Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-12-06


There ample 10 believe that this conduct Of wanto
defiance, their part impufahle chiefly the deusy
idea that the American would be deferred from
Furnishing them, through fear Of dspleasiDg formidable
foreign power, which, they presumed to think looked wit
compiaeency upon their aggressive and insulting deport
ment towards the United States The Cyane engtl
fired upon the town. Before much injury had done
the fire twice suspended in order afford opportunity
buildings of the place. of little value generally in h
sequel destroyed but owing the considerable precau
tons taken by Naval Commander there des
& ton Of life.
u When the "Cyane was ordered to Central America il
confidently hoped and expected that occasion would
arise for resort violence and destruction Of property
and loss OF life Instructions that effect given "a
her commander. And extreme act would have been
requisite had not the people themselves by their exraord
nary conduct in the affair frustrated all the possible mild
measures for 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
all clam ct our citizens for decentralization and submissive
acqueseence IN national indignity 1t would have en-
couraged IN these lawless a spirit of insoence and
rapne most dangerous the lives and property of
citizens at Punta Arenas and probably emboldened them
TO grasp at the and valuable merchandise
tlnnay passing the Nicaragua Ii certainly
would have been most satisfactory if the objects Of
the "Cyanes' mission could have been consurnmated
without any act of public force but the arrogant
macy of the offenders rendered impossible avoid the
alternative, either to break up their establishment
we're with inpunity in a Of nsoence and plumber
This transaction has been the subject of complaint the
part OF some foreign powers and has been characterized
with of harshness than of Justice IL comparisons
we're to be instituted it would be difficult to present
repeated instances in the history of States standing in tie
very front of modern civilization where communities -
less offending and defenceess than Greytown have
been chastised with much greater severity, andkhere
cities only have been laid in ruins, but human life Ms been
reeklesy sacrificed and the blood of the innocent made
protlsey TO minele 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 com
ete and exact information regarding the finances and the
various branches Of the public ertce connected Herewith
refer you to the report of the Secretary of the Treasury
from winch 1t VIII appear, that the amount of revenue
during the last fiscal year. from all sources seventy
three million five hundred and torynne thousand
hundred and five dollars and that the public expenditures
Tor the same period exclusive of payments of
the public dsbt, amounted to ffyoDe million eighteen
thousand two hundred and orty-nine dollars During the
same period, the payments made in redemption of the
public debt including interest and premium, amounted to
twenty million three hundred and thty-six thousand
three hundred and eighty dollars To the sum total of the
receipts of that year be added balance remaining
the Treasury at the thereof amounting
twentyone million nine hundred and orty-two thousand
eight hundred and ninetywo dollars and the close of
the same year, corresponding balance amounting to
twenty million one hundred and thry-seven thousand
hundred and xtyseven dollars of receipts above expend
lures also remained in the Treasury Although in the
current fiscal year likely equal in those
of the last yet they will undoubtedly exceed the amount of
expenditures by at least fifteen millions of dollars shall
therefore, continue direct that the surplus revenue
applied, far as it be judciously and economically
done to the reduction of the public debt the amount
which, at the commencement of the last fiscal year,
sixyseven million three hundred and forty thousand six
hundred and twentyeight dollars of which there had been
paid the twentieth day of November 1854 the sum of
twenty-five million three hundred and sxtyfve thousand
hundred and seyentywo dollars leaving balance of
outstanding public debt of only ortyour million nine hun
bred and seyentyye thousand four hundred and ffty-sx
dollars redeemabe at different periods within fourteen
years. There also of other government
stocks of which already due and which the in
has ceased but which have not yet been presented
for payment amounting to two hundred and birtythree
thousand hundred and seventynine 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
en has not yet matured and it cannot be discharged
once except at the option of public creditors who prefer
to retain the securities of the United States and other
fact not less striking, to 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 at the last session amounted TO
thirty eight million four hundred and six thousand five
hundred aud eghyone dollars; and the appropriations
made to the of iftyeight million hundred and
sixteen thousand nine hundred aud ftyeight dollars OF
this of appropriations estimates however
ects having reference the usual annual expenditures
Among these objects embraced ten millions to
the third article of the treaty between the United States
and Mexico so that in fact for objects of ordinary
penditure the appropriations limited to considerably
less than forty millions of dollars therefore renew my
recommendation for reduction OF the duties on imports
The report Of the Secretary of the Treasury presents
res of tabes showing the operation OF the revenue system
f several successive years and the general principle
of reducton of duties with view to and not pro-
ectou may now regarded the settled policy of the
country trust that little difficulty viii be encountered in
settling the details of a measure TO that effect
In connexion with this subject, recommend change
in the laws which recent experience has shown be
sepa to the protection of the government There no
povson of law requiring the records and papers
of nublc character of the several officers of the govern
mont 70 be left in their offices for the of their
ors nor any provision declaring felony their part
make false entries in the books false accounts.
In thc absence of such express provision by law the outgo
inc officers in many instances have claimed and exercised
tbe roht 10 take into their possession, important
hooks and papers the ground that these their
pyae properly and have placed them beyond the reach
If the government Conduct OF this character brought in
several the notice of the present Secretary of
the Treasury naturally awakened his suspicion and
suited in the disclosure that four ports namely Oswego
Toedo Sandusky and Milwaukee, the treasury had by
false entries been derauded within the four years
nracedinp March, 1888, of the of hundred and
nnetyeinht thousand dollars The great difficulty with
which the detection 81 these frauds has been attended in
Of the abstraction of books and by the
retiring officers aud the facility with which similar frauds
n the public service may be perperaed render the
cessv of legal enacments IN the respects above re-
rred TO- quite obvious. For other material notifications
~ the revenue laws which desirable refer
Won Ia the report of the Secretary OF the Treasury That
yeuou and the tables which accompany it, furnish ample
nroos of the solid foundation which the financial
nd If rha nf iuHua NJ