The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-10
BALTIMORE.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1861.

1t Is evidently impossible to obtain from head
quarters an accurate statement of the appropria-
tons which have been made for the support of
the Government by the Congress which has lately
adjourned. SO hurried so confused, and
lll-consdered has been the whole of its legislation
that intelligent members themselves differ mate
rally as to the actual amount that has been voted
and journalists, who have extensive facilities for
information, are so entirely adrift in their es-
mates, that several of them, in the columns of
their newspapers lave announced to the public
that the sum of $500, O0O,0 900 has been appropri-
ated--a statement which appeared, but
few days since, in the Journal OF Commerce, usu-
ally most reliable and accurate paper. tele-
gram from the Associated Press announced, yes
terday, that the total appropriations amounted TO
S275, 1000 900, but this, we are sure, is not relia-
BILE; for but the day before, after many unsuccess-
full attempts to obtain the required information,
the truth was finally confded to our applicant,
who had access to headquarters, that it was not
known at the Treasury Department what was the
aggregate amount of the appropriations made
This, however, we are sure, will not create the
slightest surprise among those who have paid any
attention TO the acts of Mr.. CHASE From the
commencement they have been characterized by
want of Judgment, incapaci'y and deceit. He
seriously damaged the financial operations
OF the Administration in the beginning,
by attempting to dictate his terms to the
very capitalists, upon whose assistance he was
dependent for the support Of the Government; he
has since shown himself perfectly unable odevise,
or unwilling TO recommend any scheme which
could really provide for the additional expenditure
created by the war, and he finished by making a
report which was so palpably false that it was
neither regarded by President LINCOLN in his
message, nor treated with common consideration
by Congress. The former did not hesitate to ask
for S400. 100000 additional to put down the re.
belon, well aware that an Indebtedness Of $500,
100000 had already bsen incurred, and the first
act Of Congress to introduce bill making
an appropriation Of $500, 900, 900, which wa;
afterwards increased to $500, OO0 900, for the re-
quirements of the Administration Before the
hnal passage of the bill, however, some of thu
friends of the measure became alarmed at the mas
nitude of the appropriation. The bill from tn,
Senate was sent back to the House. where som,
very virtuous individual remarked that, on refec
ton, perhaps it would be as well not to vote any
time, although the public has been anxiousy
watching for the re-appearance Of the bill, it has
most unaccountably disappeared, and during the
latter part Of the session has not again been
heard of.
Different sums have been voted, at sundry
times, for various purposes, in most careless and
hasty manner, and apparently without full un.
derstandlng on the part of Congress of what
they were doing or what the appropria-
hons were lntended for. If they examined
at all the estimates with which they were fur
nished they appear clearly TO have come to the
conclusion that they understood as little as Mr..
CHASE did, the calculations before them, and TO
have dim idea that, after all, the main point was
10 authorize him TO get what money he asked for
IN the best way he could.
Whhe, therefore, we are unable to lay before
our readers an accurate statement Of the specific
appropriations made, or TO give them probable
estimate nf tho additional a,nn".. -.r-:--a ~
general bills such, for instance as the one allow
ing increased pay TO priv tes and nou-commis-
stoned officers and volunteers, it is not worth
while to go into thorough examination of the
financial policy, if he have any, which Mr.. CHASE
has adopted. We will me rely content ourselves
with remarking that the means at his hands, even
if he be enabled to avail himself of them, will NOT
be sufficient to provide for the sums specified in his
own intentionally false report; and that even il
they did, the whole amount raised would not
more than liquidate the actual extraordinary in
deotedness into which the country has been
plunged by the LINCOLN Administration, since the
4th day of March last, much less provide for any
expenditure to be made from this time up to the
regular meeting of Congress in December next