The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1864-12-20

needs nor designs to impose involuntar,
military service upon those who com,
from other lands to cast their lot in ou
country. ,A,
The financial affairs Of the Government
have been successfully administered
during the last year. The legislation o
the last session of Congress has benefici
ally affected the revenue, although suf
ficient time has not yet elapsed to expe
rience the iull effect of severa
of the provisions Of the acts o
Congress imposing increased taxa
from all sources, upon the basis of war
rants signed by the Secretary of thu
Treasury, including loans, and the bal
July, 1868, were $1,394, ,795,007 62, anG
the aggregate disbursements, on the
same basis, were $l,298, ,056, l0l SO, leav
ing balance in the Treasury, as showr
by warrants, of $96,739, ,905 70. Deduct
from these amounts the amount of the
| principal of the public debt redeemed
and the amount of issues in substitution
thereof, and the actual cash of the ope
rations of the Treasury were: Receipts,
1884, ,976, GAG II. Disbursements, $685.
234,087 So, which leaves a cash balance
in the Treasury Of Sis, ,842,558 H..
OF the receipts there were derived
from customs, $l02, 2,3l6,152 90; from in.
ternal revenue, $l09, ,84l ,434 10; from
miscellaneous sources, $4T,5ll,343 10,
and from loans applied to yctual expen-
ditures, including former balance. $685.
443, 929 13. 'a Is %
There were disbursed, for the civil
service, $27 sos, 500 46; for pensions and
Indians, $7,511 $3.50 81; for the War De-
partment, $50, ,791, ,842 or; for the Navy
Department, $85, ,743, ,292 70; for interest
of the public debt, $53, 1856, ,421 60; MAX
ing an aggregate of 1865, ,234, ,087 SO, and
leaving q balance in the Treasury $l8,-
842,558 II, as before stated
The public debt on the lst day of July
last, as appears by the books of the
Treasury, amounted to one billion, seven
hundred and forty thousand millions,
six hundred and ninety thousand, four
hundred and eighty-nine dollars and
forty-nine cents. Probably, should the
war continue for another year, that
amount may be increased by not far
from five hundred millions. HELD, as it
is, for the most part by our own people,
it has become substantial branch Of
national, though private property. For
obvious reasons, the more nearly this
property can be distributed among all
the people, the better to favor such gen.
eral distribution, greater inducements to
become owners might, perhaps with good
effect and without injury, be presented
to persons OF limited means. With this
view I suggest whether it might not be
both expedient and competent for Con-
gress. to provide that limited amount
Of some future issue of public securities
might be held by any bona tide purchaser
exempt from taxation and seizure for
debt, under such restrictions and limita-
tious as might be necessary to guard
against the abuse of so important priv
iieae. This would enable prudent per-
sons TO set aside small annuity against
a possible day of want Privileges like
these, would, render the possession of
such securities, to the amount limited,
most desirable to every person of small
m meaps, who might be able to save enough
for the, purpose. The great advantage
of citizens being creditors, as we'll as
debtors, with relation to the public debt,
is obvious. Men really perceive that
they cannot be much oppressed by debt
which they owe to themselves. The pub
lie debt, on the lst day of July last, al.
though somewhat exceeding the O. IT,
mate Of the Secretary of the Treasury,
made to Congress, at the commence
estimate of that officer, made in the pre- |
ceding December, as to its probable |
at the beginning of this year, by |
the sum Of $3,995,07 33. This fact ex-
hibits a satisfactory condition and con-
duct Of the operations OF the Treasury. |
The report of the Secretary of the Ma !
w presents comprehensive and salts
factory exhibit of the affairs of that de-
partment and of the naval service. 1t
s a subject Of congratulation and lauda-
BILE pride to our ,countrymen that a navy
Of such vast proportions has been organ
zed in so brief period, and conducted |
With SO much efficiency and success.
The general exhibit of the navy, in
,luding vessels under construction, on
he LIST of December, 1864, shows that
otal of GIL vessels, carrying 46IO guns,
md 5lO,396 tuns, being an actual in
.rease during the year, over and above
III Losses by shipwreck or in battle, of
Is vessels, l67 guns, and 42,427 tuns.
The total number of men at this time in
he naval service Including officers, is
bout 81 600.
There have been captured by the navy
Turing the year, 324 vessels, and the
Vhole number of naval captures since
lostilities commenced, is 1900, of which
67 are steamers. The gross proceeds
rising from the sale of condemned prize
thus far reported, amount to
IA, 1896, $50 81. A large amount of such
roceeds is still under adjudication, and
ct to be reported.
The total expenditures of the Navy
department. of every description, in
luding the cDst of the immense squad
ons that haze been called into exis-
ence, from th he 4th of March, 1861, TO
be lst of Nov ember, 1864, are $22S, S,647,- |
62 35. -
Your attention is invited 10 the re-
ort of the Postmaster General, for a
etailed account of the operations and
nancial condition of the Post-ofice De-
The postal revenues, for the
ear ending June 30, 1864, amounted to
10 438. .253 78, and the expenditures {
mounted to Sl2, ,644,7 ,7SS 20. The excess
the expenditures over the receipts,
sing $206, $50 AZ. The views presented
' the Postmaster General on the sub
ct of special grants by the Govern I
ent, in aid of the establishment Of new (
mes of ocean mail steamships, and the :
,licy he recommends for the develop q
ent Of increased commercial inter y
urse with adjacent and neighboring
untries should receive the careful con- .
ieration of Congress.
u Is of note-worthy interest that the o