The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-03-23

= peculiar condition of the country, the rever
ue from the customs is to rise to thrty-tw
millions for the ensuing year. The preser
state of the country renders it impossible
and as to any change, have not seen tn
E Slightest prospect of 1t. Well, sir take tn
. Sccretary's estimates, and l must deduc
eight millions from his estimated receipt
from customs for the year ending June, 1915
| then take the estimates Of the receipts tror
public lands for the coming year, which h
has given to us as three millions, and / asl
upon what basis does this estimate rest? d.
we not all know that we have granted lane
bountes to our soldiers to the extent of a
least seventy thousand, which will cove
twelve millions of acres of your public lands
Your average sales arc but two and a hal
millions annually, and you have actually
thrown into the market in bounties to your
soldiers enough to cover at this average al
amount of sales for five years. Now, under
these circumstances, when land warrants arc
thrown abroad over the country sufficient 10
cover five years sales, we are presented with
grave calculation of an increase of million
Of dollars from this source. Time may posi-
bly, bring this about. The Secretary Of the
Treasury may be able to see further than the
rest of us but, whether it may be brought
about or not, in my humble judgment such an
estimate is not to be considered by US on this
occasion as satisfactory basis for our action.
| must add, then, to the Secretary's esti-
mate of the deficiency the sum of seventeen
millions of dollars-being an over estimate
by him-for these deductions from the est-
mates of receipts into the public Treasury
large sum, admit; but if gentlemen will
give little attention to the subject, | think
they will come to the conclusion at which
have arrived.
Sir, there is another branch Of the subject
which | desire to notice, and it is this The
expenditures of the current year are esi-
mated at fifty-six millions of dollars, eXclu-
slve Of payments on account Of the public
debt; but, as | have already remarked, the
Secretary informed us at the commencement
of the session, that an additional appropria-
ton of ten millions was necessary to cover
the expenses for the year. A question then
arises whether these ten millions are included
in the filty-six millions. 1t has cost me much
trouble to ascertain it, but it is not. OF
course this additional expenditure must be
added to the Secrctarys estimate of the de-
fcicncy. But, sir, let us look little further
into this.
The whole estimated expenditure for the
current year, as given in the annual reportof
the Secretary at the last session of Congress,
December, 1850 was forty-fve millions Of
dollars. The actual expenditure for the same
year, as now ascertained by him, (sec his
annual report to this Congress0 is fifty eight
millions and fraction. Here we have a
difference in the two estimates for the pres
ent year-one made at the commencement
and the other at this time-of thirteen mill
ions of dollars.
Sir, the appropriations made at the last
session of Congress for the service of the
current year lending June 80, 1S4S) ex-
reeded by the sum of nearly nine millions the
Secretary's estimates as submitted to Con-
gress at that session; and yet the Secretary
now asks an appropriation Of over ten mill
ions to cover deficiencies. 1t is proper for
me to add that, as near as | am able to as
certain the actual expenditure of the year,
seven millions only should be added to this
estimate. This will carry that expenditure
up to more than sixty-fve millions.
The sum of seven millions, it will be per-
,eived, is added to his estimate upon his own
authority; that is to say, his estimate of ar
of the present session, and his de-
nand for further appropriations.
The next particular in my table of correc-
ions of the Secretary's estimate is the item
If seven millions for under estimate of the
for the coming fiscal year, from
July /, 1913, to June So 1919.
These expenditures are estimated by the |
Secretary at the sum Of $55 ,644,9 4t. In
What light are we to regard these estimates
Sir, all experience shows that these estimates
ire too low. Year after year Congress is
allied upon to supply deficiencies. This is
lot to be wondered at. 1t implies no cen
ure of the officers charged with the duty Of
read of the Treasury Department should
ndeavor to put the best aspect upon the f.
ancal affairs Of the country, and heads OF
ureaus and other suborlinates will reduce
heir estimates ofexpcnditures as low as pos
ible. Judging, then, from all past expert.
nee, we must regard these estimates as fall
10 short of the actual expenditure. But
here arc special reasons for anticipating an
xcess of expenditure for the coming year
yer and above the present estimates. Let
lie advert to the report Of the Quartermaster I
ieneral 1t will be borne in mind that this
ficer asks an appropriation Of five millions
cover deficiency in the appropriations for S
lie current year. What does he say Of his t
;timates for the next? In his letter to the a
ecretary of War of November Is, 1S47, he v
VS.: y
:" The estimates which I submitted on the t
h instant for the service of the next fiscal e
,ar were made out from data derived from !
e experience Of the lastyear. At your sug- IL
stion / have carefully re-examined every o
IN, and in all depending in any degree a
ION my own action, or that Of the officer Of &c
G department, hare made considerable de- tt
,ctions Whether these deductions be ju g
cious time must determine. / couM not 1
ne ventured to make them bit for the fact al
1t tho sessions Of Congress wW haze te,min eS
I'd before the expiration Of The fiscal gear for
,ich Tie estimates were submitted hare been cl
lde." re
Sir, this is significant language. In plain 10