Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-12-12

Ia the report Of the Secretary Of War, gen
eraI summary iS given Of the military campaign
Of 1864 and 1865, ending in the suppression {
armed resistance to the national authority in 10
nsurgent States. The operations Of the genera
administrative Bureaus of the War Department
during the past year are detailed, 6ud an estimat
made Of the appropriations that will be require
/ for military pupofes 10 he fiscal year com
mencing the 30ih day Of June, lS66 The pa
tonal military fotce on thr lei Of May, 1868
numbered l,O0o,5l6 men. II is proposed to re
duce the military establishment to u peace footing
comprehending fifty thousand troops Of all arms
organized 30 as TO admit Of al enlargement b,
/ filling up the ranks 10 eighty-,go thousand 81,
hundred, if The circumstances Of the counr,
shoold require an augmentation Of the army
The volunteer force has already been reduced b,
the discharge from service Of over eight hundred
thousand troops, and the Department Is proceed
ing rapidly IN the work Of further reduction
The war estimates are reduced from $5l6,240
l3l to S33,Sl4 46l, which amount, 10 the opinion
Of the department, is adequate for peace esiab
llshment. The measures oi retrenchmenl in each
Bureau and branch Of the service exhibit dilgent
economy worthy Of commentator. Reference
ia also made in the report TO the necessity OF pro-
vlding for uniform militia system, and to the
proprIety Of making suitable provision tor wound
ed and disabled officers and soldiers.
The revenue system Of the country is subject
Of vital interest to Us honor and prosperity, and
should command the earnest consideration OF
Congress. The Secretary Of the Treasury will lay
before you 'ul and detailed report of the re-
ceips and Disbursements Of the last fiscal yea, Of
the fret quarter Of the present fiscal year, Of the
probable receipts and expenditures Tor the other
three quarters, and the estimates for the year fol-
lowing tho 30th OF June, 1866. might content
myself with reference to that report, IN which you
VIII ind oil the information required for yonr
deliberations and decision. But the paramount
Importance Of the subject so presses itself on nv
own mud, that cannot but lay before you m
views Of the measures which are required for the
good character, and, / might almost say for the
existence Ot TINS people. Tho HE Of republic
lies certainly IN the energy, virtue, and iptelli
gence oi It's citizens but II ia equally true that
good revenue system Is tho life OF an organized
government. meet you at a time when the
nation has voluntarily buTdened itself w.tha deb
unprecedented 10 our annals. Vast as Is its amount.
It ladies' away into no hing when compared with
he countless blessings that will be conferred up
on our country and upon man by the preserya-
lion Of the nations life. Now on the ffst occa-
sloa Of the meeting OF Congress since the return
ol peace, 10 OF the utmost importance 10 insu-
gurate d just policy, which shall at once be put
IN motion, and which shall commend itself to
those who come after us for it, continuance. We
must aim at nothing less thsn the complete effAee.
ment OF the financial evils lhat NECESSARILY
state Of civil war. We must endeavor
ioappy the earliest remedy to the deranged state
OF the currency, aud not shrink from devsing a
policy which, without being oppressive to the peo-
pie, shall Immediately begin to effect a reduc-
Jion OF the debt, and, If persisted in, discharge it
fully within definitely liked number of years.
i. is our first duty to prepare in earnest for our
recovery from the ever increasing evils of an ire
ieemable currency, without sudden reyul.ion.
and yet without untimely procrastinaton. For
mat enu, We must, each 10 our respective pos l.
.ioas, prepare the way. | hold il the duty Of the
Executive 10 INSIST upon irugality in the ex2endi-
lures and spafng economy itself is great ma.
.lonal resource. Oi the banks TO which authority
las been given 10 lssue notes secured by bonds Of
lac United otres, we may require the ersatest
and prudence, anu the law mu be
igldiy enforced when its limits are exceeded.
w may, ch one Of Us, council our active and
'nleFprslng colnlrymen to be constantly on their
guard, to Iiqu.dste debts contracted in a paper
.dueneyi aud, by conducting business a. nearly
Is possible on system OF casa payment
d short credits, TO hold themselves prepared to
eiun TO the standard Of gold and silver. To aid I
'ur feilow-ctlzen' in tle prudent management Of
heir monetary atliiri, the duty deyolyes on US 10
iminsh by law the am0ylt OF paper money now |
o circulation Five years ago the bank-note
Hcul4uon Of the coun,ry amounted TO not much /,
nore than two hundred millions nos the crcua. /
ion, bank and national, exceeds seven hundred I
billions. lhs simple statement OF the iact rec |
mmends more strongly than aay words Of mine .
3uid do, toe necessity OF our restraining this ex
anson. The gradual reduction OF the currency
, the only measure that can rave the business OF .
he country IRON disastrous oaamites aud this
40 be almosl mpeicspuby accomplished by
radually funding the national circulation in Sc
lrides that miy be made rodeemabe a, the
leisure Of the Goyerumsn,
Our debt is doulls seeure-irst ia the actual
eaIth aud still greater unGeveoped resources
the country and next IN the character
our in'IIutlons, The most Intelligent observ-
rs among political ooaom,,ts have not hiled to
amark that the public debt Of country is safe
proportion as It's people are tree that the debt
u republic is the safest OF all. Our history con-
rms aud establishes the theory aud is firmly be-
eve, destined to give 1t astill more signal lls,ra-
on. The secret OF this superiority springs not
lere,y from the fac! that in d republic the nation
obligations are distributed more widely through
1untess numbers IN all classes Of society II has
S root 10 the character Of our laws. Here all
zen contribute to the public welfare, aud bear
ltr far share Of the public burdens. Daring
-s war, under The impulses OF patriotism, the men
the great body OF people, without regard 10
let osu comparative want OF wealth. thronged I
cur armie. anu filled our il-ets OF wlr, aud
ED Themselves ready to offer their lives for the :
lblo good. Now, IN their turn, the property |
ID income Of the country should bear thelr iust /
roporuon OF The burden OF taXiIion, while in our
lpost system, through means Of which Increased \
auty Is incidentally impaired 10 all The indus c
lal Interests OF ID nation, the duties should be il
adjusted as TO ill most heavily on articles Of il
Gury, leaving the neoessaries OF life as free b
0m taxation asthe absolute wants Of the govern. d
ent, economically administered, will Justify.
o iNored class should demand freedom from as. v
ssment, and the axes should be 40 distributed t
not to iali unduly on the poor, but rather ou s
e accumulated wealth OF tao country. We s
ou,d look at the national debt Just as /, is-not
national b!ess.ug but as heavy burden on {
e industry Of the country, to be discharged a
tholt unnecessary delay. Il
Ii IS estmated by the Secretary OF the treas Il
that tue eAnendt turps for the f.olliyear sndiny
e jO.h Of June, 1866, will exceed the reos iss o
ll2, 2,lJ4,9ll. It's gratifying, however, to STATE Il
At 1t is also estimated that the reveous for e
e year ending the 30.h Of June, 1867, will eI- It
cd The expenditures In the sum OF Slll,GS2,- O
Is. This amount OF so much as may be ii
emed sufficient tor the purpose, may be app ed 81