Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-01-06
BgDP0RD IMeUERE ER.

ize the President to employ the force at bis
command TO seize vessel belonging to an
American citizen, which has been illegally em-
ployed and captured ID a foreign port, anu re-
| store it to its owner, but can Congress only
act after the fact after the mischief has been
done! Have they not power to confer upon
! the President the authority ip advance, to fur
Hish instant redress, should such a case afler-
wards occur1 Must they wait until the mis-
Chief has been done and can then apply the
remedy. only when it is too late? To coufer
! this authority, to meet future eases under cir
cumstances strictly specific, is as clearly with
| in the war declaring power as snch oB authori-
/ ty conferred upon the President by act OF
/ Congress after the deed has been done. In the
progress of great nation, many exigenciaS
must raise, imperatiyely requiring Ibat Com
gress should authorize the President TO act
! promptly certain conditions which may not
! afterwards arise
The Thirty Fifth Congress terminated on
the Sd day of March, 1859, Without having
passed the act making appropriations for tue
service of the Post-sfiee Department dnsing
! The fiscal year ending the Both June, 1866
/ This act also contained an appropriation to
! supply Deficiencies 10 the revenue OF the Post
| Office Department for the year endiug the 30tb
June, 1859. believe that this il ibe 6rst IN
stance since the origin of the Federal Gosern.
ment, now more than seventy years ago, when
aGy Congress went out of existence without
having passed all the general appropriation
/ bills necessary TO carry on the government un-
nj tbe regular peried for the meeting Of new
Congress. This event imposed on the execu-
tive grave responsibility. Il presented
| choice of evils. Had this omission of Guty
occurred at the first session Of the last Con.
/ gress, the remedy would have been plain. 4
might then have Instantly recalled them to
complete their work, and this without expense
to the government. But on the 4ih Of March,
/ last there were fifteen of the thirty three
States which had not elected any representa-
/ tlves to the present Congress. Had Con-
| gress heen called together Immediately, these
States would have been virtually disfranchised.
/ II an intermediate period had been selected,
several OF the States would have been COM
peled to bold extra sessions of their legsla-
/ lures, and at great Inconvenience and expense
4 to provide for elections at sn earlier cav than
that previously fixed by law la tie regular
course, ten OF these States would not elect
until after tue beginning of August, aud iys
or these ten net until Oeto5or aud November.
! On the other hand, when came to examine
carefully the condition oi tho Post Office De-
/ partment, did not meet as many or as great
diiheaitles as had apprehended. Had the
/ Oil which failed been confined 10 sppropria-
tons tor the fiscal year ending on The 30th of
June next, there would have been no reason
/ Of pressing Importance fof the cali of IN ex-
ira session. A9hiug would become due on
contracts, those with railroad companies only
! excepted, for carrying the mail for the Erst
| quarter of the present fiscal year, commencing
on the lst of July, until the first OF December,
less tLan one week before the meeting Of the
| present Congress. The reason is, nat the
nail contractors, for this, the current year,
did not complete their FIST quarters orsice
until the Both of September last, aud, by the
| terms OF their contracts, sixty days more are
| allowed for the settlement of their accounts,
/, sfore the department could be called upon
for .sayment. Ihe great difficulty and the
,reat b,>edship consisted in the failnre TO pro-
vide for tb,' payment of the deficiency 10 the
iscal r-ar enu'og June 3Uth, 1859. Tue De-
partalent had cuts,rea iato contracts, IN obedi-
onee TO exsting Laws, for tho services Of that
fiscal year, and The tractors were fairly en-
titled to iheir compensation as IL became due-
The deficiency as stated is the Dill amounted
to So, ,S38,T2S, but after Careful settlement
all these accounts, IT has been ascertS'9ed that
it amounts 10 "a ,296, ,009. With the eean'y
means at his command, the Postmaster Gene
raj has managed 10 pay that portion Of this de-
ii2isney which occurred in the first two quar-
ters OF The past fiscal year, ending on the 2lst |
| December last.
In the meantime the contractors them
selves, under these trying circumstances, have I
behaved N a manper worthy Of all comnenda- .
top. Tney had one resource in the midst OF /
| their cnbarassments. After the amount due I
| to each of them had been aseeqtained and e. /
nally settled according to law, this became /
| specific cobt of record against The United |
! States. which enabled them to borrow money /
on this puquestionadle security. Still they |
we're obliged 90 pay interest in consequence of
! the default O. Congress, and on every prnci- I
| pie of justice ought to receive Interest from
! tho government. This ipterest should CON-
! nence from the date when warrant would |
/ nave issued for the payment of the p!incipal |
| had an appropriation been made for this png-
! pose Calculated up 70 lst of December, it /
1 il will not exceed $500, SUN not TO DO
/ taken into account, when contrasted ViIh the I
| great difficulties and endorsements of a pub
| lic and private character, both with the pco-
/ pie and The States, which ToGid nave resulted
from c0ngening and holding special SESSION Of
! Congress.
! For these reasons recommend the passage
Of an act at as early day as may be practi-
cable, 10 provide for rhs payment of the
amount, with interest, due to these last men- !
toned contractors, as woll as to make the ne
cessary appropriations tor fdo services OF the
Post 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 APP
preparation bill necessary to carry on the goy-
ernmeni, may not only arrest It's action, but