Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-10-16
Correspondence Of the New York Tribune.
DISUNION-THE COST.
WASHINGTON. Sent. 25. |

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 1858.
There is not the least doubt that the Disunion.
lists of the South, as a party, are rapidly gaining
strength and power. The extreme leaders, such
us Yancey, Of Alabama, are bold in proclaiming
their views ard intentions too much so, in fact,
to enlist at oacc any large portion Of the Southern
politicians, but in all the add esses delivered by
members Of Congress who have been on the stump
before their constituents since tho adjournment of
Congress, that have come under notice of the press,
you will find a vein of Disunion sentiment running
through them. The latest speech Of this kind was
from the Hon. Senator Brown, of Mississippi, who
animated that "Slavery ard the Union, we're in
compatible" and that in the even; of slavery be.
ing cncroached upon, "he did not care how soon
Disunicn came" 1t has probably never entered
into the heads Of these gentlemen who are go fond
of calculating upon the blessings that would attend
a separate and distinct Southern confederacy, the
cost in dollars and cents to them of such govern.
ment, as compared with what it costs them under
the present confederacy. The Southern States, be.
ing in favor Of free trade n, q principle in govern.
meht, Of course would resort to direct taxation for
its support, and | desire merely to show the cost to
their people of one single item Of their expenses
under a Southern confederacy. as compared with
the present cost. l allude to the mail service
that service in which all people, high and low, rich
and poor, feel more direct interest than in any 9th,
er branch of the government. For the facts and
figures which are given, I refer to the last report
made to Congress by Mr.. Postmaster General
Brown, of Mississippi, who, 1 nope, entertains diff
ferent sentiments from the othpr Mississippi
Brown, before quoted. According to this re.
port, the expenditure, in round numbers, for 1857,
was Sll, 5O7, go
And the revenue was S,053, 95l
Being less than the expenditures by the sum of
So, 453, 7l9. OF this expense account the sum Of
50. $50, 087 is found in the items IF transportation,
compensation to postmasters, an incidental ex'
penses. The balance Of the expenses for the
steamship lines from New York, New Orleans, &C.,
| omit from these calculations, as my object is to
show the receipts as compared with the expenses
in each State of the Union.
The total expenses in the fifteen slave
States for The mail service during
1857, was 1902 934
Total revenue from same 1864 6l
Excess of expense over revenue S2,446 ,473
The total expense in the seventeen free
States was $5,440 1873
Total revenue from same 5,346, 494
Excess Of expense over revenue $93,G50
Thus demonstrating that the seventeen free States
only lacked the sum of $93, $50, in paying for
their mail privileges, while the fifteen slave States
lacked 80, 446, 473.
During the year 1857, but FIVE States in the
Union yielded a net revenue to tho department,
viz, Massachusetts,; Rhode Island, Connecticut,
New York and Pennsylvania. 1t will thus be
seen that the National Treasury pays a deficit
to the Post Office Department in it's receipts for
services performed il seventeen free States of
only 1913 $3.50
And for the fifteen slave States Of 2,446, 473
IF, therefore, a Southern Republic should be or.
ganized, and the same mail facilities be granted
their people that they now enjoy, a direct TAX
would have to be levied on them for the following
sum:
Present cost of mail service in the States 1902 1874
Add cost of steamship service (halO 456, 1913
Total S4,549,72
Deduct receipts 1916, 46l
Deficiency $2.903 ,256
Let the Southern fire caters then Calculate" the
cost to their people of going out of the Union, and
they will find not only in the mail service, but in
numerous ways, the free States pay all their own
expenses Of government, and have to pay out OF
the joint Treasury of the nation the deficiencies OF
the Southern States.