The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1868-12-17

aud embraced the extraordinary oN-
penditures already named. Thes,
startling facts clearly illustrate the
necessity Of rctrenchmeut in all
branches Of the public service. Abuses
which were tolerated during the wal
for tho preservation of the nation
will not be endured by the pcopl,
Gow that profound peace prevails.
The receipts from internal rcve-
nues and customs have during the
past three years gradually diminish.
ed, and the continuance of useless
aud cxtravagant expenditures will
involve us in a national bankruptcy
or else make inevitable an increase
of taxes already too onerous, aud il
mauy respects obnoxious on account
of their iuquisitorial character. One
hundred millions annually are ox-
pended for the military force, large
portion Of which is employed in thc
execution oflaws, both unnecessary Anj
unconstitutional. One hundred and
fifty millions are required each year
to pay the interest on the public
debt, an army of tax gatherers inn
poverish the nation, and public
agents, placed by Congress beyond
the control of the Executive, divert
from their Legitimate purposes large
sums of money which they collect
from the people in the name of the
Government. Judicious legislation
and prudent economy can alone rem
edy these defects, and avert evils
which, if suffered to exist, can not
fail to diminish confidence in tho
public councils. and weaken the at
tachmeut and respect of the people
towards their political institutions.
Without proper care, the small bal
anco which it is estimated will re-
main in the Treasury at the close OF
the present fiscal year will not be re
allied, and additional millions will
be added to a debt which is now emu.
mcrstcd by billions.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
1t is shown by the able and com
prehensive report of :he Secretary OF
the Treasury, that tho receipts for
the fiscal year ending June 30th,
1868, were SI05, ,63S,0S3, and that
the expenditures for the same period
were S377,340, ,2S4, leaving in the
Treasury surplus of S2S, ,297, ,79S.-
1t is estimated that the receipts dur
ing the present fiscal year ending
june Both, 1869, will be S341 ,392,-
86S, and the expenditures S336, ,l52,-
40, showing n small balance of S5,-
240,39S in favor of the government.
For the fiscal year ending juno Both
1870, it is estimated that the receipts
will amount to 1921, 100000, and tho
expenditures to S303,000,000 leav-
ing an estimated surplus Of S24, 900,
600.
OUR NATIONAL INDEBTEDNESS.
1t becomes proper in this connec
ton to make brief reference to our
public indebtedness, which has accu,
mulated with such alarming rapidity
and assumed such colossal proper
tions. In 1889, when the Govern
ment commenced operation under the
Federal Constitution, it was burden
ed with an indebtedness of seventy
FIVE millions Of dollars, created du
ring the war of the Revolution
This amount had been reduced tC
forty.fve million dollars, when in
1912, war was declared against Grea
Britain. The three years struggle
that followed largely increased the
national obligations, and in 19lC
they had attained the sum of one
hundred and twenty seven millions
Wise and economical legislation
however, enabled the Government t
pay the entire amount within pc
riod OF twenty years, and the extin
guishment of the national debt filled
the land with rejoicing, and was one
of the great events of Presiden
Jackson's administration. After it
redemption a large fund remained il
the Treasury, which was deposited
for safe keeping with the severa
States, on condition that it should b,
returned when required by the pub
lie wants. In 1919, tho year aftel
tho termination Of an expensive wa
with Mexico, we found ourselves in
volved in a debt of siKty.four mil
lions, and this was the amount owe,
by the Government in 1860, jus
prior to the outbreak of the rebellion
In the spring of 1861 our civil wa
commenced. Each year of its con
tinuance made an enormous addition
to the debt, and when, in the sprin
of 1865, the nation successful
emerged from the conflict, the obi
cations Of the government had reach
ed the immense sum of S2,973,992
O09. The Secretary of the Treasur
elbows that on the 1st day of Noyeu
ber, 1867, this amount had been re
duced to S2,49l ,504, ,450, but at Il
same time his report exhibits an il
crease during the past year of $35
626, ,l05; for the debt on the first IL
of November last is stated to ha'
! been S2,527, 1859. 1t is estimate
by the Secretary that the returns fl
the past month will add to the liabi
: tiles the further sum of eleven mi
,. lions, making a total increase durir
thirteen months Of eleven and a la
millions.
ExTIEdUIsHMENT OF OUR DEBT.
In my message to Congress of ID
/, cember 4th, 1865, it was suggest
: that the policy should be devils
: which, without being oppressive
5 the people, world at once begin
? effect reduction of the debt, and
Q presisted in would discharge it with
y definite number of years. n
!, Secretary of the Treasury forcib
y | :. 4. l..-s.l. ksor 90 thia ah ra