The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-01-05

The failure to pass the Post Office bill
necessarily gives birth to. serious reflections
Congress, by refusing to pass the general ap
preparation bills necessary to carry on tn,
Government, may not only arrest its action
but might even destroy its existence. Tn,
army. the navy, the judiciary--in short, every
department Of government-can not perform
their functions if Congress refues the money
necessary for their support. IF this failure
should teach the country the. necessity O
electing full Congress in sufficient time tc
enable the President to convene them in any
emergency, even Immediately after the old
Congress has expired, it will have been pro
ductive of great good. In time of sudden
and alarming danger foreign or domestic
which all nations must expect to encounter
in their progress, the very salvation of our
institutions may be staked upon the assem-
bling ofCongress without delay. If, under
such circumstances, the President should
find himself in the condition in which he
was placed at the close Of the last Congress,
with nearly half the States Of the Union
destitute Representatives, the consequent
ces might be disastrous. !, therefore, rec
ommend to Congress to carry into effect the
provisions of the constitution on this subject,
and to pass. law appointing sonae day pre-
vious to the 4th f March in each year of
odd number for the election of Representatives
throughout all the States. They have already
appointed day for the election of electors
for President and Vice President, and this
measure has been approved by the country.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD,
gafp n mn herfA adN mi tr
vor Of the construction OF Pacific railroad for the
stated in my two last annual Messages. When
reflect upon what would be the defenceless condition
of our States and Territories west of the Rocky
Mountains in case Of war with naval power sufi-
cientS trong to nterrurt all intercourse with them
nv the routes the Isthmus, am still more con-
WINGED than of the vast importance Of this rail-
road. have never doubted the constitutional COM
potency of Congress to provide for its construction
hut this exclusively under the war-making power
Besides the constitution expressly requires as an m-
peratve duty that 1.-the United states shalt protect
each of them (the States) against INVASION. am at
floss to how this protection can be afforded
to California and Oregon against such naval Power
by any other means. repeat the opinion contained
ia my last annual Message, that 1t would lie inex'e
dent forthe Government undertake this great work
by agents of its own appointment and under ITS direct
and exclusive control This would increase the pat.
ronage of the Executive to n dangerous extent, and
would foster system of jobbing and corruption which
vigilance the part Of federal officials could pre-
vent The construction Of this road ought therefore,
he entrusted 70 Incorporated companies, or other
ercies who would exercise that active and Vigilant
supervision IL which be inspired alone by a
sense Of corporate and individual interest I ven
ture to that the additional cost II Transporting
troops munitions of war and necessary supplies tos
the army across the vast intervening plains to orr
such than the whole amouat required to CON
struct the road. And yet this resort would, after ALL
be inadequate for their defence and protection.
RETIRE ycHMEYr IN THE DEPARTMENTS.
We have scarcely recovered from the habits OF eX-
travagant expenditure produced by our Overlooking
Treasury during several prior to the commence
ment of my administration: The financial reverses
which have since experienced ought to teach us all
to scrutinze expenditures with the greatest vigil
lance aud to reduce them to the lowest possible point
Executive Departments of the Government have de-
voted themselves to the complishmcnt Of this Oh
ject with considerable success, will appear from
their different rep"rts and estimates. To those in
wire the scrutiny of Congress- for tbs purpose of re
ducing them still lower If this be pracbe, consise mt
with the great public Interests Of the country Tn aid
the policy Of chment pledge self to ex-
anime closely the bills appropr ting lands or money
that If any of these should inadvertently pass both
houses as must sometimes be the case, may afford
them an opportunity for reconsideration. At the
same time ought never to forget that true public
economy consists, not in Withholding the means neces-
sary accomplish important natl onal objects confd-
ed TO us by the Constitution but in taking care that
The money appropriated for these purposes shall be
faithfully and frugaliy expended.
ADpIrI NAL REVENUE NEEDED.
It will appear from the report Of the Secretary
of the Treasury that it is extremely doibtfnf, to
saw the least. whether shah he able to pass
through the present and the next fiscal year with
out providin additional rsvanuo.-This eau only
he accomplished by strictly combining the appro
priations within the estimates of the different lie.
partments without making an allowance for any
additional expenditures which Congress may
think proper in tn ir discretion to authorize and
without providing for. the redemption OF any por-
ton of the $50. NaN. 600 of Treasury notes which
have beel already issued In the event of Il de-
fciency which consider protalf fc. this ought
IL 4 I Il
1t would be ruinous practice. in the day of
peace and prosperity. to go on increasing the ma
tional debt to meet the ordinary expenses of the
government This policy would cripple our re
sources and impair our credit in case the exist
of war should render it necessary to b1r51w
hend would recommend that the necessary rev.
enue be raised by an increase Of oui present du-
ties on imports. I need not repeat the opinions
expressed in my last annual message as TO the
best mode and nlnner OF accomplishing this OBJ.
ject. and shah now merely observe that tines, have
snre undergone no change.
But this balance, as well rs that estimate to
remain in the treasury the LIST July, 1860, will
he reduced by such appropriations rs shall be
made by law t. carry into effect certain Indian
treaties during the present fiscal year, asked by
the Secretary of the Interior to the amount of five
hundred and thirty nine thousand three hundred
and fifty dollars $3.50. $50. and upon the esti-
MATES OF The POSTMASTER ueneral Tor the service
of his department the last fiscal year. ending 30th
June, Is o. amolntin, to four million two hun
dred and nine y-siX thousand and nine dollars,
1896 0O9.) together with the further estimate of
that officer for the service of the present fiscal
year. ending 3Oth June, 1860, being five million
FIVE hundred and twenty six Thousand .hroo-iun-
d,.,l and .tsx..sv-four dollars, 800 d 324, max
ing an aggregate Of ten millions three hundred
and sixty -onc thousand six hundred and eighty
three dollars, (lO,36l, 6Sa.) ..Eu
The publ: expenditures during the fiscal year
ending Goth June, 1859. amounted to eighty three
million hundred and fit lone thousand
five hundred and eleven dollars and fifty seven
(SS3,751. 81 80 OF this sum seventeen million
four hundred and FIVE thousand two hundred and
eighty five dollars and forty -four cents ($l7 405,
2S5 A. were applied to the payment of interest
on the public debt aud the redemption of the is
SEES of treasury notes. The expenditures for all
the other branches of the public service during
that fiscal year were therefore sixty six million
three hundred and forty six thousand two
hundred ond twenty six dollars AID thirteen
cents (S66, BAG, 226 49,
The balance remaining in the treasury on
the list July, 1859, being the commencement
the present fiscal year, was four million three
hundred and thirty nine thousand two hum
dred and seventy-fve dollars and fifty-fOur
cents $4,339, 275 a4.)
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
The receipts into the treasury during the
first quarter of the present fiscal year, COM
,,,an,;,,r I,,l,, 1870 wara twantu million