Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-12-10


mans brow. Ordinary tyranny, oppression, ex-
cessiye taxation-these bear lightly on The hap
piness of the mass of the community compared
with fraudulent currency, and the robberies
committed by'depreciated paper. Our own his
tory has recorded for our instruction enough,
and more than enough of the demoralizing ten
dency, the injustice, and the intolerable oppreS-
sion on the virtuous and will-disposed OF a de-
graded paper currency, authorized by law or IN
any way countenanced by Government 1t IL
one of the most successful devices, IN times OF
peace or war, expansions or reyulslons, to ae-
complish the transfer of all the precious metals
from the great mass of the people into the hands
of the few. where they are boarded in secret
places or deposited in strong boxes under bolts
and bars, while the people are left to endure ali
the inconvenience, sacrifice, and decentralization
resulting from the use offs deprecated and worth
less paper money. The condition of our finances
and the operations of our revenue system are set
forth and fully explained in the able and instruc-
tive report of the Secretary of the Treasury. On
the 3Oth of June, 1866, the public debt amounted
to 50, 1888, 425, 879; on the 30th of June last IL
was 50, 692, 199, 215, showing reduction during
the fiscal year of SOL, 226, 664. During the fiscal
wear ending June 80, 1867, the receipts were
$3.50, 634, OlO, and the expenditures $346, 729,-
l29 leaving an available surplus OF S143, 9O4,-
$50 It is estimated that the receipts for the rs
cal wear ending June 80, 1868, will be SAT- l6l,-
e28. and that the expenditures will reach the sum
1898, 269, 226, leaving in the Treasury a surplus
of 1923. S92 1902. For the fiscal year ending June
30. 1869 it is estimated that the receipts will
amount to 1881, 600, 900, and that the expendl-
lures will be $372, 000 900, showing an excess OF
80 600, 900 in favor of the Government.
The attention of Congress is earnestly invited
to the necessity of thorough revision of our
system. Our internal revenue laws and impost
system should be SO adjusted as to bear most
heavily on articles of luxury, leaving the neces-
sares of life as free from taxation as may be con-
sistent with the real wants of the Government,
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 pecunlary
shiIitieg. would contribute towards the support
of the State A modification of the internal rev.
anue system by large 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 exc
cution of the law less expensive and more certain,
remove instructions to industry, lessen the temp
tations to eyade the law, diminish the VIOLATIONS
and frauds perpetrated upon its provisions, make
ito onerations less inquistorial, and greatly re-
duce in numbers the army OF ta1-gathers created
by the system, who 'take from the NOUN oi
honest labor the bread it has earned" Retrench-
ment. reform, and economy should be carried in
to every branch of the public service that the ex
nenditnres of the Government may be reduced ana
the people relieved from oppressive taxation;
sound currency should be restored, and the pub
lie faith in regard to the national debt Bacredly
observed The accomplishment of these Imp0r-
FAINT results together with the restoration of the
Union of the States upon the principles of the Con-
st;tution. would inspire confidence at home and
abroad in the stability of cur institutions, and
bring to the nation prosperity, peace, ana gooo
will.
The report of the Secretary of War ad interim
exhibits the operations of the army and OF the
several bureaus of the War Department. The
aggregate strength of our military force on the
Both Of September last was 56, SO. The total es-
innate for military appropriations is $77, IA 1O4
7O7 including deficiency IN last years appro-
nriation of Sl36OO000. The payments at the
Treasury on account of the service of the War
Department from January to October ~, 1851
q period of ten months-amounted to SlO9, oOI,-
600. The expenses OF the military establishment
as we'll as the number of the army, are now three
times as great as they have ever been in time OF
neace: while the discretionary power is vested in
the Executive to add millions to this expenditure
by an increase OF the army to the maximum
strength allowed by the law.
The comprehensive report of the Secretary Of
the Interior furnishes interesting information in
reference to the important branches of the pub
lie service connected with this department.
The menacing attitude of some of the warlike
bands of Indians inhablting the district of coun-
try between the Arkansas and the Platte rivers,
and portions of Dakota Territory, required the
presence of large military force In that region.
1nstigated by real or imaginary grievances, the
Indians occasionally committed acts OF bar bar
Gus violence upon emlgrants and our frontier set
Elements but general Indian war has been
providentially averted. The commissioners I'M
der the act of Doth July 1867, were invested with
full power adjust existing difficulties, negotiate
treaties with the dsaffected bands, and select for
them reservations remote from the travelled
routes between the Mississippi and the Pacific
They entered without delay upon the execution
of their trust, but have not yet made any official
report of their proceedings 1t is of vital lmpor-
lance that distant territories should be exempt
from Indian outbreaks and that the construction
of the Pacific railroad, an object OF national i'm
portance should not be interrupted by hostile
tribes. These objects, as well the material in
terests and the moral and Intellectual improve
ment of the indians, can be most eHectually Sc
cured by concentrating them upon portions of
country set apart for their exclusive use, and To-
Gated at points remote from our highways and
encroaching white settlements.
Since the commencement of the second session
of the thirty-ninth Congress, five hundred and
ten miles of road have been constructed on the
main line and branches of the Pacific railray-
The line from Omaha is rapidly approaching the
eastern base of the Rocky mountains whilst the
terminus of the last section of constructed road
in California, accepted by the Government on the
24th day of October last, was but eleven miles
distant from the summit of the Sierra Nevada
The remarkable energy evlnced by the com pa
MES offer, the strongest. assurance that the
pletion of the road from Sacramento to Omaha
will not be long deferred.
During the last fiscal year seven million, forty
one thousand, one hundred and fourteen acres of
public land were disposed of, and the cash re-
ceipts from sales and fees exceeded by one-half
million dollars the sum realized from those sour
ces during the preceding year. The amount paid
to pensioners, including expenses of disburse-
ments, was $l8 6l9, $685. and thirty-six thousand
four hundred and eghty-two names were added
to the rolls The entire number of pensioners
on the Both of June last, was hundred and
ffty-fve thousand, four hundred and seventy
four. Eleven thousand, six hundred and fifty
year ending September 30, 1857 and at that dare
the balance in the Treasury to the credit of the
Patent Fund was $286, COZ.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy states
that we have seven Squadrons actively and judi
ciousy employed, under efficient and able COM
manders, in protecting the persons and property
of American citizens, maintaining the dignity
and power of the Government and promoting
the commerce and business interests of our coun-
trymen in every part of the world Of the two
hundred and thirty-eight vessels composing the
present navy of the United States, ffty-six car
rying five hundred and seven guns, are in squad
ron service During the year the number of yes
sells in commission has been reduced twelve, and
there are thirteen less on squadron duty than
there were at the date of the last report A large
number of vessels were commenced and in the
course of construction when the war terminated
and although Congress had made the necessary
appropriations for their completion, the Depart
ment has either suspended work upon them or
limited the slow completion of the steam vessels.
to meet the contracts for machinery made
with private establishments. The total expendi-
lures of the Navy Department for the year end
ing June 80, 1867, were $31, 034,011 No appro-
priatons have been made or required since the
close of the war for the construction and repair
of vessels, for steam machinery ordinance, pro-