Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-12-10


rights and in protecting commercial interests.
Our consuls have necessarily had to encoun-
ter increased labors and responsibilities grow
ing out of the war. These they have for the
most part met and discharged with zeal and
efficiency. This acknowledgment justly in
cludes those consuls who, residing in Moroc-
co, Egypt, Turkey, Japan, China, and other
oriental countries, are charged with complex
functions and extraordinary powers.
THE TERRITORIES.
The condition of the several organized ter
ritories is generally satisfactory, although In
dian disturbances in New Mexico have not
been entirely suppressed. The mineral re-
sources of Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, New
Mexico and Arizona, are proving far richer
than has heretofore been understood. l lay
before youa communication on this subject
from the governor of New Mexico.
ENCOURAGEMENT OF nimGRATIoN.
| again submit to YOUR consideration the
expediency of establishing a system for the
encouragement of immigration, although this
source of national wealth and strength is
again flowing with greater freedom than for
several years before the inSurrection 0c-
Cured. There is IA great. insuliiciency of la
bOrers in every field of industry, especially
in agriculture and mines, as well as iron and
precious metals. While the demand of labor
is thus increased here, tens of thousands of
persons, destitute of remunerative occupation
offering to emigrate to the United States if
essential but very cheap assistance can be
afforded them. 1t is easy to see that under
the sharp discipline of civil war, the nation is
beginning a new life. This noble effort de-
mands the aid and ought to receive the atten-
ton and support of the government.
JUSTICE TO FOREIGNERS.
Injuries unforeseen by the government, and
unintended, may have been in some cases in
ficted on the subjects or citizens of foreign
countries, both at sea and on land, by persons
in the service of the United States As this
government expects redress from other pow
ers, when similar injuries are inflicted by per-
sons in their service, upon citizens of the
United States, we must be prepared to do JUS
tice to foreigners. If the existing Judicial
tribunals are inadequate TO the purpose a
special court may be authorized, with power
to hear and decide such claims of the charac-
ter referred to, which may have arisen under
treaties and the public law. Conventions for
adjusting the claims by joint commission have
been proposed to some governments, but no
definite answer to the proposition has yet
been received from any. In the course of the
session | shall probably have occasion to re-
quest you to provide decentralization to claim
ants, where DEGREES of restitution have been
rendered, and damages awarded, by admiralty
courts, and in other cases where this govern
ment may be acknowledged to be liable in
principal, and where the amount of that liza
bilIy has been ascertained by an informal ar
bitration.
The proper officers of the treasury have
deemed themselves required, by the law of
the United States upon the subject, to demand
a tax upon the incomes of foreign consuls in
this country. While such demand may not
in strictness be in dorogation of puhir law,
or perhaps of any existing treaty between the
United States and foreign country, the ex
pediency OF SO far modifying the act as to ex-
empt from tax the income of such cOnsuls as
are not citizens of the United States, derived
from the emoluments of their Offices, or from
property not situated in the United States, is
submitted to your serious consideration. |
make this suggestion upon the ground that Il
comfy which ought to be reciprocated eX-
empts our consulS, in all other countries,
from taxation to the extent thus indicated.
The United States, | think, ought not to be
exceptionally illiberal.
THE NATIONAL FINANCES.
The operations of the treasury during the
last year have been successfully conducted.
The enactment by congress of national
bank law has proved valuable support of the
public credit, and the general legislation in
relation to loans has fully answered the ex-
pectations of its favorers. Some amendments
may be required to perfect existing laws, but
no change in their policy or general scope is
believed to be needed Since these measures
have been in operation, all demands of the
treasury, including the pay of the army and
navy, have been promptly met and fully salts
fed. No considerable body of troops, it is
believed, were ever more amply provided and
more literally or more punctually paid; and
it may be added, by no power were the bur-
dens incidental to a great war ever more
cheerfully borne.
The receipts during the year from all
sources, including loans and the balance in
the treasury at its commencement were $90l,-
1854 Sc; and the aggregate disbursements
$685., 796, $50 65 leaving balance on the
first of July of $5,329,044 81. Of the re-
ceipts, there were received from customs
500 ,059,6 52 60; from internal revenue, $751;
GAO, 1871 So; direct tax, bl 1856, l03 81 from
lands, $l67,Gl7 II; from miscellaneous
sources, $3,046,6l5 So; and from loans,
$77G,6S2, 1861 81; making the aggregate,
1901, ,674 Sc. OF the disbursements,
there were for the civil service, S23, 253, 1922
0S; for pensions and Indians, $4,2l6,526 SO /;
for interest on public debt, $24, 729 ,S45 81 /;
for the war department, sos, 29S, 600 SO; for
the navy department, $63, 2ll,705 81; for pay
ment of the funded and temporary debt,
$751; ,096,635 OF making the aggregate
1895, 1876, $50 Go, and leaving the balance of
$500, 044 II. But the payment of the fund
ed and temporary debt having been made from
money borrowed during the year, must be re.
garded as merely nominal payments, and the
moneys borrowed to make them as merely
nominal receipts, and their amount, $751;
0S6, 635 OF, should, therefore, be deducted,
both from receipts and disbursements. This
being done, there remains as actual receipts,
S720,039, 039 70, and the actual disburse-
ments, STA, 709, 995 So, leaving the balance
already stated.
The actual receipts and disbursements for
the first quarter, and the estimated receipts
and disbursements for the remaining three
quarters of the current fiscal year 1864, will
be shown in detail by the report of the secre-
tary of the treasury, to which invite your
attention. 1t is sufficient to say here that it
is not believed that the actual results will ex-
hibit a state of the finances less favorable to
the country than the estimates of that officer
heretofore submitted, while it is confidently
expected that ttle close of the year both dis
bursements and debt will be found very con-
siderably less than has been anticipated.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
The report of the secretary OF war is doc
ument Of great interest Itconsists of, first,
the military operations of the year detailed in
the report of the general in chief; second, the
organization of colUred persons into the war
service; third, the exchange of prisoners fully