The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-30
PRESS
WASHINGTON CITY.
The Expenditures.
> MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1850

We published on Monday last statement OF
the appropriations by Congress at the last SEES
sion-amounting to about forty-two millions
and half. We have been looking over the up.
preparation bills to see in what manner this enor.
nous sum was distributed or divided between
that such an inquiry is factious, and perhaps
rather reasonable. For even if it should ap-
pear that the North gets the money, it is well
known that it is voted away for national objects,
and that the North Is much the most national
section of the two. We thought, however, that
as the Presidential election was soon to come
on, it would be well, for the sake of the large
assortment of candidates now on hand, and their
friends, to have an eye to this part of the ma
tional policy, so that they could vote under
standingy and skifully.
Of the total sum expended, about eleven mil
lions is local-or devoted to various national
purposes in the several States or for the use
Of the several States and territories. OF this
sum the South gets about three miions-the
North the balance. These appropriations are
for docks, harbors, new lighthouses, custom
houses, hospitals, magazines forts, surveys,
mints, roads, salaries, &c, and include the
annual instalment, with interest," due under
the treaty with Mexico, which we place to the
account of the North, as she gets all the terri
tory, and more too.
For the support of the army the appropriation
is Ss,496,5Go. The army is recruited chiefly
from the Northern cities, and it is remarkable
that only one-fourth Of those who apply to en-
list are accepted, the others being rejected for
infirmity of constitution, and other disabilities.
The provisions and clothing are produced and
fabricated chiefly at the North And as the
principal service Of the army now, is the protec-
ton of the frontier from Indians, and the great
portion of the frontier and territories now be-
long TO the North, it is safe to assume that four
fifths Of the military expenditure belongs to the
North.
The navy appropriation is $9,535,602. We
have six navy yards for the construction Of pub-
lie vessels-located at Norfolk, Washington,
Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Kttery--
two-thrds Of them at the North The iron and
cordage are manufactured chiefly there-a por.
ton of the timber, hemp, tar, and rosin, being
produced 1t the South. The seamen are err
listed at the North. We may, therefore, put
down about four-fifths Of the naval expenditures
to that section.
The Indian appropriations amount to $685.
92i, which, as the North has now nearly all the
new territories, may be charged to her.
Here are three items-the war, navy and In
dian appropriations amounting TO more than
tw enty millions of dollars, which added to the
local expenditures make about thirty one mil
lions-of which about twenty four millions are
chargeable to the North.
The expenditures are made chiefly on the
frontiers, and one Of the consequences OF giving
up the new territories to the North, is the relin.
punishment to her of the expenditures. The ap.
preparations at the last session Of Congress for
California alone amount to more than seven
hundred thousand dollars.
The expenditure now is about fifty millions
annually. Of this the South will get about ten
millions--one fifth. Her white population is
about one third Of all the Union,--her property
about one half Her proportion Of the expendi-
ture ought to be, the basis Of population and
property, about twenty one millions A perma-
nent expenditure Of fifty millions is equivalent
to the appropriation Of a thousand millions Of
private property to the use Of the Federal Gov
eminent, since fifty millions Is equal, and more