Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-01-06

On the other hand, when | came to exa-
mine carefully the condition of the Post Of
tce Department | did not meet as manv or
as great difficulties as | had apprehended
Had the bill which failed been confined to
appropriations for the fiscal year ending on
the Both June next, there would have been
no reason of pressing Importance for the call
of an extra session. Nothing would become
due on contracts (thOse with railroad COM
panies only excepted) for carrying the mail
for the first quarter of the present fiscal year,
commencing on the lst of July, until the 1st
of December-less than one week before the
meeting of the present Congress. The rea-
son is that the mail contractors for this the
current year did not complete their first
| quarters service until the 3Oth September
last; and by the terms of their contracts
| sixty days more are allowed for the settle
ment Of their accounts before the DEPART
ment could be called upon for payment
/ The great difficulty and the great hardship con-
| sisted in the failure TO provide for the payment
| Of the deficiency in the fiscal year ending the 10th
| June, 1859. The Department had entered into
| contracts in obedience 10 existing laws for the
/ service of that fiscal year, and the contractors
| were fairly entitled TO their compensation as il
! became due. The deficiency as stated in the bill
amounted 70 50 ,S3S 72S but after careful settle
i
ell that it amounts to S4,296, 900. With the
scantymeans at his command the Postmaster Gen
eral has managed to pay that portion Of this de-
6ciencv which occurred in the first two quarters Of
the past fscal year, ending the 32st December
last. In the mean time the contractors them msev-
es under these trying circumstances have behaved
in n manner worthy of all cOmmendatiOn. They
had one resource in the midst of their embarass-
ments. After the amount due to each Of them
had been ascertaned and finally settled according
L III
gainst the United States, which enabled them 10
borrow money this unquestionable security.
Still they were obliged to pay interest in conse-
quence of the default Of Congress, and every
principle Of justice ought to receive interest from
the government This interest should commence
from the date when a warrant would have issued
for the payment of the principal had appropri-
alton been made for this purpose. Calculated up
to lst December, it will not exceed e6,66O,-a
sum not to be taken into account when contrasted
with the great difficulties and endorsements Of a
public and private character, both 10 the people
and the States, which would have resulted from
convening and holding special session Of Con-
gress.
For these reasons recommend the passage of q
bill at as early day may be practicable, to
provide for the payment of the amount, with in
tereSi. due to these last mentor ed contractors,
as well as to make the necessary appropriations
for the service Ofthe Post 0fi,e Department for
the current fiscal year.
The failure o pass the Post Office bill necessari-
lv gives birth to serious reflections. Congress,
by refusing pass the general appropriation bills
necessary to carry on the government, may not
only arrest its action, but might destroy its
existence. The army, the navy. judiciary
in short, every department of government-can no
longer perform their functions if Congress refuse
the money necessary for their support. If this
failure should teach the country the necessity Of
electing a full Congress in sufficient time TO era
bs the President to convene them in any emer-
gency even Immediately after the old Congress
has expired, it will have been productive Of great
good. In a time of sudden and alarming danger
foreign domestic which all nations must ex-
pect to encounter in their progress, the very sal
vatOn of our institutions may be staked upon the
assembling of Congress without delay. IT, under
such circumstances, the President should find him
self in the condition in which he placed at the
close Of the last Congress, with nearly half the
States Of the Union destitute of representatives,
the consequences might be disastrous. l, there
r-----------I - n----~ss carry into euecJ the
provisions Of the constitution this subject and
to pass law appointing some day previous to the
tth &C March in each year Of odd number for the
election o. representatives throughout all the
States. they have already applinte dayi for
the election Of electors for President and Vice
President, and this measure has been approved
by tnecountry.
would again express a most decided opinion
in favor Of the construction of a Pacific Railroad
for th reasons stated in my two last annual Mes
sages. When reflect upon what would be the
defenceleSs condition Of our States and Territore,
west of the Rocky Mountains in case of a war
with naval power sufficiently strong to interrupt
all intercourse with them by a route across the
Isthmus, | am still more convinced than ever of
the Importance Of this Railroad. I have never
doubted the constitutional competency of Congress
60 provide for its construction but this exclusively
under the war-raking power. Besides the Con
stitution requires, imperative duty that 'the
United states shall protect each of them (the
StateS) against INVASION | am at a loss TO con-
conceive how this protection be afforded to
California and Oregon against such a naval power
by any other means. 1 repeat the opinion con-
I sined in my last annual Message, that it would
be inexpedient for the government to undertake
this great work by ageuts of its appointment
and under its direct and exclusive control This
would increase the patronage to a dangerous ex-
tent, and would foster system Of jobbing and
which no vigilance on the part of fed
eral officials could prevent. The construction of
this road ought, therefore, to be entrusted to in
companies, other agencies, who
would exercise that active and vigilant supervis-
ion over il which can be alone inspired by a sense
Of corporate and individual interest. Iventure 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 the Pacific coast would be
greater in such war than the whole amount re-
4uired to construct the road. And yet this support
would, after ALL te inadequate for their defence
and protection.
We have scarcely yet recovered from the habits
of e1travsgant expenditure, produced by our over
flowing treasury during several years prior to the
of my administration. The hnan-
cial reverses which have since experienced
ought to teach all to scrutinize our expsndl-
lures with the greatest vigilance, and TO reduce
them to the lowest possible point Inc Execu-
tive Departments of the Government nave devoted
themselves to the Accomplishment Oh tnls ooJect
with considerable success as VIII appear from
their Al f;srs,t reports and estimates To these
-. ~ s,rstiny of Congress, for the purpose Of
doin,, shem still lower, if this be practicable,
oas.eentIy with the great public interests of the
coantry. In aid Of the policy of retrenchment,
D edge myself to examine closely the bills sppro-
Drating lands or money, so that if any of these
should Inadvertently pass both houses, as must
ometimes be the case, l may afford them an op-
oortunity for reconsideration. At the same time
re ought never to forget that true public economy
onsists, not in Withholding the means necessary
o accomplish important national objects confded
0 US by the Constitution, but in taking that
he money appropriated for these purposes shall
e faithfully and frugally expended.
1t will appear from the report of the Secretary
f the Treasury that it is extremely doubtful, to
ay the least, whether shall be able to pass
trough the present and the next fiscal year
Without providing additional revenue. This can
My be accomplished by strictly confning the
within the estimates Of the differ
mt departments without making allowance for
ny additional expenditures which Congress may
hink proper in their discretion, to authorize, and
TithOut providing for the redemption Of any por-
ion of 500, 900, 900 of Treafury notes which will
ave been already issued. In the event Of de-
cheney, which 1 consider probable, this ought new
r to be supplied by a resort to additional loans.
would be a ruinous practice Of in the day of
eace and prosperity to go on increasing the ma
onal debt TO meet the ordinary expenses of the
overnment. This policy would cripple our re-
Durces acd impair credit in case the existence
war should render it necessary to borrow money,
hould such deficiency occur 1 apprehend,
-ouId recommend the necessary revenue be raised
V an increase of our present duties on imports.
need not repeat the opinions expressed in my
.st annual message to the best mode and man.
er of accomplishing this object, and shall now
erely observe that these have since undergone
D change.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury will
tplain in detail the operations Of that depart