East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-12-13

towards the satisfaction Of the claims OF
our injured fellow-citizcns.
In relation to Kansas, the President
says: "The desperate band recently AS
sembled under q notorious outlaw in the
southern portion of the Territory, to re-
sst the execution Of the laws and to
plumber the peaceable citizens, will, |
doubt not, be speedily subdued and
brought to justice"
He recommends Pacific Railroad;
congrstulstes the country upon the sp-
parent diminution of the slave trade, the
settlement of the Utah difficulties, and
the extinction Of the fillibustering senti-
ment; and, in view Of the destitution in
Kansas, recommends to Congress that, il
any constitutional measure of relief can
be devised, the subject should be- duly
considered.
The financial situation Of affairs is
given as follows:
In my first annual message promised
to employ my best excrtions, in co-opera-
tion with Congress, to reduce the expen-
ditures of the government within the
limits of wise and judicious economy.
An overaowing treasury had produced
habits of prodigality and extravagence
which could only be gradually corrected.
The work required both time and pa
tience. l applied myself diligently to
this task from the beginning, and was
aided by the able and energetic efforts Of
the heads of the different Executive De-
partments. The result of our labors in
this good cause did not appear in the
sum total of our expenditures for the
first two years, mainly in consequences Of
the extraordinary expenditures necessa-
ly incurred in the Utah expedition, and
the very large amount of contingent ex-
penses Of Congress during this period
These greatly exceeded the pay and
mileage of the members. For the year
ending 30th June, 1858, while the pay
and mileage amounted to 81 ,490, ,214, the
contingent expenses rose to S2,O92,3O9
10, and for the year ending Both June,
1859, whilst the paying and mileage
amounted to SS59, ,093.66, the contingent
expenses amounted to S1,434, ,565.7s.-
l am happy, however, to be able to in
form you that during the last fiscal year,
ending on the 30th June, 1860, the total
expenditures of the government, in all
its branches-legislative, executive and
iudicial-exclusive of the public debt
were reduced to the sum of $55 ,402, 465.-
46. This couture, exclusive of the pub
lib debt, amounted to S71 1,9Ol 900,
clusively appears from the books of the
treasury. In the year ending on the
30th of June, 1858, the total expendi-
ture, exclusive of the public debt,
amount to S71, ,901, ,129.77, and that for
year ending Both June, 1859, to &c.,
346, ,226.l3, Whilst the books of the
treasury show an actual expenditure Of
$50, ,S4S, ,47472 for the year ending on
the 3Oth June, 1860, including sl,04o,.
667.71 for the contingent expenses of
Congress, there must be deducted from
this amount the sum Of 1896, ,OO9 20,
with the interest upon it of $15O,OOO,
appropriated by the act of 10Th Of Feb
ruary, 1860, "for the purpose of supply
ing the deficiency in the revenues and
defraying the expenses of the Postosice
Department for the year ending the 3Oth
of June, 1852" This sum, therefore,
Justly chargeablc to the year 1859, must
be deducted from the sum Of S59, ,474.72,
in order to ascertain the expenditure of
the year, ending on the 30th June, 1850,
which leaves balance for the expendi-
lures of that year of s55, ,402, ,465. .46.-
The interest on the public debt, includ-
ing treasury notes for the same fiscal
year ending on the 30th June, 1860,
amounted to S3,177 ,314.62, which added
to the above sum of S55,402 ,465.46,
makes tho aggregate Of S5s,579, ,1SO.OS.
1t ought in justice to be observed that
several of the estimates from the depart
ments for the year ending 3Oth of June,
1860, were reduced by Congress below
what was and still is deemed compatible
with the public interest. Allowing a
liberal margin of s2,500,0 for this re-
duction, and for other causes, it may be
ssfely asserted that the sum of S6l ,000,-
600, or at the most s62, 900, 900, is amply
sufficient to administer the government
and to pay the interest on the public
debt, unless contingent events should
hereafter render extraordinary expendi-
lures necessary.
This result has been attained in a con-
siderable degree by the care exercised by
the appropriate departments in entering
into public contracts, l have myself
never interfered with the award of any
such contract except in single case with
the Colonization Society, deeming it adj
visablo to cast the whole responsibility in
each case on the proper head Of the de
partment, with the general instruction
that these contracts should always be
given to the lowest and best bidder. 1t
has ever been my opinion that public
contracts are not legitimate source Of
patronage to DO conferred upon personal
or political favorites; but that in oil such
cases . public officer is bound to act for
the government as a prudent individual
would act for himself.
He recommends the passage Of law,
in pursuance Of the provisions Of the
constitution, appointing day certain,
previous to the 4th Of March in each
year Of an odd number, for the election
Of Representatives throughout all the
States.
We oivc tho conclulinU portions of