The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-12-08

| of that year Of $55, 400 ,4C5 46. The interes.
on the public debt, including Treasury notes sa.
| for the same fiscial year ending on tho 30th
June, 1860, amounted TO 81, IT, sl4 81, which
added to the above sum Of $55 400, 465 46,
mikes the aggregate Of $58,579, 789 08. 1t
ought In Justice TO be observed, that several
of the estimates from all the Departments for
theyear ending 30th 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, 900 for
| this reduction, and for other causes, it may
be safely asserted the sum of Sc ,oOO, 600, or,
| ut the most, 81, 100000, ia amply sufficient to
| administer the Government, and to pay the
interest on the public dabt, unless contingent
| events should hereafter render extraordinary
expenditures necessary. This result has
been attained In a cons derablr degree by the
care exercised by the appropriate Depart
ments in entering into public contracts. |
have myself never interfered with the award
| Of any such contracts, except in q single case,
| that Of the Colonization Society. | deemed
tt advisable, white responsibility ia each
case properly belongs at the head Of the De-
pnrtmcnt, with the general instruction that
these contracts should always be given to the
lowest and best bidder, it has ever been SO
| given. 1t is my opinion that public contracts
are not a legitimate source of patronage to
| BIO conferred upon nersonul or political favo-
rites, but that in all such cases public OFF,
| Ger is bound TO net for the government as a
prudent individual would act for himself.
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
1t is with great satisfaction communicate
| the fact that, since the date Of my last an
nual message, not single slave has been i'm
ported into the United States in violation Of
| the laws prohibiting the African slave trade.
This staten ent is founded upon a thorough
examination and investigation OF the subject.
| Indeed t-e spirit which prevailed some time
since among portion OF our fellow citizens
4 ia favor OF this trade, seems to have entirely
subsided. also congratulate you upon the
public sentiment which now exists against
/ the crime Of setting on foot military expedi-
/ tions within the limits Of the United States,
% proceed from thence and make war upon
the people OF an unoficnding State with
whom We are at peace. In this respect a
happy change has been affected since the
commencement OF my administration. Is
surely ought 10 be the prayer OF every chris
tian and patriot, that such expeditions may
never receive countenance in our country or
| depart from our shores.
Ii would be q useless repetition to do more
former recommendations i'm favor or the Pa
ellie Railroad, Of the graut OF power TO the
President to employ the naval force, or force
in the vicinity, for the protection Of the lives
AID property Of our fellow citizens, passing
I in transit over the different Central American
routes, against sudden aud iawiess outbreaks
aud depredatons and also to protect Ameri
can merchant vessels, their crews and car
goes, against violent and unlawful seizure
and confscation in the ports OF Mexico, and
the South American Republics, when these
mnv be ia a disturbed and rev olutonary con-
| dition. Ii il my settled conviction that with
out such power, We cannot afford that pro-
lection to those engaged in the commerce Of
4 tina country which they have right 10 de-
H mand.
ELECTION or MEMBERS or CosGREss.
! | again recommend to Congress the passage
of law, in pursuance of the provisions of
the Constitution, appointing certain day
previous to the 18th of March, in each year Of
an odd number, for the election Of Represen-
tatives throughout all the States. A similar
power has already been exercised with gener-
al appreciation, in the appointment of the
same dav throughout the Onion for holding
the election of electors for President and
/ Vice President OF the United States. NV at
tention was earnestly directed to this subject
from the fact that the 35th Congress termina-
mated on the Sd of March, 1859, without ma
king the necessary appropriation for the SER
vice Of the Posts Office Department, and was
then forced TO consider tn best remedy for
| this omission, and an immediate call of the
present Congress was the usual resort. Upon
| inquiry, however, | ascertained that fifteen
out of thirty-fye States, composing the con-
fedesncy were without Representatives, and
that consequently fifteen States would be dis
franchised by such call. These fifteen
States will be in the same condition on the
ith Of March next. Two Of them can not
elect Representatives according to State laws,
until different periods, extending from the
beginning of August next until the 9Th OF
November; and you remember in my last
message gave warning that in time Of sud
den and alarming danger, the salvation of
our institutions might depend upon the pow
er of the President Immediately ID assemble
a full Congress 10 meet the emergency.
i TARIFF.
Ii is now quite evident that the financial
necessities OF the Government will require
n modification of the Tariff during your
present session, for the purpose of increasing
i, THE REVENUE.
In this respect, desire to reiterate the re-
commentator contained in my last two an
nual messages, in favor Of imposing specific,
instead of ad valorem duties, ON all imported
articles to which these can properly be APP
Piled. From long observation and expert
ence, am convinced that specific duties are
necessary, both to protect the revenue, and
to secure to our manufacturing interests that
amount of incidental encouragement which
unayoidab!v results fom n revenue tariff
!. As an abstract proposition, it may be admit
ted that ad valorem duties would, In theory,
| be the most just ard equal, but if the expo-
rience of this and OF all other commercial ma
tions has demonstrated that such duties can
not be ASSESSED and collected without great
frauds upon the revenue, then it il the part
Of wisdom to resort to specific duties. In