Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-12-08

the TACT, that the annual income OF tne
government greatly exceeds the amount
of its public debt. which latter remains
unpaid, only because the time OF pay
ment has not yet matured. and IL can
not be discharged at once, except at
the option Of public creditors, who
prefer TO retain the securities OF the
United States; and the other fact, not
less striking. that the annual revenue
from all sources exceeds, by many
millions ofLollsrs, the amount needed
for prudent and economical admins
tration Of the Government,
The estimates presented to Congress
from different Executive Departments
at the last session, amounted TO thirty
eight million four hundred and six
thousand five hundred and eighty one
dollars; and the appropriations made.
to the sum Of City eight million one
hundred and sixteen thousand nine
hundred and fifty eight dollars. OF
this excess Of appropriations over es-
Inmates. however more than twenty
millions was applicable 10 extraordi-
nary objects. having no reference TO
the usual annualexpendilures. Among
these objects. was EN- braced ten mil
lions TO meet the third article OF the
treaty between the United States and
Mexico; 80 that, in fact, for objects Of
ordinary expenditure. the appropria-
lions were limited TO considerably less
than forty millions of dollars. | there
fore renew my Recommendation for a
reduction of the duties ON imports.
The report Of the Secretary OF the
Treasury presents series OF tables,
showing the operation or the revenue
system for several successive years,
and as the general principle Of reduc'
tion of duties with view 10 revenue
and not protection may now be regar'
ded rs the settled policy. of the couiry
/ trust that little difficulty will be en-.
countered in settling the details Of =
measure TO that effect.
In connexion with this subject,
recommend change in the laws,
which recent experience has shown 70
be essential to the protection Of the
government. There is no express
provision Of law. requiring the records
and papers Of n public character, Of
the several officers Of the governments
to be left in their offices for the use Of
their successors, nor any provision de-
claring ita felony on their part tc
make false entries in the books, or re-
turn false accounts. In the absence
Of such, express provision by law
the outgoing officers. in many
instances, have claimed and exercised
4 the right TO take into their own poses
sion, important books and papers. OF
the ground that these were theirprivat'
property; and have placed them beyon'
the reachofthe government. Conduc
of this character, brought in severa
instances to the notice of the presen
Secretary of the Treasury. natural,
awakened his suspicion, and resulte,
in the disclosure that at four ports
namely, Oswego. Toledo. Sandusky
Milwaukee, the tresury had. by falls
entries, been defrauded. within tn
four years next preceding March
1858, of the sum Of one hundred ant
: ninety-eight thousand dollars. Tn
great difiicultywith which the detection
of these frauds has been attended. il
consequence Of the abstraction o
books and paper by the retiring Office
and the facility with which simila
frauds in the public service may b
perpelrated render the necessity Q
new legal enactments, in the respect
above referred TO. quite obvious
. For other material notifications Of th
! revenue laws which seem 10 me desii
able, | refer. to you the report Of th
Secretary of the Treasury. Tha
2 report, and the tables which accompan
4 it. furnish ample proofs Of the soil
e foundation on which financial securit
OF the country rests, and ofthe salutar
influence Of the Independent treasur
system upon commerce and all mono
. tary arrangements.
The experience Of the last year fur
nishes additional reasons, regret I
say, Of n painful character, for Oh
recommendation heretofore made, I
, provide for increasing the militar
: force employed In the territory inhab
tied by the Indians. The set tiers o
: the frontier have suffered much fror
the incursions Of predatory bands. an
large parties Of emigrants TO our Pm
ci6c possessions have been massacre
, with impunity. The recurrence {
! such scenes can only be prevented b
: teaching those wild tribes the powe
! OF, and THEN responsibility to. the Unite
States. From the garrisons Of gu
frontier posts, II is only possible to dc
|. tach troops in small bodies; and throug
these have on all occasions displayed
gallantry, and astern devotion 10 duty
: which on large field would have CON
manded universal admiration. the
have usually suffered severely in thes
, conflicts with superior numbers, an
|, have sometimes been entirely sacri
: feed. All the disposable force of til
! army is already employed on this sci
: vice, and is known to be wholly made
quate TO the protection which should b
afforded. The public mind of th
country has been recently shocked b
! savage atrocities committed upon de
. fenceless emigrants and border set
, Elements. and hardly less by the un
: necessary destruction Of valuabl
: lives. where inadequate detachment
I, Of troops have undertaken TO furnisl
the needed aid. Without increase O
the military force, these scenes vii
be repeated. it IS to be feared on
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