Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-12-13

haence, ! justice, and in,elerahle oppres>
SION on tho virtaous and well disposed Of a
degraded paper currency authorized by law.
or IN any way counteaanced BY a govern.
mcnt. 1t is one oil the most; successful
OF devices, IN time Of peace or war. to
accomplish the transfer Of the precious met.
ais from the great a of the people into
the hands OF n few, here thev are bearded
in secret places, or deposited in strong box>
es, under bolt. and bars; while the people
are left to endure all the Inconvenience,
sacrifice and decentralization resulting from
the use of a appreciated and worthless pa,
per money.
The condition Of our finances. aud the
operations of our revenue system are set
forth and fully explained in the able and
instructive report of the Secretary Of Tie
Treasury.
On June 80, 1866, the public debtamoun,,
cd to $~2.7s3,425,s79; on JUNG so last, i,
was &2,692, 1873, 2l5-showing a reduction
during the fiscal year, of $9l, 1865, 164.
During the fiscal year ending June 30,
1867, the receipts were $490, 634, 0l0, aud
the expenditures were $Si6.129.l l9-lcay>
ing an available surplus of $l4,39o,4SS.
1t is estimated that the receipts for the
fiscal year ending June 80, lSeS, will be-
$4l7,l6l ,92s, and that the expenditures wi
reach the sum Of $500. 26s, 2a6-leavinc the
treasury = Surplus Of $23,sa2, 702. For The
fiscal year ending June so, 1869, it is est
mated that the receipts will amount to 1881,
600, 600, and that the expenditures viii be
S3T2,0 0 ,0~ee-showing an excess Of 5000,
900 in favor of the government.
The attention Of congress is earnestly in
yited to the necessity Of a thorough revision
Of our revenue system. Our internal revenue
laws and import system should be adjusted
so as to bear most heavily on articles Of
luxury, leaving the necessaries Of life as fre,
from taxation as may be consistent with the
real wants of the government. The govern
ment being economically administered, tax
alton would not then fall unduly on the mar
OF moderate means and, while none would
be entirely exempt from taxation, all, in
| proportion to their pecuniary abilities, would
contribute tosard the support of the state.
A modification of the internal revenue sys>
tenn by a large reduction in the number o!
, articles now subject to tax would be follow
cd by results equally advantageous to the
citizen and the government. 1t would ren-
| der the execution Of the law less expensive
| and mere certain, remove distractions y in
dastry. lessen the temptations to evade the
law. diminish the violations and frauds per
/ petrated upon its provisions, make its oper>
| alton less inouisiiorial, and greatly reduce in
numbers the arm Of tax>gatherers created
by the system. who take from the mouth Of
| honest labor the bread il has earned. Re-
trenchment and economy should be carried
out in every branch Of the public service,
that the expenses Of The government may be
reduced, and the people relieved from op>
pressiye taxation. A sound currency sho'd
be restored, and the public faith in regard to
the national debt sacredly observed. The
Accomplishments of these important results
| together with the restoration Of the States
! upon the principles of the COAST uii0n, would
inspire confidence. at home and abroad, in
the stability Of our institutions, and bring to
the nation prosperity. peace and good viii.
THE ARM
The report of the secretary Of war adm
term, exhibits the operations of the army
| and the several bureaus Of the War Departs
| ment. The aggregate strength Of our mili-
tary force, on the Seth Of Septen Der last, was
56,3ls. The total estimate Cor military APP
propriatioIsi is 17,l24,70., including 3 de-
fciency il last years appropriations of 49,,
| coo, 600.
The payments at the treasury on account
Of service Of the War Department from Jan.
l, to Oc,. 20. lss.-a period Of 10 months
amounted to Sl9.5s7, 0eo.
The expenses OF the military establish
ment are now three times as great as they
have ever been in time Of peace; While dis.
cretionary power is invested in the executive
to add millions to this expenditure, by an in
crease Of the army TO the maximum strength
allowed by law.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.
l, The comprehensive report Of the s~ecresar,
Of the interior furnishes interesting informa
lion in reference to the important branehs
of the public service connected with his de
partnent.
THE INDIANS.
! The menecing attitude of some warlik
: bands of Indians, inhabitng q district c
country between the Arkansas and Plat
2 rivers and portions Of Dacotah territory r,
! CURED the presence Of a large military fore
= in that region. Instigaied by real or imagi,
= AIRY grievances, the Indians occasionally con
mi,ied acts Of barbarous violence upon EN-
: grants and our frontier settlement; but
general Indian wal has been Providentiall
averied. The commissioner under the a.
!, Of the Goth Of July, ls61, were invested wi!
!, full power 10 adjust existing diihcultie
: negotiate treaties with the disafected baud
= and select for them reservations remote frol
! Travelled routes, between the Mississippi an
u the Pacific. They entered without della
upon the execution of their trust, but hav
1 not made any official report oftheir proceet
: ings. II is Of vital importance that orr se
r~itories should be exemp; from sudden on
< breaks, and that the construction Of the p.
Z cifc rai!road-an object Of national inlpor
ance-should not be interrupted by hosti
tribes. These objects, as well as the mate
y ial interests and moral aud intellectual in
." provement of the Indians, can be most e
= f~ectlally secured by concentrating them ~
= ON portions Of country set apart for their e.
elusive use, and located at points remote fro
! highways and encroaching white settl'
" ments.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
J, Since the commencement ofthe Sc
sion Of the seth congress, $40 miles
4 road have been constructed on tn
main lire and branches Of the Pacif
q railroad. The line from Omaha
e rapidly approaching the eastern has
d Of the Rocky mountains; whilst Il
''e terminus Of the last section construc
! ed Of the road in California, acceptc
- by the government On thu Gath of o
i rober last, was but II piles distar
from the summit Of the Sierra Neyad
5, The remarkable energy evinced by Il
re company offers the strongest assn
Is ance that the completion Of the ros
!. from Sacramento to Omaha will u,
i be deferred long.
d THE PUBLIC LANDS.
2 During the last fiscal year, 7,b4l,l
y acres Of public land were disposed
10 and the cash receipts from sales a.
! fees exceeded by half q million dolla
it the sun realized fiom those sourc,
II during the proceeding year.
~ PENSIONS.
The amount paid pensioners. inclu
ing the expenses of disbursement,
At was &18,6l9,956; and 36,582 nam,
d were added to the roll. The entil
g humber Of pensioners on the Goth
: June last va i55y474.
PATENTS.
IF Eleven thousand six hundred 40
!. ffty-fve patents and designs were i
q eued 1urinU tho vaor ondinU Cont q,