Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-12-24
The Cost Of the War with Mexico.

The Presidents message states that ION the
first Of the present month the amount Of the
public debt actually incurred, including Treasu-
ny notes, was Sf5, 659,659; and on the 4th OF
March, ls45, including Treasury notes, the pub
lie debt was si7,7ss, 794,--sn consequently the
addition made to tpe public debt since that time
Is S27,07O,865."
Thus the President without positively assert
ing il, evidently wishes to convey the impression
that the actual cost of the war with Mexico IN
TO the lst instant is less than Twenty Mil
lions of Dollars
To counteract this false impression Of the cost
Of the unnecessary aud unjnshiable war with
MEXICO, into which the nation was plunged by
the act Of the Executive, we present a few facts
and figures, availing ourselves Of some of the
statements in an able article in the New Orleans
Commercial Bulletin, of Nov. 3Oth, in reply to
a statement similar to that in the Presidents
message, which appeared in the Union (the Gov
ernment organ) of November 10Th.
The first point to be noticed in these two gov
eminent statencnts,-made by the Union and
the Presldent--is their omission Of the fact that
the surplus in the Treasury, when the war com
mencedi was upwards Of toeice millions of dol
lars, all Of which has evaporated by the war OK
penditure. This sum was the surplus that had
accumulated in about eighteen months, from the
ordinary rerenues of the country, over the orii-
nary peace expenditures; and as the war has ex-
isted about eighteen months, it follows that an
equal additional surplus would have accumulated
up TO the present time.
These two sums, be il observed, would have
paid of the National Debt, incurred previous 10
the coming into power Of the Polk administra-
ton, and have left upwards of sir millions in the
Treasury
Secondly. This surplus in the Treasury would
have been farther increased by the excess Of
revenue produced by the receipts for duties UNI
der tho new Tariff over the amount which ac-
erued under the Tariff of 1912; and the Prcsi.
dent states the increase for the year in which
the new Tariff has been in operation at more
than eight millions of dollars.
Thirdly. Since this war commenced, the whole
10000 volunteers authorized by Congress have
been called into service, each Of whom is emit
tied to 100 acres of land, which, at the minimum
price of one dollar and quarter, is equal to
$500; as the government, however, is quibbling
US to the right Of some of the early volunteers
to this bounty land, we will throw off 10000 on
that account which will leave 10000 entitled to
1t, making the sum Of ss,000,000.
fourthly. III the war were 10 cease io-mor-
row, there would be very heavy arreainees Of
all kinds, for supplies, contracts, damages, pay
&c, &c., to settle up. We have not the record
to refer 10, but, II our memory serves us, the
odds and ends of the last war with Great Brit
ain required after the peace, about S20,0OO,009
TO S25,000,000 to square up, 10 say nothing Of
the claims brought constantly before Congress
for twenty years afterwards. We will, however
make the very moderate estimate that $4,000
coo will settle up the present arrears and unpaid
demands Of this war, to the present time
Filthy. Thirty years Of peace had filled our
arsenals to overflow, with every material of war
on which the present hostilities have made most
heavy drains. II j. impossible TO make any cor