Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-12-21
h p O L T II L O A T..
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
CONCLUDED. |

The condition of our finances and the oDc.
ratlons OF our revenue system arc set fort
and fully explained in the able and instruc-
two report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury.
On the 3Oth Of juno, 1866, the public debt
amounted to s2,7S3, l25.S70 on the 3Oth
of juno last it was s,,602, ,100,2l5; show
ing reduction during the fiscal year Of S0l :
226,GG4. During the fiscal year ending
June 36, 1867, the receipts were $40O, ,G54,.
Ol0, and the expenditures, $346, ,729 ,l20,
leaving an available surplus Of 81 10 ,0O4 $50.
1t is estimated that the receipts for tho fiscal
year endinr. .Tnne 80, 1868, will be S4l7,-
l61,02S, and that the expenditures will reach
tho sum Of S3o3, ,2sa ,226, leaving in the
Treasury surplus Of s23, 1872, ,702. For the
fiscal year cnding June 80, 1869, it is csti-
mated that the receipts mill amount to $751;
100000, aud that the expenditures will be
$4,000 900, showing M excess of So, ,O0o,
900, in favor of the Government.
The attention of Congress is earnestly in
ytcd to the necessity OF thorough revision
of our Revenue system. Our intorns! Rov
cnuc laws and impost system, should be SO
adjusted as to bear the most heavily on arti
olcs Of luxury, leaving the neccssares Of life
MS free from taxation, Ms may be consistent
with tho real wants Of the Government
economically administered. Taxation would
not then fr nnduly on the man OF moderate
means, and 49,. none would be entirely cx
cmpt from assessment, all in proportion to
their pccuniary abilities would contribute to-
ward the support of the State. a modi6ca-
ton of the internal revenue system, by a
largo reduction in the number of articles now
subject to tax, would be followed by results
equally advantageous to the citizen and the
Government 1t would render the execution
of tho law less expensive and more certain,
romovc distractions to industry, lessen tho
Temptations to evadc the law, diminish tho
violations and frauds perpctatnd upon its
provisions, make its operations less nqnisito-
rial, and greatly reduce i'll numbers the army
nf t.x oar,.. .':rs created by the system, who
utoke from the mouth Of honest labor the
bread it has earned" Rctr,nohmcnt, ro,lrn'
and economy should be carried into every
branch Of the public service: that the rEr"n
diturcs Of tho Government may be reduced
and the people relieved from oppressive TAXA
tion. "A sound currency should be restored
and tho public faith in regard to the national
d,bt sacrcdly observed. The accomplish
mcnt of these important results, together witt
the restoration Of tho Union of the State:
upon the principles Of the Constitution, would
inspire confidence at home and abroad in tho
stability Of our Institutions, and bring to The
nation prosperity, peace and good will.
Tho report Of the Secretary of War a.
intcrip, exhibits the operations OF the army
and OF tho several bureaus u tho War 20
patment. The aggregate strength of on
military force on the 3Oth of Sept last VA
56,315. The total estimate for military apprc
priationsis SIT ,124,7o7, includinga dciicicnc
in last years appropriation of Sl3,6oo,ooo
The payments at tho Treasury on accounted th
service Of the War Department. from Janu'
ry | to October 20, 1867, a period Of
months, amounted to sl09,S07,OO0; tho e'
penscs Of tho military establishments as we
as tho numbers Of tho army, arc now thre
gsa times as great rs they have over boon in tim
Of poacc, while tho discretionary power
vosted in tho Executive to add millions to tn
expenditure by an Increase Of tho army to IL
maximum stronetlr allowed by tho law.
Tho menacing atti.Wle Of some Of the wa