The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1868-12-19

SIlei Vi tue army, anu Will HiS Cuty W
the States of the Union and their right
to protect the States by means of their
own militia. The provisions should be
at once annulled for while the worst
might, in times of great emergency, seri-
ously embarrass the Executive in his.ef-
forts to employ and direct the common
strength of the nation for its protection
aud preservation, the other is contrary to
the express declaration of the Constltu-
tion that well regulated militsa being
necessary to the security OF free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear
arms shall not be infringed 1t is be-
lieved that the repeal of such laws would
be acceptable by the American people as
at least a partial return to the fundamen-
principles of the Government, and an in
diction that thereafter the Constitution
is to be made the nations safe and true
guide. This can be productive of perma-
nent benefit to the country; the other
should not be permitted to stand, as so
many monuments of the deficient wisdom
which has characterized our recent fegis-
laEion.
FINANCE.
The condition of our finances demands
the early and earnest consideration of
Congress. Compared with the growth Of
our population, the public expenditures
has reached an amount unprecedented in
our history. The population of the Uni
ted States in 1890, was nearly 4,000, 900
of people. Increasing each decade at
the rate of about 80 per cent, it reached,
in 1860, 81 100000, an increase of over
| 700 per cent. on the population of 1890.
| In 1880 it is estimated that it will reach
| 5000, ,0G0, or an increase of S68 per
cent. in seventy nine years. The annual
expenditures of the Federal Government
in 1791 were 1900 coo, in 1920 Is, $780,
600, aud in 1850 47,00O,o00, in 1860
| SO, ,000,0 ,00o, in 1865 nearly 300 900, 900,
and in 1869 it is estimated by the Secre-
| tary of the Treasury in his last annual
report that they will be 372, 100000
By comparing the public disbursements
of 1869 Gas estimated) with those of
1871, it will be seen that the increase Of
expenditures since the beginning of the
while the increase of population for the
same period was only S6S per cent
Again, the expenses of the Government
in 1S60-the year of peace Immediately
preceding the war-wcre only 63, 600 900,
while in 1e69-the year of peace three
years after the war-it is estimated they
will be 372 ,000, ,o00-an increase of 4S9
per cent, while the increase of popula-
ton was only 21 per centum for the same
period. These statistics further show
that in 1791 the annual national expcn-
ses compared with the population were
little more than 81 per capita, and in
: 1860 but - per capita, while in 1869
they will reach the extravagant sum of
1918 per capita. It will be observed
that all these statements refer to and cx-
hiblt the disbursements of peace periods
it may therefore be interesting to compare
the expenditure of the three war periods
the war with Great Britain, the Mexi
can war, and the war of the rebellion in
1861. The annual expenses incident to
the war of 1872 reached, at their highest
amount, about S3l 100000, while oul
population slightly exceeded sS,000,OO
q showing en- expenditure of only $3.50 pc,
E capita. In ls47 the expenditures grow
ing out of the war with Mexico reached
S50,00O,000, and the population wa
: about Fl 900, 600, giving only $500 PEI
e capita for the war expenses Of that year
L In 1868 the expenditures called for b,
the rebellion reached the vast amount o
y 81 ,2ao 200 600, which, compared with
t population of 45,OOO,OOO, gives So go,
;, per capita. From the 4th day of March
Is 1889, to the 3Oth day of June, 1861, tn
q entire expenditures of the Governmen
!, were $780, 100000. During that per-
q cd we were engaged in war with Grea
!, Britain and Mexico. and were involve
= in hostilities with powerful Indian tribes
y Louisiana was purchased from France a
RS cost of S15,OOO,OOO; Florida was ce
!, ded to the United States by Spain fo
"a $5,O00,00O; California, was acquire
"a from Mexico for S15,000,OO0, and tn
u territory of New Mexico was obtaine
IN from Texas for the sum of $4,000 .O0t
er Early in the year 1861 the war of th
a. rebellion commenced, and from the 1st
Mt July of that year to the 3Oth day Of j un
G. 1865, fhe public expenditures reache
ne the enormous aggregate of $500, 900 ,O0
le- Three years of peace intervened, ar
or during the time the disbursements of Il
ne GOVERNMENT have successfully been $3.50
=, 600 900, s346.000 900, and 1898, 900. 90
I'D Adding to these amounts the 1882, ,O0(
en- 600 estimated as necessary for the fsc
tu- wear ending on the 30th of June, 1868, Y
obtain total expenditure of 81 600 ,0Ot
600 during the four years immediate
fa- succeeding the war, or nearly as much
ire was expended during the seventy yes
,ed that preceded the rebellion, and, too, e.
est bracing the extraordinary expenditul
) it already named. These startling facts
not lus.rate the necessity of retrenchment
,lic all branches Of the public service Alb
md ses which were tolerated during the Y
re- for the preservation Of the nation, v
art not be endured by the people now Il
l.