The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-12-10
thousand. three hundred and ninety dol.

,ne hundred and twenty. mine thousanl
nine hundred aud ,hir,y.seven dollar.
There was u subsequent increase of tw
million seven hundr. d aud tiny ,housan
dollars tor the debt OF rexas-msking
oial Of seventy on- million eight hundrs
and seventy mine thousand nins hundred
and thirty seven dollars Ofthis the sum
Of AS millnin fiv. hundred and 25 thou.
sand three hundred and nineteen dollars.
including premium. has been discharge
reducing the dent to thirty million nine
hundred aud six,y.,hres thousand nin
hundred and twsn,y.nIne dollars; ~
whioh might be paid within n wear with
nut embarrassing ;he public service. hu
being not yet due. aud only r-d-. mail
a, the option OF the holder, canhoi bs
pressed 81, paw m-ni 10y the government
On examining the expenditures vi m
st nfu years. IL will ne seen thit tn
tverage, dedncring payments on accoun
IF the public debt, anl ten millions p il
" treaty to Mrxico, has been but abon'
,rty- ght million dollars. 1t is believed
hat, under an economical administration
are for the ensuing Eve years will not ex-
'rcd th,t sum, unless extraordinary orca
ion for its increase should occur. Tn
acts granting bounty lands will soon have
'een exec l,ed. while the extension of ou'
ron,ier settlements will cause continued
len md for lands and augmented receipts
rohably from that source. These con-
,i,lerltions will Justify reduction of the
'evcnue from customs, so as not to exceed
nrty-eight or fifty million dollars. !
hink the exigeHry for such reduction is
Imperative, and again urge it upon the
consideration of Congress.
The amount of reduction, as well as the
manner of efecling it, are questions ot
great and general interest, it being eSSen-
tial to industrial ENTERPRISE and the pnhli''
,,ros ,eriiy, as well as the dictate Of obvi-
ous justice, that the burden of taxation
re made to rest us equally as possible
, ,oa all classes. aH,l all sections and in
terests of the country
heretofore recommended to your consid-
ration the revision of the revrHue laws
,rerared under the direction of the S 'r-
'etary of the Treasury, and also Legislation,
ipou some special questions affecting the
BUSINESS of that department, more especial
the enactment of u law to punish the
distraction of official books or paper>
'on the ties of government, aud rcquIr,
~ such books and papers aud all o,he'
ublic property tobe turned over Ivy tbs
ut-yninr officer 10 his successor; of :,
aw requiring disbursing officers to de-
post. all public money in the vaults n
.le treasury or in other legal de, 'osi ories
where the same are conveniently accessi
e; and law To extend existing ;,ema
rovisiuns to all persons who may bee mt
assessed of public money hy depoSite OF
',herW isc, and who shat, refuse Or neglect
II due demand, 10 pay the same into the
rcasury. | invite YOUR attention anew
o each of these subjects.
TIE army during the past year ha'
been 81 constantly employed against hos
tile nlians in various quarters. that il
eau scarcely he said with the pr"prieiy "l
iangu ge. To have been n peace establish
.nent lis du,ieS have been salisfactoril,
iperfor,l,d. aud We have reason 10 eX rct
as a result OF the years operations, greater
secu Ity To The frontier Inhabitants than
has ocen hitherto enjoyed. Extensive
com nations among HE hostile in,iian> OF
he territories ut Washington ANA Org,i'
1t une time threatened the devastation UI
the newly formed settlements of that re.
note portion of the conmlry. From IT..
cent inf r,nation, W: are permitted to
,ope hi the ell .rSen Ic and successful Or
,ratl as conducted there vii! prev. II, such
combinations in future, and secure to those
errltories an opportunity 10 IN Ike steady
rog ess in The develoiemnt ut OF their ag'
ricut uraI and mineral resources
l. .iSlaiiUn has been recommended 10y
me on .:reyiouS occasions 10 care defects
in he exis lag organization, aud to increase
the efficiency vi the army, aud further o!,
scrv lion has but served 10 confirm me il
tle views the expressed, and ,he convic
zion that such p.eas ures are not only prop
sr b NECESSARY,
I have, in addition, to invite the atten
t Un - Cungivss 10 change oil policy II
the distribution of troops and Ia The ne
cessity of providing il more rapid increase
of the military armament. For details .
these und other subjects relating 10 th'
army, | refer To the repoll Of the Secresa
ry o War.
The condition of the navy is not merel.
satisfactory, hut eXhihitS the most crafty
ing evidences of increased vigor. A it i
comparatively small. 1t is more impOrIan
that it should he as complete as possible
III III. lne eienirmts of strength, that j
snou il he Efficient in the character of it
officers, in the zeal and discipline of it
men, III The reliability of its ordnance, ant
in the capacity OF its ships. In all thes
various qualities The navy has made grea
progress within The last few years. Tn
exec ,,lun ui The law of Congress, of Feb
ruary %, 1855, TO pronlute he elficlenc,
of III navy" has been attended by ih
most advantageous results. The law fu
prom ting discipline among The men i
| found convenient and sal lulary. The Systel