The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-01-04
The failure to pass the Post Office bill

necessarily gives birth to serious refec-
tions. Congress, by refusing to pass the
general appropriation bills necessary to
carry on the Government, may not only
arrest its action, bnt might even destroy
its existence. The army, the navy, the
Judiciary, in short every department of the
Government, can no longer perform their
functions if Congress refuse the money
necessary for their support. IF this fail
ure should teach the country the necessity
of electing full Congress in sufficient
time to enable the President to convene
them in any emergency; even immediate
ly after the old Congress has expired, it
will have been productive ofgreat good
In a time of sudden and alarming danger,
foreign or domestic, which all nations
must expect to encounter 10 their progress,
the very salvation of our institutions may
be staked upon the assembling of Con-
gress without delay. If, under such cir
cumstances, the President should find him.
self in the condition in which he was
placed at the close of the last Congress,
with nearly half the States of the Union
destitute os representatives, the conse-
quences might be disastrous. I, therefore.
recommend to Congress to carry into ef-
feet the provisions of the Constitution on
this subject, and to pass q law appointing
some day previous to the 4th March in
each year of odd number for the election of
representatives throughout all the States.
They have already appointed a day for the
election of electors for President and Vice
President, and this measure has been ap-
proved by the country.
would again express most decided
opinion in favor of the construction of a
Pacific railroad, for the reasons stated in
my two last annual messages. When l
reflect upon what would be the defence
less condition of our States and Terrific
ries west of the Rocky mountains in case
of war with a naval power sufficiently
strong to interrupt all intercourse with
them by the routes across the 18TH
mus, I am still more convinced than ever
of the vast importance Of this railroad -
| have never doubted the constitutional
competency of congress to provide for its
construction, but this exclusively under
the war-msking power. Besides, the
Constitution expressly requires, as an
imperative duty, that 1.-The United States
shall protect each of them the States
against INVASION" am at loss to con-
ceive how this protection can be afforded
to California ard Oregon against such a
naval power by any other means. l re-
peat the opinion contained in my last an
nual message, that it would be inexpedi-
ent for the Government to undertake this
great work bv agents Of its own appoint
ment and under its direct and exclusive
control This would Increase the patron
age of the Executive to dangerous ex-
tent and would foster system of jobbing
and corruption which no vigilance on the
part of Federal officials could prevent
The construction of this road ought, there
fore 20 be intrnsted to Incorporated com
pauies, or other agencies, who would
exercise that active anI vigilant super
vision over it which can be inspired alone
by sense of corporate aud individual in
terest. 1t venture TO assert that the
additional cost of transporting troops,
munitions of war, and necessary supplies
| for the army across the vast intervening
plains to our possessions on the Pacific
coast wonld be greater in such war than
the whole amount required to construct
the road And yet this resort would, af.
ter all, be inadequate for their defence
and protection.
We hare yet scarcely recovered from
the habits Of eXtcavagant expenditure
produced by our overfowing Treasury
during several years prior to the com
men cement of my administration. The
:. financial reverses which we have exper
fenced ought to teach US all to scrutenizt
. our expenditures with the greatest vigi
lance, and to reduce them to the loves
possible point. The Executive Depart
;nents of the Government have devoted
themselves to the accomplishment of thi
object with considerable snccess, as vii
appear from their different reports ant
estimates. To these invite the scrutin,
of Congress, TO: the purpose of reducing
them still lower. if this be practicable
consistent with the great public interest
of the country. In aid Of the policy Q
, retrenchment l pledge myselfto examin
closely the bills appropriating lands o
money, SO that if any of these should in
advertently pass both houses, as mus
sometimes be the case, may afford then
an opportunity for reconsideration A
the same time we ought never to forge
that true public economy consists, not i
Withholding the means necessary to accom-
plish important national objects confde
5 to US by the Constitution, but in takin
care that the mouey appropriated for thes
! purposes shall be faithfully and frugal
expended.
= :, 1t will appear from the report of tn
= Secretary of the Treasury that it is ez
tremely doubtful, to say the least, wheth
err we shall be able to pass through tn
present aud the next fiscal year withou
: providing additional revenue. This ca
y only be accomplished by strictly confinin