Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-12-15
WHOLE NUMBER 57S.

the sum of $55, ,402, 465 46 This concla-
sively appears from the books Of the Trea.
snry. In the year ending on the 30th June.
1858, the total expenditures, exclusive Of
the public debt, amounted to $71 .90l, ,l2o.-
II; aud that for the year ending 30th,
1859, to $66 SAG 226 IN. Whilst the
books of the Treasury show an actual ex.
pendture of $59,4s4, ,425 70 for the year
ending on the 30th June, 1860, including
Sl.O40, 667 II for the contingent expenses
OF Congress, there mnst be deducted from
this amount the sum Of $4 .294,409 28. With
tne interest upon II Of sl50,000, appropritt-
ed by the act Of fl6th February, 1860, for
tne purpose Of supplying the deficiency IN
tne revenues and defraying the expenses Of
the Post Ofice Department for the year
ending the 30th June, 1864" This sun,
therefore, justly chargeable 10 the year
lo99, must be deducted from the sum Of
S59, 9,S4S,475 H. in order to ascertain the
expenditure Of the year ending the 30th
June, 1860, which leaves a balance for the
expenditures Of that year Of s5h.402.-
465 As. The interest on the public debt.
including Treasury notes for the same fiscal
year, ending on the Both of Juue, 1850,
amounted to $3,I7T3l4 SO, which added
to the above sum Of $55, ,402 465 46, makes
the aggregate of $5s, ,579, 7s0 08.
1t ought 10 justice to be observed that
several of the estimates from the depart
ments for the year ending 30ih of June,
1850, were reduced by Congress below
what was and still is deemed compatible
with the public interest Allowing liber-
al margin Of 50, 500, 600. for this reduction
and for other causes, it may be safoly as
serted that the sum Of $61 900, 900 or at
most $4,000, 900, is amply sufficient to adj
minister the government and to pay the in
terest on the public debt, unless contingent
events should hereafter render extraordina-
ry expenditures necessary. .e.
This result has been attained 10 q con-
siderable degree by the care exercised By
the appropriate departments ia entering ia-
to public contracts. l have myself never
interferred with the award of any such con-
tract, except in single case with the Col
onzation Society, deeming it advisable to
cast the whole responsibility In each case on
the proper head of the department, with
the general instruction that these contracts
should always be given to the lowest and
best bidder 1t has ever been my oplnion
that public contracts are not legitimate
source of patronage, but that In all such
cases public officer is bound to act for the
government as prudent individual would
act for himself.
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE, &C.
1t IA with great satisfaction communi.
cate the fact that, since the date of my last
Animal Message, not single slave has
been imported into the United States In
Of the law prohibiting the Afr-
can slave trade. This statement Is founded
upon thorough examination and inyesti-
cation of the subject. Indeed, the spiris
which prevailed some time since among a
portion of our fellow citizens in 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 unoffendiug states with whom
we are at peace. In this respect happy
change has been effected since the com.
mencement of my administration. 1t sure
ly ought to be the prayer Of every Chris
tian and patroit that such expeditions may
never receive countenance In our country
or depart from our shores
1t would be a useless repetition to more
than refer with earnest commendation, to
my former recommendations in favor of the
Pacific Railroad-of the. grant of power
to the President to employ the naval forcs
in the vicinity for the protection Of the livea
and property Of our fellow-citiEens passing
in transit over the different Central Ameri.
ca routes, against su ilen and lawlsss out
breaks and depredations; and also to pro-
tect American merchant vessels their crews
and cargoes against violent and unlawful
seizures and confScation in the ports OF
Mexico and the South American Republics.
when these may be in disturbed and reyo-
lutionary condition. 1t is my settled con
viction that without such power we do
not afford that protection to those engaged
in the commerce Of the country which they
have a right to demand.
ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS-.
again recommend to Congress the pas
sage of law in pursuance of the provl-
sions Of the Constitution appointing cer.
tain day previous to the 4'h of March in
each year of an odd number for the election
of representatives throughout all the states
A similar power has already been exercised
with general appreciation in the aPpoiat-
ment of the same day throughout the union
for holding the election of electors for Presi-
dent and Viee-President of the U. States
Nv attention was earnestly directed TO this
subiect from the fact that the Tbirtydith
Congress terminated on the Sd of March,
1859, without making the necessary appro-
priation for the service Of the POstolRcs
Department. | was then forced to consid-
er the best remedy for this omission, aud
an immediate call of the present Congress
was the natural resort Upon inquiry,
however, | ascertained that 6fteen out OF
thirty-three states composing the confedera-
cy were without representatives, end that
consequently, these fifteen states woald be
disfranchised by such call These fifteen
states will be in the same condition on the
4th March next. Ten of them cannot elect
representatives, according TO existing state
laws, until different periods extending from
the beginning Of August next TO the months
of October aud November.
In my last message gave warning that
| in time Of sudden and alarming danger
the salvations OF our Institutions mighs do
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