The Nevada journal., 1852-02-19
From the Alta Of the 18Th.
THE STATE WAR DEBT.

Iy been made, and we find it impossi-
ole to let the matter pass without call
ing particular attention to it, inasmuch
as the important consideration of main
tanning the credit of the State is init
mately connected with the subject.
1t will be recollected that the spe-
cial message which Gov. Bigler trans
mitted to the Legislature some two
weeks since was principally devoted to
an exhibit of the State debt, accompa-
MED with recommendations as to the
true course for the state to pursue in
its financial difficulties, That message
stated the civil debt at $796,963.95,
and the war debt at $1,445,375.79 /;
the total Of the two amounting to $2,-
242, 2,330.74. The effect of this state
ment upon the various securities of the
state was very disastrous to those
whose necessities forced them to con-
vert their evidences of debt into cash,
and many complained Of the Cover
nor for having unnecessarily made
this exposition of the states pecuniary
condition. Most people, however,
were glad to know exactly how the
state was situated; and, though sur
prised and annoyed at finding the state
so largely in debt, they did not for a
moment doubt the correctness of the
the figures and the estimates present
ed. What most astonished the com-
munity was the enormous amount of
the war debt. That debt was divided
into two parts by the Governors mes
sage, and was stated as ascertained and
unascertained. The amount ascer-
tanned and known to be due, for which
war bonds and comptroller's warrants
had been issued, was set down at
45,375.79; that which was unascer-
tanned was estimated at ST., 100000 in
round numbers F; making total of ST.
445,375.79.
But it now appears that most i'm
portant error has been discovered in
the calculations of the present Cover
nor and Comptroller. Ex- Governor
McDougal, who would have been held
responsible for the estimated expendi-
ture of a million of dollars in Indian
expeditions during his brief admins
tration, was unwilling to rest easily
under such an imputation, especially
as he was sure that the amount of in
debtedness WAS largely overcalculated.
Accordingly, special committee was
appointed by the Senate to confer with
the paymasters of the several corps
engaged in the operations against the
Indians, and to bring in report in ac-
cordance with the facts This COM
mittee have not yet reported, but it is
understood on very good authority,
that the statement which they will
present will show the whole war debt
of the state (ascertained and unascer-
tained) to be not far from the follow
ing:
Cost of Morehead exped'n, $4,000
Cost Of Beans exped'n, 1st $4,000
Cost of do. do I'd 10000
Cost of Mariposa exped'n, 100000
Cost of FL Dorado do 100000
Total war debt, 100000
This is a most astonishing and ma
terial difference 1t seems hardly
credible that a debt which figured in
Governor Bigler's special message in
the imposing and somewhat alarming
figures of l,445,375 dollars 79 cents,
should dwindle down, before the first
breath Of investigation, to $4,000 dol
lars 1t is almost too good to be true;
and one can hardly realize the fact
that some 100000 of the state debt
has been cancelled by single dash of
the zen.
If these statements can be relied
upon--and it is generally conceded
that the war debt has been over>esti-
mated by Gov. Bigler some seven hum
dred thousand dollars rs-the total debt
of the state is materially lessened. In
place of 2,242,339 dollars IA, as be-
fore stated, we have it reduced to L.
562, 1868 dollars 95, This will certain
ly be gratifying information to tax
payers, and to all that feel that the
credit of the state should be maintain
ed at every sacrifice.
OF course, all kinds, of insinuations
are uttered against the Comptroller
and the Governor. They are charged
with having stated the debt of the
state in such large figures for the pur'
pose of depreciating the state credit,
that thereby some favorites of theirs
might make money in the purchase Of
securities at low rat s We cannot
place the slightest reliance upon any
inuendoes OF that character. The
L 1 III ~