The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-01-06

ltllS lhlOuIC olOulu lCuJu tnV tOuhNiN hhN
necessity Of elecliug full Congress 10
sufficient time TO enable the President tc
convene them in any emergency, even
Immediately after the old Congress has
expired, it will have been productive ol
great good. In time Of sudden and
alarming danger, foreign and domestic,
which all nations must expect 10 encounter
in their progress, the very salvation OF our
institutions may be staked upon tho assem-
bling of Congress without delay. If, un.
der the circumstances, the President
should Gnd himself ip~ ;he condition in
which he was pIacedNt the close Of the
last Congress, win nearly half the States
of the Union destitute Of representatives.,
the consequences might be disastrous. l
therefore recommend 10 Congress to carry
into effect the provisions OF the constitution
on this subject, and to pass a law, ap-
pointing some day previous to the 4lh OF
March in each year Of ode number, for
the election of Representatives through
out all the States. They have already
appointed day for the election Of elec.
tors for President and Vice President, and
this measure has been approved by the
country.
PACIFIC RAIL ROAD.
I would again express a most decided
opinion in favor of Pacific railroad, fol
the reasons stated in my two last annua
messages. When | reflect upon wha
would be the defenseess condition of oul
States and Territories west of the Rocky
Mountains in case OF war with nava
power sufficiently stong to interrupt al
intercourse with item by routes across the
Isthmus, am stil more convinced than
ever of the vast Importance Of this rail
road. have never doubted the consti.
tulional competency Of Congress to pro-
vide for its construction, but it is exclusive
ly under the war making power. Beside
the Constitution expressly requires, as an
imperative duty, that "lhe United States
shall protect each Of them (the States
agains INVASION" am at loss to con.
ceive how this protection can be afforded
10 California and Oregon against such a
naval power by any other means. re-
peat the opinion contained in my last an
nual message, that it would dc inexpedi.
ent for the Government 10 undertake this
great work by agents OF its own appoint.
ment and under It's direct and exclusive
control. This would increase the patron.
age Of the Executive to a dangerous cx,
tent, and would foster system OF jobbine
and corruption which no vigilance on the
part Of Federal officials would prevent
The construction OF this road onght, there
fore, to be inlrusled to Incorporated com
panies, or other agencies, who would cX
ercise that active and vigilant supervision
over it which can be inspired alone by {
sense of corporate aud individual interest
| venture to assert that the additiona
cost Of transporting troops, munitions o
war, and necessary supplies to the army
across the vast intervening plains to on
possessions on the Pacific Coast, would b,
greater in such a war than the who'll
amount required to construct the road. -
And yet his resort would, after all, b,
inadequate for their defense and protec
lion. g.. n. ...". y "r
prRLIC FrnNnNv
We have yet scgrceiy recovered iron
the habits Of extravhgant expenditure
produced by an overtlowing Treasury
during several years prior to the com
mencemen: Of my administration Tn
financial reverses which we have since ex
perienced ought 70 teach us all to scuti
nize our expenditures with the creates
vigilance, and TO reduce them to the low
est possible point. The Executive DE
partments Of the Government have devo
ted themselves 10 the accomplishment O
this object with considerable success, a
will appear from their different report
and estimates. To these / invite III
scrutiny OF Congress for the purpose @
reducing them still lower, if this be prac
ticable, consistent with the great publ,
interests Of the country. In aid of tn
policy Of retrenchment, pledge myse'
to examine closely the bills approprialini
lands or money, so tha, if any of thes
should inadvertently pass both Houses
as must sometimes be the case, l ma
afford them an opportunity for reconsid
Grafton. At the same time we ought neve
to forget that true public economy con
sists, no: in Withholding the means neces
sary to accomplish important national oh
j"cts confdsd TO us by the Constitution
but in taking care that the money appro
priated for these purposes shall be faith
fully and frugally expended.
ADDITIONAL REVENUE NEEDED.
1t will appear from the report of tn
Secretary OF the Treasury, that it is ex
tremely doubtful, to say the least, wheth
er we shall be able TO pass through tn
present and next fiscal year, without pre-
viding additional revenue. This can onl
be accomplished by strictly confning th
the appropriations within the estimates {
the different Departments, without max
ing an allowance for any additional exper
ditures which Congress may think prope
in their discretion, to authorize, and will
out providing for the redemption Of an
portion Of the S20,0U0,0O OF TJeasur
notes which have been already issued
} In the event Of deficiency, which cor
slider probable, this ought never to be SUI
piled by resort TO additional loans,
would be ruinous practice in the da
OF peace and prosperity TO go on increa
/ ing the national debt to meet the ordinai
| expenses of the Government.
t This policy would cripple our resourc'
I and impair our credit In case the exis