Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-12-11

the disastrous consequences, both in and out of the
territory from such dereliction of duty the part
of the executive
Peace has also been restored within the Territory
OF Utah, which, at the commencement of nv Admin
stralon, was in state OF open rebellion This was
the more dangerous, as the people, animated by IA
NAUTICAL spirit and entrenched within their distant
mountain Businesses, might have made long and
formidable resistance. Cost what it might. It was
necessary to bring them into subsection to the Consti
tuition and the laws. Sound policy therefore as well
as humanity required that this object should IL nos
sible be accomplished without the efusion of blood
rms could only be effected by sending military
force into the Territory sufficiently strong to convince
the people that resistance would be hopeless and at
the same time to offer them pardon for past offences
on condition OF Immediate submission the govern
menu. rms policy was pursued with eminent sue
cess and the only cause for regret is the heavy ex
penoiture required to march a large detachment of
tne army to that remote region and to furnish it sub
slstence. Utah is now comparatively peaceful and
quiet, and the military force has been withdrawn,
except that portion oft necessary keep the indians
In check and to protect the emigrant trains their
way to our Pacific possessions.
FINANCES.
In my first annual message promised to employ
my best exertons in cooperation with Congress, to
reduce the expenditures of the Government within
the limits of a wise and judlcious economy An over
flowing treasury had produced habits of prodigalty
and extravaganza which could only be gradually
rected. The work requires both time and patience.
applied myself diligently to this task from the be-
forts of the Heads of the different Executive Depart
ments. The result of our labers this good cause
did not appear in the total of our expenditures
for the rst two years. mainly in consequence of the
extraordinary expenditure necessarily incurred in the
Utah expedition, and the very large amount of the
contingent expenses of Congress during this period
These greatly exceeded the pay and mileage OF the
members For the year ending Both OF June, 1858,
whilst the pay and mileage amounted to 81 490 2l4,
the contingent expenses to S2O93309 49, and for
the year ending both June, 1885, whilst the pay and
mi nj ntad To &S tho ntiuup
expenses amounted to $l,43l ,565 rs. l am hap
Ply, however, to be able to inform you that during
the last fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1862 the
total expenditures of the Government in all its
branches-egislative, executive, and judicial-excu
sive of the public debt, reduced to the of
$55,402, 465 46 This conclusively appears from the
books of the Treasury. In the year ending the
30th of june 1885, the total expenditure exclusive of
the public debt amounted to $8l, 90, l29 r. and that
for the year ending the 50th of june 1859, $685.
S46 1926 IL. Whilst the books of the Treasury show
actual expenditure of $50 848 74 70 for the year
ending the 30th June, including 81 040607 II for
the contingent expenses of Congress- there must be
deducted from this the of 81 296 0O9 26.
with the interest upon it of 000 appropriated by
the act of 18th of February 1860, or the purposes
of supplying the deficiency in the revenues and de-
fraying the expenses of the Post Office Department
for the year ending the hrtieh of June, thous-
and eight hundred and ffty-nine." This sum, there.
fore justly chargeable to the year 1859, must be de-
Quoted from the of $5S 474 70, in order to
certain the expenditures for the year ending the
3Oth June $780, which leaves balance for the expen-
dtures of that year of $55. 465 46. The interest
the public debt, including Treasury notes for the
same fiscal year ending the 30th of june 1860. a.
mounted to IS ,34 49, which. added to the above
of $685. ,465 46, makes the aggregate of $685.,
1850 08.
1t ought in Justice to be observed that several of the
estimates of the departments for the year ending 30h
June, 1860, reduced by Congress below what
and still is deemed compatible with the public in.
terest Allowing liberal margin of 81, 500 900 for
this reduction and for other causes may be safely
asserted that the of SOL 900 900, at most $62
DOC, 000 is amply sufficient to administer the Govern
ment and to pay the interest the public debt un
less contingent events should hereafter render extra
ordinary expenditures necessary.
This result has been attained in considerable de-
gree by the exercised by the appropriate depart
ments in entering into public contracts have my
self interfered with the award of any such con-
tract except in single with the Colonization So
cety deeming it advisable to cast the whole respon
sbiliy in each the proper head OF the depart
ment, with the general instruction that these con-
tracts should always be given to the lowest and bes
bidder 1t has ever been my opinion that public con
tracts not legitimate of patronage to bt
conferred upon personal political favorites; bu
that in all such public officer is bound to &C
for the Government as a prudent individual would
act for himself
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE, &c.
1t is with great satisfaction communicate the fact
that since the date of my last Annual Message not
single slave has been imported into the United Sate
in violation of the laws prohibiting the African slave
trade. This statement is founded upon thorough
examination and investigation of the subject In
deed, the spirit which prevailed some time since a.
mong portion of our fellow-citzens in favor of th
trade seems to entirely subsidized.
also congratulate you upon the public sentlme1
which now exists against the crime Of setting on TOO
military expeditions within the limits of the United
States, to proceed from thence and make upon The
people of unofending States, with whom we are a
peace In this respect happy change has been effect
ed since the commencement of my administration. il
surely ought to be the prayer of every Christian anc
patriot, that such expeditions may never again re
ceive counenance in our country or depart from ou
shores
1t would be a useless repetition to do more thar
refer, with earnest commentator, to my former re
concentrations in favor of the Pacific railroad-o
the grant of power to the President to employ the
val force in the vicinity for the protection of the lives
and property of felow-citizens passing in transit
over the different Central American routes against
sudden and lawess outbreaks and depredations and
also to protect American merchant vessels their crews
and cargoes against violent and unlawful seizure and
confscation in the ports of Mexico and the South
merican republics, when these may be in disturbed
and revolutionary condition 1t is my settled con
viction, that without such power we do not afford
that protection to those engaged in the commerce Of
the country which they have a right to demand.
ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
I again recommend to Congress the passage of
law in pursuance of the provisions of the Constitution
appointing certain day previous to the 4th of March
in each year, of an odd number, for the election Of
representatives throughout all the States similar
power has already been exercised, with general ap
probation, in the appointment of the same day
tors for President and VicePresdent of the United
States. My attention earnestly directed to this
subject from the fact that the 35th Congress termina
ted on the 3rd of March, 1859, without making the
necessary appropriation for the service Of the Post Of
fee Department was then forced to consider the
best remedy for this OMISSION and an immediate cal
of the present Congress the natural resort Up
enquiry, however, ascerained that fifteen out OF
the thirty-three States composing the Confederacy
without representatives, and that consequently
these fifteen States would be disranchised by such
call. These fifteen States will be in the condi
ton on the 4th of March next. Ten of them canno
elect representatives, according to existing State laws
until different periods, extending from the beginning
of August next until the months of October and No
vember
In my last message gave warning that, in time
of sudden and alarming danger, the salvation of
institutions might depend upon the power of the
President Immediately to assemble full Congress
to meet the emergency.
1t is quite evident that the financial necessities
of the Government will require modification of the
tariff during your present session. for the purpose OF
increasing the revenue In this aspect, desire to
reitoratc The Recommendation contained in my last
two annual messages in favor of imposing specific in
stead of ad valorem duties all imported articles to
which these be properly applied. From long OBJ
servation aud experience am convinced that specific
duties necessary both to protect the revenue and
to to manufacturing interests that amount
of incidental encouragement which unavoidaby re-
suits from revenue tariff.
As an abstract proposition it may be admitted that
ad valorem duties would In theory, be the most just