The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-11-02

want than is the present one Of the pecuniary supplies
which the sale Of Cuba would place al ITS disposal
The state Of the finances OF the country IS amenaue
and ministers the TO be plted since their
embarrassed position is the consequence OF no fault OF
theirs but Of the scandaous msrue and MANIFESTATION
M several preceding governments and especially OF
that OF Sarorius. The Spanish and English neHspl-
pers have already supplied many details on this head
i will content myself with throwing together few OF
the principal and most striking facts When the present
Government assumed Office it found an empty treasury
and even than that the which 1t might
have reckoned for advances already anticipated
There was no money anywhere The SartorousDomenech
Colantes ministry had made clean sweep OF everything
The forced loan decreed the 10Th May and which was
10 be paid during the months OF June ana july had not
flowed In with that gratifying apdity announced by the
organs of the Poae0 cabinet but nevertheless about four
hundred and seventy thousand pounds sterling had been
collected ont of nearly two millions which il was est-
mated that il should yield OF the f470000 about GAO
or thirteen thousand reals remained in the treasury The
confusion in the public accounts rendered necessary he
appointment of commissioners 10 investigate them ana to
report the real of the finances The labors OF these
commissioners brought TO light whole system OF mi
guilty and of downright robbery The most shameful jobs
had been perpetraed funds set apart for particular pu
poses and which could not legally be otherwise employed
had been msapproprated enormous amounts had been
expended in seceseryce money of which account was
be found eyerythng the government had to pay was
in arrears and all they had to receive was in advance The
result of the examination was to exhibit balance against
the treasury amounting TO seven millions sterling OF two
and half millions of which the payment was urgent To
meet this heavy deficiency equal TO half years revenue
the new ministry had literally nothing but their good in
tentious and recognised honesty things but not
always convertible into specie The consequences OF the
revolution added 10 their embarrassments Nothing was
to be obtained from the provincial treasures which were
found to be nearly all empty some OF them having been
drained to the last real by the departed ministers
whilst in other there is reason 10 conclude that
the local juntas formed during the revolution had
spent the money. During the latter half OF July,
every place had its unta, iegislang as it thought fit,
taking off taxes admitting foreign goods free of duty
sappng the foundations of the The effect Of this
on the for the month of July Elimination of
quarter of a million sterling, or fully one-iifth Al
though early in August the untas prohibited from
passing laws and altering the established system OF the
country whilst since then many of them have altogether
dissolved themselves fears are entertained that for some
months the will continue below what il is in
binary times The period of revolution jubilee for
the smpggler At some points of the frontier he sud-
denly converted into fair trader by the abolition decreed
by unta of all import duties But amidst the confusion
consequent the revolution, he nowhere had any diff
Guilty in carrying on his commerce From Gibraltar from
Portugal from France foreign goods poured in TO the ex
hauston of the smuggling depots in those three countries
Those large Illicit mportatons must for time TO come
have serious effect the cusom-house 1t is
predicted that the falling off in the whole revenue for Au
gust will be greater than III that for July This APP
pears doubtful although n,arly certain ia the item
Of custom duties and, the other hand we may hope
the expenditure will be less under honest and economi
cal goyernment-whose economy, however has not in
every instance, been rigorous as ITSELF fully believe
earnestly desired The difficulties environng govern
ment that is borne into power in Spain on the pillows Of
revolution like that of 1854 not 10 be imagined by any
who have witnessed them. To form faint idea Of
them, must be acquainted with the ramhcations and
extent of the empieomaHiG for placewhch is the
great of Spain, and which, when one behods the
which it is carried makes him almost despair of
the Improvement Of the nation 1t reasonable to sup
pose that when Esparero and his colleagues took Office
under difficult circumstances, certainly, any set of
men that accepted it. even herehey would be allowed
TO give their whole time and undivided attention TO the
necessities OF the country the getting rid of abuses
the introduction of proper economies the adoption OF
calculated to improve the wretched financial sit
uation
Under these circumstances how was it possible for the
government to economze as il should and might have
done The pressure brought to bear upon it. the inuen
ces exerted than il could resist and many
place given that ought have been suppressed in the
interest Of SPANS exhausted treasury 1t gives small hope
for the future Of country when the best OF
her doing nothing without hope Of reward, nothing
for the pure and disinterested love of their native land
And to this rule in Spain fear there are but few exce
tons.
careful investigation and calm review OF the present
sae OF the finances Of Spain leave upon the mind strong
doubt as to whether national bankruptcy possibly
be avoided have exposed the misery of the treasury
LETT by the ministry OF Sartoriusseyen millions sterling
deficiency and many pence in the Golfers of the State
for the pressing necessities of the government With
difficulty and by the aid OF the signature Of the San
Fernando Bank the Finance Minister has obtained about
fifty thousand pounds sterling, secured colonial rev
enues or course very short time viii the last of
that small and what Is then to be done in presence
Of revenue which it is expected with good show of rea-
son. will, for time 30 come be below average !
EconomiLe il may be said but economy is not to be eff
iected on important scale at few days notice 1t is
probably in the army that reform and reduction made
would rapidly be felt 1t is said to be the intention
Of the Minister of War greatly to reduce it and OPP
portnity be better than the present. for when all the
who in virtue OF the boon of years remission Of
service lately granted to the whole army have completed
their time shall have received their discharge the military
forces Of Spain viii probably be smaller than they
have been since the beginning OF the Carist The
peAse of the Spanish army is about three millions
hug-an enormous burden the scanty There
are other burdens difficult to diminish The system
pursued IN this country Of turning out numbers OF public
officers and employees when government comes in,
% make for its friends and supporters, has loaded
Spain with pensions, hafpay, and retired allowances.
These amount TO million and half sterling How is
ths load to be ghtened2 But very gradually, it is evil
uent-by billing up vacant places with pensioned men,
whose pensions thereupon To abolish all those
pensions not due to long service il-health would
Oe 70 condemn thousands Of families to starvation
anu 70 ralse storm that no government could with
sAhu such q sweeping measure would not be lust
nor Is II practicable reform Of the tariff is OBJ
ous ana most ciectual Of improving the hnan-
elal position. Let the government reduce tie duties on
oreIgh Manufactured cottous to twenty per al
M Ihe Importation (chieiy contrabandl Of that class
u merchandise at present amounts am informed to
ADoGt Three millions sterling A twenty percent duty
QUIZ gemoish the smugger, and yield the six
unhuFea thousand pounds year Would it not then be
possible Tor Spain 10 get small loan on reasonable terms
e coupons oehB accepted due in payment Of
duties and arrangement the promise
an early one being at the same time made with respect TO
e amount OF coupons which Bravo Murllo laid upon the
~ =, however unnecessary 20 this question
un we nave reduced the duty Here again. great diff
eultes present themselves and Jealous Interests bar Inc
way eallpna and the smugglers would be IN arms the
ieg moment sucn measure was Uronuloatrd CataI0-
ma which produces speak from experience Of its poods
Nleened wares at e1orbau prices has long been the
sre impairment to SPANS prosperity, at least inn
poVenent That one province pretends TO make the
whole country buv lie u,sr,baod;so