Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-01-05


eminent Of Paraguay" Just satisfaction for what ??
For the attack upon the United States steamer Water
sage of the President" power expressly grant
ed upon the condition that the Of Paraguay
other similar Congress have conferred upon the Pres
dent power in advance employ the army and navy upon
the happening of contingent future events and this most
certainly embraced within the power to declare war
Now if this conditional and contingent power could be
Paraguay why may not be conferred for the purpose of
protecting the lives and property of American citizens IN
passing the to and from California or
assaIed by the seizure of their vessels in foreign port
useless for the protection of the lives and property of Amer
lean citizens in countries where neither protection nor re-
dress can be otherwise obtained ~
The Thirty Congress terminated the Sd of March, 1889
paying Basfed the aG making M sca 10 yea
ending june This apprO
Department year ending June be
Government seventy years ago when any Con
gess went out of existence without having passed all the ge
gn:l the regular period for the meeting of new
presents choice of evils.
Had this omission Of duty occurred at the first session of
the last Congress the remedy would nave peen pam
then have Instantly recalled them to complete their work
and this without expense the But on the 4h
of March last there were the thirty three States
which had elected any representatives to the present
these States would have been virtually DISTINGUISHED If an
had been selected several of the States
would have been compelled to hold extra sessions of their
legislatures at great Inconvenience and expense to provide
for elections earlier day than ha previously fixed by
elect until after the beginning OF August and bVe of these
ten not until October and November.
On the other hand when to examine carefully the
condition of the Post Office Department. did not meet
MANY great difficulties had apprehended. Had
the bill which failed been confined to appropriations for the
fiscal ending on the 30th June next there would have
been of pressing importance for the call of
session Nothing would become due contracts Chose
with railroad companies only eXcepedfo carrying the mail
for the first of the present fiscal year. commencing
the first july until the LIST of December-ess than
week before the meeting of the present Congress The
reason that the mail contractors for this the current
not first he
September last and by the terms of their contracts sixty
days allowed for the settlement of their
before the department could be called upon for payment
The great difficulty ard the great hardship consisted in
the fiscal year ending the 0tG Of june 1853 The Depart
hen had entered into contracts Ii obedience to existing
the service Of that fiscal year. and the contractors
fairly entitled to THEN compensation it became
The deficiency stated in the bill amounted to 728
but after careful settlement of all these accounts it has
been asce,taned that it amounts to $3.50 o0S With the
scanty means at his command the P NJ General has managed
pay that portion of this deficiency which occurred in The
first two quarters the past fiscal year. ending the 3st
December last La the meantime the contractors hemse
manner worthy of all commendaOn They had
IN the midst OF their embarrassmeHs After the amount
due to each of them had been ascertained and finally
tied according law, this became specific debt record
against the United States, which enabled them to borrow
money on this unquestonable security Still lhev were obi
ged to pay interest consequence the default Congress-
and on every principle of justice ought to receive interest
from the Government This interest should from
the date when would have issued for the payment
OF Inc prlHePa had an appropriation been made tor TINS
$96 660a not to be taken when
ed with the great difficulties and embarrassments of pub
private character both to the people and the States
which would have resulted from converting and holding
! special session of Congress.
For these recommend the passage of BILL at as
early day may be practicable provide for the pay
ment OF the amount with interest due to these last mention
ed contractors well to make the necessary apprOpra
lions for the service OF the Post Office Department for the
| current fiscal year.
The failure to pass the Post Office bill necessarily gives
birth to serious ree ctons. Congress- by refusing pass
the general appropriation bills necessary carry the
Government, may only action but might
destroy Its existence The the the judiciary
in short department of the Government longer
perform their functions Congress money
for theirsuppOrt If this failure should teach the
try the necessity of eIecng full Congress in sufficient
time enable the President TO them any
gency, Immediately after the old Congress has expired
it viii have been productive of great good. In time of
sudden and alarming danger foreign or domestic, which all
salvation of institutions may be saked upon the
bng OF Congress without delay If, under such circum-
Stances the President should find himself in the condition
nearly half the States of the Union destitute of representa-
tves the consequences might be disastrous. therefore,
recommend to Congress carry into effect the provisions
OF the Constitution on this subject and to pass law ap-
pointing some day eyious to the 4th MarSn each year
all the States. They have already appointed day for
the election Of electors for President and Vice President
again sSa most favor
the construction of Pacific railroad for the
would be the defenceess condition of StaN Terri
tories west of the Rocky mountains in of War with
naval power su1hcenty strong interrupt a0terc
with them by the routes the Ishmus, ham still
convinced than ever of the vast Importance Of railroad
to provide for its construction but this exclusively
under the making power Besides the Constitution ex-
States shall protect each of them 1.-THE Sates against nva
SION am at loss to conceive how this pro Pton can
be afforded to California and Oregon against such naval
power by any other repeat the opinion contained
in my last annual message, that it would be neXpedent
The Government to undertake this great work by agents of
its own appointment and under its direct and exclusive
troll This would increase the patronage of tExecutve
to dangerous extent, and would foster sysp of job
bling and corruption which vigilance part of Fed
era officials could prevent The construction of this road
other agencies who would exercise that active vg
liant supervision over it which be inspired alone by
ert that the additional of transporting troops NUM-
lions OF and necessary supplies for the army the
would be greater in such than the whole amount
qured to construct the road. And yet this would
We have yet scarcely recovered from the habits exav
agan expenditure, produced by overlooking Treasury
nnistratOn The financial which we have since
experienced ought to teach all to scrutnze expen
lowest possible point The Executive Departments the
Government have devoted themselves the
their different reports and estimates To these invite the
scrutiny OF Congress- for the purpose of reducing them still
lie interests OF the country In aid of the policy
ment pledge myself to examine closely the bills appropr
tonty posa houses sometimes be the case
may afford them opportunity reconsideration At the
time ought to forget that public econo
my consists, not IN Withholding the necessary
cOmpsh important national objects confded to us by the
constitution but in taking that money appropriated
for these purposes shall be faithfully and rugay extended
1t will appear from the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury that it is extremely doubtful to say the least
whether we shall be able to pass through the present and
the neg fiscal year without providing additional
Ihls can only be accomplished by strictly combining the a
preparations within the estimates of different Depart
ments without making an allowance for any additional ex
penatures which Congress may think proper in their dis
creon to authorize and without providing for the redemp
9n of any portion of the OOOO0 Of Treasury notes
which nave been already issued HI the of decen
which consider probable this ought never to be sup
pied by resort to additional loans. would be ruinons
pacce IN the days of peace and prosperity to go on in
cfeasng the national debt to the ordinary of