The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-02-25

SINE Dul lhls FURNISHES 6Oou reason
why their estimates should be severely
and donbtingly scrutinized by this House.
Great allowances ought to be made for
the uncertainty that must always, from
many causes. haug over future receipts
and future war expenditures; but with all
this uncertainty. the heads ofthe Depart
ments ought to be able 10 make reason.
able approach 10 the truth. If they would
keep themselves free from difficulty, il
would be wise always TO make large de-
duciions from their calculations. npri-
vate life. if All individual in carrying on
his business habitually over r-es,imates his
means and undertakes his expenses, tire
quires no prophet to foretel that he is
doomed 10 be a bankrupt, and that too
before he is aware of it.
This is equally true Of the great un-
dertakings Of Governments. When a
great work is undertaken, the execution
Of which requires multiplied and com
plcated operations to be conducted on
large scale, often times under pressing E.
mergencies, that overrule all calculations
of economy, where losses are met with
from oil the elements and from the hand
of violence, and all is to be done by
thousand agents, who are making con-
tracts aud diSbursing money, scattered
over large space at great distance
from their principal; and most especially
if these agents. one aud all, are impress
edwilhthe idea that their principals is rich
and very able to pay, and not few are
of faithless morality, and believe he is
great goose, whose feathers lightfully be.
long to him who can pluck themi and it,
to cap The climax, he himself puts the
highest possible estimates on his means,
aud undertakes the cost. we may be sure
he will have sad time III footing the bills.
J Last year, the annual report Of the Sec
retary of the State on the finances,
which is always presented 10 Congress
when the year is nearly half expired.
: over estimated the revenue of the then
} current year near five millions, aud un-
der-eslmated the expenditures of the
wear more than four millions; making to-
: ge:her, at the end of the year, balance
} against the Treasury greater than his es-
, innate by more than nine millions; which
, Of course occasions, in part the necessity
: for the loan now asked for. The Secre-
l tary now tells us that loan of sixteen
!. millions will carry him through the year
a If the Secretary's over estimates and mn
: der.estimaies of the receipts and expen
/ ditures Of the present year are as wide
+ of the mark as | have shown those of th'
o lastto have been at the corresponding pc
Q riod of that year-say nine millions
d that sum added to the sixteen, will MAKE
o twenty-five millions as the amount of loa'
o that he ought to have asked for. Blu
l. gentlemen will perhaps say that this ha
l. put him on his guard; that he has profit
lr ed by experience. So far from it, he re
If gre,ted to say that the Secretary has est
o mated the revenues of this year at NOR
r, than eight and half millions bove III
d receipts of the last; the estimates OF tn
b. recei pts for this year being S34 900 ,OO'
I'd while the sum total of all the revenue
III ofast year was S26,346.790 81. There
10 every reason TO believe he is again fiv
Mt millions above the mark. For example
s. he estimates the customs for The thre
10 last quarters of this year al fraction VI
IS, der twenty millions, (Sl9, ,693,742 59)-
,h The returns for the first of these thre
It's quarters are now received showing II
Sc dulies for that quarter to amount only
an fraction over five and quarter mlllo
he (S5,337, ,674 s4.) The actual receiF
er- from the customs last year were So
nut 747.S64 &c. He estimates the custor
ST. this wear at S2l 900, ,O00-beIng an e
ny cess over the receipts Of last year of Sc
re en- and quarter millions.
St So much for the customs; now let
m turn to the public lands. The last thr
ny years have been years of prosperity
nat West and Southwest, where the pub
Gle lands are situated. For these three YET
les the annual aver ge income from the sa
rth of the lands has been below two and
ick half millions-(S2, ,4l9,942 66.) In
oy- annual report year ago, the Secrets
'rn- estimated the receipts of the pullc lal
10 for the then current year at S3,4OO,O
lch Hisreport of this year showsthat they
Ohc tually Welded only S2,49S,355 %, be
OF an over estimate of near million of {
TO lars; and yet. in the face of these ta
Tor he puts down the estimate of the pu'
cen lands for this year at $3,5O0,O0O.
ese let it he admitted that the income fl
'cie the public lands will equal his calct
ack tions. The question then arises. can
ms use the moneys derived from this sou
me to pay the current expenses OF the y
and ernmentl He undoubtedly can use
the proceeds of the sales of the two
y OF quarters of this year in that way; bu'
ead has no right so TO apply the proceed
win the sales made after the first OF JanI
last. In his estimates of this year
onld the next fiscal year, he has treated
de- moneys to be derived from this sourc
Iov- thoug ii they belonged to the general
ID It's enue, and were to be used forthe cur
lat expenses of the Government. Thii
orm- he conceived, was in direct Violate
reta' the act of the last session to raise a
d tor of tweniy-three millions Of dollars, "
me specifically pledged the proceeds OF
lie public lands to pay, first, the intere
lcers the loan. and the residue to be appi
pre- the purchase of the stock when the
lateS; can be bought at price not above
mates That gentleman might see on what
suS- ing this branch of the public reVeh