The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-12-09


upon established routes, and in favor continuing
present system. which limits compensation for ocean
careful consideration of Congress.
1t appears. from the report of the Secretary of the
Navy, that while, ut the commencement the pres
year. there were in commission $50 vessels classes
and descriptions armed with 5000 guns and manned by
5lOO0 men, tho number of vessels a present
sion is III, with S:l9 guns and l2I2s By this
prompt reduction of the naval forces the expenses of the
Government have been largely diminished and number
OF vessels purchased for naval purposes from the
suts Of Since suppression OF active hos
titc%onr foreign squatrons have been rc-csablishc,
employed smiur service previous To the rebellion
The suggcson for the enlargement of the navy-yarls
and especially for the establishment fresh water
for irocad vessels is deserving Of consideration
also the accommodation for different location and
III the report of the Secretary War; general summary
Is Of military campaigns of 1864 and 1865 ending
in the suppression of armed the national
thority in the insugent States The operations gen.
era administrative bureaus the War Department during
appropriation that will be required for military purposes
In tho fiscal year commencing tho 3Oth day of June,
1865 numbered 1e0o5l6 men, It is proposed to reduce
tho military establishment to peace footing compre-
admit of enlargement bv filling up tho ranks to
eightywo thousand six hundred if the circumstances
OF the country should require augmentation of tho
army. Tho volunteer force has already been reduced
by tho discharge from service of eight hundred
thousand troops and the Department is proceeding rap
idly in the work of further reduction. The esti-
mates are reduced from s5lo2Iol3l to s33.Sl4.4GI.
which amount in the opinion of the Department., is
adequte for peace establishment. The measures of
retrcncment in each ure1u and branch of the service
exhibit dilgcnt economy worthy Of commendution.
Reference Is also made in the report to the necessity of
providing for uniform militia system, and to the pro-
pricy Of making suitable provision for wounded and
disabled officers and soldiers.
The rcvcnac system of the country is subject of vi
tai interest to its honor and prosperity and should
command the earnest considc ation of Congress. The
detailed report of the receipts and disbursements of the
last fiscal year, of the first quarter of the present fiscal
three qu rters the estimates for the year fol-
lowing the 3Oth of June, 1866. might content myself
all the information required for your deliberations and
decision, But the paramount Importance of the subject
so presses itself on my own mind that cannot but lay
before you my views Of the which are required
for the good character, and might almost say, for the
ainy in tho energy, virtue and intelligence its cti
zcns but it is equally true that good system
time when the Nation has voluntarily huriccd itself
with debt unprecedented in our annals Vast IA is
its amount, it fades away into nothing when compared
with the countless blessings that will be conferred
upon our country and npon man by the prescrva-
! sion Of the meeting of Congress since the return
Of peace it is of the utmost Importance nuugurac
and which shall commend itself TO thuse who come
after for its continuance We aim at nothing
that necessarily followed state Of civil We must
endeavur to apply the earliest remedy to the deranged
policy which, without being oppressive to the people,
Shall Immediately begin % ellcct reduction OF the
definitely fixed number of years.
1t is our first duty to prepare in earnest for
currency without sudden rcvulsien and yet without
untney procrasnation. For that end VIC must, each
the duty tho Executive insist upon frugnly the
expenditures; and sparng economy is itself great
been given to Issue notes secured by bonds United
States, may require the greatest moderation and pru
dence and the law must bc rgidly enforced when itt
limits are exceeded. We may each one Of ns, counsc
active and enterprising countrymen be constantly
Oh their guard to quidate debts contracted in paper
currency. and, by conducting business nearly pos
s6le on system of cash payments or short credits
tltmEplyps rod n
gold and silver To aid fellowcitiZens in the pru
Wolves on us to dminisi by law the amount of nspe
money in circulation Five years ago the banknott
a Oh Inc county nmountea @ TO not nneh NOR NOR
and national, exceeds seven hundred millions The sim
hen mor o f IN" & ,I. o M hs occs of 9
restraining this expansion. The gradual reduction o
ness of the country from disastrous calnmcs; and th
can be almost inpercepibly accomplished by gradual!
funding the national circulation in securities that
be made rcdecmable at the pleasure of the Govern
ment
Our debt is doubly secure-Arst in the actual wealtl
and still greater uneveiope of the country
ard next III the character OF institutions. The
safe in proportion as Its people are free that the deb
and establishes the theory and is rmiy believe des
tined to give still signal illustration The sc
G e
more widely through countless numbers III all classes
M mas s tn tn 0n
their fair share OF the public burdens During the war
under the impulses of patriotism the of the gren
body of people, without regard to their own com
" parative want Of wealth. throngcd to our armies an
offer their lives for tho public good Now, in their turn
tho property and income Of the country should bea
their just proportion of the burden of taxation; whi
In our impos system through means (which increase
vitality is incidentally impaired to all the industrial II
erests Of the nation the duties should be adjuse
to fall most heavily articles Of luxury leaving t
necessaries Of life free from taxation the absout
wants of the Government. economically administered
will justify No favored class should demand freedol
from assessment and the taxes should be distribute
ns not to fall unduly the poor but rather the
q. cumuated wealth Of tho country. We should look
national debt just It is-not national blessin
but as heavy burden the industry of the countr
ls to bo discharged without unnecessary delay.
1t is estimated by the Secretary OF the TreasuI
that the expenditures for the fiscal year ending til
IN 30th Of June, 1866, will exceed the receipts s112
10 184 947 1t is gratifying however, to state that
s also estimated that the revenue for the year
IN ing the 30th of June 1867 will exceed the expend
ce tures in the sum of $111 6S2, ,S1s This amount,
at 30 much as may be deemed sufficient for the pu
n. pose, may be applied to the reduction Of the pu
lie debt, which, on the 31st day of October, 1856
be was S. TAO 1854, $50. Every reduction will diminis
no the total amount Of interest to be paid and 30
NJ largo tho means Of still further reductions, UNI
~ ~ the whole shall be iquidated; and this as will
NJ nf seen from the estimates of the Secretary OF q
mi Treasury, may be accomplished by annual pa
of ments even within period not exceeding thr
ed years. have faith that shall do all this wit
he in reasonable time that, as we have amazed e
OF world by the suppression Of civil war which W
ie. thought to be beyond the control Of any Cover
eS e mont, shall equally show the superiority
mt our institutions by the prompt and faithful d
oh nf oksDt.o1 1Nl,l