Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-12-07
TIE NATIONAL DEBT,

character OF our institutions, The most In
telligent observers among political econo-
mists have not failed 10 remark, that the
public debt of country Is safe IN proper
ton as its people are free; that the debt of
u republic is the safest of all. Our history
confirms and establishes the theory, and Is,
| firmly believe, destined to give Il n still
more signal Illustration, The secret of this
superiority springs not merely from the fact
that in republic ths national obligations
are distributed more widely through count
less numbers in all classes of society; IL has
its root in the character of our laws. Here
all men contribute TO the public welfare, and
bear their fair share of the public burdens.
During the war under the impulses of pat
riotism, the men of the great body of the
people, without regard 10 their own compa-
r0tive want of wealth, throngcd TO our ar
mics udI filed our fleets of war, and held
themselves ready to offer their lives for the
public good. Now, in their turn, the pro-
perry and income ofthe country should bear
their just proportion Of the burden of taxa.
ton, while in our import system, through
means OF which increased vitality is Incl
dentally impaired TO all the industrial inter-
ests ofthe nation, the duties should be so ad-
luSted as TO tall most heavily on articles of
luxury, leaving the necessaries of life as free
from taxation as the absolute wants of the
Government, economically administered, will
Justify. No favored class should .demand
freedom from assessment and the taxes
should be so distributed as not to fall undu.
ly on the poor but rather on the accumula-
ted wealth of the country. We should look
at the national debt Just ms it iS-not as n
national blessing but as heavy burden on
the industry of the country, 10 be dscharg-
ed without unnecessary delay.
EXPENDITURES
NATIONAL no. 90 a.,
%. II is estimated by the Secretary VI ''o
treasury that the expenditures S3T inc fiscal
year ending the 30th Of June, 1866, will CX-
coed the receipts Sli2,l9I9i7. 1t is crafty
ing, however, to state that it is also estima-
ted that the revenue for the year ending the
30th of June, 1867, will exceed the expcndi-
lures in the sum of Sl1 ,6S2, SlS This
amount, or so much as may be deemed Suf-
hcent for the purpose, may he applied TO
the reduction of the public debt, which on
the 3lSt day of October, 1868, was 2,740,S5
$50. Every reduction will diminish the to-
tai amount of interest TO be paid, and so
enlarge the means Of still further reductions
until the whole shall be liquidated: and this
as will be seen from the estimates of the Sc
CTetary of the Treasury, may be accom-
plished by annual payments even within a
period not exceeding thirty years. | have
faith that we shall do all this within a rea-
sOnable time; that as we have amazed the
world by the suppression of civil war
which was thought to be beyond the CON
troll of any Government, so we shall equally
show the superiority of our institutions by
the prompt and faithful discharge of our
national obligations.
AGRICULTURE.
The Department of Agriculture, under its
present direction, is accomplishing much in
dnVplOniOU and titiliyinOr hn Leu
raj capabilities of the country, and for in
formation respecting the details of its man
agement reference is made TO the annual re-
port of the Commissioner.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
have dwelt thus fully on our domestic
affairs because of their tranScendent impor-
tance.-Under any circumstances, our great
extent of territory and variety of climate
producing almost everything that is neces-
sary for the wants, and even the comforts
of man, make us Singuarly independent of
the varying policy of foreign Powers, and
protect us against every temptation TO cen
tangling alliances, while at the present
moment the re-establishment of harmony,
and the strength that comes from harmony,
will be our best security against nations
who feel power and forget right" For my
self, it has been and will be my.constaut aim
to promote peace, and amity with all foreign
nations and Powers andI have every reason
to believe that they all, without exception,
are animated by the same disposition. Our
relations with the Emperor or China, so
| recent in their origin, are most friendly.
| Our commerce with his dominions is receiY-
| ing new developments; and it is very piers
| ing to find that the Government of that great
| Empire manifests satisfaction with our poll
| cy, and reposes Just confidence in the fair
! ness which marks our intercourse. The I'M
| broken harmony between the United States
| and the Emperor of Russia is receiving a
new support from an enterprise designed TO
carry Geographic lines across the continent
| of Asia, through his domiuions and so TO
connect us with all Europe by a new channel
! of intercourse, Our commerce with South
| America is about to receive encouragement
| by direct line Of mail steamships to the
rising Empire of Brazil The distinguished
| party of men Of science who have receiH, dy
| left our country to make scientific eXplora-
ton of the natural history and rivers and
mountain ranges of that region, have re-
celved from the Emperor that generous well
come which was TO have been expected
from his constant friendship for the United
States, and his well-known zeal in pr0mot-
ing the advancement knowledge. A hope
is entertained that our commerce with the
| rich aud popalOus countries that border the
Mediterranean sea may be largely inCreas-
! ed. Nothing will be wanting, on the part of
! this government, to, extend the protection
oFour flag over the enterprise of our fellow
| citizens. We receive from the Powers in
that region assurance of good will; and it is
worthy of note that special envoy has
brought us messages of coincidence on tbc,
death of our late Chief Magistrate from the
! Bey of Tunis, whose rule includes the old
dominion of Carthage, on the African coast.
OUR RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN,
! Our domestic contest, now happily ended
has left some traces in our relations with
one at least of the great maritime Powers,
The formal accordance of belligent rights to
the lnsurgent States was unprecendented.
and has not been justified by the issue Bnt
IN the system OF neutrality pursued by the
| Powers which made that concession, there
was marked difference. The materials OF
war for the insurgent States were furnished.
Sn great measure, from the workshops
OF Great Britain; and British ships manned
py british saRJects, and prepared for receiy-
liig british armameuts, sailed from the ports
OF GREAT Britain TO make war on American
commerce, under the shelter of a commission
from the nsurgent States These ships.
having once escaped from British norris
ever afterwards entered them in every mart
or the world, to reft, and SO 20 renew their
depredations. The consequence of this con