The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-05

not HaDiC W slbkotc WIFI OptuIOQS,--uOs GoU~ 4
ject to be blown up or down by the breath of
speculation,-but made stable and secure. |
A disordered currency is one of the greatest |
political evils. Il undermines the supports |
of the social system, and encourages pro- |
pensities destructive Of its happiness. 1t |
wars against industry, frugality and econo- |
my; and it fosters the evil spirit of extrava
ganee and speculation. Ithas been asserted |
by one of our profound and most gifted |
statesmen, that, Of all contrivances for cheat |
ing the laboring classes of mankind, none
has been more effectual than that which de-
ludes them with paper money. This IS the
most effectual of inventions to fertllize a
rich mans fields By the sweat OF the poor
mans brow. Ordinary tyranny, oppression,
excessive taxstion,-these bear light on the
happiness of the masses of the community,
compared with a fraudulent currency and
robberies committed by deprecated paper.
Our own history has recorded for our instruc-
ton enough, and more than enough, of
the demoralizing tendency, injustice, and
intoierabie oppression on the virtuous and
well-disposed, of a degraded paper currency
authorized by law, or in any way counte-
nanced by a government. 1t is one of the
most successful devices, in times of peace or
war, to accomplish the transfer of the preci-
GUS metals from the great mass of the people
into the hands of q few. Here they are
boarded In secret places, or deposited in
strong boxes, under bolts and bars; while
the people are left to endure all the incon.
veniences, sacrifice and decentralization re.
sulting from the use of deprecated and
worthless paper currency.
The condition of our finances and the
operations of Our revenue system are set
forth and fully explained id the able and in
structive report of the secretary of the treas
nry.
On June 3Oth, 1866, the public debt
amounted to So, 49,, ,S79; on June 30th
last, it was $2,692, i 80, 2l5.-showing re-
duction, during the fiscal year, of $9l,26
664. ~
During the fiscal year ending June 80,
| 1867, the receipts were $490,6S4.0l0, and
| the expenditures were $346, 729, l29,-leav-
ing am available surplus of 1880, ASS.
Iii estimated that the receipts for the
| fiscal year ending June 80, 1868, will be
SALT, l6l 1928, and that the expenditures
will reach the sum of $393, 1863, 226,-leav-
ing in the treasury surplus of $23, 1892, 702.
| For the fiscal year ending June 80, 1869, it
is estimated that the receipts will amount
to 1881 100000, and that the expenditures
1 "Ai VIC Poi StVuVtoVV.- loHoWfnS Gil CASCSc VI
| $4,000, 600 in favor of the government.
| The attention of congress is earnestly in
vited to thorough revision Of our revenue
system. Our internal revenue laws and i'm
port system should be adj usted so as to bear
most heavily on articles of luxury, leaving
the necessaries of life as free from taxation
| as may be consistent with the real wants of
| the government. The government being
economically administered, taxation would
not then fall unduly On the man of moderate
| means and, while none would be entirely
exempt from assessment, all, in proportion to
| their pecuniary abilities, would contribute
toward the support of the state. a modi6
cation OF the internal revenue system by a
| large reduction IN the NUMBER OF
subject to tax would be followed by results
equally advantageous to the citizen and the
government 1t would render the execution
of the law less expensive and more certain
remove Instructions to Industry, lessen the
tenn otations to evade the law, diminish the
violations and frauds perpetrated upon its
provisions, make its operation less inguisi,
torial, and greatly reduce in numbers the
army of tax-gaaherers created by the system
who take from the mouth of honest labor the
bread it has earned. Retrenchment and
economy should be carried out in every
1
penditures of the government may be redu
ced, and the people relieved from oppressive
taxation sound currency should be re
stored, and the public faith in regard to the
national debt sacredly observed. The &C
complishment of these important results, to
gether with the restoration of the Union oil
the states upon the principles of the consti
tuition, would inspire confidence, at home
and abroad, in the stability of our institu
tons, and bring TO the nation prosperity
peace and good will.
THE ARMY.
The report of the secretary of war adj an
terim exhibits the operations of the arm
and the several bureaus of the war depart
ment- The aggregate strength of our mill
tary force on the 30th Of September last, wa
56,3l6. The total estimate for military ap
preparations is $T7 ,l24, 1907, including a de
fciency in last years appropriation of $l3,
e0O, 080.1
, The payments at the treasury on account
of service of the war department, from Jan
to Oct. %, l867-a period of 10 months
amounted to $l9,0sT, 900.
The expenses of the military establish
ment are now three times as great as the,
have ever been in time of peace; while dis
cretionary power is vested in the executiv.
to add millions to this expenditure, by al
f increase of the army to the maximum
strength allowed by law.
THEETNrERIoR DEPARTMENT.
The comprehensive report of the secretar,
of the interior furnishes interesting informs
ton in reference to the important branche
: of the public service connected with his de
2 partment.
THE INDIANS.
The menaeing attitude some warlike band
OF Indians inhabiting a district of countr,
between the Arkansas and Platte rivers anc
portions of Dacotah territory, required tn,
, presence ola large military force in that re
gion. Instigated by real or imaginary griev
, anees. the Indians occasionally committed
acts of barbarous violence upon emigrant
and our frontier settlements; but genera
) Indian war has been Providentially averted
The commissioners under the act Of the 20tl
! of July, 1867, were invested with full power
to adjust existing difficulties, negotiat.
treaties with the disafected bands, and Sc
; iect for them reservations remote from
Il travelled routes between the Mississippi and
o the Pacific. They entered without delay
l. 1pon the execution of their trust, but have
e No made any official report of their pro
i ceeengs 1t is of vital importance that GU,
d 'erri'e-les should be exempt from sudden
outoreaFs and that the construction of tn.
e racine r1troad an object of national i'm
l. portance-hould not be interrupted by hos
IT tle trioes. shese objects, as we'll as tn,