Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-12-15

the Cyrnts mission could have been conslru.
mated without any act of public force; but The
arrogant couuinacy Of the Offenders rendered
i, impossible to avoid the alternative, either to
break tp their establishment, ur to leave them
Impressed with the idea that they might porse
we're with impunity in a career oflnsolencc and
plumber.
This transaction has been the subject Of
complaint IN tho part of some foreign powers,
and has been characterized with more harsh
ness than Justice. If comparisons were to be
instituted. Vt would no, be difficult to present
repeated instances in the history OF States
standing in the vctv front of modern civiliza-
ton, where communities, far less offending and
more defenceess than Greytown, have been
chnstised with greater severity, and where
not cities only have been laid III ruins, but l,u
man life has been recklcsSly sacrificed and the
blood Of the innocent made profusoly to mingle
with that Of the guilty.
THE FiNASCEI.
Passing from foreign to domestic affairs,
your attention is naturally directed TO the fl
nancill condition Of the country, always sub
ject of general interest. For complete md
ex,ct information regarding the finances and
the various branches Of the public service con.
nected Herewith, refer you to the Report of
the Secretary Of the Tre1sury-.from which it
will appear. that the amount Of revenue during
the last fiscal year, from all sources, was
S735lo105 ; and that the public expenditures
for the same seriod, exclusive Of payments on
account of the public debt, amounted to SOL
0lS,2i0. During the same period. the pay
men,s made in redemption Of the public debt,
including interest and premium. amounted 10
S2i 3}63SO. To the sum total Of the recc pts
oftha, yer ls to be added balance remaining
in tho treasury at the commencement thereof,
amounting 10 S2l ,942 ,992; and at tho cloae Of
Of the sltne year a corresponding balance a
mounlngto $50, 1896 Of receipts above r1-
prndilnres, also remained in the Treasury. AL
tho in the opinion Of the secretary Of the Tr"nS'
Snry, the receipts Of the current fiscal year are
moi likely to equal in amount those Of th" last.
vel they viii undoubtedly exceed the amount ni
expenditures by at least Si5000,O00. | shall,
therefore. continue ,odrect that the snrPns
revenue be apple1so far as it can be ludlciou'
ly md eccnomicallv done, to the reduction Of
the public debt the amount Of which, NJ tho
commencement of the las, fiscal year, was SGT.-
3iO,6?3; of which there had been paid on the
2nlh day Of November, 1854, the sum oi S'r2,-
36jl72; leaving balance of outstanding
public debt of only Sli91j,iG', rcdeemahlc
at different periods within fourteen yc1rs.--
There are also remnants of other government
stocks, most of which are already due, and on
which the interest has ceased, but which have
no, yet been presented for payment, amount
ing to S233l79 This statement exhibits the
fact, that the annual income ofthe government
greatly exceeds the amount of Its public debt
which latter remains unpaid, only because the
time of payment has not maturcd, and II can
no, be discharged at once. except at the option
of public creditors who prefer 10 retain the Sc
curitles of the United Statcs-and the other
fact, not less striking that the annual revenue
from all sources, exceeds, BY many millions OF
dollars. the amount needed for prudent and
economical administration Of the Government.
ESTIMATES.
The estimates presented to Congress from
the different Executive Departments. at the
last session, amounted to S3c, iO6,5oI; and tho
appropriations made, to the sum OF sos, To-
9J-. OF this excess Of appropriations over es-
Inmates. however. more than S200OO,000 was
applicable to extraordinary objects, havn. nc
reference to the usual annual expenditures. -
Among these objects, was embraced $4,000
600, to meet the third article of the treaty be-
tween the United States and Mexico-so, thai
IN fact, for objects of ordinary expenditure
the appropriations were limited to less thar
S40.0O0,U00. ] therefore, renew my recon-
mcndation for reduction Of the duties OIL lin
ports. The report OF the Secretary OF the
Treasury presents series of tables, showing
the ope ratoins of the revenue system for sever
al successive years, and as the general princ
pie Of reduction of duties with a view TO rcve
nuc and not protection may now be regarded
as the settled policy of the country, trust tina
little d iiiculty will be encountered IN sctt!n!
the details Of measure to that effect.
rEcuLATIoNs.
In conncxon with this subject, rccomment
A change in the laws, which recent experience
has shown TO be essential to the protection o
the government. There is no express Provis
ion Of law, requiring the records and papers o
a public character, of the several officers o
the government, to be left in their offices 70
the use of their SUCCESSORS, nor any provision
declaring it felony On their part to make tals'
entries in the books or to return false accounts
In the absence of such express provision By
law. the out going officers, in many instances
have claimed and exercised the right 10 taxi
into their own possession, important books an,
papers, on the ground that these were ,hei
rriya,e property y-nnd have placed them he
yonl the reach of the government. Condnc
Of this character, brought in several instance
to the notice OF the present Secretary or hi
Treasury, naturally awakened his suspicion
and resulted in the disclosure that al four port
namely OIwcgo, Toledo, SanlnSky, and Nil
waul;le, the treasury had. b. ialse entries beef
dafranded, within the ionr gears next proCedin.
March. 1854, Of The sim of Sl93 900 Tho
Great difficulty wiih which the detection q
these frauds has been attended in consequence
Of the abstraction of books and paper hv ih
retiring officers. and the facility with whc
similar frauds in tho public service may b
perprlrated, render the necessity of new lrgn
enactnenls in the respects above referred Ia
oni,c obvious For other material modification
nr,ho revenue laws which seems to me dcslrl
hle. refer vou to the report of the Secrr,ar
of the Treasury Tha, report, and the liable
which accompany II, furnish ample proof a
the solid foundation on which the financial 10
curity of tho country rests, and of the sautar
influence Of the independent treasury system
upon commerce and all monetary operations.
ARMI INCREASE.
/ Thn experience Of the last year furnish"
additional reasons, regret to say, OF painful
character, for the recommendation here'ofor
made. to provide for increasing the mlitar
I force employed in the territory inhabited b
/ tho Indians. The settlers on the frontier hav
/ suffered much from the incursions Of predaior
/ bands, and large parties Of emgrants 10 on
| Pacific possessions have been massacred wit
! immunity. The recurrence of such scenes ca
only be prevented by teaching these will
tribes the power OF, and their responsibility to
/ the United States. From the garisons OF ou
frontier posts, it is only possible to detac
troops III small bodies-aud though these hsy
OIL all OCCASIONS displayed a gallantry and
stern Devotion to duty, which on larger fcl
would have commanded universal admiration
they have usually suffered severely in ,hes
conflicts with superior numbers. and hav
sometimes been entirely sacrificed. All tn
disposable force OF the army Id already employ
ed OH this service, and is known to be who'll
INADEQUATE TO the protection which should b
afforded. The public mind OF the country ha
been recently shocked by savage strocitie
committed upon defenceless emicran's an
border settlements, and hardly less by the un
necessary destruction Of valuable lives, wher
inadequate det.chrnents Of troops have under
taken 10 furnish the needed aid. Without IN
! crease of the military 70 &C. these scenes vii
/ be repeated. it is to be feared, on large