Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-10
The Secretary and the Revenue.

On the 3rd inst. the Secretary of the Urea
sury transmitted to the House Of Representa-
tives reply to resolution of the Hous.
calling for the actual and probable receips
from the customs, public lands, and the mex
year, and for his opinion whether the receipts
will be adequate to meet the public expen,
diturcs. The Secretary say, that
"Thc receipts during the first quarter o.
the present fiscal year. ending September las,
were nearly twenty millions two hundred anc
thirty-one thousand dollars. "a stated in hi
annual report. The receipts for the remain
ing three quarters were estimated at thirty
eight millions five hundred thousand dollars
of which sum thirty-seven millions wer
timatcd from the customs. 1t was believed
that the quarter, ending December last would
Weld ten millions; the present quarter, end
ing ON the 3lst of March. fifteen millions; and
the next quarter, ending on the 30th of June.
twelve millions. In reference not only to
the customs, but the puhlic-lands and other
sources OF revenue, all the information " hich
h'Is been received at the department. since
his annual report confirms the correctness OF
the estimates of the probable receipts for the
present aud the next fiscal year. He is, there
fore, of the opinion that the result will show
that the actual receipts for the remaining
quarters OF the present year, aud for the next
fiscal year, will not vary materially from the
estimates submitted 70 Congress.
In support OF this opinion, he submits a
comparison OF the receipts for the same quar-
tiers of the two preceding years. During the
fiscal year, ending seth of June. 1851. the
importations were very heavy, amounting. in
dutiable goods, exclusive OF those exported
to over two hundred aud ninety-four millions,
aud the receipts from customs that year were
sixty-three millions six hundred and forty
eight thousand dollars. In the fiscal year
ending jane, 1858, the importations wert
much reduced, amounting in dutiable goods
exclusive of those exported, to two hundred
and two millions, and the receipts from the
customs To foTty-two millions forty-six thous-
aud. To realize his estimates the importa-
ton OF dutiable goods tor the present fiscal
year must reach two hundred and fifty mil
lions besides those exported. and for the next
fiscal year Abe sum oftwo hundred and eighty
millions. Comparing the foregoing statement
OF receipts, aud looking To favorable and
healthy reaction IN business, he should re-
gard IL unsafe and ulwise TO calculate
upon a larger Importation than the present
estimates contemplate. Entertaining thes,
opinions he is compelled 10 say the receipt,
will not be adequate 20 the necessity cf ia
public exigrncies, unless the expenditure,
should be reduced below the amount estlmat
ed for. lie has seen no indications that
woulc induce tue opinion that such result can
be reasonably anticipated. Ga the contrary,
should the bills which have been passed by
either branch of Congress, be finally passed
ny both, and become laws. the expenditures
would lie very largely aad permanently in-
creased
II lie estimated that the Pension bill which
has passed tue House, will add several mill
lions To this years expenses OF the govern-
ment, aud even a larger amount for the next
fiscal year. Other bills also. which have ell
Their passed the Senate or the House. will, In a
large measure, swell the amoaat of the ex-
penditares. These Acknowledgements 80 which
the attention OF CongTess should be directed
Ia considering the probable receipts and ex-
penditures of the Government. Either the
expenditures must be rsdaeed 10 the estimate
cd receipts, or other means of revenue sbou III
be provided. II the lirst can be effected, ID 4
certainly most desirable. Tie has already
submitted "a Congress measures for cosiifying
the revenue lass, aud for u0fganlzing the
collection districts, Which, IL sanctioned sal