Arkansas true Democrat., 1860-01-11

3Othf June. 1859, amounting to S4, 29o,- 900, gether with the further estimate or that Gcer for the service of the present | fiscal ,ar, ending the 30th of June, lsoo, being $, ,526, 1924, making an aggregate oi $10,3l ,6S3.
 Shold thes appropriations be made as requira by proper departments tne oar ance i1the treasury, on the 3Oth ot June, 1861; will not, it is estimated, exceed $3.530o96 61.
 I trasmit herewith the reports of the Secreta1es of War, of the Navy, of the Interior, and of the Postmaster.general. They eah contain valuable information and impetant recommendations we'll wor- thy of te serious consideration of Con- gress
 It will appear from the report of the Secretary of War that the army expendi lures have been materially -educed by system of rigid economy, which, in his opinion, ofers every guaranty that the re- duction will be permanent. The esti- mates of tle department for the next year have beenrcduced nearly two millions of dollars bebw the estimates for the present fiscal veal and half million of dollars below the mount granted for this year at the last session of Congress.
 The expenditures of the post office de- partment dlring the past fiscal year, ending on the 3Otl June, 1859, exclusive of pay ments for nail service especially provided for by Congress out of the general treasu- " amounted to S14, 966, ,493 .33 and its re- ceipts to 7,6S, ,4S407; showing a defci- ency to be supplied from the treasury of $6,996, ,00926, against S5, 235 ,617.l5 for the year ending June 3Oth, 1858. The in- creased cost of transportation growing out of the expansion of the service required by Congress explains this rapid augmenta- ton of the expenditures It is gratifying, however, to observe an increase of receipts for the year ending on the 30th June, 1859, equal to $4S2, 2,691 21, compared with those of the year ending on 3Oth June, lS5o.
 It is estimated that the deficiency for the current fiscal year will be S5,9SS, ,424 04 but that for the year ending 30th June, 1861, 1t will not exceed S1 ,342, ,473 90, should Congress adopt the measures of reform proposed and urged by the post master general Since the month of March retrenchments have been made in the ex- penditures amounting to $1 ,S26, ,46l annu- ally, which, however, did not take effect until after the commencement of the present fiscal year.
 The period seems to have arrived for determining the question whether this department shall become permanent and ever-increasing charge upon the treasury, or shall be permitted to resume the self sustaining policy which had so long con trolled its administration. The course of legislation recommended by the postmas- ter-general for the relief of the department from its present endorsements, and for restoring it to its original independence, is deserving of your early and earnest consideration.
 In conclusion, I must again commend to the just liberality of Congress the local interest of the District of Columbia. Surely the city bearing the name of Wash ington, and destined, trust, for ages to be the capital of our united, free, and pros- porous confederacy, has strong claims on our favorable regard.
 JAMES BUCHANAN.
 WASHINGTON CITY, Dec 19, 1859.