Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1877-10-20
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


services rendered after the Both day of Jun
last, The army exists by virtue Of statute,
which prescribe its numbers, regulate il
organization and employment, and whic
hS the pay of its officers and men, and de
clare their right to receive the same a
stated periods. The statutes, however, d
not authorize the payment Of the troops il
the absence OF specific appropriations there
! Tor. The Constitution has wisely provide
that no money shall be drawn from the Treas
ury but in consequence OF appropriation
made by law; and it has also been declare,
by statutes that no department Of the Govern
ment shall expend in any one fiscal year an,
sum in excess OF the appropriation made b,
Congress 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. IL may also be said
as an additional incentive to prompt action
| by Congress, that since the commencement
OF the fiscal year, the army, Though with
out pay, has been constantly and actuaIl,
employed in arduous and dangerous service
in the performance of which both officer
and men have discharged their duty will
| fidelity and courage, and without complaint
These circumstances, in my judgment, con
sttute an extraordinary occasion reduirins
Congress to be convened in advance of tht
time prescribed by law for your meeting il
regular session. The importance of speed,
action upon this subject on the part of Con
gress is so manifest that | venture
to suggest the propriety Of making
the necessary appropriations for the supper
of the army for the current year at its pres
ent maximum numerical strength of 25 ,00l
men, leaving for future consideration al
questions relating to an increase or decreas,
of the number of enlisted men. In the even
of the reduction Of the army by subsequent
legislation during the fiscal year. the exces
of the appropria ion could not be expended
and in the event OF its enlargement the
additional sum required for the paymen
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 payment 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 support of the
military establishment Tor the fiscal year end
ing June 49, 1878, were transmitted to Con.
gress by the former Secretary Of the Treas.
ury at the opening Of its session in Decem.
Der last These estimates modified by the pres
ent Secretary so as to conform to the present
requirements are now renewed, amounting
to S32, ,436, 7649S, and having been transmit,
ted to both Houses of Congress, are submit.
ted for your consideration. There is also re.
quired by the Navy Department $20,03O,-
l. IL, af ~
due to officers and enlisted men for the last
quarter of the last fiscal year $3ll, $3.50
due for advances made by the fiscal
agent of the Government for the
support of the foreign service, and
5 O., 90 due to the Naval Hospital fund,
$l5O,OOO due for arrearages of pay to officers
and $4j,2lq.5S for the support OF the marine
corps. There will also be needed an appro.
priatiOn of S262, 1892 to deiray the unset.
lied expenses of the United States Courts for
the fiscal wear ending June 50 last, now due
to attorneys, clerks, commissioners and mar
shalq, and for rent Of ConrtrOoms, the sup
port of prisoners and other deficiencies. 4
part of the building OF the Interior Depart.
ment was DESTROYED by fire on the Z4th of
last month. Some immediate repairs and
temporary structures have, in consequence,
become necessary. Estimates for which will
be transmitted tOCOngresS Immediately, and
an appropriation of the requisite funds is re-
spectfully recommended. The Secretary of
OF the Treasury will communicate to Congress
in connection with the estimates for the ap.
for the support of the army i0r
the current fiscal year, an estimate for such
other rdefcienciesi in the different branches of
the public service as require immediate ac-
ton, and cannot, without inconvenience, be
postponed until the regular session, and take
this opportunity to invite your attention to
the propriety Of adopting at your present
session the necessary legislation TO enable
the people of the United States to participate
in the advantages of the international Exhi.
bition of the agricultural industry and the
fine arts which is to be held at Paris in 1873,
and to which this Government has been in.
yited bv the government of France to take
part This invitation was communicated to
this government IN MAY, 1876, bv the minis.
ter of France at this capital, and copy
thereof was submitted to the proper commit:
tee of Congress at its last session, but no &C.
ton was taken upon the subject. The De-
partment of State received many letters from
various parts of the country expressing de.
sire TO participate in the Exhibition and nu.
merous applications OF similar nature have
also been made at the United States legation
at PARIS The Department of State has also
received official advices of the strong desire
ON the mart of the French Government that
the United States should participate in the
enterprise, and space has hitherto and is
still reserved in the Exhibition building for
the use of exhibitors from the United safes,
TO the exclusion of other parties who
have been apDlicants therefor. In
order that our industries NAV be prop.
erly represepted at the Exhibition, ansappro,
priaton will be needed for the psymeut of
salaries and expenses of Commissioners, for
the ransportatiou of goods and for other
In connection with the object in
view. As Nav next is the time fixed tor the
of the Exhibition, if our citizens are
n share the advantages of this International
rompettion for the trade of other nations,
the necessity of immediate action is appa-
rent. to enable the United States to co.
operste, In the international Exhibition,
which was held at Vienna in 1873, Congress
then passed a Joint resolution making an ap.
oi 5000, 900, and authorizing the
President to appoint Il certain number of prac.
tical artisans and scientific men who should
,ttppd the exhibition and report proceedinys
and observations to him, 4 provision was
,lso made for the appointment of number
of honorary Commissioners, have felt that
orompt notion by Congress in acccpting the
Ioyitation of the Government ofsFrance is of
N mucb interest TO the people Sf This conn.
Irv and 50 suitable to TIE cordial relations
between the Governments of The two coun.
,ries That the subject might properly be
nresented for attention at your present ses.
lion
Tne Government of Sweden ,nd Norway
h.a addressed an oticial invitation to tb;s
G",@rnmont % anti To 10 talre nart in The Interrationai
Prison Congress G to he held At StockboIm