Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-12-29

manifested in regard to the fidelity with
which that duty is regarded. Neither d.
verslty oil opinion, nor even mutual recri-
| limitations, upon point in which the pub
lie mind is SO justly sensitive, can well be
entirely avoided; and at least so at periods
Of great political excitement. An intelli-
gent people, however, seldom fail TO arrive
at correct conclusions in such matter
Practical economy in the management of
| public affairs can have no adverse influence
to contend with more powerful than a large
surplus revenues; and the unusually large
appropriations for 1887 may, without doubt
independently Of the extraordinary requi-
sitions for the public service growing out
of the state of our Indian relations, be, in
no inconsiderable degree traced to this
source. The sudden and rapid distribution
| of the large surplus then in the Treasury,
and the equally sudden and unprecedent-
| ediy severe reyulsion in the commerce and
business Of the country; pointing with I'M
erring certainty to great and protracted
reduction of the revenue, strengthened the
propriety Of the earliest practicable reduc-
ton Of the public expenditures.
But, to change system operating upon
SO large surface, and applicable TO such
! numerous and diversified interests and OBJ
jects, was more than the work of day.
The attention Of every department of the
| Government was Immediately and in good
| faith, directed to that end, and has been
50 continued to the present moment. The
estimates and appropriations for the year
1888 (the first over which had my con-
troll were somewhat diminished. The eX
penditures of 1880 were reduced six mil
lions Of dollars. Those Of 1910, exclu-
sive Of disbursements for public debt and
trust claims, will probably not exceed TWEEN
ty-two and Il half millions; being between
two and three millions less than those Of
the preceding year, and nine or ten mill
lions less than those OF 1887. Nor has it
been found necessary, in order TO produce
this result, to resort to the power conferred
by Congress, of postponing certain classes
Of the public works, except by deferring
expenditures for short period upon Ii
mtcd portion Of them; and which post
ponement terminated some time since at
the moment of the Treasury Department,
by further receipts from the indebted banks,
became fully assured Of its ability to meet
them without prejudice to the public SER
vice in other respects. Causes are in OPP
Grafton, which will, it is believed, justify a
still further reduction, without any impor-
tant national int rest. The expenses of
sustaining the troops employed in Florida
have Been gradually and greatly reduced,
through the perseyering efforts Of the War
Departments; and a reasonable hope may
be entertained that the necessity for mill
tary operations in that quarter will soon
cease. The removal of the Indians from
within our settled borders is nearly COM
pletcd. The pension list, one Of the hea-
West charges upon the Treasury, is rapid
Iy diminishing by death. The most costly
Of our public buildings are either finished,
or nearly so; and we may, think, safely
promise ourselves a continued exemption
from border difficulties.
The available balance in the Treasury
on the LIST. Of January next is estimated at
one million and half of dollars. This
sum, with the expected receipts, from all
sources during the next year, will; it is be-
LEVIED, be sufficient 10 enable the Govern
ment TO meet every agement and leave
a suitable balance in the Treasury a: the
end Of the year, if the remedial measures
connected with the customs and the public
lands, heretofore recommended, shall be
adopted, and the new appropriations by
Congress shall not carry the expenditures
beyond the official estimates.
The new system established by Con-
gress for the safe keeping OF the public
money, prescribing the kind of currency
to be received for the public revenue, aud
providing additional guards and securities
against losses, has now been several months
in operation. Although 1t might be pre-
mature, upon an experience OF such llml-
ted duration, to form definite opinion In
regard to the extent Of its influences in
correcting many evils under which the
Federal Government and the country have
hitherto suAered-cspecially those that
have hitherto grown out of banking expan-
sions: deprecated currency, and official
delalcations; yet is but right to say that
nothing has occurred in the practical ope-
ration of tie system 10 weaken in the
slightest degree, but much TO strengthen
the confident anticipations Of its friends
The grounds of these have been heretofore
so fully explained as to require no recapi-
tulation. In respect TO the facility and
convenience il affords in conducting the
public service, and the ability of the GO
vernment to discharge through its agency
every duty attendant on It's collection,
transfer and disbursement Of the public mo-
nev with promptitude aud and success,
can say, with confidence, that the appre-
tensions Of those who felt it to be their
duty to oppose its adoption, have proved to