The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-05
THE DAILY UNION

deny any OF these chargesi they offered explanation
nothing in extenuaton of their conduct; but contuma
eousy refused hold any intercourse with the commander
of the "Cyane BY their obstinate silence they seemed
rather DESTROYS TO provoke chasemen than escape it,
There ample 20 believe that this conduct of
defiance on their part mpuabe chiefly the deusye
idea that the American would be deferred from
Furnishing them, through fear of dspleasing formidable
foreign power which, they presumed 60 think looked with
complacency upon their aggressive aud insulting depor
ment towards the United States The Cyane at length
fired upon the Before much injury had been done
the fire twice suspended in order to afford opportunity
for arrangement; but this declined Most of the
buildings of the place, of little value generally, wee in the
sequel destroyed; but owing TO the considerate precau
tons taken by naval commander there destruc
ton of life.
When the Cyane was ordered to Central America it
confidently hoped and expected that occasion would
arise for violence and destruction of property
and loss of lfe Instructions that effect given
her commander. And extreme would have been
requisite had not the people themselves by their extraord
nary conduct in the affair frustrated all the possible mild
measures Tor obtaining satisfaction withdrawal from
the place. the object of his visit entirely defeated would
under the circumstances in which the commander of the
Cyane found himself have been absolute abandonment of
all claim of citizens for ndemniGcaton and submissive
acquiescence in national indignity lt would have en-
couraged in these lawless spirit of ins0ence and
rapne most dangerous to the lives and property of
citizens at Punta Arenas and probably emboldened them
to grasp at the and valuable merchandise
unuay passing over the Nicaragua route Ii certainly
would have been satisfactory if the objects of
the "Cyane's" mission could have been consummated
without any act of public force; but the arrogant conu
macy of the offenders rendered il impossible avoid the
alternative, either TO break up their establishment, to
leave them impressed with the idea that they might perse
we're with IMMUNITY in of nsolence and plumber
This transaction has been the subject of complaint the
part of foreign powers, and has been characterized
with OF harshness than OF justice III comparisons
be instituted it would be difficult present
repeated instances the history of States standing in the
very front of modern civilization where communities far
less offending and deenceless than Greytown, have
been chastsed with much greater severity and where not
cities only have been laid in ruins but human life has been
recklessy sacrificed, and the blood Of the innocent made
profusely to mingle with that of the guilty.
Passing from foreign TO domestic affairs your attention
is naturally directed to the financial condition of the
country, always subject of general interest. For
pete and exact information regarding the finances and the
various branches of the public service connected herewith
refer you the report of the Secretary Of the Treasury
from which it will appear that the amount of
during the last fiscal year. from all sources, seventy
three million five hundred and ortynine thousand
hundred and five dolars and that the public expenditures
for the period exclusive of payments account of
the public debt, amounted to itty-one million eighteen
thousand hundred and fortynne dollars. During the
same period the payments made in redemption of the
public debt including interest and premium, amounted to
twenyfour million three hundred and hirtysix thousand
three hundred and eighty dollars To the total OF the
receipts of shat year is to be added balance remaining in
the Treasury at the thereof amounting to
twentyone million nine hundred and fortywo thousand
eight hundred dOlars and at the close OF
the same year. corresponding balance amounting to
twenty million hundred and thrtyseven thousand nine
hundred and sixty dollars of receipts above expend
tures also remained in the Treasury. Although in the
opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury the receipts of the
fiscal year likely equal amount those
of the last yet they will undoubtedly exceed the of
expenditures by at least fifteen millions of dollars. shall
therefore, continue to direct that the surplus be
applied far as 1t be judiciousy and economically
done to the reduction of the public debt the amount of
which, at the commencement of the last fiscal year,
sixtyseven million three hundred and forty thousand six
hundred and twenty eight dollars; of which there had been
paid the twentieth day of November 1854 the of
twenty two million three hundred and sxty-fve thousand
hundred and sevenytwo dollars; leaving balance of
outstanding public debt of only -four million hun
dred and seventyve thousand four hundred and fftyx
dollars, redeemabe different periods within fourteen
years. There also remnants of other government
stocks most of which already DUE and which the in
has ceased but which have yet been presented
for payment, amounting to two hundred and thirty
thousand hundred and seventy-nine dollars. This
statement exhibits the fact that the annual income of the
government greatly exceeds the of its public debt
which latter remains unpaid only because the time of pay
men has not yet matured and it be discharged
except at the option of public creditors who prefer
retain the securities of the United States and the other
fact not less striking that the annual from all
sources exceeds, by many millions of dollars the
needed for prudent and economical administration of the
government.
The estimates presented to Congress from the different
Executive Departments, the last session. amounted to
tbrty-eght million four hundred and six thousand five
hundred aud eghyone dollars; and the appropriations
made to the of ifty-eieht million hundred and
sixteen thousand nine hundred and tyeight dollars Of
this excess appropriations estimates however, more
than twenty millions applicable extraordinary OBJ
ec having reference to the usual annual expenditures
Among these objects embraced ten millions to
the third article of the treaty between the United States
and Mexico; that in fact, for objects of ordinary ey
pendure, the appropriations limited to considerably
less than forty millions of dollars therefore renew my
recommendation for reduction of the duties imports
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury presents
res OF tables, showing the operation of the system
for several successive years and the general principle
OF reduction of duties with view to and pro-
lection may be regarded the settled policy of the
country, trust that little difficulty will be encountered in
settling the details of measure to that effect
In connection with this subject, recommend change
in the laws which experience has shown to be es
senal the protection of the There ia no
express provision OF law requiring the records and papers
of public character, of the several officers of the govern
men be left in their offices for the use of their success
any provision declaring felony on their part to
make false entries in the books, false accounts
In the absence OF such express provision by law ougo
officers in many instances have claimed and exercised
the right to take into their own possession important
books and papers, the ground that these were their
private propertyi and have placed them beyond the reach
Of the government Conduct of this character brought in
several instances to the notice of the present Secretary
he Treasury naturally awakened his suspicion and re-
suited in the disclosure that four portsnaney Oswego
Toledo Sandusky, and Milwauke--the treasury had bv
ase entries been deauded within the four years next
preceding March, 1853 of the of one hundred and
lmety-eght thousand dollars The great difficulty with
which the detection of these frauds has been attended in
consequence of the abstraction of books and papers bv the
etring officers and the facility with which similar frauds
n the public service may be peetrated render the me-
.nlat AZ 1,.r.l ii