Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1860-01-05

p,wer - such IN authority conferred upon tno
President By act Of Congress after the deed
Asd been done. In the progress OF great
nation many exigencies must arise impsra-
lively requiring that Ceugress should author
he the President TO oct promptly on certain
conditions which may or may not Afterwards
arise Our history has already presented
number Of such eases. shall refer only to
the latest.
Under the resolution Of June "a. 1855.
..fos the adjussment Of dificaltic. with the re-
public Of Paraguay" the President u "au-
ihorised TO adopt such measures and use such
force - in his judgment may be necessary and
advisable in the event Of refusal Of just sat
isfaetion BY the governmental Paraguay. just
..tiS!aeiion' for WHAT For 1.-THE attack on the
United Stairs steamer Water Witch" and
..otbcr matters reteYrsl to in the annual mcs-
sage Of the President" Here the power il
expressly granted upon the condition tina, the
rovaua ept of Paraguay shall refuse tn rem
der this Just satisfaction" In this and other
similar cases Congress have conferred UPON
the Presiieat power in advance to employ the
army and navy upon the happening ofcouiin-
gent future events and this most certainly is
embraced within the power to declare war
-VA., IL this CONDITIONAL AMI Contingent
-. could be coas itaiioaa'ly c,nscrrel upon
the President in the case II Paraguay. Why
may Il not be conferred for the purpose for
protecting the lives and pr,periy Of American
citizens in the event that they may be- violent
~ aud snlswfsly attacked in passing over the
ransit routes TO and from California. or as
sailed by the seizure Of their vessels in for
eigu port' To deny this power Is 60 render
the navy in great degree useless for thc pro-
lection Of the lives anu property Of Ameriesn
citizens in countries where neither protection
nor rcdress can lie otherwise obtained
The Thirty 9Th Congress terminated on the
81 Of March 1889. With having passed
the "set making appropriations for the scr-
vice OF tao Peat Otice DEPARTMENT during the
6sral year ending the 3Uih June. ls6J."--
This act also contained an appropriation to
supply 1eicaencics ia the revenue of the Past
Ohcc Department fof the year Guiding the
30th of June. 1893" believe this IL the
hrst instance since tue origin OF the Federal
Government, bpE more than seventy years
ago. when any CoD1rrss went out IL existence
without having pas>,'i all the general appro-
priAiOn bills neccs a-y 10 carry ON tn govern
meat until the regular period tor the meeting
Of new Congress. This event imposed on
the Executive grave responsibility. Itpre..
senied choice Of evils.
Had this omission of duty occurred at the
krs; session OF the las, Congress the remedy
uoGld have been plain. might then have
Instantly recalled them TO complete their work
AMI this Without expense To the Government
But on the iti Of March last there were IF
teen Of tue thirty three States which bad not
elected any Representatives. to the present.
III - N l. b.. u
er ihncliatcly. hess Is woald nave been
var GA.iy drr;ranchisI. IL an intrr.nejia
period. had been selse ed several Sf the ; e.
would have been conpellel holl ox ia "a
aons OF shear legisla urcs, q grea' inconye-
nienee and expense. provide for elcc ions.
q Al earlier day han la previously fixed by
lAS. In he regular course, ten Of these
States would not elect until after the begin
hing OF August and five of these ten 10; until
Octobvr anu November,
On the 9th hand. when I came 10 examine
carefully the condition OF the Poet Ottiee De
pArimen:, did not meet as many or as great
difficulties as L had apprehend,d Had the
ball snah failed been confined to apprupria-
eons Tor the fiscal year ending on the 3Gh
June next. there would have been no reason
OF pressing Importance for the call Of an en-
Ira session. Nothing would become due on
contracts Chose with railroad companies only
eIeepted) for carrying the mail for the first
quarter Of the present fiscal year, commen-
eing ON the LIST Of July until the LIST Decembcr
less than one week before the meeting Of
the present Con gress, The reason is that the
mail contractors for the current year did not
complete thu frs quar- ers ssryiee uu il he
~ b September Las aud By be crms Of
tier con rae six y days more are allowed for
The &c leinen at heir accoun before BE-
Depar uaeht could bc called upon Cor payment
The great difficulty an1 the great hardship
eonsistei IA the failure 90 provide f)r Tho M
ment u the deficiency ia the fiscal year end
Ing Che 3Oth June. 1859 The Dctarr-
m-nt had entered into contracts. in obedience
- existing laws Tor the ssryiec II that f.e.J
year. and the contractors were fi.lv ,ntiiI 4
10 their compensation a. il became du The
dehccncy stated 10 the bill amounted =,
g., SIS, I2s, but. after careful settlement
OF all these accounts. IL has been a.c.rt,inaJ
that IL amounts 10 81. 296 .O00. With the
scanty means at his command the P,,.,u,,.,.y
General has managed 10 pay that portion of,his
deficiency which occurred ia the hrst two ou,r.
te-r of ths pat f~ci ysIr. ca ling ia IA. H.,
December last la the mean time tia en-.
tractors themselves. under these trying circufu.
stances, have behaved in q ,uanntr worthy OF
al c'mnenlatinn. They had one resources ip
'h7 midsi Il their embarra-snenis Afcr
iA' amour. iuc a. each 81 them hal been ~
retained and finally settled according 10 law
tbs became a specific debt of record against
ne lWfcd STATE. shich onAhlc.i thsu 10 bor
ras honey on dis unqaeslionable security -
S'H they wefc Obliged n pay interest in c,u-
s'qSones q the default d Congress. s,a un
st'fy pr'neiYls q jus;ioe oagi,t 10 receive ia.
b'est bom the Government THIS iapr.st
should sslHmouce frOm the date SheA var
raui woplI have nsp,j flf ihc psyuen, Of the
prholPai bad AN appropriation been made f,y
hn purPosc Csicula:cd up 20 the I.i D.-
'enilrr Il vii Dot exceed SO JCv-s .un,
81 o. D. taEru INTO src1uut sheu e.,,tra.t..i
sd ts,.grsst ARlal4a. lud oa,ba rt...,,oe,.,
OF public aut Psivaie chlriossr. ban D., t,.
pcgP.r ADD the States. uhie4 ro.LI have -
: S'''' r. JEEpfiAoIiins 'psoiaI
e 49, 49,. q. lo,n,sti che p,..,,.
II q s,li. ., Is early DIS. A. b. pr.e5.
cable. - provide Sc tbs payns.nt af tho
ain 'uut 9TH interest. due - th,.. LAT mon.
bo1ed contractors. a. sell a. % mako th. 49,.
csssfy appropriations fof the service II tb.
Tot - bee DcpaftH,rus 30 the current G.r,i