Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-01-06
Presidents Message.

We are at length enabled to give this
long expected document to our readers, the
President following the example Of his pre-
decessor, Mr.. Pierce, having laid it before
Congress previous to its organization.
This last message Of the Federal Executive,
though on the whole a. very respectable
State paper, contains faults both of commits
sion and omission, of which we most deci-
dedly disapprove. In the first place, as aVir-
ginian, "a Southerner, and lover of the Con-
stitution, we must enter our emphatic pro-
test to the mild and light manner in which
the Harper's Ferry raid is treated, and we
Indignantly repel the idea of the frivolous
ness Of the subject, which reluctantly ac-
cords to its discussion hardly the quaretr Of
newspaper column. The sovereign dig
nifty Of the Commonwealth of Virginia has
been invaded; Northern politicians, states
men aud divineS have been Implicated in
the crime whole party of one section Of
the country applaud the act, and sympathls-
ing with the chief actor, bewail his fate;
powerful State, aroused to the highest pitch
of indignant excitement, is in arms; an u
nited South consults as to the expediency Of
immediate and emphatic action; the cords
which bind these States in Union are drawn
to their EXTREMIST tension; and yet, strange
to say, the Chief Magistrate Of this Confed-
eracy, IN his annual message to the repre-
sentatives Of the people, deigns only glance
at this darkest chapter in the history of our
country, and deems it but book from which
to draw lessons of common place wisdom and
precepts of affection to Union which failed
to protect us in our hour of need, and was
impotent to prevent the foul and murderous
outrage which has desecrated the soil of
Virginia.
The President repeats his recommen-
dation and arguments in favor of the
construction of Pacific Railroad. Mr..
Buchanan stands upon the Cincinnati plat
form, which condemns such system of in
ternal improvements, and that alone, one
would suppose, would have deferred him
from making such recommendation. We
would be delighted to see Pacific Rail-
road constructed exclusively by the separate
States or individual enterprise; but it will
be an evil day for our liberties when the
patronage incidental to that gigan-
tic improvement shall be placed at the COM
mand of the Federal government.
The message also states the necessity for
an increased revenue, and recommends the
specific, instead of the Democratic al valo-
rum dutes,a s the best mode of raising that
revenue. If such an increased revenue were
necessary, the specific duty, with incidental
protection, which Mr.. Buchanan recon-
mcnds, is in direct conflict with funda-
mental Democratic principle, but from the
Presidents own figures, we can see the ne
cessity for raising the tariff duties. Accord
ing to Mr.. Buchanan the estimated receipts
Of the government for the fiscal year ending
;he 30th of June, 1860, are seventy-fve !
million, three hundred and eighty-fo thou
'and, FIVE hundred and forty-one dollars
md eighty-nine cents, ($75, 1884, 54l.S 9,)
While the aggregate expenditures are sixty
ne million, two thousand seven hundred
nd thirty 1.-TWO dollars and ninety nine cents,
1851 ,O02, 49,. &c. leaving a balance in the
reasury, on the 30th of June, 1860, of
ourteen million, three hundred and eighty
me thousand, eight hundred and eight dol
ars and forty cents. ($14, 1881, SOS.4O.)-
And subtracting the ordinary expenditures
rom the receipts Of the government from
rdinary sources, we have clear balance
n the treasury Of six million, four hundred
nd forty-fve thousand, eight hundred and
wenty dollars and ninety-six cents, 6 49,
go. 96.) Where, then, is the necessity for
n increased tariff for revenue purposes? !
The recommendation for the purchase of
yuba is repeated. We consider the acqui-
ition of Cuba ''a consummation devoutly
Q be wished for" but hos0 to get the con-