Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-12-27

found below, claim the attention of all who
are friendly TO our institutions and To the ge
neral prosperity. They are from an esteemed
and enerable member of the last congress
from another state, addressed to friend and
correspondent in this.
- 20ih November, 1898.
SIR have presumed it might be agreea-
bic to you To be informed of the progress, for
few years past, of the finances of the union.
and their present condition.
| In December 1919, the President in his
message, Informed Congress that the means
Tor the year 1890, would fall short Of the ex-
pend'tures the sum of $4,000, 900. The Secre-
tary of the Treasury, in his report, pointed
Out three modes of meeting the deficit, TO wit
Idres, Loans, or Retrenchmenf. The idea of
loans and taxes for the current expenses of
government in a time of profound peace, was
obnoxious to Congress, and equally so to the
people, as appeared by the public writers-
Congress was iliberally abused rs the cause,
when perhaps, the censure might with more
proprety have heen applied To indscreet ex-
pehuitnres: but Congress are many, and may
be censnred securely-they have few Offices
to give. Congress adopted two Of the alterna-
ives they granted loan Of SS.OOO,OOO, and
made retrencbtnents 10 the amount Of Sc, $780,
ooo; part Of those, 10 the amount OF $780,
Oeo, was from the item for Notifications The
estimate Mas, " For Notifications 81 500. 600"
winch was deemed very extraordinary, when,
IN no year since the peace had more than
S80O,OOO been granted, and especially at
Time when our finances We're such as 10 re-
quire loan To meet the current expenses of
Inc year. Congress granted the usual sum
oil 100000, the whole uf which, | believe.
was not expended in that year.
10 December 1890, the President informed
Congress that for The service Of 1891, the re-
ce'pls would fai! short Of the expenditures,
say S7,O0O,O00 aud the Secretary of the
treasury proposed the same alternative Ia
supply the deficit. Congress granted a loan
Tor S5,OO0,00O, and made ratreDchments TO
the amount of S2,i30,155. The Secretary of
the treasury having mentioned retrenchmenfs
as one oil The means TO meet the DEFICIENCIES of
those Two appalling years, gave offence to the
expendlng departments, and the host of per.
sons employed. They did him the honor. in
consequence, Of charging him with being the
cause of those retrenchments, and have stig-
mat'zed him as the head Of what they were
pleased TO call the Rnd,.,'., The retrench-
ments were made with prudence; none, no
nor one Of the institutions suffered any injury
The President was asked this plain question
by member Of Congress, in Jan. 18ss, Have
any OF the public institutions suffered by the
retreochments that have been made? He an
sweFed no, not one. Among the refreshments.
was the reduction OF the army froR ten to six
Thousand men. This was obnoxious to eer-
tam persons. But has it done any injury p
Were more than six thousand men necessary
for garrisoning all the posts, and for sutfi-
Gent iorce {" keep the Indians in check? They
nave been found fully adequate, and no iniu-
ry, that have heard OF, has been sustained.
Inc saving made by the reduction has been
!agreeably to report from the Secretary of
war; $1,000 900 per annum. Was il not n
good act done by Congress, to stop useless
annual expenditure to that amount? In time
OF peace, an interruption of which cannot be
looked Tor, we require no greater force than
snail be necessary for the objects mentioned
Ihere had been general staff equal TO an
army "t 10 or 10000; the Secretary of War,
IN his report for the organization Of the con-
lempiated army of 5000 men, proposed to re-
tain THAT staff, with trihing exceptions This
proposition vas rejected by Congress, by
which great saving was made; but il dis
banded merlteriOus officers, and gave offence
to them and their friends. This was natural.
Republican policy, land I believe il good
oHe on general principles,) is to employ and
pay officers only when services are required ::
to nave no siDecures.
The means reported for 1899. were suppos-
ed to be nearly adequate To the expenditures
Isl.
however, on which retrencbments were made.
for 1929, amounting to half million making
nearly S5,000,000 in three years. Those re-
Tencflments had completely brought our ex-
pendiures within our means, and of course
no retrtnchmenis were made from the esti-
mate for 1928. The institutions OF the nation
have been so completely organized and re-
st7cted by Congress, as to require few if any
notifications hereafter If those retrench-
M ents TOR which our best men are called Ra-
dIcals) had not been made, another loan TO
their amount would have been necessary for
the service OF 1929, and probably small loan
for that of 8s3. What pleasing contrast
has that wise policy produced We required
no loan for 1898, and had in the Treasury ON
the eth October past, (pensIons, interests, &c.
Nr. pad up to the first day of that MONTH the
full amount OF s 8,0000OO.* of good available
money, besides million due from certain
banks, some part of which Is believed TO be
well secured. The whole Of the deferred debt
will be paid of on the first day of July next.
which will relieve the finances 10 the annual
amount Of s 100000 {; and on the first day of
January 1895, the Treasury can pay off the 7
per cent. stock Of S8,6O6,355, which will he
lurtherireIIef in interest Of 500, 900: so
That IN future our finances may be considered
sound, and unless some occurrence. which
cannot be fOreseen, prevent il, our means may
be Considered equal io our wants; for which
great good. Mr.. Crawford and his friends are
siigmatized with the name of Radicals. They
have, however, the heartfelt satisfaction 10
know. that they have done their duty, and
preserved the administration Of Mr.. Monroe
from charge Of prodigality.
The late Message ofthe President states the ss-
iimaied surplus w the Treasury on The FIST oC lam.
AIRY next, at about 8 9 100000 Eds aibany Argas.
REPI1pI ICsN TCcrrIUAr