Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-12-20

Ao P'O'SSS'y w ""AoSS -"AstsH
that of the guilty.
Passing from foreign to domestic af-
fairs. your attention is naturally directed
to the financial condition of the country, al
ways subject of general interest. For
complete and exact information regarding
the finances, and the various branches OF
the public service connected Herewith,
refer you to the report of the Secretary
of the Treasury from which it will APP
pear, that the amount Of revenue during
the last fiscal year, from all sources, was
seventy three million FIVE hundred and
forty nine thousand seven hundred and
Eve dollars and that the public expen-
ditures for the same period, exclusive Of
payments on account Of the public debt,
amounted to 81 million eighteen thou
sand two hundred and forty nine dollars.
During the same period. the payments
made in redemption of the dublic debt,
Including interest and premium, amounted
to twenty -four million three hundred and
thirlysix thousandthrce hundred and eight
dollars. To the sum total of the receipts
Of that year is to be added balance re-
manning in the Treasury at the commence
ment thereof, amounting to twenty -onc
million nine hundred and forty-two thou
sand eight hundred and ninety-two dol
lars and at the close Of the same year,
a corresponding balance amounting to
twenty million one hundred and thi..t.
seven thousand nine hundred and sixty
seven dollars of receipts above expendi-
lures, also remained in the Treasury
Although, in the opinion of the Secretary
Of the Treasury, the receipts of the cur
rent fiscal year are not likely TO equal in
amount those of the last, yet they will un-
doubtedly exceed the amount Of expendi.
lures by at least fifteen millions Of dollars.
l shall. therefore, continue to direct that
the surplus revenue be applied, SO Ear as
it can be judiciously and economically
done. to the reduction Of the public t.nI
the amount Of which, at the ccco,porco.
ment of the last fiscal year. was sixtv.
seven million three hundred and forIv
thousand six Eundred anil twenty eight
dollars; Of which there had been paid on
the twentieth day Of November, 1854, the
sum of twenty-five million three hundred
and sixty-ive thousand one hundred and
seventy two dollars leaving balance Of
outstanding public debt of only forty four
million nine hundred and seventy i've
thousand four hundred and fiftv-s dol
lars, redcemable at different periods with
In fourteen years. There are also rem
nantE of other government stocks, most Of
which are already due, and on which the
interest has ceased, but which have not
yet been presented for payment. amour
ting 10 Two hundred and thirty-three
thousand one hundred and seventy nine
dollars. This government greatly exceeds
the amount of its public debt. which lat
ter remains unpaid, only because the
time of payment has not yet matured and
it cannot be discharged at once, except at
the option of public creditors, who prefer
t. retain the securities fthe United States;
and tho other fact, not less striking, that
the annual revenue from all sources ex
ceetls, by many millions Of dollars, the
amount needed for prudent and econo-
mieal 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 thou
sand FIVE hundred and eighty one dollars;
and the appropriations made, to the sum
of fifty eight dollars. Of this excess Of
appropriations over estimates, however,
more than twenty millions was applica-
BILE to extraordinary Objects, having no
reference to the usual annual expendi
lures. Among these objects was embra-
ced 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 appropria-
lions were limited to considerably less
.thun forty millions of dollars. therefore
renew my recommendations for reduc-
ton of the duties on imports. The report
of tho Secretary Of the Treasury presents
Il series Of tables. showing the operation
Of the revenue system for several success
sire years, and as the general principle Of
reduction of duties with view to the re
venue system for several successive years.
and as the general principle of reduction
Of duties with a view to revenue and not
protection may now be regarded as the
settled policy o. the country, trust that
little difficulty will be encountered in set
Ting the details Of measure to that eff
feet
In connex;on with this subject, 1 re-
commended a change in the laws, which
recent experience has shown to be essen
tial to the protection Of the government.
There is no express provision of law, re-
quiring the records and papers Of pub.
lie character, Of the several officers of the
government, to be left in their offices for
the use of their SUCCESSORS, nor any pro-
vision declaring it felony on their part to
make false entries in the books, or return
false accounts. In the absence of such
express provision law, the outgoing Off
GERS. in many instances, have claimed and
exercised the right to take into ther own
possession, important books and papers.
on the ground that these were their Pri-
vate property and have placed them be-
You'd the reach of the government. Con-
duct of this character, brought in several
.;natancns To tho nniice of The nrnsnnt Sc.