The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-18
The WEEKLY WEEK. PIONEER s7ElEqB AND DEMOCRAT

sderauon. make this suggestion upon
the ground that other countries exempt
our Oonsuls from taxation to the extent
thus indicated. The United States. I
think, ought not to be at all illiberal to in
ternational trade and commerce. li'a}
~. THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT. ai-'
The operations Of the Treasury Depart
ment during the last year have been sue
cessfully conducted. The enactment by
Congress of a national banking law has
proved valuable support of the public
credit, and the general legislation in rela-
ton to loans has fully answered the expec-
tatlon OF its trainers. Some amendments
may be required to perfect existing laws,
but no change in their principles or general
scope is believed to be needed.
Since these measures have been in opera,
ton, all demands on the Treasury touch
ing the pay of the army and navy have
been promptly met and fully satisfied.
No considerable body of troops, it is be-
lleved, were ever more amply provided,
and more literally and punctually paid.
and it may he added that by no people
were the burdens incidental to a great
war ever more cheerfully borne.
RECEIPTS.
The receipts during the year from all
sources, including loans and balance in the
Treasury at its commencement were 1901, =
l25,674.S6. The aggregate disbursement
1896, 796, $4,000, leaving balance on the
7th of July 1868, of SIS, 329,O44.21.
Ut the receipts there were derived from
customs ,O59, 142 40; from internal
revenue $37, 740,7s7 95; from direct tax
es $14, 1851 ,O361 from lands SIG, 761,7 III;
| from miscellaneous sources 1904, 661 $3.50;
and from loans $726, 6S2, 361.57, making
the aggregate 1901, 1875, 674S6.
| DISBURSEMENTS.
OF the disbursements there were $685.
1922 for pensions, &c.; $4,216, $40. so for
interest on public debt; $24,792, 846.51
for war debt; $50, 1929, S6O.S3 for the
Navy Department; $63,211, 1O5.27 for
payment of funded and tenn orary debt,
$1S1, OS6, 635.07; making aggregate of
1896, 756, 630.65, and leaving balance of
1852, 9O4, 421.
But the payment of the funded and
temporary debt, having been made from
monies borrowed during the year, must
be regarded as merely nominal payment,
and the monies borrowed to make them as
merely nominal receipts; and the actual
amount of 81, 1903, 663, 507, should there
fore be deducted both from the receipts
and disbursements. This being done,
there remains as actual receipts, $714,-
7O9, 1858, leaving balance as already
stated.
The actual receipts and disbursements
for the first quarter and the estimated re-
| oeipts and disbursements for the remain
ing three quarters of the current fiscal
year of 1864, will be shown in detail by
the report of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, to which l invite your attention. It is
sufficient to say here that it is not be-
lieved that the actual results will exhibit a
state of the finances less favorable to the
country than the estimates of that officer
heretofore submitted, while it is conf
IDENTITY expected that at the close of the
year both disbursements and debts will be
found very considerably less than has
been anticipated.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT..
The report of the Secretary of War
is document of great interest. 1t con-
| sists of
| 1st. The military operations of the year,
as detailed in the report of the General
in-Chief
End The organization of colored per-
sons into the war service
Sd. Exchange of prisoners, fully set
set forth in the letter of Gen. Hitchcock.
4th. Operations under the act for en-
rolling and calling out the national forces,
detailed in the report of the Provost
Marshal General.
9Th. The organization of the Invalid
Corps; and
9th. The operations of the several de-
partments of the Quartermaster General,
Commissary General, Paymaster General,
Chief of Engineers, Chief of Ordnance,
and Surgeon General.
1t has appeared impossible to make
summary OF this report, except such as
would be too extensive for this message,
and hence content myself in referring
your attention to the report itself
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The duties developing our naval
branch Of service during the year, and
throughout the whole of this unhappy
contest, have been discharged with fidelity
and great success The extensive block
ade has been constantly increasing in
efficiency, as the navy has expanded. Yet,
in SO short time, it has so far been impos-
sible to entirely suppress illegal trade.
From the returns received at the Navy
Department it appears that more than one
thousand vessels have been captured since
the blockade was instituted, and that the
value of prizes already sent in for adjudi-
cation amount to over $13 100000
The naval force of the United States at
this time consists of 588 vessels completed
and in course of completion, and of these
IS are iron clad armored steamers. The
events Of the war give an increased in
terest and importance to the navy, which
will probably extend beyond the war itself
The armored vessels now in the service
of the United States or which are under
contract anil approaching completion are
believed t. exceed in number those Of any
other power; but while this may be re-
lied on for harbor defence and sea coast
service, these of greater strength and Ca
pacity will lie necessary for cruising pur-
poses and 20 maintain our rightful position
on the ocean.
A change has taken place in navy YES
sells and naval warfare. since the introduce