The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-11-27

was clad to learn that could reach
my home in Central New York from
the city Of Philadelphia, by passing
through this portion of Pennsylvania.
II gave me pleasure to have an oppor-
tunity to see II section of our Union OF
which had heard SO much and which
derived such interest, not only from the
history Of this valley and OF your beau
1Iiul town, but from the great CONNER
cial Importance Of that district through
which we have passed tod 3 by the
road which traverses the margin Of the
Lehigh River. In going through the
State Of Pennsylvania, not only in the
portion over which ! have Ias.sd 10
day-where the bold skill OF your citi-
zens has contributed to make Path
way for commerce along the rudest
scenes Of nature-but also in travelling
over the western part Of your State
where those long lines Of communities
ton are made that unite our great com
mercial city with the States of the West
| was struck with the benifcence of that
enterprise and those expenditures Of
money which gave employment to Ia
bor, and gave wealth and prosperity to
communities. / saw that it was this
that made you great and wealthy
State. l saw why it was that people
were ready to battle for social condi-
ton that placed them so high in the
scale OF civilization. l looked into the
cost OF these things and was told that
the great Central Railroad, with Its
branches had capital of about thirty
millions OF dollars. l do not know the
cost OF the railroad that runs from here,
and which enables you to carry your
coal to market in the City of Philadel.
phin; perhaps half as much, and l could
not but applaud the liberality Of the
people who, in some form, had advanc-
ed these large sums Of money to pro-
mote the prosperity Of your section Of
the Union, and not only of your section
butuf New York and other States which
feel the benefit Of your great works.
Nay, the whole nation obtains from
thcm an impetus in its commerce, in its
civilization, and in its material power.
\ little wisdom and little business ca.
pacity work out wondrOus results.
While these things were passing
throngh my mind it occurred to me
that during the year ending June l, '6S,
we had spent in the United States near
ly one hundred and fifty millions of
dollals for the purpose of maintaining
armies aud navics, and in expenses Pa
Iatiug to military force of our Govern
mnnt. found here cost that w0 Id
build up n magnificent system Of inter.
nal improvements. l compared the re-
suits. Who can see trace of the one
hundred and fifty millions, drawn from
the people for purposes of building up
u system Of forcee How sad is the con
trast compared with the benficent re-
suit OF those enterprises which give EN-
Ployment to labor, lift up civilization,
quicken commerce., and made us 4 great
aud prosperous people. Great ap-
plause.) 1t is stated by the President
Of the United States, in comIasnics.
ton which he has just put forth, which
Is in accord with what has been other.
wise learned from official sources, that
since the war ceased this government
will have spent sixteen hundred mill.
l0us of dollars by the LIST Of June, 1863
The President, In making this state,
ment, assumes that we shalt spend nc
more than the Congressional COMMITTEES
estimates. Our experience Is that these
estimates fall short Of the fact. Oui
Republican friends did probably what
We should have done under similar cir
cnmstances and made the best show
they could Of their financial affairs fol
the coming year, for upon that state
ment they were to go down to the peo
pie Of the United States and ask for al
approval OF their policy of government
From the beginning OF your govern
ment down to 1861, period of NOR,
than seventy years, we find that thii
government spent about seventeen
hundred millions Of dollars. During
that period we carried on two foreigr
WARS, one Of three years duration sgains
the whole power OF Great Britain, snt
another when we subjugated Mexic,
and took the capital Of the Mexican re
public, but We did more than that whel
We began our Government. Our terri
tories were not one.third as great "a
they are now. We made the Louisiani
purchase; we bought Florida we ex
tended our limits from the thread o
the Mississippi river clear out to tn,
4 D.. la fHbis H.. =,