The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-26
NEW YORK HERALD MONDAY g. lea-TRIPLE SHEET

Two years This amount seems small when COM
pared with the expenses OF the government during
tne recent war OF four years duration, for from the
ISL OF July 1881, to the 30th OF June. 1885, they
reached the enormous aggregate OF $500. 900 900.
An Investigation into the disbursements since the LIST
OF July, 1852 further shows that by adding TO the
expenditures OF tae last three years the estimate
Cost OF administering the government for the year
end am dne Soh OF June 1852 we obtain the sum Of
years immediately following the cessation OF
1ostliities, or nearly - much as was expended
war. win be seen that from 1871 to
1861 our public debt was ut no time more
civil war expanded It to So 500 600. win also
be perceived that WHILE prior to 1851 the largest
nual disbursement was not quite 00oo, for he
year lsos te during the last three years
OF peace have successivey been $500, 900,
600 and $3a3, 100000, S37 600 900 being the
amount which 1t is estimated viii be necessary for
the year ending the Both OF June next. In making
tins comparison we should remember that during he
long interval between 1889 and 1851 the government
was frequently required to make expenditures OF
an extraordinary character. Large sums were
paid 70 Indians as annulties and for the purchase OF
their land, and expensive wars were waged against
powerful tribes. Louisiana was acquired from
france at cost OF SIS Florida In considera
tlon OF s5OOOO0o, was ceded to US by Spain. Cali
lorna became part OF our possessions on payment TO
Mexico OF SIS 000 while for SO 900 900 gov
eminent secured from Texas the Territory OF New
Mexico. During these periods OF our history we
were also engaged in wars with Great Britain and
Mexico; the first waged against one OF the most
powerful nations OF the world the other made
additionally offensive by the prosecution Of
military operations in the enemy's territory.
Inc startling facts thus concisely stated suggested
an inquiry az 10 the OF this increase in the expen
dtures and Indebtedness OF the country. During the
civil war the maintenance OF the federal government
s was Inc one great p1rpSae tna animated oar
our financial operations was overlooked in the great
enor OF the nation to preserve its existence. Many
abuses which had their origin in the war continued
10 exist long after 1t had been brought to triumph
ant conclusion, and the people, having become
accustomed to lavish expenditure OF the pub
as the preservation OF the integrity Of their
free Institutions have patiently tolerated taxation OF
the most oppressive character Large sums OF
money continue to BIO extorted from them and
squandered In useless and extravagant approprla-
purposes the accomplishment OF which require
large standing army the perversion OF the constitu
tOn anu the subugation Of the States to negro domi
nation. With military establishment costing in
time OF peace not less than 900 annually and
debt the interest upon which draws from the
Treasury each year nearly $4,000 OoO making
total OF for those two items OF expendi
ture alone, retrenchment has become an absolute
necessity or bankruptcy must soon overtake us and
involve the country In It's paralyzing and disastrous
results. II, however, wise economy be adopted
the taxes may soon be materially reduced not
merely for the benefit OF few, but In the interest Of
all. A revenue would yet remain Sufficient for the
administration OF the the government well
as for snch reduction OF the public debt as
would In few years relieve the people
from millions or interest now annually drawn
from their resources. The idea tnat the debt
Is to become permanent should be at all time, dis
countenanced as involving taxation too heavy 10 be
borne and payment Of an amount In interest every
sixteen years equal to the original SUN. The gradual
liquidation OF the public debt would by degrees
release the large capital invested In the securities OF
the government, which, seeking remuneration In
other sources OF income, would add to the wealth OF
the nation, upon which IL is now great a drain.
This immense debt, II permitted to become perma-
nent and increasing must eventually be gathered into
the hands OF the few and enable them to exert dan
ger0us and controlling power 10 the affairs OF the
government. The debtors would become the ser.
wants Of the lenders: the creditors the masters Of
the people. 1t is boast that we have given free
dom To three millions Of slaves, 1t Will then be our
shame that by their own liberation OF usurpaton and
pronigacy forty millions OF people have enslaved
themselves and exchanged shareholders for new task
masters in the shape OF and
Hence the vital issue-whether Congress and It's
arbitrary assumptions OF authority shall supersede
the supreme law OF the land; whether IN time OF
peace the country shall be controlled by multitude
OF tax collectors and standing army-the one al
most as numerous US tile other and making the debt
u permanent burden upon the productive industry
OF the people, or whether the constitution, with
each and all OF Its guarantees, shall be sacrcdy pre-
shall be made for the payment OF our obligations at
rs early period as practicable that the fruits
Of their labor may be enjoyed by our
citizens rather than USED n 10 oaId o up
and abroad. The contest ID not merely
who shall occupy the principal ONCE In The peoples
gilt but whether the high behess OF the federal con-
stitution shall be observed and maintained IN order
that our liberties may be preserved; the union OF
the States restored that our federal system may be
unimpaired; fraternai feeling re-establlshed; that
national strength may be renewed; the expendi-
lures diminished that taxation may be lightened
and the public debt once more extingulshed that II
may not injuriousiy affect the life and energy, the
prosperity and morals OF the nation. Believing that
for the redress OF the great wrongs and that cor
recti0n OF these many abuses under which the coun
try ID now laboring we must look to the American
people, and that In them Is our hope. am, very
truly, your friend, ANDREW JOHNSON.
To General THOMAS EWING.