The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-12-12

lntielpated during the nscal year end
ng the s0th Of june, 1866, the last yen
# the war, The public debt was increased
s94l ,902, 537 and on the 3lst Of Oct. !,
1865, il amounted to S2.740,S54, $50. -
On the 31st Of, October, 1866 it had been
reduced to So, 2,55I,3l0,006, the diminu-
tion during period Of fourteen months,
commencing Sept. LIST, 1866, hayingbeen
S206, ,379, ,565, In the last annual report
on the state Of the finhnces, ii was estima,
ted that during the three quarters Of the
fiscal year ending the 30th Of June last,
the debt would be increased S1l2, ,l94,-
947. During that period, however, il was
reduced to sal ,l96,8S7, the receipts Of
the year having been S89,905,905 more,
and the expenditures, 200,529, 1886 less
than the estimates. Nothing could more
clearly indicate than these statements the
extent and availability of the national re.
sources, and the rapidity and safety With
which, under our form Of government,
great military and naval establishments
can be dissanded, and the expenses re-
duced from war to peace footing.
During the fiscal year ending the 3Olh
Of June, 1866, the receipts were s55s,
032,620, and the expenditures $520,750,-
$40, leaving an available surplus of$37,-
2Sl, $50. II is estimated that the re-
ceipts for the fiscal year ending the 30th
Of June, 1867, will be S475, ,061 1896, and
that the expenditures will reach the sum
Of 1916, ,42807S, leaving in the treasury
a surplus Of sl5S, $685. For the fs.
cal year ending June 30th, 1868, tits
estimated that the receipts will amount 10
S436, ,0O0, 900, aud that the expenditures
will be S378,247,6 ,64l-showing an excess
of $s5, ,762, ,259 in favor Of the Govern
ment. These estimated receipts may be
diminished by q reduction Of excise and
import duties; but after all necessary re-
ductions shall have been made, the reve-
nue. Of the present and of following years
will doubtless be sufficient to cover all
legitimate charges upon the Treasury, and
leave large annual surplus TO be applied
to the payment Of the principle of the
debt. There seems now 10 be no good
reason why taxes may not be reduced as the
country adyancesin population and wealth,
and yet the debt be extinguished within
the next quarter Of a century.
The report Of the Secretary Of War
furnishes valuable and important iufor.
nation in reference to the operations Of
his Department during the past year
Few volunteers now remain in the ser.
vice, and they are being discharged as
rapidly as they can be replaced by regu-
lar troops. The army Sss been promptly
paid, carefully provided with medical
treatment, well sheltered and subsisted, 1,
and is to be furnished with breech.load.
ing 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 retreuchment Of expenditure. Stuff.
cient war material to meet any emergen.
cy has been retained, and, from the dis
banded volunteers standing ready to re-
spond to the national call, large armies
can be rapidly organized, equipped and
concentrated. Fortifcations on the coast
and frontier have received, or are being
prepared for more powerful armaments ;
lake surveys and harbor and river i'm
provements are 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 regula-
tions as will protect the Government from
fraud, and secure to the honorably dis.
charged soldier the we'll earned reward to
his faithfulness and gallantry. More
than six thousand manned soldiers have
received artificial limbs or other surgical
apparatus; and forty one national GENE.
terieS, containing tho remains Of 104 ,526
Union soldiers, have already been estab.
lished. The total estimate Of military
appropriations is s25, ,205,669.
1t is stated in the report Of the Score.
tary Of the Navy that the naval force at
this time consists Of two hundred and
seventy eight vossolo, armoa with twu
thousand three hundred and fifty one
guns. Of these, one hundred and fifteen
vessels, carrying one thousand and twen-
ty nine guns, are in commission, distribu,
ted chiefly among seven squadrons, The
number Of men in the service is thirteen
thousand six hundred. Great activity
and vigilance hive been displayed by all
the squadrons, and their movements have
been judiciously and efficiently arranged
in such manner as would best promote
American commerce, and protect the
rights and interests Of our countrymen
abroad. The vessels unemployed are IN.
dergoing repairs, or are laid up until
their services may be required. Most Of
tho iron clad feet is at League Island, in
the vicinity Of Philadelphia, q place
which, until decisive action should be "a.
ken BY Congress, was selected by the Sc.
cretary of the Navy as the most eligible
location for that class Of vessels. Il Is
important that suitable public station
should DO provided fol the iron clad aeet.
II Is iotendsd that these vessels shall be
in proper condition for any emergency,