Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-02

on 'elr part mputabe chiefly to the delusv
Idea hat the American would be deferred or
Furnishing them, through fear of displeasing formdabl
foreign power which, they presumed to think looked wit
cOmplacency upon their aggressive and insulting depor
ment towards the United States. The "Cyane at leng
fired upon the town. Before much injury had been done
the fire twice suspended, in order to afford opportnt
for arrangement; but this was declined Most of tn
buildings of the place. of little value generally we're in thu
sequel destroyed but owing to the considerable precau
taken by Naval Commander there was no des rue
ton of life.
When the "Cyane ordered to Central America i
confidently hoped and expected that occasion would
arise for resort to violence and destruction of
and loss of % Instructions that effect given t.
her commander And no extreme act would have beer
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 in which the commander of the
"Cyane found himself have been absolute abandonment OF
all claim of our citizens for indemnicaOn and submissive
acqulescence in national ndignity 1t would have en-
cOuraged in these lawless spirit of insoence and
rapne most dangerous to the lives and property of
citizens at Punta Arenas and probably emboldened them
10 grasp at the treasures and valuable merchandise
tnualy passing over the Nicaragua 1t certainly
would have been most satisfactory if the objects
the "Cyanes" mission could have been cOnsummated
without any act of public force but the arrogant cont
macy OF the offenders rendered impossible to avoid the
alternative, either to break up their establishment or to
leave them impressed with the idea that they might
we're with impuny in of insolence and plumber
Ibis transaction has been the subject of complaint on the
part of foreign powers and has been
with more of harshness than of Justice If comparisons
were to be instituted it would not be difficult to present
repeated instances the history of States standing the
very front of modern civilization where communities far
less offending and defenceless than Greyown have
been chassed with much greater severity and where not
cities only have been laid in ruins but human life has been
reckessy sacrificed and the blood of the innocent made
profusey to mingle with that of the guilty
from 70
Is naturally directed to the financial condition of the
country always subject of general interest For COM
pete and exact information regarding the finances and the
various branches of the public service connected Herewith
refer to the report of the Secretary of the Treasury
from which it will appear that the of revenue
during the last fiscal year, from all sources seventy
three million five hundred and rtynine thousand seven
hundred and five dollars and that the public expenditures
for the same PERIOD exclusive of payments
the public debt amounted to iftyone million eighteen
thousand two hundred and fortynne dollars During the
same period, the payments made in redemption of the
public debt including interest and premium, amounted to
tWentyOur million three hundred and hirtysix thousand
three hundred and eighty dollars To the sum total of the
receipts of that year to be added balance remaining in
the Treasury at the thereof amounting to
twentyOne million nine hundred and fortytwo thousand
eight hundred and nnetytwo dollars and at the close of
the same year, corresponding balance amounting to
wentymilOn hundred and thrtyseven thousand nine
hundred and sxtseven dollars of receipts above expend
lures, also remained in the Treasury Although in the
current fiscal year not likely equal in amount those
of the last yet they will undoubtedly exceed the amount
expenditures by at least fifteen millions of dollars SHALL
therefore, continue to direct that the surplus revenue be
applied, so far it be udiciOusy and economically
dOne to the reduction of the public debt the amount of
which, at the of the last fiscal year. was
sxtseven million three hundred and forty thousand six
hundred and weight dollars of which there had been
paid on the twentieth day of November 1854 the sum of
twenty-five million three hundred and sixty-ye Thousand
hundred and seventtwo dollars leaving balance of
outstanding public debt of only ortyfour million nine hun
dred and seventyfve thousand four hundred and ysix
dollars redeemabe at different periods within fourteen
years. There are also remnants of other government
stocks of which already DUE and on which the in
terest has ceased but which have been presented
for payment amounting to hundred and thirtylree
thousand one hundred and seventy-nne dollars This
statement exhibits the fact that the annual income of the
greatly exceeds the of it's public debt
which latter remains unpaid, only because the time of pay
ment has not yet matured and it be discharged
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 of dollars the amount
needed for prudent and economical administration of the
government.
The estimates presented to Congress from the different
Executive Departments the last session. amounted to
thrty-eght million four hundred and six thousand five
hundred and eghtyOne dollars and the appropriations
made, to the sum of ftyeight million one hundred and
sixteen thousand nine hundred and ftyeght dollars OF
this of appropriations estimates however more
than twenty millions applicable extraordinary OBJ
ects having reference the usual expenditures
Among these objects embraced ten millions to meet
the third article Of the treaty between the United States
and Meco so that, in fact for objects of ordinary ex-
penditure the appropriations limited to considerably
less than forty millions of dollars therefore renew nv
recommendation for reduction of the duties on imports
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury Sc
re of tables showing the operation of the revenue system
for several successive years. and the general principle
of reduction of duties with view revenue and not pro-
lection may now be regarded the settled policy of the
country trust that little difficulty will be encountered in
settling the details of a measure to that effect
In connexion with this subject l recommend change
the laws which experience has shown to be es
senta to the protection of the There is no
express provision of law requiring the records and papers
of public character of the several officers of the govern
ment to be left in their Offices for the use of their success
any provision declaring it felony on their part to
make false entries 10 the books return false accounts
In the absence of such provision by law the outgo
ing officers in many instances have claimed and exercised
the right to take into their possession important
books and papers, the ground that these were their
private property and have placed them beyond the reach
of the government Conduct of this character brought in
several instances to the notice of the Secretary
the Treasury naturally awakened his suspicion and re-
suited in the disclosure that four ports namely Oswego
Toledo Sandusky, and Milwaukee, the treasury had by
false entries been derauded within the four years
preceding March, 1883 of the of one hundred and
ninetyeight thousand dollars. The great difficulty with
which the detection of these frauds has been attended in