The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-08-21
Making a total Of. ............. .sios, SIS, AZ

IT Congress can be accused OF extravaganza,
the accusation must be made God on these fg-
ures, or else abandoned, for the other expendi-
lures. lie without the pale ofcongrcssiona dscre-
lion or control. A clear estimate Of the charac-
ter Of these expenditures may be gathered by
comparing them with the Outlays incurred un-
der the last Democratic administration. For
example, in ls57-JS the same class Of expenses
in Buchanan's administration were over seventy
million dollars in gold, whereas the above named
are in paper. Unjust be observed, moreover,
that in 1858 the population Of this country
was under thirty millions, whereas to-day Il /.
well nigh forty millions Adding forty per
cent. premium on gold, to bring the espendi-
lures Of the two erss to the same standard, and
we find the OUTLAWS Of buchanan were at the
rate Of over ninety-eight millions in paper to
day. To this add one-thiri for increase of pop.
ulation, and VIC find the Buchanan expenditures
adjusted to the scale Of today, would amount t.
one hundred and thirty million dollars for the
same items that we are paying less than one
hundred aud seven millions for.
This calculation, stated In thessgeneral terms.
Is far more striking and suggestive when We
come to examine details. The Army, for In
stance. cost during the four years Of Buchan-
ans administration, by the official statement Of
the Treasury Department, which We have before
us. the large aggregate Of $50, a07, $50 IS,
making an average Of well nigh twenty-five
millions each year in gold. And at that time
the army consisted, in all, Of nineteen regiments;
90 that each regiment cost considerably over q
million each year in gold. The army at present
contains sixty regiments, and yet the whole ap-
preparation asked for by General Grant amounts
to little more than thirty-three millions, tribe
more than half q million per regiment each year
in paper. In other words, the Army under the
peace establishment Of . Democratic administra-
ton Immediately preceding the war cost per
regiment largely more in gold than the Army
now costs per regiment in paper under the peace
establishment Is administered by General Grant.
The same scale Of expenditure INDUCED in un-
der the administration Of Buchanan would make
our present Army cost over seventy millions In
gold or hundred millions in paper; and until
the latter figure Is exceeded the Democratic par
tisans Of Buchanan can have no ground to
charge that Army expenses are e1travagsnt.
When we look at the actual amount spent for
legitimate army expenses, wssee good ground
for the high compliment bestowed by President
johnson when, . few months since. he publicly
proclaimed General Grants judcious economy
as the direct cause Of saving many millions to
the Treasury" With Gen. Grants election to
the Presidency and the final paci6cation Of the
southern States, our Army viii At once Be re-
duced and the expenditures Of the War Depart
ment win be brought to point 30 inconsider-
able as no longer to be felt as burden to the
taxpayer.
The comparison in regard to naval e1pendi-
lures at the two periods named, are equally sug-
gcstive and striking For the four years Of
Buchanan's administration the Navy, by the
official records, cost ffty-two million six hum
dred and forty-fve thousand nine hundred and
ninety-eight dollars and eighty-ninc cents
showing an average Of more than thirteen mil
lions per annum in gold coin. With q much
larger Navy, and with the disadvantage Of pa
per money and high prices our appropriations
this year are q triae under eigtecn millions.
Taking the difference in the sire Of the Navy at
the two periods and the disparity between gold
and paper and we should be authorized, II We
followed the Buchanan standard Of expenditure,
in apprUpriating well nigh forty millions for
the years service. These facts are certainly
suggestive and instructive.