The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-12-22

The fidelity with which their more immediate rep.
ative, 'odother public fun tonaries discharge
the trusts committed 10 them. The duty of econ
omizng the expenses Of the public service Is ad.
United on all hands yet there are few subjects
upon which there exists wider diterenre of opin-
ion than ia constantly manifested in regard TO the
fidelity with which this duty is discharged. Mel.
her diversity of sent imenr nor even mutual recrin.
nations, upon point in respect TO which the
public mind is 40 Justly sensitive, can be entirely
avoided and at least at per iods Of great polit-
icai excitement An intelligent People, however,
seldom fail to arrive, in tho end concu-
sions IN such a matter. Practical economy in the
management Of public affairs can have no adverse
influence TO contend with more powerful than a
surplus revenue and the unusually large appro.
priations for 1887 may without doubt, independent.
~ of the extraordna ny acquisitions for tho public
service, growing out of the State of Indian
relations, be- in no inconsiderable degree, traced
to this source. This sndden and rapid distribution
III tue large surplus then in the Treasury, and the
equally sudden and unprecedently severe revulsion
in the commerce and business of the country,
pointing with unerring certainty to great and
pro'racted reduction OF the revenue, strengthened
The propriety Of the OF The earliest practible
ducon OF the public expenditures.
But, to change system operating upon
large a surface, and applicable TO each numerous
and diversified interests and objects, was more
than the work of day. The attention of every
department of the Government Immediately,
and in good faith directed to that end and has been
so continued TO the present moment The esti
mates aud appropriations for the year 1888 (he
first over which | had any contro) were somewhat
diminished The expenditures OF 1889 were redu
ced six miens OF dollars. Those Of 1910 exclu
sive Of disbursements for public debt and Trust claim
will probably not exceed twenty two and half
millions beil.g between two and three millions
less than those of the proceeding ear, and nine
ten millions less than those of 1897. Nor has it
been found necessary in order to produce this
result, TO resort to the power conferred by Con
gress, of postponing certain classes of the public
works, except by deferring expenditures for short
period upon limited portion Of them and which
postponement terminated some time since, at the
mcment the Treasury Department by further
ceipts from the indebted banks, became fully
ed of its ability to meet them without pre- udce TO
the public SCI vice in other respects. Causes
in operation which will, it is believed, justify
still fnr,her reduction. without injury 10 any i'm
portant national interest The expenses ofsustain
ing the troops employed in Florida have been
gradually aud greatly reduced, through the perse-
vereing efforts of the department and a
sonahle hope may be ner'ained that the necessity
for miiitpry operations in that quarter will soon
cease. The removal of The Indians from within
our setlied borders is nearly completed The pen
sion list of the heaviest charges upon he treas
ury is rap idly dimini sbing by death The most
costly Of our public buildings either Finished
or nearly so ; and we may think, safely promise
ourselves continued exemption from border dihi
cultes.
The available balance IN the Treasury the
st OF January is estimated at one million and
half of dollars This sum, with the expec ted re-
ceipts from all during The next year, will,
it is believed, DE sufficient TO enable the govern
ment to meet every engagement, and leave suita
bio balance in the Treasury al the end of The rear,
if the remedial measures connected with the Gus
toms and The public lands, heretofore recommend
ed shall be adopted, aud the new approprlauot by
Congress shall not carry the expenditures beyond
the official estimates. -......
The new system established by Congtess for the
safe Keeping Of the public money prescribed the
kind OF currency to be received for The public reve
nue. aud providing additional guards and securities
against losses, 'as now been several months in op
Grafton. Although IT might be premature. upon an
a. rler of BuratIpn,
nite opinion in regard to The extent Gifts 'nHnence
in correcting many evils under Which the Federal
Governmunt and the cnuntry have hitherto suffered
especially those that have grown out of banking
expansions, deprecated currency and .tficial de
lacations; yet it is but right to that nothing
has occurred in the: practical operation of the sys
to weaken in the slightest degree, but much to
strengthen the confident an!iclpaons Of its friends.
Tie grounds Of these have been heretofore so fully
explained 20 require no reoapitulaton In re
spoct to the facility and convenience 1t affords IN
conducting the public service, and the ability OF the
Government to discharge through lis agency every
duty attendant on the collection, transtet and dis
burse meut Of the public money with pronptitude
and success, can say, with confidence, that tho
apprehensioDs oftbose who felt IL 10 he their duty
oppose its adoption lave proved tn be unbound
ed. On the contrary, this branch OF the fiscal at
fairs Ut the Government has been, and il is believed
may always be thus carried on with every deslra
BILE facility and security. A few changes and i'm
prove in the detals of the system, without
affecting any principle involved in it. will be sub
United TO you by the Secretnry of the Treasury and
will, am s,s,e receive your hands that attention
TO which they may, on examination, be found TO
be entitled. "e ..1
have deemed this brief summary Of our fiscal
affairs, necessary to the due performance ola duty
specially enjoined upon by the Constitution. II
will servo, also, illustrate more fully the princi
piles by which have been guided in reference TO
Two contested points in our public policy, winch
eli earliest in their development, and nave been
more important in their consequences, fhan any
that have arisen under complicated and dlth
cult vet admirable system Of Government; alIude
to a nnuonaI debt and national bank. 1t was in
these, that the political contests by whct, the coun
try has been agitated ever since the adoption Of
the Constitution, in great measure, originated;
and there is TOO much reasoa to apprehend thst
the conflicting interests and opposing principles
thus marshalled, will continue, heretofore, to
produce similar, If not aggravated, consequences
Coming into Office the declared enemy of botb
have earnestly enGeavored to prevena resort to eli
Their. ,..... g.. ....t 9t..r
The consideration that large public debt affords
an apology and produces, in some degree a neces
sty also, for resorting to system and extent Of
taxation which is not only oppressive throughout,
but likewise, apt to lead, in the end, to the com
m lssien of that odious of all offences against
he nrin ripe of repubIIcan Uoy