The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-12-14

time ana patience. dPPAeu u'ySeA uhli-
gentlvto the task from the beginning,and was
aided BY the able and energetic efforts of the
heads of the different executive departments.
The result of our labors in this good cause !
did not appear in the sum total of our ex-
penditures for the first two years, mainly in
consequence of the extraordinary expendl-
ture necessarily incurred in the Utah expedi-
ton. and the very large amount of the con-
tingent expenses Of Congress during this pc
Rod. These greatly exceeded the pay and
mileage of the members. For the year end
ing 3Oth June, 1853, whilst the pay and mile
age amounted to Sl4902l4, the contingent
expenses rose to $2,093, 3O9.79. and for the
year ending 30:h June, 1859. whilst the pay
and mileage amounted to SSo9,O93.G6, the
contir gent expenses amounted to Sl,43l,-
56j,7S. am happy, however, to be able to
inform YOU that during the last fiscal year
ending on the Goth June, 1860, the total ex-
penditures of the government in all its
neutrality-suspicious. executive and judicial
Exclusive of the public debt, were reduced
to the sum of 55,4O2, 405,46. This conclu-
sively appear from the books of the treasury.
In the year ending on the Goth June, 1853,
debt, amounted to $7l.9O1, 1871, and that
for the year ending 80 June, 1859, to $780,
345. 226.l3. Whilst the books of the treas
ury show ar actual expenditure of SO, -S43,-
414,72 for the year ending on the Both June,
1860, including 81 .O4O,667,7l for the contn-
gent expenses of Congress, there must be de-
Quoted from this amount the sum of 1885,
O09.26, with the interest upon it of $4,000,
appropriated by the act Of 18th February,
! 1860, "for the purpose Of supplying the def
cheney in the revenues and defraying the ex-
pcnses of the post Office departments for the
year ending 30th June, 1859" This sum,
therefore, justly chargeable to the year 1859,
must be deducted from the sum of $j9,S4S,-
374,72, in order to ascertain the expenditure
/ for the year ending on the Both June, 1860,
which leaves a balance for the expenditures
of that year of 500 400 4O6,46. The interest
on the public debt, including treasury notes
for the same fiscal year ending on the 3Oth
june 1860, amounted to S3,177,3l4 ,62,which
added to the above sum of 500, 4O2, 465, 49,
makes the aggregate of S5S,579.7S0,0S.
/ 1t ought in justice to be observed that sew
eral of the estimates from the departments
for the year ending 3Oth June, 1860, were re-
daccG by Congress below what was and still
is deemed compatible with the public inter-
est. Allowing liberal margin of $780,
600 for this reduction and for other causes it
may be safely asserted that the sum of SOL
100000, or at the most SG2,0OO.0 900, is am
ply sufficient to administer the government
and to pay the interest on the public debt
unless contingent events should hereafter
render extraordinary expenditures necessary
The result has been attained in Il consider
able degree by the care exercised in the ap-
propriate departments in entering into public
contracts. l have myself never ntcrfered
in single case with the colonization society.
deeming it advisable to cast the whole re-
sp; visibility in each case on the proper head
of the department, with the general instruc-
ton that these contracts should always IT.
given 10 the lowest bidder. Ii has ever been
my opinion that public contracts are not L.
climate source of patronage to be conferred
upon personal or political iavorit,s, bu, tia,
in all such cases a public officer is bound to
act for the government as a prudent individ-
ual would act for himself.
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE, ETC.
1t is with great satisfaction | communicate
the fact that since the date of my last annu-
al message, not a single slave has been in
ported into the United States in violation of
the laws prohibiting the African slave trade.
This statement is founded upon thorough
examination and investigation of the subject
Indeed the spirit which prevailed some time
3 c,ll.
liz favor of this trade seems To have entirely
subsidized.
also congratulate YOU upon the public
sentiment which now exists against the crime
of setting on foot military expeditions within
the limits of the United States, to proceed
from thence and make war upon the people
of unotFcndng states, with whom we are at
peace. In this respect happy change has
been effected since the commencement of nv
administration. 1t surely ought to be the
prayer of every Christian and patriot tina,
such expeditions may never again receive
countenance in our country or depart from
our shores.
1t would be a useless repetition to do more
than refer, with earnest Communications to nv
former recommendations in favor of the Pa
citic rairoad-of the grant of power to the
president to employ the naval force in the Vi
cinity for the protection of the lives and pro-
pcrty of our fellow citizens passing in transi,
over the different Central American routes
against sudden and lawlcss outbreaks and
depredations and also to protect American
merchant vessels, their crews and cargocs, a.
gainst violent and unlawful seizure and con-
tiscation in the ports of Mexico and the
South American republics, when these may
be in Il disturbed and revolutionary condi.
ton. 1t is my settled conviction, that with
out such a power We do not afford that pro-
lection to those engaged in the commerce of
the country which they have a right to de-
mand.
: ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS-,
! again recommend to Congress the pas
sage of law in pursuance of the provisions
Of the constitution, appointing day certain,
previous to the 18th of March, in each year of
an ODD number, for the election Of represen-
tatives throughout all the states. A similar
power has already been exercised, with gen
eral appreciation. in the appointment of the
same day throug hout the Union for holding
the election OF electors for president and vice
presiden: of the United States. My attcn-
ton was earnestly directed to this subject
from the fact, that the 55th Congress termi-
mated on the Sd of March, 1859, without ma
king the necessary appropriation for the ser
vice of the post office department. was
then forced to consider the best remedy for
this omission. and an immediate call of the
present Congress was the natural resort. Up-
on enquiry, however. ascertained that IL
out of the 33 states would be disfranchised
by such call. These IL states will be in