Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-12-05

and forcibly urged that our Government
is not to be maintained nor our Union
preserved ''by invasions of the rights and
powers of the several States. In tI1s at
tempting to make our General Go. m
ment 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 its power, but
in its beneioence not in its control, but
in its protection; rot in binding the States
more closely to the centre, but leaving
each to move unobstructed in its proper
constitutional orbit" These are the teach
ings of men whose deeds and services have
made them illustrious, and who, long since
withdrawn from the scenes of life, have
left 10 their country the rich legacy of
their example, their wisdom and their
patriotism. Drawing fresh inspiration
from their lessons, let us emulate them in
love of country and respect for the Con-
stitution and the laws.
OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREAS
URY.
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 a proper adjustment of our
revenue system, internal as well as i'm
post, are commended to the careful con-
sideratiqn of Congress. In my last annual
message 1 expressed my general views
upon these subjects. Ineed now only call
attention to the necessity of carrying into
every department of the government a
system of rigid accountability, thorough
retrenchment, and wise economy. With
no exceptional nor unusual expenditures,
the oppressive burdens of taxation can be
lessened by such a modification of our rev
enue luws as will be consistent with the
public faith, and the legitimate and neces-
sary wants of the government.
The report presents a much more salts
factory condition of u finances than one
year ago the most sanguine could have
anticipated. During the fiscal year end
ing the 30th of June, 1866, the last year of
the war, the public debt was increased
S941, 902, 537, and on the 31st of October,
1863, it amounted to 81, 4 1854, $50. On
the 3lst day of October, 1886, it had been
reduced to 81, 551, $40, COG, the diminution,
during a period of fourteen months, COM
mencing September l, 1865, and ending
October 81, 1866, having been S206, &c.,
565. In the last annual report on the
state of the finances, it was estimated that
during the three quarters of the fiscal year
ending the 30th of June last, the debt
would be increased SIP, 1914, 947. During
that period, heweyer, it was reduced $751;
log, 3S7, the receipts of the year having
been $50, 905, 905 more, and the expendi-
lures $500, 500, 235 less than the estimates.
Nothing could more clearly indicate than
these statements the extent and a~vallabll1-
ty of the national resources, and the rapid
ity and safety with which, under our form
of government, great military and naval
establishments can be ~disbanded, and ex-
penses reduced from a war to a peace foot
ing.
During the fiscal year ending the Both
of June, 1866, the receipts were S55S, 032,
$40, and the expenditures $500, 100, $40,
leaving an available surplus of S37 2S1,-
$50. 1t is estimated that the receipts for
the fiscal year ending the Both OF June,
1867, will be S475, 06l 1856, and that the
expenditures will reach the sum OF S3l6,-
1884, 7S, leaving in the Treasury a surplus
of SI5S, $50, 30S.. For the fiscal year end
ing June 80. 1868, it is estimated that the
receipts will amount to S436, DOC, 1000, and
that the expenditures will be $500, 24l,6
showing an excess of $50, 752,359 in
favor of the Government. These estima-
ted receipts may be diminished by a re-
duction of excise and import duties; but
after all necessary reductions shall have
been made, the revenue of the present and
of following years will doubtless be suti-
Gent to cover ali legitimate 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 be no good reason why taxes may
not be reduced as the country advances in
population and wealth, and yet the debt
be extinguished within the next quarter of
a century.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
The report of the Secretary of War fur
nishes valuable and important informa-
ton in reference to the operations of his
Department during the past year. Few
volunteers now remain in the service, and
they are being discharged as rapidly as
they can be replaced by regular troops
The army has been promptly paid, care
fully nrovided with medical treatment,
we'll sheltered and subsisted, and Is to be
furnished with breech-loading small arms.
The military strength of the nation has
been unimpaired by the discharge of vol
unteers, the disposition of unserviceRble
Of p~erishable stores, and retrenchment 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,
| eouipred, and concentrated. Notifications
on. the coast and frontier have received, OF
are being prepared for more powerful ar;
maments; lake surveys and harbor and
river improvements are IN course of ener
getlc prosecution. Preparations have been
made for the payment of the additional
bounties authorized during the recent ses
sion of Congress, under such regulations
as will protect the Government from fraud,
and secure ir the honorably discharged
! soldier the well earned reward of his faith
! fitness and ~gallantry. More than six
Thousand MANNED soldiers have received
artificial limbs or other surgical apparatus;
and forty national cemeteries, contain
ing the remains of 104, 526 Union soldiers,
have already been established. The total
estimate of military appropriations is SO
205. 1853. e
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
1t is stated in the report of the Secreta
nv of the Navy that the naval force al
this time consists of two hundred and sew
enty-eight vessels, armed with two thous.
and three hundred and ffty-one guns. D
these, one hundred and fifteen vessels car.
rying one thousand and t~wenty-nine guns
are in commission, distributed chiefly
among seven squadrons. The number o.
men in service is thirteen thousand s1
hundred. Great activity and vigilance
have been displayed by all the squadrons
and their movements nave been judicious
ly and efficiently arranged in such a man
ner as would best promote American com
merce, and protect the rights and interest
of our countrymen abroad. Tie vessel
unemployed are undergoing repairs, OF
laid up until their services are required
Most of the iron clad feet is at League Is
land, in the vicinity of Philadelphia =
place which, until decisive action shoulC
be taken by Congress, was selected by tn
Secretary of the Navy as the most eligiol
location for that class o fvessels. 1tlslm
portant that a suitable public station shoult
be provided for the iron clad fleet. 1t
intended that these vessels shall be Il
proper condition for any emergency, anc
II Undesirable thatthe bill accepting League