Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1860-12-14

that portion of it necessary to keep the IT.
dams in check, and to protect the emigrant
trains on their way to our Pacific possess
sions.
FINANCES.
In my first annual message l promised
to employ my best exertions in co-opera-
ton with Congress, to reduce the expen-
dltures of the government within the lin
It's of wise and judicious economy. An
overfowing treasury had produced habits
OF prodigality and extravaganza, which
could only be gradually corrected. The
work required both time and patience l
applied myself diligently to this task from
the beginning, and was aided by the able
and energetic efforts of the different Exec
utlve departments. The results of our Ia
bors in this good cause did not appear in
the sum total of our expenditures for the
hrst two years, mainly in consequence of
the extraordinary expenditures necessarily
incurred in the Utah expedition, and the
very large amount of the contingent ex-
penses of Congress, during this period
These greatly exceeded the pay and mile
age of the members. For the year ending
Both June 1858, whilst the pay and mile
age amounted to 81, AGO, IA, the contin-
gent expenses rose to $2,093, 800, 10; and
for the year ending June 1859, whilst the
pay and mileage amounted to $3.50, 093, sc,
the contingent expenses amounted to ST.
431, 800 II. I am happy, howeper, to be
able to inform you that during the last ifs
cal year ending on the 3Oth June, 1860,
the total expenditure of the government in
all its branches, Legislative, Executive and
Judicial, exclusive Of Public Debt, were
reduced to the sum of $751; 402, 465.46.
This conclusively appears from tie books
of the Treasury in the year ending on the
Both June, 1858. The total expenditure
exclusive of the public debt, amounted
to ST., 901, 1919 II; and that for the
year ending so June, 1859, to $66, $780,
226 10 whilst the books of the Treasury
show an actual expenditure of $50, 645,-
464 y for the year ending 30th June,
1860, including 81 ,04O, 667 Il for contin-
gent expenses of Congress. There must
be deducted from this amount the sum of
S4,296, O09 26, with the interest upon it
of $3.50, 90, appropriated by the act of
10Th February, 1850 for the purpose of
supplying the deficiency in the revenues
and defraying the expenses of the Post Of
fee Department for the year ending Thrift
eth June, 1859. This sum, therefore,
Justly chargeable to the year 1859, must
be deducted from the sum of $5S, S48,-
Ats Y, in order to ascertain the oxpen-
diture for the year ending thirtieth June,
1860, which leaves balance for the ex-
penditures Of that year Of S55, 402, 465 46.
The interest on the public debt, including
Treasury notes for the same fiscal year
ending on the Both June, 1860, amounted
to So, 177,3 81, which, added to the
above sum of $55, 4O2, 465 As, makes the
aggregate of $58,579,789 08. It ought
in justice to be observed, that several of
the estimates from all the Departments for
the year ending both June, 1860, were
reduced by Congress below what was, and
still is, deemed compatible with the public
interest. Allowing a liberal margin of
$3.50, 600 for the reduction and for other
causes it may be safely asserted tina
the sum of SCI, 600, 600, or, at the most,
$50, 00O,0 is amply sufficient to admin
lister the Government, and to pay the in
terest on the public debt, unless contingent
events should hereafter render extraordin-
airy expenditures necessary. This result
has been attained in a considerable degree
by the care exercised by the appropriate
Departments in entering into public con-
tracts, I have myself never interfered
with the award of any such contracts,
except in a single case-that of the Colo
nization Society. I deemed it advisable
while its responsibility in each case prop
erly belongs at the head Of the Depart
ment, with the general instruction that
these contracts should always be Civ
en- to the lowest and best bidder; it has
ever been so given. It is my opinoin that
public contracts are not a legitimate source
of patronage to be conferred upon person
al or political favorites, but that in all such
cases public officer is bound to act for
the government as a prudent individual
would act for himself.
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
It is with great satisfaction | commuui-
cate the fact that, since the date of my
last annual message, not single slave has
been imported into the United States in
violation of the laws prohibiting the Afri-
can slave trade. This statement is foun-
ded upon thorough examination and in
vestigation of the subject. Indeed the
spirit which prevailed some time ago
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 mill
tary expeditions within the limits of the
United States, to proceed from thence and
make war ubon the people of an unoffend-
ing State with whom we are at peace. In
this respect happy change has boon eff
fected since the commencement Of my ad-
ministration 1t surely ought to be the
prayer of every Christian and patriot, that
such expeditions may never receive coun-
tenance i'll our country or depart from our
shores.
It would be useless repetition to do
mere than refer with earnest commenda-
tim to my former recommendations in ia
vor of the Pacific Railroad, Of the grant
of power to the President tie employ the
naval force in the vicinity for the protec-
tion of the lives and nrouertv of orr fell