The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1866-12-13
ugh, Highland County, Ohio Thursday, December 3, 1866.

lished by our fathers for the guidance of
succeeding generations. "The Constitu-
ton which at any time exists, until chang
ed by an explicit and authentic act of the
whole people, is sacredly obligatory upon
ALL" "If, in the opinion Of the people, he
distribution or modification of the consti-
tutional powers be, in any particular,
wrong, let Il be corrected by an amend
ment in the way in which the Constitution
designates. But let there be no change by
usurpation :" for sit Is the customary
weapon by which free Governments are
destroyed" Washington spoke these
words to his countrymen, when, followed
by their love and gratitude, he voluntarily /
retired from the cares of public life. "To
keep in all things within the pale of our
constitutional powers, nnd cherish the |
Federal Union as the only rock of safety" !
were prescribed by Jefferson as rules of
action to endearnto his "countrymen the i
true principles of their Constitution, and |
promote n union of sentiment and action |
equally auspicious to their happiness and !
safety" Jackson held that the action of
the General Government should always be |
strictly confined to the sphere of its ap-
propriate duties, and justly and forcibly
urged that our Government is not 10 be
maintained nor our Union preserved "by
invasions of the rights and powers of the
several States. In thus attempting to
make our General Government strong, we
make IL weak. Its true strength consists
in leaving individuals and States rs much
as possible to themselves; i'm making it.
self felt, not in its power, hut in its benc-
| ficence not in its control, but in its pro-
lection; not in binding the States more
closely to the center but leaving each TO
move unobstructed in its proper ccnstitu-
tional orbit" These are the teachings of
men whose deeds and services have made
them illustrious, and who, long since
withdrawn from the scenes of life, have
left to their country the rich legacy of their
example, their wisdom, and their patriot
ism. Drawing fresh inspiration from their
lessons, let us emulate them i'm love Of
country and respect for the Constitution
and the laws.
The report of the Secretary of the Treas
| ury affords much information respecting
e the revenue and commerce of the country.
His views upon the currency, and with
reference TO II proper adjustment of our
a revenue system, internal as well as impost.
are commended to the careful considera-
ton of fCongrcss. In my last annual mes
sage expressed my general views upon
these subjects. need now only call at
tentlon to the necessity of carrying into
every department of the Government a
, system of rigid accountability, thorough
no exceptional nor unusual expenditures,
the oppressive burdens of taxation can be
, lessened by such modification of our
revenue laws as Will be consistent with
the public faith, and the legitimate and
f necessary wants of the Government
"he report presents a much more salts
: factory condition of our finances than one
, year ago the most sanguine could have an
, ticipated. During the fiscal wear ending
To-, Al,
war, the public debt was increased S04l.-
9O2,537, and on the Slst of October, 1860,
it amounted to S2,74O, ,s54, $50 On the 31st
day of October, 1866, il had been reduced
to S2,55l ,3l0,006, the diminution, during n
period of fourteen months commencing
. September l, 1865, and ending October 81 .
1865, having been $206,3 SOS. In the
last annual report on the state of the fl
nances, 1t was estimated that during the
three quarters of the fiscal year ending the
, 3Oth of June last, the debt would be in
creased SIP, l94,94 During that period.
however, it was reduced $3l ,l96, ,3s7, the re-
ceipts of the yeer having been $50, sos, ,9O5
more, and the expenditures 5000 500, ,235
less than the estimates. Nothing could
more clearly indicate than these state
ments the extent and availability of the
national resources, and the rapidity and
safety with which, under our form of gov
ernment, great military and naval estab-
, lishments can be disbanded, and expenses
} reduced from war to peace footing.
, During the fiscal year ending the Both of
June 1866, the receipts were sass, O32, $40,
, and the expenditures $500, $50. 04O leaving
an available surplus of $37, 2Sl $50. 1t is
estimated that the receipts for the fiscal
, year ending the 30th June, 1867 will be
5,06l, 1856, and that the expenditures will
reach the sum of SSl6,42s,07S. leaving in
! the treasury surplus of Sl5S, 633, ,30S.
; For the fiscal year ending June 80, 1866, il is
, estimated that the receipts will amount to
S43,OO0, 900, and that the expenditures will
be S35O, ,247 ,64l-showing an excess of $751;
I52,jo9 in favor of the Government
These estimated receipts may he diminish
cd by reduction of excise and import dn-
ties; but after all necessary reductions
shall have been made the revenue of the
present and of the following years will
doubtless be sufficient to cover all lpgiti-
mate charges upon the Treasury, and leave
a large annual surplus to be applied TO the
! payment of the principal of the debt
There seems now TO he no good reason why
taxes may not be reduced as the country
advances in population and wealth, md
yet the debt be extinguished within the
next quarter of a century.
The report of the Secretary of War fnr-
nishes valuable and Important information
In reference TO the operations of his be-
: partment during the past year. Few vol
f unteers now remain in the service, and
they are being discharged ms rapidly as
' they can be replaced by regular troops
? The army has been promptly paid, careful
5 ly provided with medical treatment, well
5 sheltered and subsisted, and is to be fur
nished with breech-loading small arms
3 The military strength of the nation has
? been unimpaired by the discharge of vol
/ unteers, the disposition of unserviceable
' or perishable stores, and the retrenchnent
3 of expenditure. Sufficient war material to
meet any emergency has been retained
and, from the disbanded volunteers stand.
ing ready to respond to the national call
large armies can be rapidly organized
fl equipped, and concentrated Fortified.
? tions on the coast and frontier have receiy.
ed, or are being prepared for more power.
: ful armaments; lake SURVEYS and harboi
g and river improvements are in coNrse o.
r energetic prosecution. Preparations have
been made for the payment of the addi
I uonM bounties authorized during the re-
cent session of Congress, under such regu
. lauons as VIII protect the Govern nent
nom fraud, and secure to the honorably
discharged soldier the well-earned reward
OF his faithfulness and gallantry. More
than six thousand MANNED soldiers have
received artificial limbs or other surgical
, apparatus; and forty-one national cemete-
: ries, containing the .rennains of IO4 S00