Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-12-08


r that Experimentation would notbe sustained
, by Congress, the next alternative was 70 ac-
, eomplish in some degree, if possible, the same
: objects BY treaty stipulations with the consti-
: tutional government. Such treaties we're ac-
oordingly concluded by our late able and excel
lent Minister to Mexico, and on the fourth of
} January last were submitted to the Senate for
; ratification. As they have not received the
[ final action Of that body, it would be improper
for me to present detailed statement of their
! provisions Still l may be permitted to express
the opinion, in advance, that they are calcula-
: ted to promote the agricultural, manufacturing
and commercial interests Of. the country, and
TO secure our Just influence Aith an adjoining
Republic, as to whose fortunes and fate we can
: never feel Indifferent; whilst at the same time
hey provide for the payment of considera-
bic amount towards the satisfaction of the
claims of our injured fello1-eitizens
KANSAS AND UTAH.
At the period of my Inauguration | was con-
fr0nted in Kansas by revolutionary Govern
ment, existing under what was called the To-
peka Constitution. The avowed object was to
subdue the Territorial Government by force,
and to inaugurate what was called the Topeka
Government in its stead. To accomplish this
object, an extensive military organization was
formed and its command entrusted to the most
violent revolutionary leaders. Under these
circumstances it became my imperative duty to
exert the whole Constitutional power of the
Executive, to prevent the flames of civil war
from raging in Kansas, which the excited state
OF the public mind both North and South
might have extended into the neighboring
States. The hostile parties in Kansas had been
inhamed against each other by emissaries both
from the North and South, to degree of
malignty without parallel in our history.
To prevent eventual collision, and to resist
the civil magistrates in enforcing the laws,
strong detachment of the army was stationed
in the Territory, ready to aid the Marshal and
his deputies when officially called upon as
posse coDitatas in the execution of civil and
criminal process. Still the troubles in Kansas
could not have been permanently settled with
out an election by the people, the ballot-bOx
being the surest arbitrator of disputes among
freemen. Under this conviction, every proper
effort was employed to induce the hostile par
ties to vote at the election ofdelegates to frame
State Constitution, and afterwards at the cleo
ton to decide whether Kansas shouldbe slave
or free State. The insurgent party refused to
vote at eisber, lest this might be considered as
"a recognition on their part of the Territorial
government established by Congress.
A better spirit, however seemed soon after
to prevail, and the two parties met face to face
in the election, held the first Monday of Jan
uary. 1858, for members of the Legislature
and State officers, under the Lecompton Con-
stitution. The result was the triumph of the
anti-Slavery party at the polls. This decision
of the ballot-bOx proved clearly that this party
were in the majority, and removed the danger
of civil war. From that time we have heard
nothing of the Topeka government, and all
serious danger of revolutionary troubles in
Kansas was then at an, end The Lecompton
| Constitution which had been thus recognized at
this State election, by the votes of both politi-
cal parties in Kansas, was transmitted with the
request that | should present it to Congress.
| This could not have refused to do, without
violation of my clearest and strongest convic-
| tons of duty.
The laws, and all the proceedings which
proceeded and followed its formation, were
| fair, and regular ON their face, and what then
believed and expressed, has proven true, the
interests of the people of Kansas would have
been best consulted by its admission as a State
into the Union, especially as the majority within
a brief period, could have amended the con-
stitution according to their will and pleasure.
| If fraud existed in any or all of these proceed
ings, it was not for the President but for Con-
gress to investigate and determine the ques-
ton of fraud, and what ought to be the eOnse-
quenees. If at the two first elections the ma
jority refused to vote, it cannot be pretended
that this refusal to exercise the electoral fran
chise could inyalidate an election fairly held
under lawful authority even if they had not
subsequently voted at.the third election. 1t is
hot fbo rholo III
submitted to the people as l always desired,
but the precedents are numerous of the ad
mission of States into the Union without such
submission.
1t would not comport with my present purpose
to review the proceedings of Congress upon the
LecomptOn Constitution. 1t is sufficient to OBJ
serve that their final action has removed the last
vestige of serious revolutionary troubles The
desperate band recently assembled under a nOtO-
r1Gus outlaw in the Southern portion of the Ter
r1tory to resist the execution of the laws and to
plunder peaceabe citizens, will, doubt not be
speedily brought to Justice Had 1 treated the
LecOmpton Constitution as a nulity and refused
to transmit IT. to Congress- it is not difficult to
imagine, whilst recalling the position of the
country at that moment, what would have been
the disastrous consequences both in and ont of |
the Territory, from such derilection Of duty on |
the part of the Executive.
Peace has also been restored within the Ter
ritory OF Utah, which at the commencement of |
my Administration was in g state of open re- !
beliOn This was the more dangerous as the /
people animated by fanatical spirit, and en-
trenched within their mountain businesses, might
have made long and formidable resistance.
Cost what it might, it was necessary to bring /
them into subsection to the Constitution and the
laws Sound policy therefore, as well as hu-
manity, required that this object should, if pos
sible, be accomplished without the efusion of
blood. This 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 offenses, on condition of
immediate submission to the Government This
policy was pursued with eminent success, and the
only cause for regret is the heavy expenditure
required to march large detachment ofthe army
to that remote region, and to furnish its sub
slstence. Utah Is now comparatively peaceful
and quiet, and the military force has been with
drawn, except that portion of it necessary to
keep the Indians in check, and to protect the
emigrant trains on their way to our Pacific pos
sessions.
FINANCES.
In my first annual message l promised to en-
ploy my best eXertiOns in cooperation with !
Congress, to reduce the expenditures of the Gov
ernment within the limits of wise and judi
ciOus economy. An overflowing treasury has
produced habits of prodigality and extravaganza,
which could only be gradually corrected. The
work required both time and patience. applied
myself diligently to this task from the beginning
and was aided by the able and energetic efforts OF
the heads of the different Executive departments.
The results of our labOrs in :his good cause did
not appear in the sum total of our expenditures
for the first two years, mainly in consequence Of
the extraordinary expenditures necessarily in
CURED 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 3Oth June. 1858, whilst the paw and mile
age amounted to 81 O.214, the contingent eX-
penses rose to 800 20; and for the year
ending June, 1859, whilst the pay and mileage |
amounted to SS59.093 66, the contingent ex-
peuses amounted to 81, ,431 ,565 Is. am happy
however, TO be able TO inform you that during |
the last fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1860
the total expenditures OF the Government in all
its branches, Legislative Executive and Judicial, |
exclusive + Public Debt were reduced to the
sum of $55, ,4O2 40 46.
This cOnclusively appears from the books of
he Treasury, in the year ending on the Both June,
1853. The total expenditure, exclusive of the | ,
public debt. amounted to 81 901 129 IL and that
or the year ending 30th June, 1859, to SEQ, ,346,-
.26 l3: whilst The books of the Treasury show an
lcual expenditure of $50 S45 474 " for the year
ending Both Of June 1860 including $1040,667 II
or the contingent expenses of Congress. There
must be deducted from this amount the sum of
9600 26, with the interest upon it of $50 900,
appropriated by the act of 18th February. 1860, ;
r the purpose of supplying the deficiency in the
evenues and defraying the expenses of the Post a
Office Department for the year ending Both Of v
Iune, 1859. This sum, therefore, justly chargea-
)ie to the year 1859, must be deducted from the d
um of $50 S4S 474 ~ in order to ascertain the n
expenditure for the year ending both June, 1860. 4
which leaves a balance for the expenditures Of Ii
hat year of $50, ,402 465 46. The interest on the
lubc debt including Treasury notes for the same D
scal year ending the Both June, 1860, ! r.
mounted TO S3,1TI,314 G2, which, added to the d
bOvo sum Of $50 ,4U2, ,465 46, makes the aggre- "
ate of S5S,j19,1 ,1S9 0S Ii ought in justice to be
observed. that several of the estimates from all
he Departments for the year ending Both June. / .
x~ar n unpdh ht~G hfla hat