Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-11

rank and file of the army was 81 ,90l, and tn,
increased pay to the troops in the new territories
! S325,S54.
The expenditures of the subsistence department
have been increased about 500, 900 over those pre-
vious to the war, arising from the increase OF tht
army, and from the fact, as stated by Gen. Gibson
the commissary general of subsistence, "that since
the conclusion Of the war it has been found i'm
possible to reduce the expenditure to that of lS45
because very large portion Of the troops sta
toned in the distant regions of California, Oregon
and New Mexico
| There are other items of unavoidable increased
expenditure in the War Department, resulting from
the Mexican war, which we will, at least for the
| present, omit TO notice in detail.
The average annual increased expenditure of the
navy for the seven years subsequent to the decla-
ration of war is about 81, 100000, but the present
actual expenditure for this of national defence
does not exceed 100000 more than the amount
in l645, and in this excess is included the sum o
| 1914, 900 for the ocean mail steamers, which did
not form any portion of the naval expenditure
in this latter year. How much of the balance ol
the present excess is occasioned by the increased
naval force which it is now necessary to maintain
in the Pacific, it is impossible TO state, but proba-
bly, a very large portion of it.
The pensions granted in consequence OF the Mexi-
Which at present estimated at $3.50 900.
with probable heavy ncrease,) 1t is to be pre-
sumed the Union will hardly dispute as being one
of the items Justly chargeable to that war.
For running the boundary line between the new
Territories and Mexico, lighthouses, dry-docks,
&c. in California, Indians in the new Terrific
ries and Territorial Governments, there is a fur
ther annual expenditure of nearly or quite one mil
lion of dollars.
Such are some of the increased and unavoidable
a,lnuaei expenditures entaied upon the Treasury by
the late war with Mexico, and the acquisition of
territory consequent upon the treaty Of peace. If
we admit in its full force the argument that the ma
ton cannot increase her territories without incur
ring an increased outlay, and that these new Terri
tories will make abundant returns for their cost, it
in no way affects the merits of the question under
discussion, involving the charge Of reckless and
necessary extravaganza against the Wing Admins
traton, because the present expenditures are SO
much greater than they were in lS45.
But in addition to these "war items" there are
other sums which, under different acts of Congress,
swell the amount Of the present budget which did
not figure in the national expenditure in lS45.
Among them are the expenses for collecting the
revenue, paying fishing bounties, drawbacks,
duties returned, expenses of land sales, &c.,
amounting, agreeably to Mr.. Corwin's report, to
S3,654,975O4; all which, previous to ls49, were
hrSt deducted from the revenue but the gross
amount OF the latter is now agleeably to act Of
Congress, paid into the Treasury, and these items
form portion of the annual expenditure. The
ocean mail steamers are an additional expense of
nearly 100000, created since ls45. The build
ing of the Patent Office, and ten or twelve new
custom-houses and marine hospitals (mos Of the
latter on the western waters,) and all authorized
since l645, involves further additional annual out
lay of from 5000 to $sO0O0O. Other items, OF au-
thorized additional expenditures, could be mentioned,
but it is unnecessary to do so. 1t will be borne in
mind that all the laws respecting the collection Of
the revenue, the ocean steamers, Patent Office, new
custom-houses, hospitals, dc., were passed by
Democratic Congress and Administration, which
fact is alluded to, not with view of casting any
censure therefor, Qor these laws were necessary
and advisable0 but merely for the purpose of
placing in stronger light the garng inconsistency
of advancing charge Of extravaganza against the
Wings because they make the necessary expend-
lures authorized and directed by their Democratic
predecessors.
Let us now, Messrs. Editors, put together the
items to which we have alluded of unavoidable ad-
ditiona expenditures, which have been rendered
necessary by events subsequent TO ls45, or by
special acts Of Congress under the late Democratic
Administration
Interest on war debt. 2,969, i5s ~
- m ,un m