The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-04-01
NATIONAL RETRENCHmENT.

~ W. '''" W SSssu'hCu iOt HIoHy ScdISS
is the one Of which Mr.. Boyce, of South
Carolina, is head, created to inquire (and,
we trust, reporD upon the important sub
ject of national embracing
within its scope also, the searching question
of National Taxation and Revenue.
That our annual expenditure has been
carried, of late years, far beyond the legiti-
mate bounds Of our necessities, all will ad-
NIT who recognize within the past few
years, sum of about seventy millions an
nually, 50 l-2 for each individual, made
way with, whilst in Il long range of pre-
vious years, when at peace, a much less
sum, in proportion to the population, was
deemed ample to meet all the yearly ne
cessitcs Of the National Treasury:
The argument is sometimes adduccd for
this great and wasteiui increase from past
years, that the expenses of living have pro-
portionately y advanced. If such is the case
these expenses have no warrant in the en-
hanccd values of the necassaries or the
comforts of life. To prove this, let any
well-authenticated record of prices of fam
lily articles for the past fifty years be con-
suited, TO vindicate the assertion. Take the
whole range of provisions as an illustration
with the single exception of butchers
beef. So, too, with all the varieties of gro
ccrlcs and clothing, and the average of the
past ten years will he found below that of
any other decade of our history. Tie
same facts exists with reference to the costs
OF all the muniments of war, which apply
equally to the land and naval forces.
Should it be alleged that steam, in the first
instance, is more costly, on the other hard
it is more efficient in the matter of trans.
port, and otlensive or protective operations,
than canvass alone. Thus, smaller en-
bodiment of men with steam appliances are
tar more powerful at sea or atioat,
than when employed in any mode of naval
warfare thirty years ago.
Apply this view of the case to the state
me"t that a soldier Of the army now re-
quires 800 to $1,000 per annum, TO sustain
him, (and it is fair to suppose sailor an
equal or greater amount,) whilst in the early
period OF the century 800 to $500 per an
mum, was found sufficient, and we cannot
escape the conclusion tha, great waste and
extravaganza, sustained by careless, if not
corrupt Legislation, is the cause of the i'll
equality. There is no reason why those in
the Government employ should be better
paid than the mass of their felIow-citizens
who give equal labor Or intelligence to the
discharge of their daily duties; and whilst
all wish the faithful public servant to be
properly recompensed, we may, at the same
time, feel well assured that the steady hand
OF retrcnchmcnt can, at moment of ma
lonaI distress, be most proftably employed
in probing into the details of the expcndi-
lures for the army and navy, that are sweep
ing collectively from the Treasury nearly
thirty millions Of dollars year.
Another prolific source of expenditure is
tile system OF subsidise, applied directly or
through the Post Office Department, to the
commercial steam marine, which, as shown
in the DEFICIENCIES of that Department, and
IN other ways, must embrace an item Of
near five millions Of dollars annually.
The question of public printing, now
calling for its millions rather than its few
hundred thousand annually, is receiving
some share of public attention, and it NAV
be fairly hoped that it will not escape the
close attention Of Mr.. Boyces important
committee.
Again, the tendency to increase the CON-
pensation of every attache Of the Govern.
ment, in the departments of civilian CHAR
acter, cannot escaped the attention of any
one who has noticed the course of lepisla.
ton at Washington, in recent years. The
point of honor, that formerly attached, in
a degree, to every public officer of a ma
tional character, appears to have snbsided
into consideration of emolument alone.
The cost of collecting the revenue of the
Union, when we allow for the value of the
rental of Custom Houses, wear and use of
cutters, &C., is represented by another an
nual draft of five millions upon the Treas
ury, and like all the others enumerated, is
an additional burthen upon the industry of
The country. twill be properly question
before the committe, whether by a radical
change in the mode of assessing or raising |
The revenue, this last formidable item can |
not be greatly alleyiated, if not altogether
dispensed with.
That the mode the constitution contem.
plated, making "taxation and representa-
ion" move hand and, hand, i. e., each |
State to furnish its quota, in the ratio of its |
representative force inIConeress, would ;diss
oense with this last burthen of FIVE millions |
or the expenses Of collecting. the revenue,
here can be no hdispnte; and for one (of |
nany) the writer iopes to live to see> the
lay when The. wise system Of revenue con.