The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-09-02
Our Burden and Our Strength

and interest
There * another view to be taken OF
this matter of national debt. The GOV
eminent has procured the money for the
carrying on of this gigantic war from It's
own citizens. The men of this Republic
have loaned their government the sinewS
OF war not expecting or wishing the prln-
cipal, at least for many years. The III
terest is paid promptly-this is all they
wish and even if the war goes on till
the close OF the year 1865. and the debt
increases in the next sixteen months in
the same ratio thai it has in the past. the
taxes will not he buricnsome and this gen
Grafton will never suffer for the principal.
1t was so in the war of 1912. and it will
he 50 in the Rebellion of 1911 When
the war ceases then the public debt Will
be gradually Cancelled by the resources
within our own Republic
We do not make this statement without
the figures 10 back us. Those who care
to look al the resources OF our country
can lind food for reflection and AT the same
time good ground for their faith in the abil-
itv of our country to meet It's liabilities i'll Il
pamphlet published by David A. Wells.
\. NJ. OF TROY. y. Y. entitled. Our
Burden and our Strength" The figures
given are mostly from official sources and
can bc relied on.
/ In July 1864 our national debt was
81 $50. OO0 900. Assuming the war IL
last till the close of 1865. at the same ra-
| ito of expense. our debt will then bt
/ $4,000. 100000. Assuming also the in.
crease of population by emigration from
other countries the same the coming yeaI
a> the past and the debt Jan. |. 1866
will he to each individual only 49,. 80
At the present time it is less than S113
, Now let us see how this debt compares
even with that OF other countries: March.
/ 1868. the debt OF Great Britain was $3.50
to each individual i'll the kinglom-ourS.
, il the war closes in 1860 even will b,
/ So France has debt of $50. while
J Holland has one of Sill 10 each person
This shows us NJ least that orr debt !,
NOT unnrecadentcI E,,t when wa take
into consideration olr uatinn's resource.
tbi, S-3 per head looks in.ionitcant in.
deed.
Now villa, hav. We with which to meet
orr nhliootions
! III. o,H.;oll, ,--,...l ,,,luo If oil +bc
,...L and ,orzonL ,r.,,,rtv in the Iowa
states IN 1850 was almost 81 900. eco.
0pG. Large as this valuation seems i
WIS. nevertheless. in the opinion of In,
best stati,ticians. considerably below ;
true estimate: naSmuch a. real property
in actual practice i rarely valued. 10
census returns and for purposes of assess
meni. at more than twa-thirdS OF IL re;
value. while large amounts of person.
property. from tie facility with which
Is concealed. escape valuation and asses,
ment altogether. If the value OF proper
" Increases three-tourths as much now :
. II did between the years loou-Oo, AMI
Is believed II has and will increase iii
Z greater ratio than at that perlod.-the
Oh the lst OF July ls64. the valu"
), the property OF the loyal states va
Sl3,3Oo.oOO,ooo. Distribute equally til
Il amount and we have to each indivldu
SCI l.''- Large Is these proportions ma
>erln' apply them practically ana "
: should MOI consider The case "i IN lndiv!'
= 'Iai IL particularly iE'r" whose "'o'S al
: i''''i'''''N were ''>> ''''''' 'i''--''''''n
Ii ''lS ">'''i'''' ''''''> anu Il "'' Inc ''''
Virtual '"''' certainly ''o' 'ile 'o"''''E'
: ~''''", '''''N'" anu '''''' 'So'"'''' /
: l''''''' = ,'''' '''' With We ''''s'''' TIL
w '''''' o''', '''' '''''''>' " P'''-'"' ="
ii - ,"'h u 7''''' 10 '''''' le'S''l
= = WY ''''' '''"' '''. ''''''''S "p'
Il o''' '''''''> ~ pay 'i'' ue'' Il '''e ieS'''
u i-'i e'>' VI H'''ioii''l wealth., WHICH II