East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-01-05

tue ocSihhihS VI %huRN"i
these ten not until October and Noyem-
Der.
On the other hand, when | came TO
examine carefully the condition OF the
Post Office Department, did not mean
as many or as great difficulties as ap.
pretended. Had the bill which failed
been confined to appropriations for the
fiscal year ending on the Both of June
next, there would have been no reason of
pressing Importance for the call of an
extra session. Nothing would become
due on contracts Those with railroads
companies onl y excepted for carrying
the mail for the first quarter of the pres
cnt fiscal year, commencing with the LIST
of July, until the first of December-less
than one week before the meeting of the
present Congress- The reason is that
the mail contractors for this the current
year did not complete their first quarters
service until the 30th September last
and by the terms of their contracts sixty
DAYS more arc allowed for the settlement
of their accounts before the Department
could be called upon for payment
The great difficulty and the great hard
ship consists in the failure to provide for
the payment of the deficiencies in the
fiscal year, ending the Both of June, 1883.
The Department had entered into con-
tracts, in obedience to existing laws, for
the service of that fiscal year, and the
contractors were fully entitled to their
compensation as il became due. The de-
ficiencies as stated in the bill amounted
to S3,S3S,72S. but after a careful settle
ment of all these accounts, it has been
ascertained that it amounts to 81, 296 900.
With the scanty means at his command
the Postmaster General has managed to
pay the first two quarters of the past lis
cal year, ending on the 3lst of December
last. In the meantime the contractors
themselves under those trying circum-
stances, have behaved in a manner wor-
thy of all commentator.
They hal one resource in the midst OF
their embarrassments. Afterthe amount
due to each Of them had been ascertain
ed and finally settled according to law,
this became a specified debt of record
against the Uuited States, which enabled
them TO borrow money on this unques-
tionable security. Still they were obliged
to pay interest in consequence of the de-
fault of Congress, and on every principle
of Justice ought to receive interest from
the governonment. This interest should
commence from the date when a warrant
would have issued for the payment of the
principal had an appropriation been made
for that purpose. Calculated up to the
first of December, it will not exceed nine
ty-six thousand six hundred and sixty
dollars-a sum not to be taken into &C
count when contrasted with the great
difficulties and endorsements of pub
lie and private character, both to the
people and the States, which would have
resulted from converting and holding
special session of Congress.
For these reasons | recommend the
passage Of bill, at as early day as may
be practicable, to provide for the pay
ment Of the amount, with interest, due &c
these last mentioned contractors, as wei
as to make the necessary appropriations
for the service of the Postoflice Depart.
ment for the current fiscal year.
The failure to pass the Postoffice bill
necessarily gives birth to serious retiec
tons. Congress, by refusing to pass the
general appropriation bills necessary &c
carry on the government, may not only
arrest its action, but might even destroy
its existence. The army, the navy, the
iudiciary-in short, every department o
government-canno longer perform thei
functions if Congress refuse the money
necessary for their support.
If this failure should teach the countr!
the necessity of electing a full Congress
in sufficient time to enable the Preisden
to convene them in any emergency, ever
; Immediately after the old Congress ha
expired, it will have been productive o
great good. In time of sudden anC
alarming danger, foreign or domestic
/ which all nations must expect to encoun
5 ter in their progress, the very salvation
r of our institutions may be staked upOI
| the assembling of Congress without de
, lay. If, under such circumstances, tn,
President should find himself in the con
| dition in which he was placed at the clos,
, of the last Congress, with nearly half o
the States of the Union destitute of re
: representatives., the consequences might b,
= disastrous. l. therefore, recommcd t
, Congress to carry into effect the provis
| ions of the constitution on the subject
) and to pass a law appointing some da.
G previous to the 4th of March in each yea
i. of odd number for the election of repres
@ entatves throughout all the States.-
r They have already appointed day TO
n the election of electors for President an,
$ Vice President, and this measure ha
}. been approved by the country.
d l would again express a most decide
l. opinion in favor Of the construction of
n Pacific railroad, for the reasons stated i
my two last annual messages. When
d reflect upon what would be the defence
= less condition of our States and Territor
l. les west of the Rocky Mountains in cas-
e of war with naval power sufficient
g strong to interrupt all intercourse wit
o them by the routes across the Isthmu'
y | am still more convinced than ever c
It the vast importance of this railroad
Q have never doubted the constitutions
s competency of Congress to provide fc
f its construction, but this exclusively III
n der the war-making power Besides, tn