The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-10-24
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
SUPPORT OF THE ARMY.

FellO0- Citizens Of the Senate and House Q
Representatives.
The adjournment of the last Con-
gress without making appropriations
for the support Of the army for the
present fiscal year, has rendered nee
essary the suspension of payment:
to the officers and men Of the sum;
due them for services rendered after
the 30th day of June last. The
army exists by virtue of the statutes
which prescribes its numbers, regu
lates its organization and employ
ment, and which fixes the pay Of its
officers and men. and declares their
right to receive the same al
stated periods. These statutes
however, do not authorize the pay.
ment of troops in the absence oi
specific appropriations therefor, and
in consequence, it has been provid
ed that no money shall be drawn
from the Treasury but in conse-
quence of appropriation made by
law and it has also been declared
by statutes that s'no department OF
the Government shall expend in any
one fiscal year a sum. in excess of
the appropriation made by Congress
for that fiscal year." We have.
therefore, an army in service author
lied by law and entitled to be paid,
but no funds available for that pur.
pose. 1t may also be said as an adj
ditional incentive to prompt action
by Congress, that since the COM
mencement of the fiscal year the
army, though without pay, has been
constantly and actively employed in
arduous and dangerous service, in
performance Of which both officers
and men have discharged their duty
with fidelity and courage and with
out complaint. These circumstan-
ces, in my judgement, constitute an
extraordinary occasion, requiring
that Congress be convened in adj
vance ofthe time prescribed by law
for that purpose in regular session.
The Importance of speedy action up
on this subject on the part of Con-
gress is so solicitoua, that request
to suggest the propriety of making
the necessary appropriations for the
support Of the army for the present
year at its present maximum strength
of $4,000 men, aud leaves for future
consideration all the questions re-
lating to the increase or decrease of
the number of enlisted men. In
the event ofa reduction of the army
by subsequent legislation, during the
fiscal year, the excess of appropria-
tiOn could not be expended and i'll
the event it's enlargement the ad-
ditional sum required for the pay
ment of the extra force could be pro-
vided in due time. II would be in
justice to the troops now in service
and whose pay is already largely in
arrears. if payment to them should
be further postponed till after Con-
gress shall have considered all ques-
tions likely to arise in the effort to
fix the droper limit TO the strength
Of the army. The estimates of ap-
preparation for the support of the
military establishment for the fiscal
year ending June so, 1878 were
Transmitted to Congress by the for
mer Secretary of the Treasury of
the opening of its session in Deem
ber last. These estimates were
moderated by the present Secreta-
ry so as to conform to the present
requirements, and are now renewed,
amounting to $32, 2,436.764 :98, ard
having been transmitted to both
Houses of Congress, are submitted
for your consideration.
SUPPORT OF THE NAVY.