Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-05-17
TIE nEnT-

Washington dispatches report that the
diminution Of the public debt during the
month Of April has been about five mil
lions of dollars, and that the receipts
from customs and internal revenue
would reach tl0enty-eight millions, one
half of which was from customs in coin.
For March, Secretary MCCULLOUGH re-
ported a diminution of eighteen millions.
There are also statements in the
dispatches to the effect that at the end
of April the Secretary would be able to
report the National debt diminished TO
81, 500, 600, 600; but that for some time
afterwards, the Indebtedness would re-
main stationary.
W. hsveseen it stated that the appro-
priations for the current year will
amount 70 near a thousand millions Of
dollars. The Secretary announces that
the Indian war now raging will bear
heavily on the government: and he
might have added that no one can estl-
mate the future cost, direct and indi-
rect, of keeping theSouth under military
government. .
The Chicago Times says:
The people would not object so much
to a stoppsge in the process of liquidst-
ing the public debt, providing there was
some diminuti0n in their taxes. But
taxation viii remain'i Just the same. The
debt viii remain stationary, but taxa
ton will move Heretofore, when peO-
pie looked az their enormous tax bills,
they derived some consolation from be
Heving that they were assisting to re-
duce our debt, which reduction would
soon be followed by lighter taxes. Now
the citizen has no such comfort. He
looks over his tax payments, and can
only say "This goes TO perpetuate radi-
calism in the south, to support New
England manufacturers, and to carry on
an Indian war waged solely in the in
terests Of Jacob.n contractors
And the same paper further remarks,
as follows:
It should be remembered, in consider
ing the monthly statements of the secre-
tary, that but a part Of the claims against
the government have been passed upon,
and hat there are now awaiting settle
ment claims OF states for advances Of
various kinds made during the war
claims Of railroads and other corpora
tons, as well as Of communities and in
dividusls, for property taken and destroy
ed by our armies, and claims of loval
shareholders for negroes taken for re
There are other demands OF va
rious kinUs agCins the government await |
adjudication, but those just named
are the most important.
It has been estimated that they will
amount 10 "a sum nearly equal to our
declared Indebtedness. The esti-
mate, Of course, rests largely upon con-
lecture, but the refusal Of thus
far TO enter upon an investigation Of the
Of claims TO which we have re-
ferred is very good evidence that they
are Of a magnitude precluding a present
settlement Of them, and provision for
their funding and payment. Congress
cannot long refuse 90 take some action
In the matter, and it is not disputed that
government is justly liable for the
payment OF BONA Hde claims OF the de-
scriptions named.
COngressiOnalhnancle are now called
upon TO decide what shall be done with
our unliquidated Indebtedness. Tho
holders Of claims against the govern.
ment are pushing forward q settlement
Of them. Ia the session Of last winter a
congressional committee was appeinted
10 look into the matter aud suggest some
Of action, but the members Of
The committee became frightened A. the
amount Of the claims, and made an eva
sive report, such tactics NAV serve 10
yain time, but they only put of the evil
The claims must be paid, or thev
must be repudiated, or they must be
compromised, and TO compromise with
he creditors Of the government Is partial 1
population.
The question is one which the people
nave but very slightly considered. II
las not been pressed upon their atteD-
Ion. Radical newspapers and Congress-
men have been SO busily (" engaged in tie
interests OF God and humanity that
hey nave had no stomach for the dry
letsils Of finance. This does not alter
be facts in the case. Back OF our de-
Jared Indebtedness offs 600. 900. 900 there
this mountain Of uniiquidated claims.
congress m0y stave of action on them
)r several sessions, but soon or late the
uestion Of their settlement must be met, .
nd the people must be taxed for their
avmeut. Let this fact be borne In mind
looking over the appropriations Of con
ress.
Not long ago, one OF the most promi-
ent republican newspapers in the
ountry said that the national debt was
,uch more likely TO be doubled than
aid, during the lifetime of HORACE {