Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-12-04

ton fairly held under lawful authority if they had
not subsequently, voted the third election 1t is true
that the whole constitution had nos been submitted to
the people, as always desired but the precedents
numerous Of the admission OF States nQ the Union with
out such submission
1t would not comport with my present purpose to
view the proceedings of Congress Upon the hecopton
constitution 1t is sufficient to observe that sheir final
action has removed the last vestge of serious revou
tionary troubles The desperate band recently assem-
bled under notorious outlaw in the southern portion of
the Territory to resist tho execution Of the laws and TO
plumber peaceful citizena WILL doubt not be speedily
subdued and brossghi to Justice
Had treated the Lecompton constitution as nullity
and refused 60 transmit it to Congress- 1t is not difficult
to mag1a whilst recalling the position of the country
at that m hent what would have been the disastrous
consequences both in and out of the Territory from such
derelction of duty on the part of the Executive.
Peace has also been restored within the Territory of
Utah, which, at the commencement of nay Administra
ton, was in state OF open rebellion This was the
dangerous, the people, animated by fanatcal
spirit and entrenched within their distant mountain
Businesses might have made long and formidable
sistance Cost what it might, it necessary to bring
them into subsection to the Constitution and the laws
Sound policy therefore, well humanity required
that this object should if possible be accomplished with
out the eusion of blood This could ony be effected by
sending military force into the Territory sufficiently
strong to convince the people that resistance would be
hopeless and at the time to offer them pardon for
past offences condition of immediate submission to
the Government. This policy pursued with eminent
and the only for regret is the heavy
pendture required to march large detachment of the
army to that remote region and to furnish it subsistence
Utah is comparatively peaceful and quiet and the
military force has been withdrawn except that portion
necessary keep the Indians check and to protect
the emgrant trains on their way to our Pacific posses
sions
FINANCES
In my first annual message promised to employ nv
best exertons in cooperation with Congress, to reduce
the expenditures of the Government within the limits of
wise and judcious economy. An OVERLOOKING treasury
had produced habits of prodigality and extravaganza
which could only be gradually corrected The work re-
qured both time and patience applied myself dill
gently to this task from the beginning and aided by
the able and energetic efforts of the Heads of the different
Executive Departments The result of labors in this
good did not appear in the total of expend
lures for the first two years. mainly in consequence of
the extraordinary expenditure necessarily incurred in the
Utah expedition and the very large amount of the
tngent expenses of Congress during this period These
greatly exceeded the pay and mileage of the members
For the year ending 3Oh June 1885, whilst the pay and
mileage amounted to $780, 14 the contingent OK
penses to ST. 093 800 49, and for the year ending
30h june 1859 whilst the pay and mileage amounted to
$3.50 ,093 &c, the contingent expenses amounted to
81 43l ,565 IS. am happy, however, to be able to
inform you that during the last fiscal year ending the
30th june 1860 the total expenditures of the Govern
mcntin all its Misunderstanding executive and Judi
cal-exclusve of the public debt, reduced to the
sum of $50 4O2 465 46 This conclusively appears from
the books of the Treasury In the year ending on the
3Oth June, 1885, the total expenditure exclusive of the
public debt amounted to 81, g0l, l29 H. and that for
the year ending Goth June, 1885, to $66, 226 13.
Whilst the books of the Treasury show actual expend
tue of $50 S48 474 u for the year ending the Both
June, 1862 including 81 040 667 II for the contingent
expenses of Congress- there must be deducted from this
amount the of 009 g. with the interest upon
it of $3.50 00e appropriated by the act of 18th February
1862 or the purpose of supplying the deficiency in the
and defaying the expenses of the Post Office
Department for the year ending the thireth of june
one thousand eight hundred and fifty nine This sum-
therefore, Justly chargeabe to the year 1882 must be
deducted from the of $50 S4S 474 72 in order to
ascertain the expenditure for the year ending the 3Oth
June 1860 which leaves balance for the expenditures
of that year of $55 402 465 49, The interest on the
public debit including Treasury notes for the Same fiscal
year ending the 30th june 1860, amounted to So
III 3l4 62 which, added to the above sum of $50
465 46, makes the aggregate of $5S $40, 780 O8.
1t ought in justice to be observed that several of the
estimates from the departments for the year ending 3Oth
June, 1860, reduced by Congress below what was
and still is deemed compatible with the public interest
Allowing liberal margin of So, 500 600 for this reduc-
ton and for other causes 1t may be safely asserted that
the of SCI 000 000 at the most $62 600 O0O ia
amply sufficient to administer the Government and to
pay the interest the public debt unless contingent
events should hereafter render extraordinary expenditures
necessary
This result has been attained In considerable degree
by the care exercised by the appropriate departments in
entering into public contracts. have myself never in
terfered with the award of any such contract ex-
cept in single with the Colonization Society
deemng it advisable to cast the whole responsibility
in each the proper head of the department. with
the general instruction that these contracts should al
ways be given to the lowest and best bidder It has
been my opinion that public contracts are not legti
mate of patronage to be conferred upon personal
political favorites 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 is with great satisfaction I communicate the fact
that since the date of my last Annual Message not sim
gle slave has been imported into the United States in vi
olaton 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 since among portion of
fellow citizens in favor OF this trade to have
entirely subsidized.
also congratulate you upon the public sentiment
which exists against the crime of setting on foot
military expeditions within the limits of the United
States to proceed from thence and make upon the
people of unocnding States with whom we are at peace
In this respect happy change has been effected since
the commencement of my Administration. 1t surely
ought to be the prayer of every Christian and patriot
that such expeditions may again receive counte
nance in our country or depart from our shores.
1t would be useless repetition to do than refer
with earnest comneniation to my former recommended
ons in favor of the Pacific railroad-of the grant of
power to the President to employ the naval force in the
vicinity for the protection of the lives and property of
elowctzens passing in transit the different Central
American routes against sudden and lawless outbreaks
and depredaens and also to protect American merchant
vessels their crews and cargoes, against violent and
unlawful seizure and conscaon in the ports of Mexico
and the South American republc when these may be
disturbed and revolutionary condition 1t is my settled
conviction, that without such power do not afford
that protection to those engaged in the of the
country which they have right to demand
ELECTION MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
again recommend to Congress the passage of law in