Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-10-27
THE COST OF THE WAR.
FOR THE NATIONAL IETELLIGENCER.
OF CONGRESS SINCE THE
BEGINNING OF THE WAR.

APPROPRIATIONS OF CONGRESS- SINCE
BEGINNING OF THE WAR.
The wretched if not wicked management Of the wa
the Administration in prescribing competent Generals
interfering in military policy, causing the loss OF bal
and the proracton of the war, has cost the nation
only the loss OF the flower of its youth. but the mm
expenditure in definite appropriations by Congress, as
lows. (No exact calculation be made of the sum
what are termed indefinite appropriations)
Extra Session of 1861 .--....---..-.... 1895, 1853
Misc. House Doc. No. "a
Regular Session Of l66l-2.----..----.-.-. o94,904
(Mise. House Doc. No. 3D.
Regular Session of l662-3.---..-----.-... T3,l20
Misc. House Doc. No. 49,
Regular Session of 1854. 100000
The computation for the session of 1864
ia not quite made up, but it is estimated by
the Clerk engaged upon it that the apprO-
priatons are $9O0,O00,0OO, as above.
The estimates for appropriations by Con-
gress at the coming session, for the next 6s. .M.
cal year, are now being made at the Depart
ment. As the war is to certainly continue
another year because if Richmond be taken
Lees army will retreat Southwark the ap- ..
preparations may be set down at the same
as last year. 100000
| There is class of expenditures under the
law which are not appropriated for at each
session of Congress. They are mainly for
interest on public debt and for expense of ...
| collecting the revenue. For the fiscal years
1862 and 1863 they were $5S,26l 1922.
| 1913, 100 400 of this sum was for payment
| of Treasury notes.-(See letter of the Regis
| tor of the Treasury in Executive Document.)
For the fiscal years 1854, $50 ,039 ,608--
(see Executive Document) For the next
a.cal year, Estimated $l3O 900 600. (In-
terest on the public debt will be over
$l2O ,OOOOoo) The aggregate then Of ap-
preparations under permanent law is.-.. 246, 800
| The grand aggregate of appropriations,
permanent under law, and definite ones at
sessions of Congress since the war began,
including those which will be made at the
next session, upon the supposition that the a
war will continue another year, ,lSl 4o4
Under the law Of the United States, the
Government is responsible for damages done
to private property by the military, and judg-
ing from the vast amounts that have been
paid on that head In past small ,oars, and
also for claims under contracts, and for
seizures of personal property for military
purposes, the sum for which the Govern
ment will be liable cannot be cent under 50,OOt
Add the small figure of $l00, 100000 under
| the head of indefinite appropriations, and the
aggregate will exceed the receipts from in
ternal revenues and the tariff from the be-
ginning OF the war to the end Of the next 6s'
cal year. There will remain then at that
| time as national debt the permanent and de-
finite appropriations for FIVE sessions (the
/ a. fha uinov a
| Suppose the war to be substantially over in ant
year. with no imme date danger of foreign war, and
thing left to do for the army and navy except to clear
guerrias, keep the South in subsection, and parcel
the lands of the white people among the negroes that
cultivated them. The army cannot be reduced to
than hundred regiments Of all arms, nor can the
be 90 materially diminished as that the annual appro
ton therefor and for pensions, Notifications, dipor
purposes, and internal improvements, &C., &C., wi
less than $3.50 100000.
| Add interest on what the national debt will be
another year Of war, supposing the moneys apr
ated to be all spent, (6 per cent on $4,lSl 4S4
deductng, say $400, 900 900 OF currency on which
terest runs and we shall have yearly interest to
just about $225,Ooo,oOo.
In other words, the yearly appropriations cannoHb
than SAFE, 600 600.
How is that to be provided for7 The answer is in n
doubling the present rates Of taxation for by recen
cuatons at the Bureau Of Internal Revenue for the
ing report of the Secretary of the Treasury but fra
above 5000 900 900 ia anticipated from internal revenr
| CENT. this year Nor do the estimated receipts on
account exceed $4,000, 900. SO that when the W
over in large way and the products Of agriculture
be reduced in value by reason of the limited demar
army account and by reason Of the return Of the mi
the soldiers to tng the SOIL the taxes on national acc
Ito say nothing Of those Of States counties, and toy
will be nearly double iohat they noio are.
Indeed they will probably be quite double, becaus
are not now receiving gold enough under the present
to pay the interest on that part Of the national debt
| ia already funded. According to Mr.. Fessenden's
ment OF the 30th ultmo interest was then running
81 500 900 900 Of funded national debt The intere
that amount in gold is $50 100000 As the tariff
not on account Of the practice Of greater economy
people) weld above SO 900 this fiscal year, Their
main $50 900 900 of gold TO be bought yearly in curl
TO make up the payment Of interest on funded debt
stood on the Both Of September, 1864 This will
$40 600 600 IN greenback at the present rate Of gold
the funded debt increases increased amounts Of gold
be required 10 pay interest The increase Of the fl
debt was about $40 0O0, 900 in September utmo. A
rate per month for the next nine months of the fiscal
$500 900 900 will be added to the funded debt as it Q,
on the goth ultimo. Gold must be bought with q
back. to pay interest on this additional o,oot
which interest will at present prices Of gold take thu
Of $75, SOC, 900 Of currency.
In brief, on whatever of the funded debt exceed
sum Of 81 200 600 ooo gold must be bought to pay h
tere.t In thi, way the people must pay twelve per
in Government money. 1t is clear that they cannot
this strain in finance for Great Britain, which is by
r;cbe.t power IN earth paws but three per cent Of