The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-10-26
Presidents Message.

WAsHINGToN, October 16.-Fellow-
Citizens of the Senate and House 81
Representatives: The adjournment OF
the last CONGRESS without making appro-
priations for the support OF the army for
the present fiscal year has rendered neces-
sary suspension of payments TO the
officers and men of the sums due them
for services rendered after the 3Oth DAY
of June last. The army exists by virtue
of statutes, which prescribe Us numbers,
regulate its organization and employ
ment, and which fix the pay OF It's
officers and men, and declare their right
IN receive the same at stated periods.
The statutes, however, do not authorize
the payment of the troops in the absence
of specific appropriation therefor. The
Constitution has wisely provided that no
money shall be drawn from the Treasury
| but ia consequence Of appropriations
:. made Ia. laH sapd- 1t has also, speen de,
l clared bv statute that no department OF
the Government shall expend in any one
fiscal year any sum in excess OF the appro-
priation made by Congress for that fiscal
year. We have, therefore, an army IN
service, authorized by law and entitled
to be paid, but no funds available TOR
that purpose 1t NAV also be said as an
additional incentive to prompt action by
Congress, that since the commencement
of the fiscal year, the army, though
without paw, has been constantly and
actively EMPLOYED in arduous and dan
| gerous service, in the performance OF
which both officers and men have dis
charged their duty with fidelity and
courage, and without complaint: These
circumstances, in my Judgeme ent,
constitute an extraordinary occasion
| requiring CONGRESS to be convened IN
advance of the time prescribed by law
Tor yoIr meeting ID regular session.
The importance of speedy action upon
this subject on the part OF Congress Is so
| manifest that | venture to suggest
the propriety of making the
| necessary appropriations for the sup
port OF the army tor the current year at
| It's present maximum numerical strength
of 25, 900 men, leaving for future con-
sideration all questions relating to an
| increase or decrease of the number OF
enlisted men. In the event OF the redu-c
tion of the army by subsequent leglsla-
ton during the fiscal year, the excess OF
| the appropriation could not be expended
and in the event of 1t enlargement
| the additional sum required Ter
the payment of the extra
force could be provided in due time. 1t
would be unjust to the troops now in
service and whose pay is already largely
in arrears if payEHInt TO them should be
further postponed until after Congress
shall have considered all the questions
likely TO arise in the effort to fix the
proper limit to the strength of the army.
The estimates of the appropriations for
the suppors of the military esta bllshment
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878,
were transmitted toCongress by the former
Secretary of the Treasury at the opening
of its session in December last These
estimates, modified by the present s'ecre-
tary so as TO conform TO the present
requirements are now renewed, am unit
ing te S32, ,436, ,764 9S, and having been
transmitted to both houses of Congress,
are submitted for your consideration.
There j. also required by the Navy De-
partment $40, $50, sol II This sum Is
made ND of 81 .446, ,SS8 Is due to officers
and enlisted men for the last quarter oi
the last fiscal year $31l, ,953 80 due foI
advances made by the hscal agent of the
Government in London for the support
or the foreign service, and S5O,0 900 due tc
the Naval Hospital fund, $l5O,OOL
due for arrearages of pay to officers
and S45, PIG 50 for the support of the
marine CORDS. There will, also, be
needed an appropriation of S262,53 ,.
to defray the unsettled expenses OF the
United States Courts for the fiscal veal
ending June Both last, now due to attor
news. clerks. commissioners and marsnah
and for rent of CourtrOoms the support
of prisoners ana other deficiencies. \
part of the bualding of the interior
Department was destroyed by
fire on the oath of last month
Some immediate repairs and temporary
structures have, in consequence, be
, come necessary, estimates for wnlcl
will be transmitted to Congress lmmedl
ately, and an appropriation OF the requi
site funds is respectfully recommended
The Secretary of the Treasury Will com
municate to Congress, in connection will
+ the estimates for the appropriation for tn
support of the army for the current tisca
year, an estimate for such other dehcIen
cies in the different branches of the publi
} service as require immediate action ant
{ cannot without inconvenience be post
poned until the regular session, and TAX
this opportunity to invite yeur attention
: to the propriety of adopting at your pres
ent session the necessary legislation L
enable the people of the United States T.
, participate in the advantages of the In
ternational Exhibition of the agriculture
industry and the fine arts which is to b
i held at Paris in 1878, and to which thi
r government has been invited by the gov
E ernment of France to take part. This in
yitatien was communicated to this gov
ernment in May, 1876, by the Minister
t France at this capital, and copy thereo
D was submitted to the proper commltte
: of Congress at its last session, but n
action was taken upon the subject. III
Department. of State received many letter
Il from various parts OF the country, eH
n pressing desire to participate in the E1
{ hibition, and numerous applications OF
similar nature have also been made q
the United States legation at Paris Th
/ Department of State has also receive
n official advices of the strong desire on th
e part of the French government that th
. United States should participate in tn
enterprise, and space has hitherto and
9 still reserved in the Exhibition builC
" ing for the use of exhibitor
II from the United States.
.. the exclusion of other partit
who have been applicants thereto
70 In order that our industries may
n properly represented at the exhibition
1t an appropriation will be needed for tt
q payment of salaries and expenses of Con
missieners for the transportation of goeC
% and for other purposes IN connection wit
1t the object in view, and as May next is ii
time fixed for the opening of the exhit
ton, if our citizens are to share the a
vantages of this International compel
ton for the trade of other nations ii
necessity of immediate action is apparel
. to enable the United States to co-operat
In the international Exhibition, whiC
90 was held at Vienna in 1873, Congre
n then passed joint resolution making
st appropriation of 100000, and authOri
,e ing the President to appoint a certa
number of practical artisans and scie
- tific men who should attend the exhil
ne ton and report their proceedings al
to observations to him. A provision W
n also made for the appointment of a nul
= ber of honorary Commissioners. l ha
20 felt that prompt action by Congress
'e- accepting the invitation of the Cover
v ment of France is of so much interest
he the people of this country, and 50 su
- able to the cordial relations betwe
Vi the Governments of the two countr
% that the subject might properly be P
en- sented for attention at your prese
a session.
he The GoveGment of Sweden and n