Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-12-09

DAILY RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
r05l's1BSqP k RAtfH sSs fFYSHrhA''
FRIDAY MORNING. DECEMBER ., 1853
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF TIE TREASu
The very able aud interesting report Of tho Secretary
the Treasury, transmitted to this office yesterday
but the unusual! pressure on our columns excludes
our Issue of ths morning. We will submit. to our feaoei
Ut the earliest possible moment
Meanwhile may be we'll 10 put the 'eader IN
of tho important facts and suggestions Oh W.
report and to indicate the nature oil the hsca pocy "e
Secretary Guthrie developers
h,o s.ce,,,o T., their estimate OF The revenue iron
tmpost invariably fall Of the actual receipts Mr. Cor
win estimated the receipts from customs tor the hsca yea
ending June 80 1853 $40 900 co. whereas the actual re
turns exhibited from impos alone OF S569s eba
b. The of the for the fiscal year
ending 33h June 1853 including balance on hand Is
July 1852 Of sl463a36 g. amounted TO ITO IL
For the same period the expenditures Including puymen
on account of public debt, s5sO26slS 2l-eaving
balance 10 the treasury July 1883 of S2 s42, So. S.
The actual receipts from all for the frat quarter
tho fiscal year ending 3Oh juno, 1854 $2 92
which, with The balance 10 the treasury made total sun
34329927l 49, The actual expenditures for the same quar-
ter were but 1893 70leaving balance In tho ea'
sury September 3Oh 1883, of s25.27es7 rs. Mr. Guth
rio estimates the receipts for the entire fiscal year. erm
mating 3Oh June, 1854 at S66.5l7,sS7 10; and the
expenditures for the period at S57,25l.2s3 ID
leaving an estimated balance in the Treasury on ls JULY
1854 of 604 g. He estimates the receipts for the
fiscal year. ending June 30 1885, with balance hand, ut
604 g. The estimated expenditures for the same
period ISL o6O277 l2-eavns estimated balance In
The Treasury, July !, 1855. of $l6,206,a27 80.
The public debt LIST July 1852. was sI!4Ol ,ps' .i
since which date up Sd December 1853 It has been
reduced TO tho of s56 s36l57 52s332l5O being re-
deemed between s, Ja!y 1882 and the 4h OF March,
1853 and S 7s IS from 4h March, 1852 TO 81 Decent
ber of the year. Ii thus appears that the present Ad
nisraon progressed rather rapidly than its Wing
predecessor 10 the redemption of the public deb In this
coupexion ar Guthrie reprehends The practice of Mr. Cor.
win In transferring uuds from the Treasury the hands OF
agents for the purpose Of buying public stock And no!
without eason for Corwn made II the means Of accommo
dating vori,es the hazard of the Treasury. Mr Guthrie
also objects the mode adopted by hs predecessor for the
transfer Of funds from place Of deposit 10 another
ground of favorsm and danger of oss Indeed
he spprshsads that the of 100000 has already BEEN
smbezzsd In thia manner-Which MIR. Corwin had
trusted agent, oiou taxing any security This is an
sIpol, Of Wing genius for finance and evidence Of Whs
regard for the security Of the public funds Mr. Guthrie
gives the opinion that the Department should require the
public money 10 be always In the Treasury in The
custody of the Assistant Treasures and repositories de-
sQnated by law aad that all powers vested in the Depart
10 the relation 10 the collection safe keeping transfer
and disbursement Of the public money should be entrusted
and received by s officers This is sound principle is H.
able abuse and will protect tho Treasury from the
plumber of favores. When Mr. Guthrie into Office,
he found tina. Secretary Cown had advanced agents po
lcal favortes s243 900 for the purchase of the public
debt and 81 600 TOR transfer different localities
Secretary Guthrie explains length the policy Of Ad
mnistraon 10 regard TO the purchase OF the public debt
shows its effects In relieving The pressure in the money
ket and concludes thar he result has been satisfactory
at 10 considered says he, shat the present prosperous
dillon of the Treasury growing of the great prosperity
Of all the industrial pursuits of The country affords op.
portuny apply the surplus 10 the discharge Of the public
dsb and that should not be left 10 emharass opera
,ion of the government In any future contingency which
may require all s energies and resources" The country
will applaud this sentiment.
Mr. Guthrie also explains the basis of his estimate of u
.ure receipts and expenditures aud satisfactorily accounts
for fluctuations both In The aud expenses of the 60
yerumsnt.
The Imports OF the 6scakye 1853 were 1857 97S Sat- and
,hs exports a2304b2250 This disparity Is apparent
not real Mr. Guthrie correctly says that "a fair estimate for
proa.s on exports and the eghts of vessels would
caai the balance OF this In favor without es
mating the money brought 10 by emerans OF which no
account 10 TAKEN
Mr.. Guthrie suggests mportan, modification Of the
Thrift He proposes addition the list Of articles free of
duty which will deduc, % 600 from the receipts from
oms-s very concession 10 The principle Of free
trade and considerable advance In the direction indicated
BY Mr. Walker In his famous report The particular articles
proposed TO be exempted from impost enumerated In
liable which docs accompany the report Mr.. Guthrie
recommends reduction Of duty other articles which
will further diminish the revenue about Si60u0O This
s leaves the computed the Imports of 1853
about as 900 from customs-a amply sufficient for
ihe exRences Of the Government In this connexlon the
Secretary propounds the following just and phosophc
principle: "when Is needed articles Of general
for manufacturing other purposes the growth
production Of the United States but partially 80 should
not DO axed and higher should be levied on other
imporatons than may DO necessary for tho economical
Of the Government, thus leaving commerce free
and unrestricted possible" proposed change
lbs principle Of at palorem dues but the Secretary sug
gsss for the consideration Of Congress- whether
cc duty iron, made from The average Of the last three
or four years dd paorem duties, would not be the
advantage of producer aud consumer well Of
he Salt no proposes to exempt from duty The
table OF tonnage accompanying the report shows that
tonnage 40 00 TONS and exceeds that Of any pre-
cedng year by 1853 900 table exhibiting The opera.
lions Of the mint accompanies the report ani shows
The entire coinage the 3s, OCTOBER las, to have been
1872 So the gold coinage from tho Isl January
she 3st October Of the year 1853 10 haya 945
and tn. silver coinage Sc aad proves
growing demand for gold aud silver currency for actual
ps whilst the imports Of gold aad silver prove that, within
four years the large amount of sl35 49, has been
added TO the gold and silver coin remaining In the country
The Secretary ad III may reasonably be- expected If !he
supply should continue for few years. tina, this country
Will DO able to dispense with banks OF ISSUE and their
Dan, evs the gold ana svet con,empa
ted by the constitution"
The Report exhibits the operations OF the coaet and
revenue service; the unparalleled and gratifying
fact that The work in the various offices of Is
longer 10 srrea recommends rule orbddng the exam
nation OF claims agans, the government, certain cond
sons calls for additional appropriation complete
rious Custom Houses constructing shows the
prompt and satisfactory settlement, of the accounts
of f.olecfnra of Cuaoms exhhlts The condition of