Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-11-24
che gazette:
mARrxMs3URc G, " a.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER "a, 1896.
rae SURPLUS REVENUE.

COIulbS " the lSpoIt vi thC pSSiotoy
Of the Treasury, the sum Of forty-two
millions six hundred and seventeen
thousand eight hundred and one dol
lars and thirty-three cents, subject
10 draft, and four millions eight humid
red and twenty-three thousand n
hundred and eighteen dollars and nine.
ty-five cents, standing to the credit OF
the disbursing officers. This sum
with the exception of five millions to
be retained in the treasury, and six
hundred Thousand four hundred dollars,
which belongs to special trusts,-is to
be distributed among the several States
ofthe Union during the coming year, in
accordance with a law of Congress
passed at its last session.
This distribution of the surplus rev.
enues OF a nation is an unheard of cir
cumstance in the history of modern
governments, andspeaks morein praise
ofthe American Republic, its energies,
capabilities, and resources, than athou.
sand fields Of blood bought victory -
But little more than half a century
since, the Americans emerged from u
hard fought contest for their dearest
rights-from a struggle with one of
the Oldest and most powerful nations of
the earth, for all that renders life desi.
rable, crowned with the laurels of vic.
tory, and consoled with the heart chee.
ring reflection, that the God of battles
had aided them IN the holy cause for
which they had fought and bled. But,
though cheered and comforted with the
establishment of their liberties, and the
defeat and humiliation of their oppres-
sors, their rejoicings were damped by
the painful thought, that the then in
FAINT nation was deeply involved in
debt, and, that too, without any reason
able prospect of an early dcliverance
from its unpleasant situation. Gloomy
lorebodings of the future, filled the
minds of many of the wise and patriot
ic, who until then had held up under
all the difficulties and dangers which,
throughout, had threatened destruction
to their hopes. Adverse, however, as
were the circumstances with which
they were surrounded, they did not des-
pair. They set themselves about the
organization of government, and the
adoption Of measures to disencumber
the nation Of its load Of debt, with the
prudent forecast for the welfare
ofthe country which had characterized
their operations while struggling a
gainst the domination of lordly Eng.
land. How well they succeeded, and
how they discharged their duty to
their country let the millions that now
fill its treasury, answer. Fifty years
are but little more than passed since
the American was a weak and impoy.
crushed nation-its debts, principal and
interest, are now liquidated and its cot:
ers filled to overlooking with the rich
stores that have been gathered from its
almost boundless resources. The ques.
ton, now, is not how shall the debts Of
the nation be met and discharged a.? but,
how shall we dispose of the surplus
which fills the treasury? The debts
the nation are paid, the expenses of
the government provided for, and for
millions remain. The disposi.
ton of this sum, or the major part oft
has been provided for. 1t is to 90 to
the people, to be employed in construc.
ting works of internal improvement.
applied to the promotion of education,
or any other object of general and pubs
lie good, which the legislatures of the
States may deem proper. What is to
DC zone with the surplus which may
accumulate in the coming year, re-
mans yet to be decided, and the cues.
lion OF its disposition is one of vast i'm.
portance to the country. That it is
'Seless' unsafe, and dangerous, to let
l remain in the treasury, is seen and
emitted by all. Locked up in the
treasury 1t a be of no possible use
% the government, or the countr md