Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-19
fatal. sIsl, OS2, 90

Then add $50, 900 for the ordinary expen-
ses of Government, and We have total of SlS1,
032 900 per annum. Call it $500, 900 900, and
we shall probably be pretty near the mark This
is more than half million day. Some have
estimated total expenses at ONE MILLION a
day; but this we are inclined to think is an exag-
geration.
Yet large as the present outlay must necessa-
rily be. it is more likely to be increased than di-
minished, from year to year, so long as the war
lasts. There will soon be large body of men
unavailable such as the disabled. the sick and
the lazy; who must be provided for at cost quite
equal to that required for troops in active ser
vice. In the present condition of the revenue,
the necessity seems inevitable of creating large
public debt, to be discharged by the next
ceeding generations.
Nor is the Government expenditure the only
burden which the people must bear during the
continuance of the war. Private subscriptions,
donations and contributions, in one shape or
another, form no inconsiderable item in the cost
of fitting out the army and taking care of the
families of those who have enlisted in the volun-
teer force. These subscriptions already amount
to many millions of dollars, perhaps in all the
Northern States to nearly fifty millions. includ
ing State appropriations. and they must continue
until the occasion for extraordinary expenditures
shall have passed, or the resources of the country
become much exhausted, that the people will
no longer be able to bear this extraordinary tax
upon their generous patriotism.
We suppose nearly the same ratio of expendi
ture exists in the Southern as in the Northern
States; and that, in proportion to their resources,
the people of that section are or will be taxed
even more heavily than those of the North The
consequence Of these enormous public expendi
lures must be to impoverish the country, and to
load it with debt which. for many years to come,
will cripple the energies and weigh down the
spirits of the people. The very causes which de-
mand such vast sums Of money for current dis
bursements, operate to PROSTATE commercial
business and prosperity, to discourage imports
and dimish the revenue; that. with increased
burdens, we have almost extinguished the usual
sources of revenue, and are thrown upon the very
unsatisfactory mode of carrying on the Govern
ment at f.arfully augmented cost. chiefly by
the proceeds of loans at exhorbtant rates Of in
terest. A contemporary, in discoursing upon the
best mode of conducting the war, urges large ad-
dtiona levies of troops and insists that the cost
is of no account, even if public debt of fue
hundred millions Of dollars is incurred This is
not an encouraging prospect to hold out to the
people of the country, and we hope the picture
will not soon be realized.
The lessons 10 be drawn from these facts and
considerations are full of meaning and of admo
milton. The hardships which such an outlay will
impose upon the property and people of the
country, furnish abundant reason for insisting
that the system of plumber and cheating connect
ed with the disbursement of these large sums
shall cease, and that the money contributed or
borrowed for defraying the expenses of the war,
shall be honestly and economically used, and ap-
piled to legitimate purposes.
Will not the authorities make an effort to stop
this extraordinary Treasury leak ? We hear of
the army worm" preying upon the crops in
some sections of the country, but we apprehend
the damage is nothing compared with that done
by this great army ,corm TO which we have al
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