Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-12-13

scenes Of life. have lsft to their country III
rich legacy Of their example, their wisdom
and their patriotism. Drawing fresh inspira
tionfrom their lessons, let us emulate then il
love Of country and respect for the Constitu
ton and the laws.
ENCOURAGING CONDITION on rzE FINANCE.
The report Of the Secretary Of the Tressur,
affords much information respecting the reve
nue. and commerce Of the country. His view,
upon the currency, and with reference to 4
proper adjustment Of urrevenue system, in
ternai as well as impost, are commended Il
the careful consideration OF Congress Inmy
last annual message / expressed my general
views upon these subjects. / need now only
call attention to the necessity Of carrying into
every department Of the Government q sys.
TEN Of rigid accountability, through retrench-
ment, and wise economy. With no exception.
al nor unusual expenditures, the oppressive
burdens Of taxation can be lessened by such q
modification Of our revenue laws a. will be
consistent with the public faith. and the legit-
innate and necessary wants Of the Govern
ment.
The report presents much more satisfae-
tory condition Of our finances than one year
ago the most sanguine could have anticipated
During the hseal year ending the 30th June,
1865, the last year ofthe war, the public debt
was increased $94l ,902 ,537, and on the 3lst
OF October, 1865, it amounted to $2.740, ,s54,-
$50. On the 3lst day Of October 1866. it had
been reduced to s., ,55l SIC. .006, the diminu-
tion. during . period Of fourteen months,
commencing Sept. l. 1865. and ending Oeto-
Der 81, 1866, having been $206. .379 565. In
the last annual report on the state Of the fin-
ances, il was estimated that during the three
quarters Of the fiscal year ending the 30th & 4
June last, the debt would be increased sll2,
lS4,S4I. During that period, however, it was
reduced $3l ,l96,3S7. the recSpts Of the year
having been $50 .9O5 .905 more and the ex-
penditures 5000, ,529 ,235 less than the esti-
mates. Nothing could more clearly indicate
than these statements the extent and availa-
bility OF the national resources, and the rapid
ity and safety with which under our form Of
government, great military and naval estab-
lishments can be disbanded. and expenses re-
duced from war to peace footing.
During the fiscal year ending the 30th Of
June, 1866, the receipts were $55S, ,0s2 $40,
and the expenditures $500, $50 $40, leaving
an available surplus OF $37 2sl $50. II is es-
timated that the receipts for the fiscal year,
ending the 30th June, 1861, will be $475.-
Sol $50, and that the expenditures will reach
the sum OI ADlOfN-CsUNCt leaving IN Tie Te1-
sury surplus Of sl5s. .633. .30s. For the fiscal
that the receipts will amount TO S436 900, :
900. and that the expenditures will be $780,
247 ,64l-shoving an excess Of SIS ,752, ,359
in favor Of the Government. These estimated
receipts may be diminished by reduction
Of excise and import duties: but alter all
necessary deductions shall have been made,
the revenue Of the present and Of following
years will doubtless be sufficient TO cover all
legitimate charges upon the Treasury, and
leave 8 great annual surplus TO be applied to
the payment Of the principal of the debt
There seems now to be no good reason why
taxes may no. be reduced, as the country ad-
yances in population and wealth, and yet the
debt be extinguished within the next quarter
Of q century.
MILITARY CONDITION.
The report of the Secretary of War furnish
es valuable and important Information in ref
erence to the operations Of his Department
during the past year. Few volunteers now
remain in the service. and they are being dis
charged as rapidly as they can be replaced
by regular troops. The army has been
promptly paid, carefully provided with med
zeal treatment, well sheltered and subsisted.
and is to he furnished with breeeh loading
small arRss.. The military strength Of the
nation has been unImpaired by the discharge
Of volunteers, the disposition Of unservIcable
or perIshable stores, and the retrenchment of
expenditure. Sufficient war material 10 meet
any emergency has been retained, and, from
the disbanded volunteers standing ready to
respond to the national call, large armies can
be rapidly organized, equipped and eoncen-
trated. Fortifcations on the coast ,nd front
ier have received, or are being prepared for
more powerful armaments; lake surveys and
harbor and river Improvements sre in course
Of energetic prosecution. Preparations have
been made for the payment Of the additional
bounties authorized during the recent session
Of Congress. under such regulations as will
protect the Government from fraud, and Sc
cure to the honorably discharged soldier the
well earned reward Of his faithfulHess and
gallantry. More than siI thousand msimed
soldiers have received artificial limbs or other
surgical apparatus; and forty-one national
cemeteries, containing the remains Of l0<-
526 Union soldiers, have already been estab-
lished. The total estimate Of military ap.
propriations is SIS y205 ,669.
IHE xAvr.
II 10 stated in the report Of the Secretary Of
the Navy that the naval force at this time con-
sists Of two hundred and seventy-eight yes-
sells, armed with two thousand, three hundred
and fifty-one guns.
carrying one thousand and twenty nine guns,
are in commission, distributed chiefly among
seven squAdrons. The number Of men in the
service is thirteen thousand six hundred
Great activity and vigilance have been dis
played by all the squadrons, and their move
ments have been judiciouslY and efficiently
arranged in such manner as would best pro-
mote American commerce, and protect the
rights and interests Of our eountrymen
abroad. The vessels unimployed are under
going repairs, or are laid up until their serv-
ices may be required. Most Of the irsnelsd
fleet is at League Island, in the vicinity OF
Philadelphia, place which, until decisive
action should be taken by Congress, was Sc
lected by the Secretary Of the Navy IS the
most eligible location for that class Of yes
sells.
PosToFRIcE pEPARrNKET.
The report Of the Postmaster General pre-
sents Q most satisfactory condition OF the
pestal service, and submits recommendations
which deserve the consideration Of Congress.
The revenues Of the Department for the year
ending June 30, 1866, were Sl4 1856 ,9e6, and
the expenditures SIS $500 showing an ex-
cess Of the latter Of $685.. 1893. In anticips-
ton of this deficiency, however, Especial ap-
propriation was made by Congress in theaet
approved July %, 1866. Including the stand.
ing appropriation Of 100000 or free mail
matter, as legitimate portion OF the revenues
vet remaining unexpended, the actual de-
iicien.y for the past year is only $265 J093-a
sum within s5l, ,I4l Of the amount estimated
in the annual report of 1864. The decrease
Of revenue compared with the previous year
was one and one-fifth per cent, and the in
crease Of expenditures, owing principally to
the enlargement Of the mail service in the
South, was tvelvepe cent.
TUr INTERIOR.