Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-23
II aiOn aud 1ispatfh.
SUNDAY. IUNE ~. Issz.
Largest CireulatiOn in Oity aad state.
EXTRAVAGANCE.
The RecikfeNsnese Of Gavernmenf Ex-
Penditures- Where wiz it End but
| In bankruptcy

The ReclzEessnesN Of Gavernmenf Ex-
Where wiz it End but
In Bankruptcy
From Hunts Merchant Magazine.
Time was when Americans could justly
boast Of the economy Of their government.
At an annual cost Of 81, 100000, or two
dollars and half per capita, thirty-two
millions Of population were governed more
bene6cally than the people of any other
country. The achievement was one at
which European pnblicisIs wondered and,
rs The event has proved, one which we our
selves did not half appreciate. Our people
were prosperous and seffreliant, their polifi-
cal traditions had taught them TO expect
little from government, 10 look with jeal-
ousy upon all central agencies, and to trust
rather 10 individual and local effort than to
the national government for the achieve
ment Of important enterprises. The same
rule applied to State organizations as to the
Federal; and thus the province Of govern
ment being confined within narrow limits,
i cost rs Little to be governed. ~ ~
II is unnecesaryto remark how complete
ly within six or seven years ali this has
been changed.T The creation Of .. great
military power appears 70 have produced
the singular result to induce the people to
repose in official hands that power which
Formerly was confded to themselves alone.
In the eyes of the pnblic the government
appears to be invested almost with the at
tributes Of a deity, capable of not only
protecting them against public enemy,
but possessed of wisdom far above their
own, and to be trusted with the regulation
Of affairs which heretofore had been con-
sidered reyond its province.
Of course opinions will vary as to the
wholesomeness Of this new tendency in cur
national politics. Upon the question of its
economy there can, however, be no second
opinion. In proportion as we increase the
functions Of the government we extend its
agencies, and extending its agencies we
enlarge our expenditures; and when the
rule IS made to apply to the State govern
ments rs well as the Federal, It is apparent
that this tendency must involve large IN
crease Of taxation. The war has involved
usina debtof s., SOC, ,000, 900, which alone re-
guires an additional yearly payment Of
$l30,0O0000- This, it might have been
supposed, wonld have supplied a standing
argument in favor of the most stringent
curtailment of expenditures, but our legis-
lhinres appear tohaye concluded otherwise.
They are surprised at the facility With
whichfhe revenue IS raised, and hence con
clude that there is no great necessity for
economy. 1t was not TO be expected that,
Immediately on the close of the war, we
should witness a return TO the ordinary
scale of expenditures YET il is not easily
seen how, with strict regard for public
retrenchment, the expenditures. exclusive
of payments on account of the public debt,
should have been more than six times the
amount of those for 1860 Such, however,
is the fact, which will appear from the fol-
lowing comparison of the actual payments
Of 1866: 05A