The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-07-22

peace. A few additional officers in the
line and staff of the army have been
authorized; and these, it is believed,
will be necessary in the peace estab-
ishment, and should be retained in the
service. The number of general Off
GERS may be reduced, as vacancies oc-
cur by the casualties Of the service, to
what it was before the war.
While the people Of other countries.
who live under forms Of government
less free than our own, have been for
ages oppressed by taxation to support
large standing armies in periods Of
peace, our experience has shown that
such establishments are unnecessary in
a republic. Our standing army is to
be found in the bosom of society. Ii is
composed of free citizens, who are ev-
er ready to take up arms in the service
OF their country, when an emergency
requires it. Our experience in the war
Just closed fully confirms the opinion,
that such an army may be raised upon
few weeks notice, and that our soldiers
are equal to any troops in the world.
No reason, therelore,i is perceived why
we should enlarge our land forces, and
thereby subject the treasury to an an
nuai increased charge.
| Sound policy requires that we should
avoid the creation Of large standing
army in a period Of peace. No public
exigency requires it. Such armies are
not only expensive and unnecessary,
} but may become dangerous to liberty.
Besides making the necessary legis-
} lative provisions for the execution Of
J the treaty, and the establishment OF
} territorial governments in the ceded
country, we have, upon the restoration
: Of peace, other important duties to per-
form. Among these, regard none as
more important than the adoption of
proper measures for the extinguishment
r Of the national debt. 1t is against sound
/. policy and the genius Of our institu-
, lions, that a public debt should be per-
F.. mitted to exist a day longer than the
means Of the treasury will enable the
0 government to pay it off.
ID We should adhere to the wise policy
j, laid down by President Washington, OF
!. ''avoiding the accumulation of debt, not
J. only by stunning occasions Of expense,
S but by vigorous exertions in time Of
j. peace to discharge the Gebts which
o unavoidable wars have eccasoned, not
y ungenerously throwing upon posterity
d the burden we ourselves ought to bear.
l. At The commencement Of the pres.
;. ent administration, the public debt a
e mounted to $l7,788,799 GO. In con
d sequence of the war with Mexico, il
n has necessarily increased, and now a
/. mounts to S66,77S,45o Al, including
). the stock and treasury notes which
d NAV vet be issued under the act o.
y January %, l847, and the sixteen mill
!, ion loan recently negotiated under the
IS act Of March 81, l848.
Is In addition to the amount of the debt
o the treaty stipulates that twelve mill
t. ions of dollars shall be paid to Mexico
film four equal annual instalments o
e three millions each; the first OF which
a will fall due on the 3O,h of May, 184e
i. The treaty also stipulates that the Uni
If ted States shall "assume and pay" t.
}. our own citizens, "lhe claims alread
r iquidated and decided against the Mex
:. can Republic" and all claims not here
D, tofore decided 'against the Mexican
l. government,"to an amount not exceed
'e ing thres and one quarter millions o
$, dollars" The s'liquidated claims Of cit
,r izens of the United States against Mex
IS leo, as decided by the joint board Q
commissioners under the convention
y between the United States and Mex
5, CO, of the nth April, 1889, amounte
Ie 10 So, ,O2S,l3 68. This sum was pay
j. able in twenty equal annual insta
in ments. Three Of them have been pal
ir by the Mexican government, and tw
by the United States; leaving to b
le paid OF the principal of the liquidate
lr amount assumed by the United State:
e, the sum of $1,5l9,6o4 76, toge,he
$, with the interest thereon. These Sc,
IL eral amounts of ''liquidated'' and uni
Of quidated claims assumed by the Unite
le States, it is believed may be paid a
" they fall due out of the accruing revt
at nue.; without the issue Of stock or tn
n. creation Of any additional public debt
,e cannot loo strongly recommend t
ID Congress the importance OF husbandin
or all our national resoul ces, of limtin
ne the public expenditures to necessar
ne objects, and of applying all the surplu
W at any time in the treasury to the re
rd demption of the debt. | recommen
TO that authority be vested in the Exect
$. tive by law to anticipate the period 6