The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-10-26
VOL. IX.-NEw SERIES.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


the last Congress without making appropri-
ations for the support of the army for the
present fiscal year, has caused the necessary
suspension OF payment to officers and men
Of sums due them for services rendered after
the Both day of juno last The army ex-
lists by'virtue of statutes which prescribe its
members, regulate its organization and enl-
.ployment, and which fix the pay of its Off
GERS and men and declare their right to re-
ceive the same at stated times. These
statutes, however, do not authorize the pay
ment of troops in the absence, Of specific
,sappfaQriati on, thsref faxe the sGSS gn
MAS wisely provided that mo ' money zk{filfi
be drawn from the Treasury only in conse-
quence Of appropriations made by law :"
and it has also beeu declared by statute that
"no department of the Government shall
expend in any one fiscal year any sum in
excess of the appropriations made by Con-
gress for that fiscal year" We have, there
fore, an army in service authorized by law,
and entitled to be paid, but no funds avail
able for that purpose. 1t may also be said,
as an additional incentive to prompt action
of the fiscal year, the army though without
pay, has been constantly and actively en-
ployed in arduous and dangerous service,
for the performance which both officers and
men have discharged their duty with fdel-
ity and courage and without complaint
These circumstances, in my judgment, con-
stitute an extraordinary occasion, requiring
that Congress be convened in advance Of
the time prescribed by law for your meeting
in regular session. The Importance of a
speedy action upon this subject on the part
Of Congress is so manifest that venture to
suggest the propriety of making the neccs-
sary appropriation for the support of the
army for the current year, at its present
maximum Numerical strength Of $4,000
men, leaving for future consideration all
questions relating to an increase or decrease
OF the number of enlisted men. In the
event of reduction of the army by subsc-
quent Legislation during the fiscal year, the
excess of the appropriation could not be
expended, and in the event of its enlarge
ment the additional sum required for the
payment of the extra force could be provi-
troops now in service, and whose pay is
already largely in arrears, if payment to
them should be further postponed till after
Congress shall have considered all questions
likely to arise in the effort to fix the proper
limit to the strength of the army. Esti-
mates of the appropriation for the support
of the military establishment for the fiscal
year ending June Both, 1873. wero trans
mitted to Congress, by the former Secrc-
tary of the Treasury, at the opening of
its session in December last These cst-
mates were modified by the present Secre-
tary so as to conform to the present. The
requirements are now renewed, amounting
to S32, ,436,75S 90; and having been trans
mitted to both Houses of Congress, are
submitted for your consideration. There
is also required by the Navy Department,
S2,003,861 e. This sum is made up of
81 ,445, ,698 16 due to officers and enlisted
men for the last quarter of the last fiscal
year, S3l1 1853 so, due for advances made
by the Fiscal Agent Of the Government in
London. for the support of the foreign SER
vice, $50 900, due to the Naval Hospital
fund, S150,000 due for arrearages of pay
to officers, and ,219 So for support of
Marine Corps. There will also be needed
an appropriation of S262,535 %, to defray
the unsettled expenses of the United States
Courts for the fiscal year ending June Both
last, now due to attorneys, clerks, commits
sioners and marshals, and for rent of court
rooms, support of prisoners and other def
cicncies.
A part of the building of the Interior
Department was destroyed by fire on the
24th of last month. Some immediate re-
pairs and a temporary stfnotArarAasaih cons
sequence become necessary, estimates for
which will be transmitted to Congress inn
mcdiately, and the appropriation of the re-
quisite funds is respectfully recommended
The Secretary of the Treasury will com
municate to Congress in connection with
estimates for appropriation for the support
Of the army for current fiscal year estimates
for such other deficiency in the different
branches Of the public service as require
Immediate action, and cannot without incon-
venience be postponed until the regular ses-
sion.
1 take this opportunity also to invite
your attention to the propriety of adopting,
at your present seSsion, necessary legislation
to enable the IN g of the United States
to participate liz W advantages of the In
ternationa Ex', &C sye IN of Agriculture, IN
,dustry and Fine ATS, which is to be held
at Paris in 1873, and in which this govern.
ment has been invited by the government
of France to take part This invitation
was communicated to this government in
may, 1876, by the Minister of France at
this capital, and copy thereof submitted