Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-12
2,s27,l9G 1G
T.555.S!0 81
2,J2J.2l3 80
4.75G Ca
5J,l50 G7
OF
4,5O0,OOo co
The expenditure fer the fourth Quarter

The expenditure fer the fourth quarter,
ii is expected will be 1890 900 GO
. Thus leaving lbe 1st Of January, 1856
subject however to the deduction here
after mentioned an estimated balance
of money on hand equal to 1917 EOS AZ
This includes what has heretofore been
ported as unavailable funds re-.
duccd 10 about, 81 l00,O00, making
the computed available balance on the
lst nf January, 1886, -SlS.0i1,5iS 90
" Computing all the existing charges Of every kind
the Treasury the end of The present year, be
about 81 So: ,4 the balance Of available funds then on
hand. would, il is estimated BE- sufficient 10 meet the
VIII lie at once, ana leave, to be hereafter applied hy Con-
gross tn and other puI poscs the Of about l0
4Jn,G2l.''
In treating Of the Surplus in the Treasury, and its
disposition. he says:
i: has been shown that the available balance in the
Treasury all outstanding appropriations on tile lst
Of January, lS5U, is estimated nj about ten and half
nlinns the expenditures for the ensuing year, for all
purposes whether ordinary extraordinary enumerated
i'll the schedules at more than twenty three millions and
the receipts at less than twenty millions Hence II fol-
lows, that il the appropriations made and the revenues
received in 1885, shall be large the estimates and
larger, the nett surplus applicable to new and
other becs, will probably, the OF the ensuing
year, become reduced to 4 between six and seven
millions This sum- therefore, would in those events
remain the st Of January 1857. at nett surplus,
unrxpcndrd and unpcdgcd. Consequently, most of it
could be applied 10 other purposes not included in
the estimates and literally aid in promoting any ccnsti
tutonal Objects which Congress may deem most expedi-
ent.
'An unprecedented spectacle is thus presented TO the
world Of Government, not only virtually without any
debts, ana without direct taXation but with about one
fourth of its whole annual expenses betrayed from sales
OF It's own unncunbertd: and immense tracts OF public
lands and resort To Indirect taxation necessary.
except for The other three .ourlis and the proceeds
Of that Indirect taxation, though largely and Ire
qucnly reduced YET accommodating fast as to require
further legislation 10 dispose Of or invest conSidefa
bic surplus hand Whether this oi cnviablr pros
" l, 10 he n
ment-to the administration Of ito the character o
pcorle-hc physical advantages o our cuunt7y-"r
to al combined, 1t is subject ct strong congrauia
tion and exhibits very remarkable phenomenon IN the
history Of taxation and finance. iout dwelling on
the primary causes OF our fortunate condition. or dis
cssinT any secondary ones such rs the great demand
and reward in this country Tor either labor or caPita
the appropriate inquiry under these novel crcu:n-
stances, aud occasion like the present, seems
&c to discover the most udcous TO pursue in
using this surplus, and in preventing or regulating
its future accumulation. The balance now on hand
or anticipated, does not differ So much in amount
from that at several prior pcr"ds, 10 require any
extraordinary steps if the available mode existed
of employing it legally and benetcIay, without new
LEGISLATION. There were three former years IN our
history viz: ISIS, 1916 and lSI7, when our balances
on hand the first of January each year, were re-
spcctively over IL, % and ID millions Of dollarE,
and in 1883 over ii millions. But these balances were
either unavailable for time, whenever productive,
were able be applied in the discharge OF the pub
lie debt and thus TO prevent longer and larger accu
mutations and To save interest In tal way ue!iS ie
duced from time 10 time, they at no other period have
ever exceeded ten millions, Though fsur other coca
sons they have accumulated beyond nine millions
Bot happily for the country it is no longer compelled
t, nart with its to discharge heavy burdens
imposed in former times; and in the present prosper
Gus stale of finances, it is respectfully submitted,
that in order to reduce the present surplus, there
mrh, BE- first, and judcnusly authorized for purposes
moi enumerated in any of the estimates. other beneficial
expenditures for objects clearly lawful and useful Not
considering the province oths Department. in an an
na report to enter into minute details IN relation 10 te
srl.ctio of those Objects the undersigned would merely
advert 10 few prominent ones, about which no con,
sutonal difficulties inlcrposc; such as the erection OF
suitable and necessary buildings for the use OF inc
General Government, whether this city or the dill
frcnl States and the earlier commencement otnpoant
works contemplated, and the more rapid completion OF
others already brgun. which arc essentially connected
with The commerce, the navy, or the frontier crchccs
of the country.
The Report however, is rife with important suggrs-
tons. 1t will speak for itself in our next