Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-12-06

pirate duties, and justly and forcibly urged
that our government is not to be m main,ain.
ed, nor our Union preserved by invasions
Of the rights and pswers Of the several
States. /" In thus attempting to make cur
General Government strong, we make it,
weak. Its true strength consists in leaving
individuals sod States as much ss possible
to themselves; in making itself felt, not 10
its power, but in its ben6cence not in its
control, but in its protection; not in binding
the States more closely to the centre, but
leavisg each to move unobstructpd in it's
proper constitutional orbit" These are
the teachings OF men whose deeds snd
services have made them illustrious, aud
who. long since withdrawn from the scenes
of life, have left to their country the rich
legacy Of their example, their wisdom and
their patriotism. Drsviugfresh inspiration
from their lessons, let us emulate them in
loveof country, and respect for the Consti
tuition and the laws. ...,
. The report of the Secretary OF the Treas.
ury affords much information respecting the
revenue and commerce of the country. Ills
views upon the currency and with reference
to proper adjustment Of our revenue sys
TEN, internal as we'll as impost, are com
mSu0ON W buV CofCtui COMMUNICATION VI
Congress. In my last annual message | ex
pressed my general views upon these sui
jects. Ineed now only call attention to the
necessity Of carrying into every department
of the Government a system Of rigid sc.
countability, through retrcrchmcbt, and
wise economy. With 30 exceptional nor
unusual expenditures, the oppressive bur.
dens of taxation can be letsened by such q
modification Of our revenue laws IS will be
consistent with.the public faith, and the
legitimate and necessary wantsof the Gov.
erDment.
The report presents much more salts.
factory condition Of our finances than one
year ago the most sanguine could have an.
ticipatcd. During the fiscal year ending
the 30h of June, 1865, the last year OF tie
war, the public debt was increased $94i..
902 ,537, and on the 3lst Of October. 1865,
it amounted to $2,74O, ,S54, ,750 On the
3lst Of October, 1860 it had been reduced
to $2,55l ,3l0, 006 The dimnuticn, du.
ring period Of fourteen months, cemmenc
ing September lst. 1865, and ending Octe
Der 3lst, 1866, having been 5000, 379, SOS
In the last annual report on the state OF the
finances it was estimated that during tht
tnree-q e-quarters of tho fiscal year ending the
Both Of June last the debt would be in
creased $ll2194,94L During that period
however, it has been reduced $3l ,l96, 3S7
the receipts of the year having been $89,
9O5 .9o5 more, and the expenditures 5000.
529, ,235 less than the estimates. Nothing
could more clearly indicate than these state
ments. the extent and availability Of tho
national resources, and the rapidity and
safety with which, under our form Of gov
ernment, great military and naval estab
lishments can be dsbanded, and expense,
reduced from q war to peace footing.
j During the fiscal year ending the 30th o.
June, 1866, the receipts were 1858, ,032, $40,
and the expenditures $500. 750, $40, leaving
an available surplus of S37 1881 $3.50. 1t il
estimated that the receipts for the fsca
year ending the 30th Of june, 1867, will b,
$475,06l 1856, and that the expenditures
will reach the sum Of $3l 6, ,428, OTIS, leaving
in the treasury surplus Of 5 158, ,633, 308. -
For the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1868
it is estimated that tho receipts will amour,
to s438, 100000, and that the expenditures
will be $3.50, ,247, GAL, showing an excess ol
IS. 752. 359 in favor Of the government. r.
These estimated receipts may be dimin
shed by reduction of excise aud import
duties, but after all necessary reductions
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 large annu.
al surplus to be applied to the payment oi
the principal debt. There seems now to be
no good reason why taxes may not be re.
duced as the country advances in popula'
tion and wealth, and yet the debt be extin-
sushhsd within the S next oa cssptS s W.
| c,rn;.hoa aIuo hla anI i'm v>ortopk ;nfnrvv
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, carefully pro
yided 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
hy the discharge of volunteers, the disposi
tion Of funserviceable or perishable stores
and the retrenchment Of ex pendilure. Sufh
cient war material to meet any emergency
has been retained, and from the disbanded
volunteers standing ready to respond to tn,
national call, large armies can be rapidly or
ganixsd. equipped and concentrated. For
tifications on the coast and frontier have 70
ceved or are being prepared for more pow
erful armaments; lake surveys aud harbor
aud river improvements are in course Of en-
orgetic prosecution. Preparations have beer
made for the payment Of the additiona
bounties authorised during the recent ses
sion of Congress, under such regulations Q,
will protect the government from fraud. snt
secure to the honorsbly discharged soldier
the we'll earned reward of his faithfulnes
and gallantry. More than 5000 manned
soldiers have received artificial limbs or 9th
er surgical apparatus; and Al national Gem
eteries, containing the remains Of l04, 52t
Union soldiers. have already been estab
lished. The total estimate Of military, ap
preparations is $25,205. 500, r,rdsa'
| lti isstated In the report Of tho Secretary OF tn
Navy that the naval force at this time consist
of two hundred aud seventy-eight vessels, arm
ed with two thousand three hundred and fifty
one guns. Qfthese, one hundred and fifteen YES
sells, carrying one thousand and twcnty-nin
guns, are In commission, distributed chief,
| nmong seven sIuadrons. The number OF men Ii
the service Is thirteen thousand six hundred.-
Great activity and vigilance have been displayc
| by all the squadrons, and their movements hav
been judiciousy and efficiently arranged In sue
manner as would best promote American com
mcrce and protect the rights and interests {
our countrymen abroad. Tho vessels unemploy
ed are undergoing repairs, or are laid up unit
4 their services may be required. Most Of the Iron
4 clad feet II at League Island, In the vicinity
Philadelphia, place which, until decisive a,
/ ton should be taken by Congress-, was selecte
by the Secretary Of the Navy as the most eligibl