Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-01-06

kEeS, the consequence might De disastrous.
therefore recommend TO Congress 10 carry
into effect the provisions Of the Conssit on
this subject, and to pass law appointing some
day previous 10 the 4th of March in each year
OF odd number, for the election of representa-
tiyes throughout all the States. They have
already appointed day for tie election OF
electors for President and Vice President, and
this measure has been approved by the country.
would again express most decided opinion
in favor of the construction jf Pacific rail-
road, for the reasons stated in my two last an
nual messages When / reflect upon what
would be the defenceleSs condition of our States
and Territories west Of the Rocky Mountains,
In case Of war With naval power sufficiently
strong 10 interrupt all intercourse with them
bv the route across the Isihmus, | am still
more convinced than ever Of the vast mpor-
tance of this railroad. have never doubted
the constitutional competency Of Congress TO
provide for IT'S construction, but this is exclu-
svely under the war making power, besides,
the CONSTITUTION expressly requires, as an i'm
perative duty, that ibe United States shall
protect eacl Of the States against invasion. /
am at a loss to conceive how this protection
cnn be oiforded to California and Oregon against
such naval power by any other means.
repeat tbs opinion contained in my last annual
message that il would be iuexpedient for the
goverDmsnt to undertake this great work by
agents of It's own appointment, and under its
direct aud exclusive control This would in
crease the patronage of the executive to dam
gerons extent, and would foster q system Of
jobblng and corruption which no vigilance on
the part of federal officers could prevent.
The construction of this road ought there
fore TO be entrusted to Incorporated companies,
or other agercies. who would exercise that ac-
tive ana yigilaDt supervision over which can
he inspred alone by sense OF corporate and
indivldal interest. | venture TO assert that the
additional cost Of transporting troops, lnuui.
tiens OF war, aud necessary supplies for the
army, across the vast intervening plains to our
possessions on the Pacific coast, would be
greater in such war thar the whole amount
required 10 Construct the road. And yet this
resort would after all be inadequate for their
defence aud protection. We have yet scarcely
recovered from the habits of extravagant ex-
penditure produced by our essraowing treasury
during several years pr:er to the commencement.
Of 10Y administration. The financial reyerses
Which We have since experienced ought 10 teach
US all TO scrutipize cur expenditures With the
greatest vigilance, and to reduce them to the
lowest possible point. The executive depart
nnnt have devoted themselves to the accom-
plishment of this object with considerable
success, will appear from their different
reports ani estimates. To these invite the
scrutiny Of Congress, foT the purpose os re-
dacsng them still lower, if this be pfactIcable,
consistent with the great public interests of the
country. lc and of the policy of retrenehment,
1 pledge myself te~exaniue closely the bill,
appi0pFiatlng lands or money, so that if any of
these should inadvertently pass both Houses,
as must sometimes bs tbs case, ] mag affa-d
them az opportunity FOR reconsideration at The
sam9 time, we ought never TO forget that true
public economy consists, not in Withholding tie
means necessary 10 accomplish important ma
tional objects eonf3ed to US by the Consti,u--
tlon; bat IN taking care that ihe money sopro-
priated Tor these purposes shall be faithfully
aud frvfally expended Ii viii appear from
the report OF Inc Secretary of the Treasury.
that II Is extremely doubtful, to say the least,
whether we shall bc able to pass through the
present aud the next fiscal year without proyl-
ding additional reveaue. This can only be sc-
colnplished BY strictly contning the al3proDria-
lions within the estimates Of the different de-
partments, without making an allowance for
any additional expenditures, which Congress
may think proper 10 tleir discussion to author-
izc, and without providing for the redemption
of any portioa OF the $40, ,000,O 900 of treasury
notes which have besn already Issued, In the
elenl of deficiency, which | consider proba--
.tla, tbjs ought never to bo supplied by resort
10 ,ldis;onAi io1ns.
/. wu.,ula be ruinous practice, 10 the days
of peace AID pi osperity togo Oh increasing tie
national debt Il, meet tha ordinary expenses Of
tue government. This policy would cripple
our resources and impa.o oar credit, 10 case
the sxjstcoce .! var shoul,a render it necessary
to borrow money.
Should such y deficiency occur as appre-
bend, l.8oQld recommend that the Necessary
revenue bs raised by ao Increase of our nrS Ssent
duties 90 imports. need rot repeat tho opl,i
Ions expressed 10 my last annual message as TO
the best mode aud manner Of accomplishing
the object and shall now merely observe that
these have since undergone no change
The report of the Secretary Of the Treasury
viii explain in detail the operations of that de-
partnlent OF the government. The receipts into
the Treasury, from all sources, during the
fiscal ysar ending 30th June, 1859, including
the loan authorized by the act OF l4,h June,
1858, and the issues Of Treasury notes authof-
iaad BY existing laws, were $8i, ,602, ,47l,oI,
which sum, with the balance of sc, 1855, ,3I6,l0
in the treasury as the commencement
ef that i<cal year, u.ade an aggregate Cor the
service of the year of Sos,090. 0.77Ln.
The public expenditure during the fiscal
year ending Both June, 1859, amounted 10
S83,751,5i1,57. OF this sum SIT ,405, ,2S5,l1
were applied to she payment of interest on the
public debt aud the redemption of the issues
cf treasury notes.
The expenditures for all other branches of
the public service during that fiscal year were
,herefore 500, ,346, ,226,l The balance re-
manning in the treasury lst July, 1859, being