Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-12-11

and fidelity the high trust reposed in il by the con-
stitnton, especially in the application of the pub
lie funds, as drawn by taxatOn from the people,
and appropriated to SPECIFIC objects by Congress.
Happily have no occasion TO suggest any radical
changes in the financial policy OF The government.
Ours is almost, if not absolutely, the solitary pow
er of Chistendom having surplus revenue,
drawn Immediately from imposts on commerce,
and therefore measured by the spontaneous enter
prise and national prosperity of the country, with
such indirect relation 10 agriculture, manufactures,
and the products of the earth and sea, as to vio-
late no constitutional doctrine, and yet vigorously
promote the general welfare. Neither as to the
sources of the public treasure nor as to the man
ner of keeping and managing it, does any grave
controversy now prevail, there being general &C
quiesence in the wisdom of the present system.
The report of the Secretary of the Ire asury will
exhibit in detail, the state Of the public finances,
and the condition OF the various branches of the
public service administered by that department oil
the government.
The revenue of the country, levied almost insen-
sbly to the taxpayer, goes on from year to year
increasing beyond either the interests the pros
pective wants of the government.
At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30,
1852 there remained in the treasury q balance of
fourteen million six bundled and thirty-twO thou
sand one hundred and thirty-six dollars The pub
lie revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30. 1858,
amounted to ffty-eight million nine hundred and
thirty-one thousand eight hundred and sixty-6ve
dollars from customs, and to two million four hun
dred and FIVE thousand seven hundred and eight
dollars from public lands and other miscellaneous
sources amounting together to sixty-one million
three hundred and thirty-seyen thousand five hun
dred and seventy-four dollars; while the public
expenditures for the same period exclusive OF
payments on account Of the public debt amounted
to forty-three million five hundred and fifty-fOur
thousand two hundred and sixty-two dollars; leav-
ing balance Of thirty-two million four hundred
and twenty-five thousand four hundred and forty
seven dollars of receipts above expenditures
This fact Of increasing surplus in thu Treasury,
became the subject of anxious consideration at a
very early period of my administration, and the
path of duty in regard to it seemed to me obvious
and clear, namely: first to apply the surplus rev.
enue to the discharge of the public debt, SO far as
it could udciously be done; and, secondly, to de-
wise means for the gradual reduction of the revenue
to the standard of the public exigencies.
OF these Objects the first has been in the course
of accomplishment, in manner and to degree
highly satisfactory. The amount of the public
debt of all classes was, On the 4th of March, 1853,
sixty-nine million hundred and ninety-thousand
and thirty-seven dollars; payments on account of
which have been made since that period, to the
amount of twelve million seven hundred and three
thousand three hundred ard twenty-nine dollars,
leaving unpaid, and in the continuOsu course of
liquidation, the sum Of ffty-six million four hun
dred and eighty-six thousand seven hundred and
eight dollars. These payments, although made at
the market price OF the respective classes of stocks
have been effected readily, and to the general adj
vantage of the treasury, and have at the same time
proved of signal utility in the relief they have in
cidentally afforded to the money market and to the
industrial and commercial pursuits of the country.
The second of the aforementioned objects, that
of the reduction of the tariff is of great Importance,
and the plan suggested by the Secretary of the
Treasury, which is to reduce the duties certain
articles and add to the free list many articles
now taxed, and especially such as enter into manu-
features, and are not largely, or at ALL produced in
the country, is commended to your candid and care
full consideration
You will find in the report of the Secretary Of
the Treasury, also abundant proof of the entire ad-
eqxacy OF the present fiscal system to meet all the
requirements of the public service, and that While
properly administered it operates to the advantage
of the community in ordinary business relations.
l respectfully ask your attention to sundry sug
gestons Of improvements in the settlement Of ac-
counts especially as regards the large of out
standing arrears due to the government and of 9th
er reforms in the administrative action of his de-
partment, which are indicated BY the Secretary;
also to the progress made in the construction of
marine hospitals, custom-hOuseS, and of new mint
in California and assay Office in the city of New
York heretofore provided for by Congress; and
also to the eminently successful progress of the
Coast Survey, and of the Lighthouse Board.
Among the objects meriting your attention will
be important recommendations from the Secretaries
of War and Navy. ] am July satisfied that the
navy of the United States is not in condition of
strength and efficiency commensurate with the
magnitude of our commercial and other interests;
and commend to your especial attention the sug-
lNr-f of
the Navy. i respectfully submit that the army
which, under our system, must always be regarded
with the highest interest, a nucleus around
which the volunteer forces of the nation gather in
the hour of danger, requires augmentation, or
modification, to adapt it to the present extended
limits and frontier relations of the country and the
condition of the Indian tribes in the interior of the
continent the necessity of which will appear in the
communications of the Secretaries of War and the
Interior.
In the administration of the Post Office Depart
ment for the fiscal year ending June 80 1883, the
gross expenditure was seven million nine hundred
and eighty-twO thousand seven hundred and fifty
six dollars; and the gross receipts, during the
period, five million nine hundred and fOTty-tw0
thousand seven hundred and thirty-fOur dollars
showing that the current revenue failed to meet
the current expenses of the department by the sum
of two million forty-two thousand and thirty-two
dollars. The causes which, under the present postal
system and laws led inevitably to this result, are
fully explained by the report of the Postmaster
General; one great cause being the enormous rates
the department has been compelled to pay for mail
service rendered by railroad companies.
The exhibit in the report of the Postmaster
General of the income and expenditures by mail
steamers will be found peculiarly interesting and
Of the character TO demand the immediate action
of Congress.
Numerous and fragrant frauds upon the Pension
Bureau have been brought to light within the last
year, and, in some instances, merited punishments
inflicted, but, unfortunately, in others, guilty par
ties have escaped, not through the want of suffi-
cient evidence to warrant conviction, but in con-
sequence of the provisions of limitation in the ex-
isting laws.
From the nature of these claims the remOteness
of the tribunals to pass upon them, and the mode
in which the proofs. of necessity, furnished, temp
tations to crime have been greatly stimulated by
the obvious difficulties of detection. The defects
in the law upon this subject are so apparent, and
so fatal to the ends of justice, that your early &C
ton relating to it is most desirable.
During the last fiscal year, nine million eight
hundred and nineteen thousand four hundred and
eleven acres of the public lands have been survey
ed, and ten million three hundred and sxty-three
thousand eight hundred and ninety-one acres bro't
into market. Within the same period, the sales by
public purchase and private entry amounted to one
million eighty-three thousand four hundred and
ninety-fye acres: located under military bounty