Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-12-06


,,,-,brcc million nine hundred and eighteen thou
sapd on . hundred and forty-ouo dollarsi which,
,,,b The inlnuce ON hand up 10 the first OF july
1850. made the total resources Of the year 70
amount 10 niucty-two million eight hundred ana
fnv thau.and one hundred aud seventeen dol
lars. .,. .,
Tho expondturcs, including three million dol
lars IN cyecntion Of the treaty with Mexico, ard
excluding sums paid ON account OF the pubh,
d,Lt ,,no,i,tcd To- sivtv million one hundred and
soyentv-two thousand four hundred and one dol
lars. and including the latter, 10 'cycnty-twc
million nine hundltd aud foty-cight thousand
even hundred and ninety -two dollar. the pay
meat on this account having amounted 10 twelve
million scvcn hundred and scventy-siN thousand
three hundred and ninety dollar.
On the lth ~ March. 1883, the amount Of the
uull'c doit was sxty-ninc million one hundred
and twenty nine thousand nine hundred and
thirty-soycn dollars. There was a subsequent
increase Of two million seven hundred and hiiy
thousand dollars for the debt of Tc,as-making
"a total Of sovcuty-one million sight hundred and
seventy nine thousand nine hundred and thirty
sev NJ dollars OF this the sum Of forty five mill
lioal five hundred and twenty tive thousand three
hundred and nineteen dollan.ine!udngp PREMIUM
hos been discharged, reducing NJ de9t To thnty
million. seven hundred aud thirty scvcn thou
+ and one hundred and tscuiy-ninc dollars; all
which might be paid within a year without om-
larras.ing the public service. but being not yet
due and only rcdccnlhlc at the option Of The
holder, cannot be pressed to payment By the gov
crnncnt.
On examining the expenditures Of the last five
Year.. it will be fccn that the average, deducting
payment. on account Of the public debt and Ton
millions paid by treaty 10 Mexico has been bat
about foftv-cight million dollars. II is believed
that under m economical administration Of the
government, the average expenditure for the en-
suing five years will not exceed that sum, unless
e.. -. H. ~ 4
eur. The acts granting bounty lands will soon
have been executed, while the exteniion of our
frontier settlements will cause q continued de-
mand for lands and augmented receipts probably,
from that source. These considerations will JUS
tfy reduction Of the revenue from customs 50
~ not to exceed iorty-cight or fifty million dol
lars. | think the EFFICIENCY for such reduction is
imperative, and again urge ii upon the consider
r lion Of Congress.
The amour; II reduction as well ~ tho man
ncr Of ccoting IL, questions u great and gen
cral interest il being essential 10 Industrial en-
tefprise and public prosperity. well as the die
tate Of obvious justice, that the burden of taxa
ton &c made 20 rest equally as possible upon
all classes, and all sections and interests Of the
country.
TIE REVENUE LAWS.
/ have heretofore recommended % your oonsid-
Grafton tho revision Of the revenue laws prepared
under the direction Of the Secretary Of the treas
uTy, and also legislation upon some special qucs
tions affecting the bushes. Of that department.
more especially the enactment o. a law 10 punish
the distraction Of Official looks ur papers from
the ales Of the government, and requiring all
such book and fapers and other public property
90 be turuod over by the outgoing officer 10 his
successor o. law requiring dislursng officers 20
dcpositc all public money in the vaults Of the
+ treasury in other legal dspositories, whore the
same are conveniently accessible. and law to
.n,F all
who may heelsne possessed OF pglsc money by
p dcpo,ltc or otherwise. and who shall refuse Or
neglect, on due demand, to pay the same into the
+ treasury. ] invite your attc.itiOn anew 10 each
Of these objects.
IiE Army.
The army during tho pa, wear has been so con-
siantly employed against hostile Indians in vari-
Gus quarters. that il can scarcely be said with
propristy Of language, 10 have been peace Is
tnblfhment It, duties have been satisfactorily
performed, aud We have reason 10 expect "a re-
suit Of the years operations. greater security to
the frontier inhabitants than has been hitherto
enjoyed. Extensive combinations among the
hostile Indians Of the Territories Of Washington
r and Oregon az one time threatened the dcyas;a-
ton ~ the newly formed settlements Of that re-
nnto portion Of tie country. Prom recent in-
formation We are permitted 20 hope that the en-
crgciic and successful operations conducted there
will prevent such combinations in future, and Sc
cure 10 those Territories an opportunity to make
steady prnrress in the development OF their agri-
cultural and mineral resources.
Legislation has been recommended by me on
previous occasions 90 cure defects IN the existing
organization. and 70 increase the efficiency Of the
amy, and further observation has hut served TO
confirm me in the views then expires cd, and to
enforce on my mind the conviction that such
measures are not only proper but Necessary.
have, ia addition, 10 invite the attention Of
Congress 20 change Of policy in the distribution
II troops, ard TO the necessity Of providing
more rapid increase Of the military armament.
ior details Of these and oilrr subjects relating to
the army, refer to the report Of the Secretary
Of war.
rue NAvr.
The condition Of the navy is not merely salts
factory, but exhibits the most gratifying eviden-
eos of increased vigor. As it is comparatively
small, II is moro important tha; !; shauld Le
as complete possible in all the elements of
strength; that it should be eiieien, in the char
acter Of iis Officers in the zeal and discipline of
its men, in the reliability of its ordnance and in
the capacity Of its ships. In all these various
qualities the navy has made great progress with
\ in the last few years The execution Of the law
Of Congsess Of February 2s 1865. 10 "prornote
the efficiency of the navy" has been attended
! by the most advantageous results. This law for
promoting discipline among the men is found
convenient and salutqry. The system Of grant
ing an honorable discharge 70 faithful scanen on
the expiration Of the period Of their enlistment,
and permitting them TO re- onlis, after leave Of
absence of n few months. without cessation Of
pay, is highly beneficial in It's influence. The
apprentice system recently adop,ed is evidently
destined to incorporate into tM service a large
number Of our eountrymcn hitherto so difficult to
procure. Several hundred American boys are
now on three years cruise in our national YES
sells, and will return well trained seamen. In
the ordnance department there is a decided and
gratifying indication of progress creditable to il
and to the country. The suggestions of the Sec
rotary Of the navy in regard to further improve
ment in that branch Of the service, commend
TO your favorable action.
The new frightes ordered by Congress are now
aAoat, and two of them in active service. They
are superior models Of naval architecture, and
with their formidable battery add largely to pub
lie strength and security.
concur in the views expressed by the Sccre-
tary of the Department in favor Of still further
inqreasp Of our naval force