Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-24

only small part, Qf any,) wiIlever be presented

DeCcInDeI, 1907 tnS Onileu OtdttS pdlQ, IOr IN
terest on the public debt, the sum OF Sl57 $685.
$50 GO; and iorthe principal, tue sum Of $751;
AS, 083 2i-togeiher making the sum OF four
hundred and fifteen millions eigh,y-two thousand
thirty-three dollars ninety-three cents.
The national income, out of which that extra
ordinary sum OF fonr hundred and fifteen mil
lions Of dollars was paid, over and above the or
binary annual expenditures, (Which, during that
period of iorty-six years, exceeded five hundred
millions OF dollars, was derived principally from
the duties on imports and tonnage, and the sales
othe public lands Direct taxes and internal
duties and excuses were employed, from and az
ter the 9Th day Of May, 1872, unlilthe 30lh June,
1902, when they were repealed; and again en-
acted in the year 1913, and repealed 3lst De-
cember, 1917. A system Of direct taxes and in
ternal duties has been resorled 10 only in encr-
gencies, and has prevailed only for about fifteen
years of the fiity-iive which have elapsed since
the Federal Constitution was adopted
The moral power, courage; ana capabilities,
by which nation in its infancy, foadcd with
debt of the Revolutionary War of such magnI-
ludc, harassed BY Indian wars, and incumbered
BY another debt Of the war Of 1912, terminated in
1915. discharged those debts laithiuy-exkibit-
ing 10 gazing and astonished the world the e1-
ample OF a nation who had exered su ch energies,
oi Government without national debt, with an
",
internal duties, and eScises-are TO be looked
for in the genius of the Government, the in,cg-
rily Of those who have been elected 10 administer
it, The good sense, honesty, and enterprise of Tic
cliZens-and lastly, though not least in the be-
neicenl smiles of all-wise and protecting Proyi-
dence.
The general modes Of operation have been by
distributing over succession Of years the costs
OF the extraordinary efforts found necessary in
some, acceerains The prompt employment ofhe
abilities of the nation; using 4 part OF the over
plus Of others leaving every citizen TO choose his
occupation; protecting him in The free enjoyment
of life, religion, property, and The means Of ac-
quiremenl; taking no more from the earnings Of
industry, nor encroachng farther upon the com
forts of life, than necessary tosupport a govern
ment economically administered; making our
country an asylum for The oppressed ot humanity
and inviting The people Of all nations 10 paHake
OF the blessings Ola free government By such
means stimulus has been given to the increase OF
our population, insomuch that from less than the
number of four millions OF souls in The year 100
they had increased toupwardS ofseyentecn millions
in the year 1910, and NAV now according to The
ratio Of increase exhibited by the successive emu
Inera,ons taken every tenth year, be stated at not
less than nineteen millions seven hundred thou
sand souls. A debt which would have been OPP
pressive and iniolerable ifleyicd upon four mil
lions Of people has been found not oppressive
when distributed over q period OF tor,y-six years
andlevied upon continually increasing popula-
ton.
The particular means by which the iniercs! has
been pail annually, lii. principal lessencd gradu-
ally, and finally redeemed were By The operations
Of sinking fund, regulated BY The act of the
Congress of the 4,h August, 1870, by which the
surplus Of certain taxes, and the proceeds OF sales
OF the public lands after paying the ordinary an
nual expenses of the Government, were pledged
and appropriated inviolaby TO pay the interest
and redeem the principal OF the public debt; fur
Their regulated by the &c, of l2lh August l19);
Augmented BY The act Of 9Th May, 1892 further
regulated BY lie act Of Sd March, 1875; further
increased by the &C. Of April Tin, l79S, by which
the proceeds of sales of the lands ccdcd BY the
State of Georgia were added: further augmented
BY the act of April a9'h, 1902 by which The spe-
cliic sum of seven million three hundred thou
sand dollars annually was appropriated, 10 be paid
10 the commissioner of The sinking fund, which
was increased 10 len millions annually by the
act Of March Sd, 1917 This latter act added TO
The ten millions such surplus as Saoeld remain
unappropriatel after leaving two millions in the
Treasury for contingencies. and directed all cer:i-
Gates of stocks redeemed hy the commissioner Of
the sinking fund 10 be cancelled.
By means Of the appropriations and provisions
for the sinking fund, the sums OF Ss24S1l ,062 %
in the year 1916; 5,423 036 IL in the YEAR lSi1;
81 OBS, 2U9 62 in the vear 1918; It, sos 1913 Il; in
the wear 1921; l6lH,31o 81 in The year 1881 !;
| 1St0,309 % in The year 1882. were applied 10
the payment OF III. interest and principal be-
sides The smaller sums in other years, until the
debt was extinguishcd in the year 1885, as before
noticed.
Such has been the effect Of the sinking fund
such has been the scrupulouS good faith which
has been observed by The t. States towards The
creditors OF the Government.
3 As 10 the resources Of Inc U. States for pub
lie revenue, and increasing the national income,
when cxigcncies shall require.
The public lands of the U. States, stretching
from the lakes of the North to the Gulf OF Mexico,
and from the foot Of the Appalachian mountains
westward 10 the Pacific ocean, constitute DOMAIN
of incalcuable value.
The public lands are 10 be considered first in
respect of the price for which they can lie sold
in successive years 10 the increasing population;
secondly, in respect OF the increased revenue
Which can be derived from the increased pnpula-
ton which those fertile lands are capable Of sus-
tanning.
Reasoning from The past 10 the iuure-from
the increase and spread OF our population in the
preceding fifty years 10 The succeeding half cen
tury-from the ratio OF increase from less than
four millions, by The census Of l190, 10 upwards
Of seventeen millions, by the census CT 1910,
and now not less than nineteen millions seven
hundred thousand, 10 the number which will be
in the ensuing fifty years,-il may confidently
be affirmed that By that time The population OF
the United States will exceed seventy millions,
covering with continuous connected Settlements
the lands from our present frontier settlements
all the way 10 the Pacific ocean. New lands,
At moderate prices, To be broEgh, into cult
walton By thersing generations, are snrc founda-
tons, under our institutions, for The rapid increase
of civilized men; and Ian! and labor agriculture,
manufactures and commerce. are the trnc ele-
ments Of national wealth, national income, and
national strength.
The proceeds OF sales ofhe public lands with
duties on imports and tonnage, without direct
taxes, internal duties or cxcises, have hitherto
het sufficient, in time of peace, to Gcfray the or
binary annual supplies necessary for The support
OF the national Government and 10 yield sur
plus for the sinking fund; also for laying up sup
plies of arms and other munitions OF war; the gra
dual augmentation of the navy, the support OF The
army, the erecting Of Notifications, lighthouses,
surveying the coasts, &c.
In the wide extended domain, in the rapid in
crease OF population, in The physical and intellsc-
tual energy and enterprise OF the people, in tie
consequent increase Of agriculture, manufactures
and commerce, with 4 Government consulting
the general welfare and conducting 10 the true
temple of liberty the United STATES of America
presents 10 The view of mankind a nation compa-
atively youthful, OF unsurpassed resources, in
dicative of gigantic strength and of great moral
power. From thirteen, the States have increased
10 The number OF tweny-six, spreading over
widey-extended new territories. By the ins,ru-
mentality of State Governments, for regulating
their domestic affairs, with a Federal Govern
ment for regulating those which concern ALL and
particularly commerce foreign relations and The
general dcfsnce-the United States Of America
are capable Of expansion over the continent, with
out relaxing the force of law and order at the
tren,;tes, and without deganera,ing into tyranny.
In the union Of the State and Federal Govern
.nent, we have tower OF stfensth-senlinels 10
gnard against Entertainments, preserve public Ii
herty and domestic order, and secure the general
felicity. II this, The fairesi fabric OF human CO.
vcrnmen., shall nod from on high and to!,er 10 its
fall, the sad catastrophe will be caused By sacri-
lesons violaiors Of terms Of mutual concession
and COMPROMISE on which the Constitution OF the