Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-11-21

SIS proposed by the. colonies. To promote
that result, by friendly counsels with other
powers including Spain herself, has been the
uniform policy Of this government.
In looking 10 the internal concerns Of our
country, YOU Will, l am persuaded, derive
much satisfaction, from n view of the several
obiecis,to which in the discharge of your off,
ciai duties, your attention viii be drawn. A
mong these, none holds a more important
place than the public revenue, from the di.
rect operation of the power, by which it is
raised on the people, and, by its influence in
giving effect 10 every other power of the go
vernmcnt. The revenue depends on the re-
sources OF the country, and the facility bv
which the amount required is raised, is a
strong proof OF the extent of the resources.
and Of the efficiency of the government. A
few prominent facts will place this great in
terest IN Just light before you. On the 3Oth
of September 1915, the funded and floating
debt of the United States was estimated at
one hundred and nineteen millions, six hun
Gred and thirty-hvc thousand, five hundred
and iifty-cight dollars If to this sum be adj
ded, the amount CT FIVE per cent stock, sub
scribed to the bank of the United States, the
amount OF Mississippi stock and of the stock
which was issued subsequently TO that date;
the balances ascertained to be due to Certain
states for military services, and to individuals
for supplies furnished, and services rendered
during the late war, the public debt may be
estimated rs amounting at that date, and rs
afterwards hQridated, 10 one hundred and
iifty-cisht millions seven hundred and thir-
'ecn thousand and forty-ninc dollars. On the
SOth September, 1920, it amounted to nine
ty-onc millions nine hundred and ninety
three tous;,id eight hundred and eighty
three dollars, having been reduced, in that
interval, by payments, s!Xty-six millions eight
hundred and seventy thousand one hun
drcd aud siXty-iivc dollars. During this
term, the cXpences of the government of
the United States were likewise dcirayed,
in every branch of the civil, military.
and naval establishments the public edi-
fees, III this city, have been rebuilt, with
considerable additions; extensive fortiii-
cations have been commenced, and are
In 4 tram of execution; permanent arsenals
and magazines have been erected in various
parts OF the Union our navy has been con-
siderably augmented, and the ordnance, mu-
nItions of war, and stores, Of the army and
navy, which were much exhausted during
the war, have been replcnished Bv the
discha'Se CT SO large proportion of the
pubic debt, and the execution of such cX-
tensvc and important operations, III so short
time a Just estimate may be formed, ofthc
great extent OF our national resources. The
demonstration is the more complete, and
gratifying, when 1t is recollec ed, that the
direct tax and excise were repealed soon
after the termination If the late war, and
that the revenue applied to these purposes
has been derived almost wholly from other
sources.
The receipts into the Treasury, from e.
very source, TO the S0l of September last,
have amounted to sixteen millions seven
hundred and ninety-four thousand one hum
bred and seven dollars, sxty-six cents,
whilst the public expenditures, to the same
period, amounted 10 sixteen millions cjrh.
| hundred and seventy -one thousand five hun
drcd and thirty-four dollars, seycntv-two
cents, leaving IN the Treasury, on that Iay,
4 sum estimated al orc million nne hundred
and fifty thousand dollars. For the proba-
bic receipts "t the following year, l refer
you to the statement which VIII be trans
United from the Treasury.
The sum of three million of dollars. au-
thorised TO be raised by loan, by an act o.
the last session OF Congress, has been OBJ
tanned upon terms advantageous 10 the go
Yernment, indicating not only an inc ased
confidence in the faith OF the nation, but the
existence OF larpc amount oi capital, seek
ing that mode OF investment, at a rate of in
terest not exceeding per cent. per annum.
ItisptUrer 10 add HAT here is now due to III,
Treasury for the sale OF public lands, twenty
Two mliiou. nine hundred and niuety-sIx tn0u
sand tive hundred and ioriy -iiVe dOllaTs,II
d lpSing this SUSPECT 10 view. | consider il M,
day 10 submit TO Congress, whether il nla>
not he advisable, to extend 20 the purchaser,
OF these lands, in consideration of the uufavO,
rable change which has occurred siuce The
safes, reasonable INDULGENCE IL is known
that the purchases we're made, when The price
oil every Article had risen 10 its greatest
height, and that the instalments are becoming
duo, at period OF grea, depression Ii i,
snmed that some plan may be devised, n,
the WISDOM OF Congress, compatible with the
public interest which would afford great
relet to these purchasers.
Considerable progress has been made, dur
ing the present season, in examining Tie coast
and us various bays, aud other inleis; in the
collection OF materials, and in The construction
OF Notifications, for the defence OF the Union
al several OF the positions, aI which il has been
decided TO erect such works. AT Mobile
Point. and DaHphin Island and at the RIyO
tets, leading to Lake PontCiIaitTain materials
to considerable amOuat, have been collected
and all Tie necessary preparations made, for
the commencement OF the works. Al Old
Point Comfort, al the mouth of James river.
aud al the Rip Rap on the opposite shore in
the Chesapeake Bay, materials, TO vast
amount. have been collected, and AT the Old
Point some progress Inns been made III the con.
strucion OF the fort.hcatiOn which is on d vprv
extensive scale. The work at Fort Washington,
on ms river, viii be completed early IN the
next spring aud that OH the Pea Patch. in
The Delaware, in The course of The next season
Fort Diamond, at The Narows in the harbor
of New York. will be finished this year The
works at Boston, New York. Baltimore Nor
folk, Charleston, aud Niagara, have been, in
pat, repaired and The coast of North Caro-.
lima, extending south To Cape Fear, has been
examined, as have likewise other parts of the
coast eastward of Boston. Great exertions
have been made TO push forward these works,
with the utmost despatch possible but, when
their extent is considered, with the important
purposes for which they are ntended-the
defeHce OF the whole coast, aud, IN conse-
qnence, OF Tie whole interior, and that they
are 10 last for ages--it will be manifest that a
yell digcsled plan founded on military pIin-
ciples, connecting the whole together, com.
blnlng security with economy, could not
be prepared without repeated examinations
of the most exposed and difficult parts. and