The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-01-06


un'ii October ard November. On the other
hand, when | came to examine carefully the
condition OF the Post Office Department, did
not meet as many or as great difficulties as !
lad apprehended. Had the bill which failed
oeeh confined TO appropriations for the fiscal
yedr ending on the 30th June next there
would have been no reason of pressing impor-
lance Tor the call OF an extra session. Nothn,
WodId become due on contracts, those with
railroad companies only excepted. for CARRYING
the mail for the first quarter of the present fiscal
| year, commencing on the lst of July, until the
Isl OF December, less than one week before the
meeting OF present Congress. The reason is,
! mat The mail contractors, for this, the current
year, did not complete their first quarters ser
wee until the Both of September last, and. by
the terms OF their contracts, sixty DAYS more
are allowed for the settlement Their accounts.
before the Department could be called upon tor
payment. The great difficulty and the great
| hardship consisted in the failure TO provide for
the payment OF the deficiency in the fiscal year
ending the 30th Jane, 1859. The department
{ had entered INTO contracts, in obedience to ex-
Istng laws, for service Of that fiscal year, and
, the contractors were fairly entitled to their
| compensation as II became due. TIE deficiency.
as stated IN the bill, amounted TO S3,S3S, ,728.
but after careful settlement OF all the accounts
It has been asceTtalned that it amounts 10 S4.-
| 2So,0 COY. with the scanty means at his com
mand, the Postmaster General has managed to
pay that portion OF this deficiency whicn oc-
Cured IN the first two quarters OF the past fis-
cal year, ending on the list December last.
10 The meantime the contractors themselves
under these trying circumstances, have beha-
we'd IN manner worthy OF all c ommendaton
lhey mad one resource IN the midst OF their
| embarraSsmens. After the amount due TO
each OF them had been aScertaned and finally
settled according to law thIs b+came specific
debt OF record against the UHited States, which
enabled them 10 borrow money on this uuqnes-
tIonable security. Still they were obliged to pay
IN tereSt In consequence of the default of Con-
gress, and on every principle of justice ought to
receive interest from the government. This
interest should commence from the date when
warrant would have issued for the payment
OF the principal had an appropriation been
made for this purpose. Calculated up to 1sl of
December, it will not exceed S96 $50 a sum
not be taken into account when contrasted
with the great difficulties and em5arrassmcnts
Of public and private character, both to
the people and the States which would have
resulted from convening and holding a special
session OF Congress.
For these reasons / recommend the passage of
an acI at as early day as may be practicable
to provide for the payment OF the amount, with
interest, due 10 these last mentioned contractors
as ell as to make the necessary appFonrta-
tlons for the services Of the Pest Office
Department for the current fiscal year. The
failure to pass the Post Office bill, necessarily
gives birth to serious reflection. Congress.
by refusing to pass the general appropriation
bills necessary 10 carry on the govern
ment, may not only arrest its action, bat
might destroy It's existence. The army, the
navy, the judiciary, in short every department
OF the government can no longer perform their
functions ii Congress refuse the money necessa-
ry tor their support. Ii this failure should
teach the country the necessity of pecting
/ toll Congress 10 sufficient time to enable the
/ President to convene them IN anv emergency
/ even immediately after the old Congress has
/ expired, It will have been productive Of great
/ good. In time OF sudden and alarming dan
1 GER foreign or domestic, which all nations must
! expect to encounter in their progress, the very
! salvation OF our institutions NAV be staked upon
! the assembling Of Congress without delay. II.
| under such circumstances the President should
! find himself in the condition in which be was
placed at the close OF the last Congress. with
nearly bali the States OF the Union destitute of
! representatives, the consequences might BE- dis
asirous ; therefore recommend to Congress 10
carry in 10 effect the provisions Of the Cons,i
tuition on this subject, and to pass a law appoln-
/ ting some day previous to the 18th Of March in
| each year OF odd number, for the election of
! representatives throughout all the S,ates.-
They have already appointed a dav for the
election Of electors for President and Vice-Preei-
dent, and this measure has been approved bv
the country.
/ would again express a most decided obfnon
IN favor OF The construction of a Pacific rail-
road, Tor the reasons stated in nv two las, annu
a! messages. When [ reflect npon what woad
be the detenceless condition of our States ana
Territories west Of the Rocky Mountains. in
case OF war with naval power sufficiently
strong to interrupt all intercourse with Them
| 10y The route across the Isthmus, am still more
convinced than ever OF The vast Importance of
this railroad. / have never doubted the con.
s'tutlonal competency of Congress 70 provids
Tor ITS construction, but this is exclusively undar
the war making power, besides, the Conslitu-
ton expressly requires, as an imperative drt,
that the United States shall protect each o. the
States against invasion. | am at loss 70 con-
ceIve how this protection can be afforded lo
California and Oregon against such a naval
power by any other means. I repeat the opin-
Ioh containediIn my last annual MESSAGE that
1t would De lnexpedient for the government 10
undertake. this great work by agents of is own
| appointment, and under its direct and exclusive
coaIfo'' This would increase the patronage Of
the executive to dangerous extent. and wosJ5
loster system OF jo5bing and corruption which