The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-12-08

thous,. nd nine hundred and sixty sevendollars of
receipts above expenditures, also remained in the
Treasury. Although in the opinion of The Sec
rotary OF the Treasury, The receipts OF the cur
rent fiscal year are no; likely TO equul in amount
those Of the last, yet they will undoubtedly ex.
coed the amount of expenditures by at least fifteen
millions Of dollars. shall, therefore, continue
to direct that the surplus revenue be applied, 50
lar be judcioasly and economically done,
The reduction OF the public debt, the amount of
which, at the commencement of the last fiscal
year, was sixty seven millions three hundred and
forty III -Hsaud SIX hundred and twenty eight DOL
lars; Of which there had been paid on the TWEEN
iieth day Of November, 1854 the sum Of twenty
Two millions three hundred and sixtv.five thousand
one hundred and seVenty-two dollars; leaving a
balance of outstanding public debt OF only forty
four millions nine hundred and seventy five thou
sand four hundred aud fftysix dollars, redeem.
able at different periods within fourteen years.
There also remnants of other government
stocks, most of which already due, and on
which the interest has ceased, but which have not
yet been presented for pa yment, amounting to two
hundred and hrty-three thousand one hundred
and seventy nine dollars. This statement exhi-
bits the fact, that the annual income Of the Gov
eminent greatly exceeds the amount of its public
debt, which latter remains unpaid, only because
the time of payment has not yet matured, and il
cannot be discharged at once, except at the option
of public creditors who prefer to retain the
rites of the United States and the other fact,
not less striking that the annual revenue from ali
sources exceeds, by many millions of dollars, the
amount needed for prudent and economical adj
mnislraton of the Government.
The estimates presented to Congress from the
different Executive Departments, at the last ses-
sion, amounted to thirty eight million four hun
dred and six thousand five hundred and eighty
one dollars; and The appropriations made, TO the
sum OF filtyelght million one hundred and sixteen
thousand nine hundred and ffty-eight dollars.
OF this excess OF appropriations over estimates,
however. more than twenty millions was appIica-
BILE to extraordinary Objects having no reference
to the usual annual expenditures. Among these
Objects was embraced ten millions to meet The
third article of the treaty between the United
States and Mexico so that, in fact, for objects Of
ordinary expenditure, the appropriations were
limited 10 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
a series of tables, showing the operation Of the
revenue system for several successive years. and
as the general principle of reduction of duties
with view 10 revenue and no; protection may
now be regarded the settled policy Of the
country, l. trust that little difficulty will be
in settling the details of measure to
that effect
In connexon with this subject recommend a
change in the laws, which recent experience has
shown to be essential TO the protection of the
government. There is express provision Of
law, requiring the records and papers Of public
character of The several officers OF the government,
10 be left in their Offices for the use Of their sue
cessors, any provision declaring it felony on
their part to make false entries in the books,
return false accounts. In the absence OF such
express provision by law, the outgoing officers, in
many inst ances have claimed and exercised The
right to trade into their own possession, important
books and papers, on the ground that these were
their private. property and have placed them
beyond the reach of the government. Conduc:
of this character, brought in several instances TO
The notice of The present Secretary OF the Treasu
ny, naturally weakened his suspicion, and resulted
in the disclosure that at four ports, namely, o.
wego, Toledo, Sandusky, and Milwaukee, the
treasury had, by false entries, been defraoded,
within he four years next preceding March, 1858,
o! the sum Of one hundred and ninety eight thou
sand dollars. The great difficulty with which the
detection of these frauds has been attended in
consequence Of the abstraction OF books and papers
by the retiring officers, and the facility with which
similar frauds in the public service may be per.
petrated, render the necessity of new legal enact
ments, in the respects above referred to, quite OBJ.
vious For other material notifications of the
revenue laws which seem to me desirable, refer
you to the report CT the Secretary Of the Treasury.
That report, and the tables which accompany it,
furnish ample proofs OF the solid foundation on
which the financial security of the country rests,
and of the salutary Influence of the independent
treasury system upon commerce and ali monetary
operations.
The experience of the last year furnishes ad.
Ginnal reasons, regret to say, of a painful char
acter, for the recommendation heretofore made, to
provide for increasing the military force employed
in the territory inhabited by the Indians. The
settlers the frontier have suffered much from
the incursions of predatory bands, and large
parties of emgrants 10 Pacific possessions have
been massacred with impunity. The recurrence
of such scenes can only be prevented by teaching
these wild tribes the power Of, and their RESPONSE
bity to, the United States. From the garrisons
of our frontier posts it IS only possible to detach
troops in small bodies; and though these have on
all occasions displayed galIantrv and stern de-
votlon to duty, which on larger field would have
commanded universal admiration, they have usual
ly suffered severely in these conflicts with superior
numbers, and have sometimes been entirely sacrl-
feed. All the disposable force of the army is
already employed on this service, and is known
TO be wholly inadequate 10 the protection which
should be afforded. The public mind ofthe country
has been recently shocked by savage atrocities
committed upon delenceless emigrants and border
settlements, and hardly less by the unnecessary
of Il