Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-12-14
Tho President S Message.

| i, Uo7y Citizens 0fthc $ rate
Cltd IiCuae II RC DrCsCltctirts:
This is the most cffectual Of inventions
to ftrtiIize the rich mans fields by the
sweat ii the poor mans brow. Ordina-
ry tyraEnv, oppression and excessive tax
alton bear lightly OH the happiness Of the
mass Of Tic comn,rLity compared with q
fraudulent currency, and CT robbericS
committed by deprecated paper III our
own history there is recorded for our III
s;rIctiol. enough, and more than enough
of the dcnoralziag tendency, injustice
aud irtolcr#5le oppression on tie vlrtu-
ous aud well disposed Of 4 degraded! pa
per currency authorized by law or i'll any
way courtcnanccd by the Government.
! Il Is one of tie most successful devices IL
times Of peace or war, expansions Or rev
c!utions, to accomplish the transfer OF
precious metals from the great maSs OF
the people into the hands Of the few,
where they are boarded in secret places
or deposited iii strong boxes under belts
and bars, while the people are lett to en-
! dure all the Inconvenience, sacrifice and
decentralization resulting from tic use Of
deprecated and worthless paper money.
The condition OF our Finances id upcr-
atit lis Of our revenue system are set forth
and fully explained i'll the able and III
structiye report of the Secretary OF the
| Treasury. On the 3Oth of June, 1866,
the public debt amounted to 81, ,7t3 49,
SO; Oh the 3Gth of june last it WAS So
U92, 1925, showing reduction during
the fiscal year Of &3l, ,2GG,GG-: During
the fiscal wear ending June 80, 1861, the
receipts were $500, 1874, ,0l0, and the eX-
pcndituIcs S;346, rs, ,l29, leaving sur
Plus OF $l43, ,004,S $50. 1t is estimated
that tie receipts for the fiscal year end
ing June &c, 1865, will be *4l7, ,l6l ,92S,
aud that the expenditures wilt reath
1898. .2O9, ,22G, leaving i'll the treasury 4
surplus Of E23 So, IO2. Fer the fiscal
year ending June so, 1869, it is cstimat-
ed that tie receipts Will amount TO $751;
OCG,000 and that the expenditures will
lie 372,0OO,0OO, showing AN excess of
5000, 900 in favor Of the Government.
The attention Of Congress is invited to
the necessity for 4 thorough revision Of
our revenue system. Our Internal Rev
cuue laws and ImpGSt system should be
so adjusted as to bear most heavily Oh
the articles Of luxury, leaving the neccs-
sarics Of life as free from taxation as may
be consistent with the real wants Of GOV
crnmcnt economically administered.
Taxation would not then fall uuduly
on the man of moderate means, and while
none would really be exempt from assess
meEt, AL in proportion to their pecuniary
abilities, would contribute toward the
support Of the State.
\ modification OF the Internal Revenue
system by large reduction in the num-
Der Of articles row subject to tax, would
be followed by results equally advantage
ous TO citizen and government. It would
render the execution Of the laws less eX
pcnsive and more certain; remove OBJ
structions to industry; lessen the temp
tation 10 erade the law; diminish the
violations and fraEdS perpetrated upon
its provisions make its operations less
nquisitori;il, and greatly reduce i'll num-
bcrs the army Of tax gallerers, who take
from the mouth Of hCEest labor the bread
it has earned.
Retrenchment, reform and economy
should be carried into every branch of
The public service, that the expenditures
Of the government may be reduced aud
the people relieved from tie oppression
OF taxation. \ sound currency should
be restored. and the public faith in re-
gard to the national debt Sacredly Oh,
s.ryed. The accompi hnent Of these
important results together with the res
toration of the Union upon the principles
OF the Constitution, would inspire conf
deHce at home and abroad III the stability
Of our institutions, and bring tc the na-
tion prosperity, peace, and good will
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The Report of the Secretary of War,
adinterim, exhibits the operations of the
army and several bureaus of the War De-
partment. Tie aggregate strength of
the military force on the 3Oth of Septem-
Der last was 56,3l5.
TIE total estimate for military appro-
priations is $77,124,7O7, including a de-
iiciency in last years appropriations of
$4,000, 1000. The payments at the Treas
ury ON account of service in the War De
partment from January 1st, to October
10Th, 1867, period of ten months,
amounted to $1O9, 900. The expen-
ses of the military establishment, as well
| as numbers of the army, are now three
times as great as they have ever been in
time of peace, while discretionary pow
er is vested in the executive to add mil
lions to this expenditure by an increase
of the army to the maximum strength
allowed by law.