Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-12-13


Government in all its branchss-legislative,
executive, and judicish-exclnsivs Of the
public debt, were reduced to the sum of S55,.
4o2 ,465 46. This conclusively appears from
the books OF the Treasury. In the year end.
ing on the 30th June, 1853, the total ex
psnd,turs, exclusive of the public debt
amounted to S7l 9ol, 1919 II, aud that Tor
the year ending 3oih June, 1869, to 1885,
346,226 l3. Whilst the bsoks Of the Trea-
sury show an actual expenditure of 959,-
s4S, ,474 "a for the year ending on the 3olh
June, 1860, including 81, ,040,667 III for the
contingent expenses of Congress, there
must be deducted from this amount the sum
S4296 .OO9 rs, with the interest upon 1t Of
$1,000, appropriated BY the act of 10th
February, 1850, "for the purpose Of supply
ing the defciency in the revenues and de-
I frsying the eppenses of the Post Office De-
psr,ment for the year ending the thirtieth
of June, one thousand eight hundred and
! fifty nine" This sum. therefore, justly
chargcable to the year 1859, must be deduc.
ted from the sum Of $5s,S4s,l74 II, in or
der to sscertsin the expenditure for the year
ending on the 80 h June, 1860, which leaves
a balance Tor the expenditures of that year
\ $b5, ,4o2,a6S 46. The interest on tho pub
lc debt, including Treasury, notes for the
same fiscal year ending on The 30th June,
1860, amounted to S3,177,3l4 81, which,
! added to the abovs sum Of sos, ,402, ,465 4S,
IN axes the sggregste Of sos s,579,7ss Os.
:, 1t ought in justice TO be observed that
several Of the estimates from the depart
msptAfor ths year ending goth June, 1850,
, were reduced by Congress below what was
and still 10 deemed compatible with the pub
, lie interest. Allowing liberal margin oi
81 500 900 Cor this reduction, and for other
, causes, it may be safely asserted that the
. sum OF Sol 900 O00 or at the most Ss2,.
: 900 900, is amply sufficient to adm in lstei
n the Government and 10 pay the interest or
the public debt, unless contingent events
d should hereafter render extraordinary ex
n pendtures necessary. :.
: TIE result has bsen STAINED in consid
1 cradle degree by the care exercised by che
8 appropriate departments in entering int'
: public contracts. have mysef never Ia
n tsrfered with the award of any such con-
j. tract except in a single case with thu
# Colonization Society, deeming it advsaS i
}. to cast the whole responsibility in each cast
1 on the proper head of the department, with
q the general instruction that these contracts
should always be given to the lowest aud
v best bidder. 1t has ever been my opinion
d that public contracts are not q Legitimate
n source OF patronage to be conferred upoI
n personal or political favorites; but that ir
II all such cases public officer 10 bound t,
act for the Government as a prudent indi
II vldual would act for himself
AFRfcAs SLAVE TRADE. &c.
X is with great satisfaction ! communi
d cate the fact, that, since the date Of my
q last Annual Message, not a single slave hs
" been imported into the United States il
d violation of the laws prohibiting the Airca
slave trade. This statement is founded upo
ID q thorough examination and investigation
! of tho subject Indeed, the spirit whicl
r. prevailed some time since among a portion
IN Of our feliow-citizens in favor of this trad
Y seems to bnve entirely subsidsd.
r. also congratulate you upon the publi
), sentiment VIII ch now exists against tn
ia crime of setting on loot military expedition
m w,thin ths limits OF the United States, T.
, proceed from tn nee and make war upor tn
ID people Of uno1endiDg States, with whom v
' sre at peace. In this respect happy chang
In hos been effected sinee the commencement
n. OF my Administration. II surely ought 1
), be the prayer of every Christian and patriot
that such expeditions may never again re
IN ceive countenancs in our country or dspar
IN from our shores. .64
Al II would be q useless repetition to d.
a, nJre than refer, with earnest CONNIE nds
tion, to my former rscommen ends,ions |
10 favor of the Pacific rail oad-of the grant {
m power 10 the President to employ the nava
force in the vicinity, for the protection G
\. the lives and property Of our fellow citizen
a. passing in transit over the different Centrs
"a American routes, sgainst sudden and law
"a less outbreaks sAd depredations' and also |
4. protect American msr chant vessels, the
ir crews and cargoss. against violent and un
.. lawful seizure and coniscation in the por
=, of Mexico and the South American repub
;, lies. when these may be in a disturbed an
Al revolutionary condit tion. 1t is my settle
III conviction. that without such power W
nd do not afford that protection to those On
Ls gagged in the commerce OF the CO uhtry whic
#. they have right TO demand.
ne ELECTION OF MEMBERS or CONGRESS-.
hs again recommend to Congress the pas
's, age OF a law in pursuance Of the provision
On Of the Constitution, appointing q day oe,
TO tain, previous TO the 4th March, in eat
" year of en- odd number, Tor the election
ia representatives throughout all the States.
IL similar power has already been exercise
ut with general appreciation, in the al
to pointmsnt OF the same day Throughout Il
n Union Tor holding the election oI electo
Ii for President and Vice President Of Il
'st United States. My attention was earnest
ms directed to this subject from the fact, III
rs tho s5th Congress Terminated on the
March, 1859, without making the necessa
appropriation for the service Of the Pu
~ Office Department. | wns then ferced
an consider the beat remedy for this omissio
20. and an immediate call Of the present Co
T. grsss was the aiural resort. Upon enquir
49, however, l ascertsined that fifteen out
H., 30 States composing the Confsderacy we