Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-12-14


is the customary weapon BY which free
governments are destroyed. Washington
spake these words to bis countrymeu, 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, and cherish
| the Federal Union as the onlyrock of safety
were prescribed by Jefferson as rules OF
action to endear to his counTymen the true
/ principles Of their Constitution, and pro
mote a union Of sentiment and action
equally auspicious to their happiness and
safety Jackson held the action Of the
/ General Government should always he strict
| u confined to the sphere of its appropriate
/ duties. and justly and foTcibly urged that
/ our Government is not to be maintained nor
our Union preserved by ilsvasions Of the
rights and powers Of the several States In
thus attempting to make our General Gov
! ernment strong, We make it weak. Its true
strength consists in leaving individuals and
| States as much as possible to themselves in
making itself felt: not in It's power, but in
! its benehcence not in its control, but In its
! protection not IN binding the States more
| closely to the centre but leaving each 70
move unobstructed in its proper constitu-
/ ti0nal orbit. These are the teachings of
/ them illustrious. and who. long since with
drawn from the scenes Of life, have left to
/ their country the rich legacy of their exam
! pie, their wisdom and their patriotism.
/ Drawing fresh inspiration from their les
! sons, let Us emulate them in love of country
/ and respect for the Constitution and laws.
/ The report Of the Secretary of the Treas
| ury affords much information respecting the
revenue and commerce Of the country His
/ views upon the currency, and with reference
| to proper adjustment Of our revenue system
/ internal as well as impost, are commended
10 the careful consideration ofCongreSs. In
my 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 Gov
eTnment system of rigid accountability,
thorough retrenchmeut, and wise economy,
| With no exceptional nor unusual expendi-
lures. the oppressive burdens of taxation
can be lessened by such modification ofour
revenue laws as win be consistent with the
public faith and the legilmateand necessary
wants Of the Government
Ih report presents a much more satistac-
tory condition Of our finances than one year
ago the most sauguine could have anticipa-
ted During the fiscal year ending the 30th
June, 1865, the last year of the war, the
public debt was increased S49I, coz
and on the 3lst Of October, 1868, it amoun-
ted to 81, 740, S54, 100 On the 3Ist day Of
October 1866 it had been reduced to 81, ,55I,
3l0,006, the dInlnution, during a period Of
fourteen months, commencing September ]
1855, and ending October 81, 1866, having
been 5000, 379, sos. La the last annual re-
port on the state Of the finances it was esti-
mated that during the three-quarters ofthe
i eGf would dBdIng B6 in9t the 3Qth Of June last the
ring that period, however, it'T,ao. .o.l..,s
S3l, l96, 3SI, the receipts Of the year having
been $50, 905, 905 more. and the expendi
lures $500 529, ,2Jj less than the estimates.
Nothing could more clearly indicate than
these statements the extent and availability
Of the national resources, and the rapidly
and safety with which, under our form %
Government, great military and naval eStab
lishments can be disbonded, and expenses
reduced from war to peace footing
During the fiscal year ending the 30th of
June, 1866, the receipts were $55S, ,032, go,
and the expenditures $500, $50. $40, leaving
an available surplus OF S37, ,2Sl $50. Il Is
estimated that the receipts for the fiscal wear
ending the 50th June, 1861, will he $40,
u6l $50, and that the expenditures viii
reach the sumo Of 1916, 42S, ,07S, leaving in the
treasury a surplus of Sl5S63S, 3OS. For
the fiscal year ending june 80, 1865 it is
estimated that the receipts aill amount to
S436, 6,0000 600. and that the expenditures
will be $3.50, PAT, GAL, showing an excess Of
SIS, %, 359 In favor Of the Government
These estimated receipts maybe diminished
by q reduction Of excise and import duties;
but after all necessary reductions shall have
been made, the revenue Of the present and
Of following years viii doubtless be sufficient
to cover all legitimate charges upon the
treasury and leave a large annual surplus to
be opphed to the payment Of the principal
OF the debt There seems now to be 30 good
reason why taxes may not be reduced as the
country advances in population aud wealth
and yet the debt be extinguished in the next
quarter of a century.
The report Of the Secretary Of War fur
nishes valuable and important information
in reference to the operations OF his depart
ment during the past year Few volunteers
now remain IN the service, and they are be
ing discharged as rapidly as they can be re-
placed by regular troops. The army has
been promptly paid, carefully provided with
medical treatment, we'll sheltered and sub
sisted, and is to be furnished with breech-
loading small arms, The military strength
of the nation has been unimpaired by the
discharge of volunteers, the disposition Of
unserviceable or perishable stores, and the
retrenehment of expenditure. Sufficient
war matUIit1 ~ meet any alnargrncy has
been retained, and, from the disbanded vol
unteers standing ready to respond TO the
national CALL large armies can be rapidly or
ganized equipped, and concentrated. For
tlticatl0ns on the coast and frontier have re-
ceiyed, or are being prepared ior more
powerful ornaments; lake surveys and har-
Dor ami river Improvements are Ia course OF
energetic prosecution. Preparations have
been made for the payment Of tic 3ddl-
tional bounties authorized during the recent
session Of Congress, under such regulations
as viii protect the government from fraud,
and secure to the on0rably-dischaTge sol
der the well-earned reward Of his faithful
ness and gallantry More than six thou
sand manned soldiers have received artificial
limbs or other surgical apparatus; and forty
one national cemeteries, containing the re-
mains Of l04, 526 soldiers have already leen
established. The total estimate OF military
appropriations is >, 2U5, 66g
1t Is stated in the report Of the Secretary
Of the Navy that the naval force at this time
consists OF two hundred and seyenty-eight
vessels armed with two thousand, three hun.
dred and titty-one guns, Of these one hun
dTed and fifteen vessels carrying one thou-
sand and twenty nine guns, are IN commits
sion distributed chiefly among seven squad
rons. The number OF men in the service is
thirteen thousand six hundred. Great az
tivitv and vigilance have benn diSpiayed bT