Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-12-26

dt0Ote erehulQtSe Is, oil course 10 degree, lal
ing off, and the revenue from customs must de-
crease accordingly
To obtain twenty-eight millions Of nett revenue
will require about one hundred and thirty-three
millions of imports consumed. The amount OF
imports consumed during The last fiscal year was
81 O,345, l74-an amount exceeding the average Of
several years past The value Of domestic exports
for the same year was $40: ,l4l ,s93-being about
an average of several years Experience is album
dant TO show that we canro in ordinary years,
safely import for consumption much over the value
of $1OO,OOO,OO0.
But, when it is considered that now the Govern
ment must according to its own showing, borrow,
for the service of this and the next fiscal year,
twenty three millions of dollars more than its esti-
mated means; that large portion of the ordinary
revenue is to be driven off in specie for distant ex
penditures, and that the commerce and business of
the country must be cramped by this disturbance of
its monetary operations it is no more than right
to expect that our imports will fall off very sensibly.
We predict, therefore, that the revenue of the
present fiscal year lending on the 30th June next
from customs will not exceed $24,000,000, nor
from lands $2,500,000-in all $50 500, 900 and,
for the next fiscal year, lending June 80, lS4S,)
should the war continue, and the Subtreasury con-
tinue also that the receipts of the Government from
all sources of revenue will not exceed twenty-five
millions of dollars, instead of the thirtytwo mil
lions of dollars estimated the Treasury Department
OF the expenditures of the Government il is i'm
possible to speak with much precision but it is
evident that they are much moderated, both by the
Message and the Treasury Report.
The appropriations made at the last session OF
Congress for the support of the army proper and
volunteers for the Mexican war, were, in round
numbers, about S22, 100000; and the estimates
now presented by the Department to Congress
show deficiency in this appropriation of 100 OOO
making the total military expense for the present
fiscal year $26,7O0,OOe.
1t is believed that there has not been at any time
within the year, thus far, force under pay
amounting TO thirty thousand men. The volunteers
now in the field number about l6,50O the regular
army say 10000: total, $4,000.
1t is proposed now TO raise the regular army to
the number authorized by the act of the last ses-
sion, viz. 1900 men to have ten regiments en-
listed for the war, say 10000 men and to provide
contingent volunteer force of ten regiments, say
| 10000 more )" makinga total force to- lie maintained
for the next year of thirty-seven thousand men.
Yet the Department computes that the whole ex-
pendiure for this force will be only fUenty7tour
millions of dollars whilst upon the same scale of
expenditure this years force, it will amount to
thirty-seUen millions Of dollars.
The total expenditure of the present fiscal year
is estimated al S55,24l ,2l2, whilst the total expen-
dture of the next fiscal year is estimated to be but
S45,7sl, 7s4 falling-of of ten millions of dol
lars, which we cannot understand how the Treasu-
ry officers have made out, satisfactorily ac
count for, even by their own figuring.
So far from this estimate being correct, if the
provinces conquered from Mexico are to be fortf-
ed as recommended and posts are to be establish
ed on the route TO Oregon and California, and the
various other modes of expanding money recon-
mended in the Message and Departmental Reports
are adopted, the actual expenditures of the fiscal
year lS47-4S will overrun those of ls46-47 as
much as the estimates now fall short of them
Among these proposed additional expenditures it is
likely that some will be authorized, besides the for
tfcations, &C.. such as an increase of paw of the
army and volunteers, and bounties upon enlist
ments, &c.
We have so far been speaking on the presump-
ton, upon the Executive estimates of the wars
continuing to the middle Of the year Is4s. But
some Of the Administration journals predict peace,
and peace is possible. We must, therefore, con-
slider what will be its effect, should il come upon
the operations Of the Treasury.
How much money may be wanted for the sup
port of Government for the first year or two Of
peace cannot be known with any certainty. But,
whenever and however made, peace is not we think,
certain to produce any great reduction of the de-
mands upon the Treasury for the present or the
next year. With view to peace, the President
asked for two millions Of dollars last year, and
wants il now, TO begin with, for an advance pay
ment. Besides, all the arrears of war expend-
ture-whch we know, from experience, will re-
quire nearly as large a disbursement during the
first year of peace will have been made during
the first year OF the war--it is not unlikely that
from five to eight millions of money will be re-
CURED to pay for our conquered provinces, and
some three or four millions more for indemnity to
our citizens, whose claims upon Mexico, so far as
they can be made out to be just even honest, we
of course, shall assume; Mexico, not having been
able to pay them before the war began, not being
likely to be able to pay them after il is In
sderaton OF all these circumstances, is clear that
the Treasury will not, from now TO the end of the
Al.