Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-27

terrible and, perhaps, protractcd that ever shook
the world. Courass, chiyalry, patriotism. dcvo-
ton b the Union and the laws. all came forward
and still tand really in on inexhausiblc quanti-
~. The country has gIowed from end TO end
throughout all is vast extent with ferFid love
TO the Government a. our fathers made u. But,
sordid and practical a. II may seem To some, one
OF the main sincws Of waris money, plain money
Without armies do not move and navies do not
float and the purse of the nation = to be found IN
the pockets of the people. Sir, IN view OF these
fact. what has been the course Of those In au-
thorify since this war commenced in regard 10 the
great question of national economy Have our
resources been carefully hu-banded Have our
public moneys been strictly guarded from the
hand Of the piundererl Have our public officers
been held to a rigid accountability in their use OF
the hard-earncd revenues Of the country Has
financial integrity marked the conduct of those
in whom the people placed their trust when the
present Administration came into power Has
common honesty been observed BY those who
won their way 10 popular confidence by their
fierce denunciatons Of the alleged coHuptions Of
former Administrations! A speak not as par
tisan, nor in the spirit of party j trust i can
rise above all such considerations: but these are
questions in which the people of all parties have
n deep and overwhelming interest, and they are
questions, too, which all men in every part OF
the country who desire an honest administration
and startling emphasis. The answer which must
come, and Of which impartial history will make
everlasting record, is one which bows the head
and burns the cheek of every lover of his coun-
trys good name with humiliation and with shame.
Let Us look calmly and carefully AZ a few fig
ures, not of alluring and captivating fancy, but
figures of cold and repulsive reality. The vail
which a pleasing and hopeful sophistry weaves
around its object with which 20 bcguile the peo-
=. 4. -.
torn away. Nothing should be hid from the
honest eve of popular scrutiny. II is the duty OF
the Representative 20 fully portray those facts OF
vital importance on which the governing power
OF this free country, the people, will soon be called
upon To- act
presume, sir, that az this time no ono can,
with entire accuracy, estimate the amount of
our public debt. II Is one of the alarming signs
of the times that either from confusion or inca
paciy, or from the shrinking dread Of rccog-
nizing m appalling truth, VIC have an unusual
silence in official quarters in regard to the extent
of Government liabilities. We are, however. Ie-
lievcd in great measure upon that point. bv the
statements which have been made from time 10
time on this floor and especially bv the Chair
man OF the Committee on WAYS and Means,
alr. Stevens, who has right to speak chat
subject as ono in authority. From that source
we learn that our expenditures have for many
months past, exceeded the enormous sum of
$4,000 900 per day. One years expense al this
rate reaches the sum Of q .095 900. 600 That
our indebtedness nj this nom i equal to- that
vast amount will hardly be denied by any intelli.
gent AMI candid person who has had the oppor-
tunIty to observe the prOfusion and recklcsSness
with which the resources ard the credit of the
Government have been used since This most un-
natural strife fell like blight upon the land. a
little more than a year ago We bcheld the in
wis of tI,a
first time disturb like a baeful comet, the peace
OF this republic. Since then battles have been
fought, equal In numbers engaged. in hcroism of
conduct and IN the gha-tlv heaps of the Slain TO
the renowned conflicts of ancient story. Veto
~, too, under an overriding Providence, has
chosen the standard OF the Government and our
armies are steadily penetrating that immense
scope OF country in which the banner OF revolt
has been reared.
But assuming that the smiles of fortune will
continue TO rest upon our arms. and that no re-
verses in store for our troops. vet nothing i
palmer TO the thinking mind which resolves the
future by considering the past, than the fact that
the expenses of this Government for the ensuing
year will fully equal, and most likely surpass
what We have witnessed in the year that has lust
closed. A. our armies push forward their col
umns INTO the distant parts of n dcsolated and i'm
poyeriShed and hostile country. the difficulty and
cost of their support VIII rapidly multiply The
value of transportation will almost double the
price of the stores transported There has been
mach Undigcsted and crude defamation on this
floor in regard TO subSstng our forces on the rro-
duets of the country we invade. This however
i simply one of those unsubstautia theories
which, unhapplv for the country. have so nlenti-
fully aboundei in this body since our ma iional
caamtlcS came upon us. All the great authors
on the art of war show is absurlitv. and our
own experience Ina, already exploded IL. 1t has
already been found that where one army has
swept over q country, but barren reception
awaits another; and especially Is this the case
when a rctreating army is impclled bv the strong
est military reasons 10 leave nothing for the sub
sistencc of it victorious pursuer. Destruction
then marks every field. and war with is iron
mailed hand scOurceS the bosom of nature her
self into stertility. Attia, the fierce barbarian
conqucror. at the head of hi, ravaeing hordes
announced 10 aifri -hted Europe that Grass would
never gov again where the hOofs Of hi, war
horse had left their mark. Scarcely less blight
ell viii b. the track of defeated and retreatinc
Southern armies. when no longer able 10 meet
Us in general engagements. But little will he
left after their own wants met and that little
will BE- destroyed. Our supply trains will have
to move with armies from the loval States
thus augmcnting the public expenditures at every
step. IL l. safe, then, to conclude that the wear
that Is 10 come and on which We arc lust enter
ing-thc second year of the war-will swell the
Indebtedness of this Government 10 tie alarming
sum ct $4,000, 100000. This amount will have
accU d about the time the toilng citizen i, fairly
calicl uoon 10 commenccthc weary task of meet
in IL awful proportions by taxation II i, a
task. sir. that no CSC which now behold> the sun
will ever see comnlctcd Tie child Is not born.
and viii not be for more that hundred wears
who viii escape the visits of the Federal tax
gahCrcr n the inceSSant laborS of future genera
tionS Ia wear away by The steady dropping, Of 4
perpetual tax this mountain of debt. This Is no
hgh-wrouglt or eXtravagant statement, buf the
sad aal meiancholy truth a each succeeding
vear ofthc approaching future will but 100 tuly
bear witness,
Ii i said. however, here and eishN herr through
cur Tire country, that W. are q nation of mex
haustIhle rc>ourccs OF almost fabulous wealth.
AMI that burdens which would cause other Gov
ernmcnts to reel and stasgcr arc rs Ii Int a
feathers 10 This IS a pleasing tribute 10 our
national vanity; II sounds well in our ,elf-com-
placen, ears We have 50 lonE been exalted in
happiness over all other people. so Ions, blessed
in every enjoyment above what God La, ever
vouchsated to any other nation. tha, We are even
now unwilling unable T. realize the fact thai
the hand Of aiiiic,i,n Las az last fallen upon us
with "A force almost a. cruel = tha; which visited
JeIu salem when Titus was encamred before her
walls l. IS tue. however that We abound in
wealth Ii true that our lap has been filed with
trea>urc. hui things in this world exist principally