the election of Rep
resentatives throughout all the States. similar
power has already been exercised with general appro
bation in the appointment OF the same day through
out the Union, for holding the election of electors for
President and Vice President of the United States
My attention earnestly directed to this subject