The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-12-17

o"'J 'Oi Iho hTCAi car cuuiiH INC
Both Of fJune, 1869, we obtain to.
tai expenditure Of Sl,GO0.O0O 600
during the four years Immediately
succeeding tho war, or nearly as
much as was expended during the
sevcnty.two years that preceded
the rebellion, and embraced the
extraordinary expenditures al.
ready named.
RETRENCHNEST
These startling facte clearly H..
lustratc the necessity Of retreRch- =
inont in all branches Of tho public
service. Abuses which were toll
Grated during the war for the rep.
servation Of the nation, will not be
endured by the people, now that
profound peace prevails. The re-
tceipts from internal revenue and
tcustoms have, during the past
three years, gradually diminished
and the continuance Of useless and
extravagant expenditures will in
volvc us IN national bankruptcy,
or else make inevitable an increase
OF taxes already too onerous, and,
10 many respects, obnoxious on
account OF their inquisitorial char.
actcr. One hundred millions an
nually are expended tor the mill
tary force, large portion of which
is employed in the execution OF
laws, both unnecessary and un-
constitutional; one hundred and
fifty millions are required each
year TO pay the interest on the
public debt. An army Of tax gath.
erers impoverishcs the nation, and
public agents, placed by Congress
beyond tho control of tho EXecu.
tive, divert from their legitimate
purposes largo sums OF money,
which they collect from the people
JudlciouS legislation and prudent
economy can alone remedy defects
end in the namo OF the Government.
avert evils which, if suffered to ex.
list, cannot fail TO diminish conf
dence in the public councils, and
weaken tho attachment and re-
spect OF the people towards their
political institutions. Without
proper care the small balance
which, it is estimated, will remain
in the Treasury at tho close of the
present fiscal year, will not be real
lied, and additional millions be
added to q debt which is now
enumerated by billions.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
1t is shown by the able and COM
prehensive repor. of the Secretary
OF the Treasury that the receipts
Of tho fiscal year ending June 30.
1868, were S405, ,G3S ,OS3, and that
the expenditures tor the same peri
oI were S377 ,340,284, leaving in
the Treasury surplus of S26. .297,.
709. 1t is estimated that the re.
ceipts during the present fiscal
year ending June 81, 1869, will be
s34l ,392 ,SGS, end the expenditures
1886, l52 40, showing q small bal,
ance OF $5,24O,39S in favor of the
Government. For the fiscal year
ending juno 30, 1870, it is estima
ted that the receipts will amount to
1927 ,O0O, 900, and the expenditures
TO S3O3, 100000, leaving an estima.
ted surplus OF $4,000, 900.
OUR PUBLIC IN DEDTEDNEsS.
1t becomes proper in this con.
nccton TO make brief reference
to our public Indebtedness, which
has accumulated with such alarm
ing rapidity and assumed such col
lossal proportions. In 1889, when
the 0vernmcut commenced oper
ations under the Federal Cons.ltu.
ton, it was burdcned with an in
dcbtedness Of seventy five millions
of dollars, created during the war
of the revolution. This amount
had been reduced TO forty five mil.
lions of dollars when in 1872 war
was declared against Great Bri'
tain. The three years struggle
that followed largely increased the
national obligations, and in lSlG
they had attained the sum OF one
hundred and twenty seven millions
Wise and economical legislation,
however, enabled the Government
to pay the entiro amount within a
period of twenty years, and the
extinguishment OF the national
debt filled the land with Rejoicing,
and was one of the great events OF
President Jackson's S administration.
After its redemption large fund
remained in the Treasury, which
was deposited for safe keeping with
tho several States on condition
that it would be returned when re-
quired by tho public wants. In
1919, the year after tho teImina'
ton cfan expensive war with Mex
leo, wc found ourselves involved
in debt OF $4,000, 600, and this
was the amount owed by the Gov
ernment in 1860, just prior. to the
outbreak Of the rebellion. In tho
spring of 1861 oYr civil war COM
menced, and each year OF It's con
,iuuance made an enormous addl'
ton to the debt; and when, in the
spring of 1865, the nation success
fully emerged from tho conflict,
the obligations of the Government
had reached the immense sum OF
50 ,S73, ,992,9 900. The report of the
Secretary of the Treasury shows
that on the 1st day Of November,
1867, this amount had been reduc'
cd to S2,491, 1,504, ,45O, but at the
same time his report exhibits an
increase during the past year OF
S35, ,G25,l for the debt on the
lst day of.Novcmber last is stated
to have been 27,l29,552' 1t