, 1868-12-18

PIE 70 keep aud bear arms shall not be in
fringed. 1t is believed that the repeal Of
such laws would be acceptable by the Ameri-
can people, as at least partial return to the
fundamental principles of the government
and an indication that thereafter the Consti.
tuition is to be made the Nations safe and
true guide. They can not be productive Of
permanent benefit, and should not be PER-
mitted TO stand as so many monuments Of
the deficient wisdom which has characterized
our recent legislation.
FINANCE.
The condition of our finances demands
the early and earnest consideration of Con-
gresS. Compared with the growth of our
population the public expenditures have
reached an amount unprecedented in our
history. The population of the United
States in 1870 was nearly 100000, of peo-
Pile. Increasing each decade at the rate of
about 80 per cent it reached 10 1860, 3l,-
000,0000 900 an increase of 700 per cent on
the population of 1890 In 1870 it is esti>
mated that it will reach 9S,000,OO0, or an
increase of 868 per cent. in seventy>nine
years. The annual expenditures of the Fed
eral Government in 1871 were S4,2O0,0O0 !;
in 1920, 100000; 10 1850, S47,OOO,s
600; in 1860, $4,000, 900; in 1865, near
ly 81, 300, 900 900, and in 1868 it is esti-
mated by the last annual report of the Sec
retary of the Treasury that they will be
1872, 1000, ,00D. By comparing the public
disbursements of 1869, as estimated with
those of 1871, it will be seen that the in
crease of expenditures since the beginning
of the Government has been S,6lS per cent,
while the increase of population for the
same period was only $685. Again. the ex-
penses of the year of peace, Immediately pre-
ceding the war were only S63, 900, 900, while
in 1869, the year of peace, three years after
tho war, it is estimated they will be S372,~
900, ,000-an increase of 4S9 per cent, while
the increase of population was only 81 per
cent. for the same period. These statistics
further show that in l79l the annual na>
tional expenses as compared with the popu-
ation were little more than one dollar per
CAPITA and in 1860 but two dollars per
capita, while in 1869 they will reach the
extravagant sum of 1918 per capita
| l. will be observed that all Of these state.
ments refer to and exhibit the disburse
ments Of peace periods. 1t NAV therefore
be of interest to compare the expenditures
of three war periods, the war with Great
| Britain. Mexican war and the war-nf- Iha-
| Great Rebellion, in 1861. The annual exS
pences incident to the war of 1912 reached
their highest amount, about thirty-one mil,
lions, while our population slightly exceeded
eight millions, showing an expenditure of
$3.50 per capita. In 1S47 the expenditure
growing out of the war with Mexico reached
fifty millions, and the population was about
twentyone millions, giving only $500 per
capita for the war expenses Of that year. In
| 1865 the expenditures called for by the re-
bellion reached the vast amount of $780,
| 900, ,000 which compared with a population
of As millions gives 1920 dollars per capita.
From the 4th day of March, 1879, to the
Both day of June, 1861, the entire expendi-
lures of the Government were 81, l,700000,-
900. During that period we were engaged
in war with Great Britain aud Mexico, and
were involved in hostilities with powerful
Indian tribes Louisiana was purchased
from France at a cost of fifteen millions :;
Florida was ceded to the United States by
Spain for five millions; California was ac
quired from Mexico for fifteen millions and
the Territory of New Mexico was obtained
from Texas for the sum of ter millions
Early in 1861 the war of rebellion commen-
ced, and from the lst of July of that year
to the Both day of June, 1865, the public
expenditures reached the enormous aggre>
gate of S3,3O0,000, 900. Three years of
peace interveDed, and during that time the
disbursements of the Government have been
successively $4,000, 900, $4,000, 900,
and 1898, 100000 adding to these amounts
the S332 900, 900 estimated as necessary for
the fiscal year ending on the Both of June,
1868, we obtain total expenditure of ST.
OOO,0O0,000 during the four years immed-
lately succeeding the war, or nearly as much
as was expended during the seventy years
that preceded the rebellion, and embracing
the extraordinary expenditures above named.
These startling facts illustrate the necessity
of retrenchment in all branches of the public
service Abuses which we're tolerated DUR
ing the war for the preservation Of the ma
ton will not be endured by the people now
that profound peace prevails.
The receipts from internal revenue have
during the last three years gradually 0lmln-
ished, and the continuance of useless aud
extravagant expenses will involve us in
national bankruptcy, or else make remarks
able increase in the taxes already too oner.
GUS, and in many respecrs obnoxious on ac-
count of their questionable character One
hundred millions yearly are expended for the
military force, large portion of which is
employed in the execution of laws both un,
necessary and unconstitutional One hum
dred and fifty millions are required yearly to
pay the interest ou the public debt An
army of tax masters impoverishes the nation,
and public agents are placed by Congress
beyond the control of the Executive, and
have diverted from the legitimate purposes
vast sums of money which they collect from
the people in the name of the Government.
Judicious legislation and prudent economy
will only remedy these doings and avert an
evil which, if suffered to exist, cannot fail to
diminish confidence In the public council,
and weaken the attachment and respect oil
the people toward their political institutions