The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-12-13


Of November, 1854, the sum of twenty
two million three hundred and sixty five
thousand one hundred and seventy-two
dollars; leaving balance Of outstanding
public deb; Of Oil = sos::y four million nine
hundred anu seventy-tive thousand four
hundred anu fifty six dollars, redeemable
at different periods within fourteen years.
There are also remnants of other Cover +
ment stocks, most of which are already
due, on which the interest has ceased, but
which have not yet been presented for
payunet, amounting TO two hun 1red and
thiry-three thousand one hundred and
scventy-nine dollars. This statement ex-
hibits the fact, that the annual income of
the government greatly exceeds the
amount of its public debt, which latter
remains unpaid, only because the time Of
payment has not yet matured, and it cam
not he discharged at once, except at the
option Of public creditors, who prefer to
retain the securities Of the United States;
aud the other fact not less striking, that
the annual revenue from all sources ex.
ceeds, by many millions Of dollars, the
amount needed for predent and economi-
cal administration of the Government.
The estimates presented to Congress
from the ditft rent Executive Departments,
nj the last session, amounted to thirty eight
million four hundred and six thousand five
hundred and eighiy-one dollars and the
appropriations made, to the sum Of fifty-
eight millions one hundred and sixteen thon-
sand nine hundred and fifty-eight dollars
VI this excess of appropriations over esti.
mates, however. more than twenty millions
was applicable 10 extraordinary objects, hav-
ing no reference to the usual annual eXpen-
ditures. Among these objects was embra-
ced ten millions to meet the third article Of
the treaty between the United States and
Mexico 80 that, in fact, for objects Of or
binary expenditure, the appropriations were
limited tn considerably less than forty mil
lions OF dollars. | therefore, renew my re-
commendation for reduction Of the duties
on imports. The report of the Secretary
OF the Treasury presents n series of tables,
showing the operation of the revenue sys.
tenn tor several successive years, and us the
general principle of reduction of duties with
aview TO revenue and not protection may
now be regarded as the settled policy of the
conntry, trust ihat little difficulty will be
encountered in scttliRg the "details of u
measure to that effect
In connection with this subject, | recon-
mend change in the laws, which recent ex-
perience has shown to be essential to the
protection of the government. There Is no
Express provision of law, requiring the re-
cords and papers of n public character Of
the several officers Of the government, to
be left in their offices Tor the use of their
successors, no. any provision declaring il
felony ON theirs part ta. .seaGe. &tlsp fifrrie
absence of such express provision by law,
me outgoing officers, in many instances,
have claimed and exercised the right To take
into their own possession, important books
and papers, on the ground that these were
their private property; and have placed
them beyond the reach Of the government
Conduct of this character, brought in seve-
raj instances to the notice of the present
Secretary If the Treasury, naturally awak-
ened his suspicion, and resulted in the dis
closure that at four ports, namely, Oswcgo,
Toledo, Sandusky and Milwaukee, the trca-
sury had, by false entries, been defrauded.
within the four yeafs next preceding March,
1853, of ,he sun of one hundred and nine
ty-eighty thousand dollars The great diff.
ficulty with which the detection of these
frauds has boon attended. in consequence
OF the abstraction Of books and papers by
the retiring officers, and the facility with
which similar frauds in the pubic service
may be Perpetrated, render the necessity Of
new legal eDactmcnts, in The respects above
referred to, quite obvious. For other mate
rial notifications of the revenue laws,
which seem to me desirable, refer Won to
the report Of the Secretary OF the Treasury.
That report, and the tables which accom-
Pany il, furnish ample proofs Of the solid
foundition on which the financial security
OF the country rests, and Of the salutnry
influence OF che independent treasury sys-
tenn upon conmefee and all monetary opera.
tions
The experience of the last year furnishes
additional rcasons.I regret to say, Of pain
fni character, for the Recommendation here
tofore made, to provide for increasing the
military force employed in The territory in
habited by the Indians. The settlers on
the frontier have suffered much from the
incursions of predatory bands, and large
parties OF eIaigrants TO our Pacific possess
( sions, have beer massacred with impunity.
Tho recurrence of such scenes can only be
prevented. by teaching these wild tribes the
power OF, and their responsibility to the
United States. From tho glrrisons of our
frontier posts, il is only possible to detach
troops in small bodies and though these
have on all occasiont, displayed gallantry
and a.stern devotion to duty, which on a
larger field would have commanded uLiver-
sal ad'niration, they have usually suffered
severely In these conflicts with superior
Numbers, AMI have sometimes been entirely
sacrifced. All the disposable force of the
Army j. already employed on this service,
dad iskaewn 20 be wholly inadequate TO the
protsction whish should be afforded. The
public mind Of the country has been re-
Gently shocked by savage atrocities commit
ted rpoh defenceless emigrants and border
seislements, and hardly less by the unneees-
safy destruction of valuable lives, where
ieadeqnate detaehments Of troops have un-
dcrtaken TO furnish the needed aid. With
!. out increase OF the military force, these
scenes will be repeated 1t is TO be feared,
on o larger scale, and With more disastrous
consequences. Congress, . am sure, will
perceive, that Tie pIai.Iest dutles and re-
spcnsibilities Of Governments are involved
IN this question, and l doubt u)t that
prompt seton may be confidently anticipa-
Ted when delay must be attended BY such
fearful hazurd-.
The bin Of The last session.. Tor an In
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