The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-01-11
TRHkSURY.

J Message, respecting the anticipated receipt
and expenditures of the Treasury, have bcel
substantially verified. r
1t appears from the report of the Secre
tary of the Treasury, that the receipt dur
ing the last fiscal year ending June 80, 1857
from all sources, were sixty-fvc millior
three thousand nine hundred and thirt,
dollars and that the public expenditure
for the same period, exclusive Of payments
on account of the public debt, amounted to
fifty-six millions three hundred and sixty.
five thousand three hundred and ninety.
three dollars. During the same period, the
payments made in redemption of the public
debt, including interest and premium,
amounted to nine million eight hundredand
forty-four thousand five hundred and twenty
eight dollars.
The balance in the Treasury at the begin
ing of the present fiscal year, July i, 1856,
was eighteen million nine hundred and thir-
.ty-one thousand nine hundred and seventy
six dollars the receipts for the first quar-
ter, and the estimated receipts for the re-
manning three quarters, amount, together,
to sixty-seven million nine hundred and
eighteen thousand seven hundred and thirty
four dollars thus afloriing in all, rs the
available resources of the current fiscal year,
the sum of eighty-six million eight hundred
AMI fifty-six thousand seven hundred and ten
dollars.
If, to the actual expenditures of the first
quarter of the current fiscal year be added
the probable expenditures for the remaining
three-quarters, as estimated by the Secretary
of the Treasury, the sum total will be sew
enty-onc million two hundred and twenty
six thousand eight hundred and f0rty-six
dollars, thereby leaving an estimated bal
ancc in the Treasury, on July /, 1856, of
fifteen million six hundred and twcnty-three
thousand eight hundred and sixty-threc dol
lars and forty-one cents.
In the above estimated expenditures of the
present fiscal year are included three mill
ion dollars TO meet the last instalmcnt of
the ten millions provided for in the late
treaty with Mexico, and seven million seven
hundred and fifty thousand dollars appro-
which two sums make an aggregate amount
of ten million seven hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars, and reduce the expenditures,
actual or estimated, for ordinary objects of
the year, to the sum of sixty million four
hundred and sevcnty-six thousand dollars.
The amount of the public debt, at the
commencement of the present fiscal year,
was forty million five hundred and eighty
three thousand six hundred and thirty-onc
dollars, and deduction being made of sub
sequent payments, the whole public debt of
the federal government remaining at this
time is less than forty million dollars.
The remnant of certain other governments
stocks, amounting to two hundred and for
ty-thrcc thousand dollars, referred to in my
last Message rs outstanding, has since been
paid.
| am fully persuaded that it would be
difficult to devise system superior TO that
by which the fiscal business of the govern
mcnt is now conducted. Notwithstanding
the great number of public agents Of coilec-
ton and disbursement, it is believed that the
checks and guards provided, including the
requirement of monthly returns, render it
scarcely possible for any considerable fraud
on the part of those agents, or neglect in
volying hazard of serious public loss, to cs-
cape detection. renew, however, the rec
commentator, heretofore made by me, Of
the enactment of a law declaring it felony
on the part of public officers to insert false
entries i'm their books of record or account,
or to make false returns and also requiring
them, on the termination Of their service to
deliver to their SUCCESSORS all books, records
and other objects of public nature in their
custody.
Derived as our public revenue is, in chief
part, from duties on imports, its magnitude
affords gratifying evidence of the prosperity,
not only of our commerce, but of the other
great interests upon which that depends.
The principle that all moneys not requir-
ed for the current expenses of the Govern
mcut should remain for active employment
in the hands of the people, and the conspic-
uous fact that the annual revenue from all
sources exceeds, by many millions Ofdollars,
the amount needed for prudent and econ
omical administration of public affairs, can
not fail to suggest the propricty of an early
revision and reduction of the tariff of duties
on imports. IL is snow so generally conceded
that the purpose of revenue alone can Justi-
fy the imposition ofdutics on imports, that,
in re-adiusting the impost tables and sche-
dulles, which unqucstiOnably require essen
tial notifications, departure from the
principles of the present tariff is not antici-
pated.
Army.
The army, during the past year, has been
actively engaged in defending the Indian
frontier, the state Of the service permitting
but few and small garrisons in our pcrma-
nent lortifcatiOns. The cadditional regiments
authorized at the lust session of Congress
have been recruited and organized, and
large portion of the troops have already been
sent to the field. All the duties, which de-
volve on the military establishment, have
been satisfactorily performed, and the dan
gers and privations incident to the character
of the service required of our troops have
furnished additional evidence of the courage,
zeal, and capacity to meet any requisitiOn,
which their country may make upon them.
For the details of the military operations.
the distribution Of the troops, and the addi-
tional provisions required for the military
service, refer to the report of the Secrcta-
ry of War and the accompanying documents.
Experience, gathered from events which
have transpircd since my last Annual Mes
sage, has but served to confirm the opinion
then expressed of the propricty of making
provision, ,:.by retired list, for disabled Off
GERS, and for increased compensation to the
officers retained on the list for active duty
All the reasons which existed, when these
measures were recommended on former occa-
sions, continue without modification, except
40 FAR rs circumstances have given to some
of them additional force.
The recommendations heretofore made,
for partial reorganization of the army, are
also renewed. The thorough elementary cd
ucation given to those officers, vino CON-
mence their service with the grade of cadet,
qualities them, To considerable extent, to
perform the duties of every arm Of the SER
vice; but to give the highest efficiency to
artillery requires the practice and special
study OF many years; and il is not, there
fore, believed to be advisable 10 maintain, in
time of peace, larger force Of that arm
than can be usually employed in the duties
appertaining to the service of the field and
siege artillery. The duties of the staff, in
oil H. A., rinua hra chts telnny IN tho movp-