The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1861-04-03
The subjec. Of Finances win call sos

The subject Of Finances win call for
early, earnest and careful consideraiios.
With the most rigid economy the taxee
for few years must be olerous. espS-
cially when the comparatively ioPoss
erished condition Of the people is con-
sidered. It is therefore important to
provide for funding the extraordinary
expenses attending the change from a
Territorial to State Government. in
cluding the expenses Of the Legislature.
The current expcnaes Of the Govern
ment might be greatly diminished by
reducing the number Of the members
of the Legislature. until our population
shall have largely increased. Forty
five members Of the House and fifteen
of the Senate. would subserve the pub
lie interests quite as we'll as the present
number, and reduce the per diem aggre-
gate nearly one-half.
To lessen the tax for supper, Of the
Judiciary. which cannot be less by the
terms OF the Constitution. than $12.-
600 annually. the Legislature might
provide that each suitoF should pay to
the clerk, for the use Of The State. a
small fee Of one or two dollars. 70 be
reckoned as costs against the delin.
quent party. As parties to suits are
che persona chiefly benefited By the
courts. no injustice 10 done them il they
are taxed proportionally. ss.as
Although i; is believed that the Gen
eral Government will assume and pay
the Territorial indeb.ness. amounting
to about 800. .0OO, in the mean time
i, should be funded. payable some
years hence, that the credit of the
State may not suffer, and that the tax
es already levied may be appropriated
for current expenses.
The past year has been one Of un-
precedented droutb. and consequent
scarcity. in Kansas. Our farmers. en-
couraged BY the bountiful return for
labor bestowed on the soil in years in
the past, had an unusual quantity Of
land under cultivatioe. With IN ordi-
nary amount Of rain. large amOupt Of
produce would have been raised for ex-
port. and no people would have been
more highly favored than our own.-
Instead, however. Of plenty and eonse-
quent prosperity. many Of our citizens
have been the recipients Of foreign
charity. For the prompt and generous
relief afforded by States and individu.
ais, a suitable acknowledgement should
be made by the Legislature. and il is
proper to inquire if our state IS not able
10 provide for its own poor in future.
No spirited and energetic people will bs
recipients Of charity. when able TO pro
cure their own subsistence. Such
course would be demoralising and de
grading. Ii the state has suficie0
credit il would be better 10 use it fol
the relief Of her citizens, should it b,
necessary. than longer live upon th'
generosity of others. Seed has already
been furnished in abundance for sprin.
planting. and BY the first Of June ,hs
stock that abounds upsn our prairie:
will be suitable for food; it is therefore
to be hoped .ha, general cnll for char
iIy will soon cease.
Although the past year has been ont
Of adversely to our people. yct. with the
stern integrity and mutual co-operasio'
between the several departments Of tl,,
Government, together with n firm reli
auce upon that Providence which ha
thus faE sustained and directed us. ant
whose promise that seed time and har
vest shall not fail inspires rs with hop
and courage in the darkest hour. VI
may confidently look forward to a hap
py and prosperous future for our new
state.
When Kansas applied for admission
nto the Union. it was supposed there
was Federal Government that woul.
endure until the present generation. q
least. should pass away. Recent devcl
opments. however, have given rise 4
serious doubts as to its existence. The
orelically, such government is exten
ded over thirty -four States. but practi
cally. it does not exist in some. Il
seven States the laws are openly repu
dated, the forts are sicsed. the revenu
stolen. the federal officers defied AM
the flag Of the nation insulsed with i'm
punity, and eight others threaten ~ d
likewise If the Government attempts 4
assert its authority by force in any re
bellious State. Such Is the condition
Of affairs as bequeatbed by the late ad
ministratioD to the present.
The future none can predict. Shoul'
matters progress as for . few month
past, and coercion be decreed ~ q
present. not a prominent seaboar'
State will remain in the Union. and no
n law of the United States will be en-
forced anywhere. Our government
once regarded as power in the earth
will become a Kissing aud by-wor
among the nations stencil in the nos
trils Of all men. This nation occupis
a very remarkable position before tn
civilized world. II has heretofore bee
prompt and efficient in putting dow
treason aud rebellion: Jthe whole fo.c
Of the army aud navy has been Gale
into requisition at once whenever dar
ger threatened. Shay's rebellion. th
whiskey insurrection. South Carolin
notification and the John Brown rait
-