The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-10-24
Two Dollars a Year.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
WAsnrverox, Oct IG, 1877.

Fellow Citizens of the senate aul House OF
Rel -cnta,ives:
The adjournment Of the last Congress
without, making appropriations for chs
support OF the army for the pres
ent fiscal year, has rendered necessary n
suspension of payments 10 the officers
and men Of the sums due them for ser
vices rendered after the 30th day of J uue
last
The army exists By virtue of statutes
which prescribe i'd, numbers. regulate It,
organization and employment, and which
fix the pay of officers aud men. and de-
clare their right u receive the same nj
stated periods These statutes, however. /
do not authorize the payment of troops
IN the absence of special appropriations,
therefore the constitution has wisely pro-
vided that "nO money. shall be drawn
from the Treasury but in consequence OF
appropriations made by law; and il has
also been declared by statute tha, " no
department of the Government shall cx
pend, IN any one fiscal year, a sum In
excess Of the appropriations made BY
Congress tor that fiscal year. We have, ]
therefore, an army in service, authori1
ed by law, and entitled 10 be paid, but
no funds available for that purpose IL
may also be said, as an additional iuc.u-
ave 90 pIUmpt aCuOn Dy Nougr,~s, that
since the commencement OF ,ha fiscal
year, the army, though without, paw has
been constantly and actively employed in
arduous and dangerous services, oh the
performance of which both officers and
men have discharged their duty with
fidelity and courage, and without CON.
plant. These circumstances, in my
Judgment, constitute an extraordinary
occasion, requiring that Congress be CON
vencd in advance Of the time prescribed
by law for your meeting in regular ses-
sion. 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 appro
priations for the support of the army for
the current year, ut It's present maxi
mum numerical strength OF % 600 mon,
( leaving for the future the consideration
I of all questions relative To an increase orr
! decrease Of the numbers of enlisted men.
/ In the event of a reduction Of the army
/ by subsequent legislation during the G-
/ cal year, the excess Of the appropriation
could not be expended, and I'm the event
1 of its enlargement, the additional sum
required for the payment of the extra
force could he provided in due time. II
would be unjust to the troops now i'm ser
vice, 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.
Estimates and appropriations for the
support of the military establishment for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878,
were transmitted to Congress by the
former Secretary Of the Treasury at the
opening Of its session in December last.
/ The estimates, modified by the present
/ Secretary 50 as to conform to present re
quirements, are now renewed, amounting
to S32, 426, 7649S, and having been
transmitted TO both Houses of Congress,
are submitted tor your considerations
There is also required by the Navy
Department 50, O03, S61 y. This sum
is made up of i ,446, 6SS. Is duo to the
officers and enlisted men for the last
quarter OF the last fiscal year; S3lI o.
953 80 due for advances made by the
Fiscal Agent of the Government, in
London, for the support Of the foreign
service; $50, 600 due to naval hospital
fund; $50, 600 due for arrearages Of pay
to officers, and SO, 2l9.5S for the sup.
port of the marine corps.
There will also be needed an apprOpri
alton Of $500, 53522 10 deiray the unset
tied expenses Of the United States courts
for the fiscal year ending June 30 last,
now due to attorneys, clerks, commission
ers and marshals, and for rent Of court
rooms, the support Of prisoners and other
deficiencies.
A part of the building of the Interior
Department was destroyed by fire on the
oath of last month. Some Immediate
repairs and temporary structures have in
consequence become necessary, estimates
for which will be transmitted to Congress
Immediately, and an appropriation Of the
requisite funds is respectfully recon-
mended.
The Secretary of the Treasury will
communicate to Congress in connection
with the estimates for the appropriation.
for the support Of the army for the eur
rent fiscal year, estimates for such Other
deficiencies in the different branches o.
; the public service as require immediate
action, and cannot without inconvenience,
be postponed until the regular session.
/ take this opportunity, also, to invite
your attention to the propriety Of adopt
: ing at your present session necessary leg
islation to enable the people Of the Uni
ted States to participate in the advan
tages Of the international Exhibition o
Agriculture, Industry and Fine Arts
which is to be held at Paris, in 1878, am
iol,t {
ted by the Government Of France to tax
, part This invitation was communicate
u this Government in May, 1876, by thu
Minister of France at this capital and
p copy thereof was submitted to the prope
committees of Congress at its last SEES
: sion, but no action was taken upon tn
a subject. The Department Of State ha
. received many letters from various part
. of the country expressing a desire T.
participate in the exhibition, and nu
q merous applications of similar natur
p have also been made at the United State
a Legation, Paris The Department O
State has also received official advice Of
. strong desire on the part of the Frenc
: Government that the United State
! should participate in this enterprise, an
+ space has hitherto been, and still is re
served in the exhibition buildings, fo
. the use Of exhibitors from the Unite
= States to the exclusion of other partie.
: who have been applicants therefor. l
q order that our industries may be proper
a ly represented at the exhibition. an az
r preparation will be needed for the pay
:. ment of salaries, and the expenses c
the commissioners, Of transportation Q
goods and for other purposes in come,
ton with the object in view; and as Ma
next is the time fixed for opening tn
W exhibition, if our citizens are to share II
t advantages of this international comp
-. e Il q Il 4. -