Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-10-20

N IhFcfs Thousand MILLION Dent
Mr. DavAs. Republican Member Of Congress
from Massachusetts. estimated the average cost
Of the war 4 81, 900 900 per day. One thousand
DAYS have hearty elapsed since the war com
p'encej. an. il cannot be doubted that the whole
expense htA far is fully equal to 81, 900 900 900
fAIbany (YY.) Argus.
The Rochester Union in commenting upon the
above. states that the New York Times, a Re-
publican organ. sets down the national debt at
the present time as no more than twelve or thir
teen hnpdr.d millions. But the discrepancy be
tween tbess two Republican authorities may be
very readil accounted for in this manner:
Mr. DAVE estimate included the whole cost of
the war: lie the Times dispatch refers only to
that portion tof the cost OF the war which has been
audited an4for which the Government has given
its obgatisn-that which appears on the books
of the Department Now. anybody possessing a
grain of Intelligence knows that that portion of
the public idebt embraces but a comparatively
small propetton Of the liabilities which have been
incurred by:Ihe Government in the prosecution Of
this war. ;And all these Liabilities will sooner
or later sisume the form of Public Debt.
Under tbj most pains taking administration
OF the public finances, il will take
years to ssttle up and give notes for the ten
thousand :reties Of valid claims upon the Fed
eral Treasury. The process of auditing or settling
and putting into the permanent form of govern
ment stocks these various forms of public debt, is
an exceedi3gIy slow one. Hence we legitimate
the conclusion announced in the outset, that the
twelve hunEred millions referred to BY the Treas
ury uispates to the Times is but a comparatively
small portien Of the aggregate OF the public debt
for which she Government, or rather the people,
are liable z day.
IL we subtract half million day from Mr.
DAVIS casefully pred estimate as the actual
cost Of the war the liabilities Of the Government
(Which contributes the real DEBT of the Govern
ment) to DAY about two thousand FIVE hun
drei MILLIONS Of dollars. And we believe that
Distinguished Republican member of Congress is
not more oslt OF the way than that
The aggiegate wealth Of the country prior to
the war, vas estimated at fifteen thousand
millions--tiat of the Northern States at about
ten or eleven thousand millions.
Indiana is about one twentieth of the old
terminated to day in restoration OF the Govern
ment as it was. Indana's portion of the public
debt Throwing off five hundred millions from
Mr.. DAwEt estmste) would be about one hun
drsd and d |enty .fue millions Of dollars. But if
this debt was to be paid by the North alone. the
proportion which would fall to the State Of Indi-
ant would amount to about fro hundred and
"A
cent per tnnam. would be more than the entire
present public debt of the State.
Again; deducting five hundred millions from
the estim,.e of the Massachusetts, member. the
public detit is to day equal to one sixth of the
whole property OF the thirty four States: or
equal TO ,about one fourth of the aggregate
wealth of the free States
These figures are given on high Republican
authority; .snd purpose in setting them in
array is ise same as Mr. DAWES had in view
when he published them-to keep the people
posted. in order that they may hold their ser
wants To aproper accountability But We may
say in this connection that the necessary cost OF a
waged for the preservation of the Union
and the system of free government which the
Union was designed to secure. should be cheer
fully borne by the people Were We compelled
to choose between submitting 70 a severed Union
on the one hand. and giving one half instead Of
one fourth of all possess to assure its preser
walton and pesmanency, on the other we should
unhesi' sringly and cheerfulIy choose the latter
alternative. Indeed there is conceivable al
tentative which a man of sense and patriotism,
would not prefer to dissolution OF the Union.
Yet the people should see that the war be no;
prcs,ituted to purposes of fanaticism and base
personal ambition; and that their wealth. which
they pour out freely. be not used to enrich the
unprincped favOrtes Of power.