Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1841-01-02

DwWsO change system Operating uPou
so laFS surface, and applicable to such
num6eus and diversified interests and
objec was more than the work OF a day.
| Thee.tention Of every department OF the
government was Immediately, and in good
faith, directed TO that end, and has been SC
continued to The present moment.
| The estimates and appropriations for the
year 1898 (he first over which | had any
control) were somewhat diminished. The
expenditures Of 1889 were reduced six
millions Of dollars. Those Of 1910, ex-
clusiyp of disbursements for public debts
and tRst claims, will probably not exceed
tweB Vwo and half millions, being
10y nj two and three millions less than
g the proceeding year, and nine or
d NEons less than those Of 1887. Nor
has il been found necessary, 10 order TO
produce this result, TO resort to the power
conferred by Congress, Of postponing GER
tain classes Of public work, except by
deferrng expenditures for a shor. period
upon limited portion Of them, and which
posiponement terminated some time since,
at the moment 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
operation which will, it is believed, justify
a still further reduction, without injury to
any important national interest. The
expenses Of sustaining The troops in Flor
ida have been gradually and greatly
reduced, through the persevering efforts
Of the War Department; and a reasonable
hope may be entertained that the necessi
ty Of military operations in that quarter
will soon cease. The removal Of the
Indians from within our settled borders IS
nearly completed. The pension list, one
OF the heaviest charges upon the Treasury
is rapidly diminishing by death. The
most costly Of our public buildings are
either finished, or nearly so; and we may,
| think, safely promise ourselves con.
tinued exemption from border difficulties.
The available balance in the Treasury
on the lst Of January next is estimated at
one million and half Of dollars. This
sum, with the expected receipts from all
sources durug the next year will, tits be-
lieved, be sufficient TO enable the Govern
ment to meet every engagement, and
leaves suitable balance in the Treasury
AT the end Of the year, il the remedial
measures connected with Tho CONS ana
stE nublic lands. heretofore reco'S-sended,
r4-Ds odopIed, and the w~appfoprfs
ions by Congress shall not carry the ex,
penditures beyond the official estimates.
The new system established by Con-
gress for the sa(e.keeping Of the public
money, prescribing the kind of currency
to be received for the public revenue, and
providing additional guards and securities
against losses, has now been several months
in operation. Although it might be pre-
mature, upon an experience of such imi-
ted duration, to form de6na'e opinion in
regard to the extent of lis influences, in
correcting many evils under which the
Federal Government aud the country
have hitherto suffered; especially those
that have grown out Of banking expansions,
a deprecated currency, and official defal.
cations; yet it is but right TO say that no
thing has occurred 10 the practical opera
ton OF the system to weaken in the slight
est degree, but much to strengthen the con-
fident anticipatons Of its friends. The
grounds of these have been heretofore so
fully explained as to require no recapitu-
lation. 10 respect to the facility and con-
} venience it affords in conducting the pub
lie service, and the ability Of the Govern
{ meut to discharge through its agency eve
nv duty attendant on the collection, trans.
J fer and disbursement of the public money
: with prompttude and success, | can say
with confidence, that the apprehensions Of
J those who felt it to be their duty TO oppose
its adoption have proved to be unlounded
On the contrary, this branch Of the fiscal
} affairs of the Government hes been, and
J il is believed may always be, thus carried
on with every desirable facility and secu.
rity. A few changes and improvements
in the details Of the system, without af.
} fecting any principles involved in it, will
! be submitted 10 you by the Secretary Of
, the Treasury, and will, am sure, receive
, at your hands that attention to which they
NAV, on examination, be found to be emit
> tied.
have deemed this brief sum mary o.
= our fiscal affairs necessary to the due per
, Torrance of duty specially enjoined upor
I me by the constitution. 1t will serve nj
: 80, to illustrate more fully the principles
, by which have been guided in reference
l to two contested points in our public poll
cy, which were earliest in their develop
, ment, and have been more important in
. their consequences, that any have ariser
under our complicated and difficult yet ad