Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-08-13
the extent Of their offending.

ally in the daily Washington Republican
the reputed organ of Mr.. Chase, and the
Treasury Department, on the hasty pas
sage Of this most extraordinary bill:
"AaMy APPROPRIATIONS. The House
just before tho current recess, passed
bill for the support of the army for the
year commencing on the LIST OF July next,
containing appropriations which may be
stated in round numbers at seven hun.
dred and fifty millions Of dollars. The
House spent about half an hour on the
bill. There was no discussion, either on
its details or on the aggregate. The bill
came from the Committee Of Ways and
Means, not accompanied by any report,
nor wero there any verbal explanations
of the manner in which it is proposed to
raise the vast sum of seven hundred and
fifty millions. Nobody presented any
general views upon the manner of carry
ing on the war. The vacuity Of ideas
seemed universal and profound. 1t was,
at any rate, amid entire silence, if not
without reflection, that this appropriation
bill was voted by tho House.
"Now, what we venture TO say is, that
there has been no intelligent consideration
anywhere as to what sort of war it
will be expedient, or possible. to prose-
cute during the year commencing on the
1st of July next, if the rebellion shall not
be quclled by that time. We venture to
say that no consideration of those ques.
tions has been deliberately undertaken,
either by President Lincoln's Cabinet,
the Committee of Ways and Means, or
the House. 1t is not in that way that
this appropriation bill has been made up.
1t is mere aggregation of tho estim ates
Of heads of bureaus in the War Depart,
ment, made by routine, and upon the
basis of an assumed number of soldiers
to be employed.
Is it in this way that great nation is
to be governed? Is our substance to be
devoured at this rate upon the mere dicta
of irresponsible clerks in an executive de-
partment? Is Congress to entirely abdi.
cate its functions as the guardian of the
public purse?
1--WE are ourselves in favor of prosecu-
ting this war indefinitely until its object
is accomplished. and we firmly believe
that the time will never arrive when per-
sistence in the war will not be less evil
than acquiescence in the success Of the
rebellion. But it does not follow, be
cause the war must be prosecuted. and
there can be no deiberation and discus
sion as to the great questions how much
money we can raise in and one year for
prosecuting the war, and how much mon
ey we can proftaJly expend in any one
year. 1853
! "Let us recollect that cxpendng mon
ey is very different thing from waging
: an effective war. Let us recollect, also
, that no matter how large the appropria
tions may be, they will all be used up il
+ the Secretury of the Treasury can raise
the money. 1t is inherent in executive
agencies to spend all the money they are
supplied with.
1--WE do not believe that the conditi or
!, of the finances justifies military expen
diture for the coming year exceeding hall
tho footing Of the appropriation bill. and
a ample to carry on vigorous war, with
the aid of our large naval establishment
:. "There is no precedent in the history
: of tho great wars in Europe, for sucl
0 enormous appropriations as are contained
in this bill.
g "There is even reason to believe tina
9 half the expenditure will bring abou
# larger practical results.
y "The bill, if we trace it back, will b
II found to rest upon no authority. Th
t Committee of Ways and Means has ex
It ercised no other functions in respect to
b than that of adding up columns Of fig
ures. The Secretary of the Treasur.
k sends up the estimates as they come t
IS him from the several Departments. Th
o Secretary of War has done nothing bu
}. adopt the details of his bureaus. BIZ
,. behind al this, is the question for Con
gress, how much money can the natio
re get into its treasury, to be expended dr
l ring the coming year9'
rt Republicans Of Ohio, what do yc
think Of yourselves, after reading Il
=. above from Secretary Chase's organ, {
the action of Congress on this bill? A
d, you ready to complain of Mr.. Vallan
1t igham after that? Do you want yo
~ Congress to vote for any measure. ho'
n- ever reckless, extravagant and CORFU
i'll rather than stand the hrunt of a lit
III clamor from a set of contractors ar
IN public gamblers, who hurried this b
:. through before even the heads Of the d
Dr., "a
"a. partments could see it? Are you lost
at all sense Of right and shameful rega
lis for public decency and your own prop'
10 ty, that you would condemn a ma
or elected to watch after yeur interests,
Ia. cause he would refuse to rob you of
2 last dollar. that he and his friends mig
The fill their already gorged purses?
- What had this bill to do with the
of terest of tho soldier? Not a thing.
an. was bill Of the public robbers! an'
the was by such bills that the public MOI
was soexhausted, that tho soldiers
n. to wait four, five, six, and even N
d;d months for their pay, for the want
..,s funds! Many soldiers family was
A. 4 q