The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-12-12

little or nothing of the Topeka government;
and all serious dang ger of revolutionary troubles
in Kansas was then at an end.
The Lecompton constitution, which had
been thus recognized at this State election by
the votes Of both political parties in Kansas,
was transmitted to me with the request that |
should present it to Congress. This [ could
not have refused to do without violating my
clearest and strongest convictions of duty
The consultations, and all the proceedings which
preceded and followed its formation, were fair
and regular on their face. [ then believed,
and experience has proved, that the interests
of the people of Kansas woull have been best
consulted by its admission as a State into the
Union, especially as the majority, within a
brief period, could have amended the consti-
tuition according to their will and pleasure
If fraud existed in all or any of these pro-
ceedings, it was not for the President, but for
Congress, to investigate and determine the
question of fraud and what ought to be its
consequences. If at the two first elections,
the majority refused to vote, it cannot be pre-
tended that this refusal to exercise the cleo
tive franchise could invalidate an election fair
ly held under lawful authority, even if they
had not Subsequently voted at the third cleo
ton. 1t is true that the whole constitution
had not been submitted to the people as L
always desired; but the precedcnts are numer-
Gus of the admission of States into the Union
without such submission. "
1t would not comport with my present pur-
poses to review the proceedings of Congress up
on the Lecompton constitution. 1t is sufi-
eient to observe that their final action has re-
moved the last vestige of serious revolutionary
troubles. The desperate band recently assem-
bled, under a notorious outlaw, in the South
ern portions Of the Territory, to resist the
execution Of the laws and to plumber peaceful
citizens, will, 1 doubt not, be speedily subdued
and brought to justice.
Had Itreated the Lecompton Constitution as
a nudity and refused to submit it to Congress,
it is not difficult to imagine, whilst recalling
the position of the country at the moment,
what would have been the disastrous conse-
quences, both in and out CT the Territory,
from such a derclictioa of duty on the part of
the Executive.
* Peace has also been restored within the Ter
ritory Of Utah, which at the commencement of
my administration, was III a state of open lie
bcllion. This was. the more dangerous as the
people, animated by a ~fanatical spirit, and en-
trenched within their distant mountain lust
nesses, might lave made a long and formidable
resistance.
Cost what it might, it was necessary to bring
them into subsection to the constitution and
the laws. Sound policy, therefore, as well as
humanity, required that this object should, if
possible, be accomplished without the cffusion
Of blood. This could only be effected by send
ing military force into the Territory sufficiently
strong to convince the people that resistance
would be hopeless, ard at the same time to
offer them . PARDON of immediate submission
to the government. This policy was pu rsued
with eminent success; and the only cause for
regret is the heavy expenditure required to
march a large detachment Of the army to that
remote rssion, and to furnish it subsistence
Utah is now comparatively peaceful and quiet,
and the military force has Lecn Withdrawn,
except that portion of it necessary TO keep
the Indians in check, and to protect the emf
grant trains on their way to our Pacific pos
sessions.
In mJ annual message ! promised to employ
my best esertions, In corporation with Con-
gross, to reduce the expenditures of the gov
ernment within the limits of 4 wise and Judi.
cious economy. An overlooking treasury had
produced habits of prodigality and eXtrava-
gance which could only be gradually corrected.
The work required both time and paticRce. l
applied myself diligently to this task from
the beginning, and was aided by the able and
energetic efforts of the heads Of the different
Executive Departments. The result Of oar la
bors in this good cause did not appear In the
sum total of our expenditures for the first two
years, mainly in consequence of the extraor-
binary expenditures necessarily in the Utah
expedition, and the very large amount Of the
contingent 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 81 ,390,214, the contingent OK
pense rose t, s. ,093, 309, 10, and for the year
ending 30th June, 1859, whilst the p y and
mileage amounted to $3.50, 093 ,66, the .contin-
gentexpenses amouAted to Sl,43l, 565,7 IS. / am
hapI y, however, to be able to inform you that
during the last fiscal year, ending on the 30th
June, 1860, the total expenditures of the
government in all it's Observation-Disclosures,
executive and judicial-cxclusive of the pub,
lie debt, were reduced to the sum of S55,-
402, 1876 This conclusively appears from
the books of the Treasury. In the year end
ing on the Both June, 1853, the total expen-
diture, exclusive of the public debt, amounted
to $T1,901 1917, and that for the year end
ending 3Oth June, 1859, to s66, 1916 26 10 |
Whilst the books of the Treasury show an ac.
tual expenditure Of $50, 848,474,72, for the
year ending on the Goth June, 1860, including
81, O40,66 II for the contingent expenses of
Congress, there must be deducted from this
amount the sum of 81, 296,0 09 26, with the
interest upon it of Sl50,00O, appropriated by
the act Of 18th February, 1860, -"for the pur-
pose of supplying the deficiency in the reve-
nues and defraying the expenses Of the Post
Office Department for the year ending the
Both of June, 1852" This sum, therefore,
justly ohargcuble to the year 1859, must be
deducted from the sum of SIS, S49,474 ~, in
order to ascertain the expenditure of the year,
ending on the 30th June, 1850, which leaves
a balance for the expenditures OF that year of
S55, 402,465 46. The interest on the public
debt, including Treasury notes for the same
fiscal year ending on the Both June 1860,
amounted to SO, liz ,3I4, go, which, added to
the above sum of S55, 402, 465, 46, makes the
aggregate of SOS, 500, 7SO os.
1t ought in justice to be Observed that sever
al of the estimates from the departments for The
year ending Both of June, 1860, were reduced
by Congress below what was and still is deem
ed compatible with the public interest. AL
lowing a liberal margin of $4,000 300, for
this reduction, and for other causes, it may be