Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-12-09


fiji y five millions. and the population ahout
twenty one millions, giving only two dollars
aud sixty cents per capita Jor the war expenses
of that Year. 10 iSl 3 the expenditures called
for by the rebellion reached the vast amount OF
twelve hundred and ninety millions. which.
compared with population OF thirty-f
inllIloTs, gives thiTty-eIght dollars and tEeLty
Fro'l The fourih dav OF March, t7s9, - N.
thirtisth of Jun. 1861, the entire eNpeuIi-
lures of the Government were seventeen IN
dred L. lliions OF dollars. Daring t1at paTtud
We Were gaged IL wars wt1h Greet Bri, AN
and Mexico, and were Involved N Z t)st!l.t -
wIJl powerful Indian tribes: Louisiana was
purchased from France at = cos OF .itesn
millions of doilsrs; Florida was ce led - Us
Dy SraIn for five millions; calit brnia was
quiTeC from Mexico for fifteen I1IlIIOn-; "a
the Territory Of New Mexico Dss 90 Il n-d
f1om Texas for the sum of ten millions. Etriy
IN l-Gl tie war OF the rebellion .Onmau ,-i.
and from the first of uyot that v ar - The 3J'h
of June, l>65, the public expenditures re- aChed
the enormOus aggregate OF tnirty-three hundred
millions. Three years Of peace have inter-
ysDeo. and during thar time the disburse.
ments O. the Government have successively
been five hundred and twenty millions, asd
three hundred and ninety three millions
Adding TO these amounts three hundred AMI
seventy two millions, estimated as necessary
for The hstai year ending the 3lth Of June,
1863. we obtain a total expenditure OF sixteen
hundred millions OF dollars during the four
years Immediately succeeding the war,
nearly as much as W Is expended durlng the
ard embraced the extraordinary expenditures
already named
These startling facts clearly illustrate the
necessity OF reuenchment in all branches of the
public service. Abuses which We're tolerated
during the war for the preservation of the IA
uon viii not be endured by the people, now
that profound peace prevails. The receipts
from internal revenues and Gus toms have, dur
ing the past three years. gradually dimI mis- he'd,
and the continuance of useless and extrtva-
CANT expenditures viii involve US in national
bankruptcy, or else make he vitabie IN in Crease
OF taxes, already too onerous, and IN many re-
speCtS obnoxious OIL account of their inQuiSi-
torlal character. One hundred millions an-
nuaily are expended for tie military
force, large portion of which is
employed in the execution OF laws both I'M
necessary and nncons'i 'utional one hundred
and fifty millions are required each year to
pay the interest on the public debt; an army of
tax-gatherers impoverishes the nation: and
public agents. placed by Congress beyond the
control of the Executive, 0Ivert from their
legitimate purposes large sums Of money
which they collect from the people in the name
of the Government Judlcious legislation and
prudent economy can alone remedy defects anu
aN Nert evils which, If suffered 30 exist, cannot
tail 70 diminish confidence in the public coun.
ellis, and weaken the attachment aud respect
OF the people towards their political instItu-
tons. Without proper care the small balance
which II Is estimated will remain IN The Treas
ury at the close OF the present fiscal year VIII
not be realized, and additional millions De added
TO a debt which Is now enumerated by billions
II is shown. by the able and comprehensive
report Of the Secretary OF the Treasury, that
the receipts for the fiscal year ending June 81,
l-Ge, were Slu5.63c, OS3, and that the exp-n ndI-
tn-es Tor the same period were S3I ,J4n2S
leaving In the Treasury surplus OF 81, ,2y7, ,79s
II IL estimated that the receipts during the
present fiscal year ending June 30, 1861. will
be S3ii .312, ,-6- and the expenditures ESi,IJ2,-
AZ, showing a small balance Of S;J,2i3,3F- IN
fdYOr OF the Government. For the fiscal year
ending June "a, 1870, itis estimated that the
reCe pts VIII amount 70 -I37. n,0a0 and the ex-
pehditures TO - 3ltU,UtU, leaving az estimated
Surplus OF 24,UJJ,UuO.
j. becomes proper, IN this connection, to
MAKE BRET reference 10 our public ind-bted-
uess, " hIch has accumulated with such alarm
ing Tapidity and assumed such colossal pro-
portions
III 11e9, when the Government commenced
operations under the Federal Constitution, il
was burdened wit b au dsbtedness of seven v
five millions OF dollars, created during the war
of the Revolution. This amount had been re-
duced o forIy- III Va millions of dollars when iu
~ war was declared against Great Britain.
The three years struggle that 70 wed largely
Increased the national obligations, and in 1916
they had attained the sum OF one hundred aud
tWenty-seyen millions. Wise and
economical legislation, however, enabled
the Government to pay the entire
amount within a period of twenty years. and
tie exunguishment OF the n atIonal debt filled
the laEd with rtJoiCIng, and was one OF the
great events OF President Jackson : admiuis-
tratlon. After lis redemption a large fund re-
manned in the Treasury, which was deposited
Tor safe-k-eping with the several S;a.es, on
condition that il should be returned W hen Re.
qUIrt by tine public wants. In lS49-the year
after The tel nIination OF an expensive war with
MexlcO-we found ourselves involved IN u
debt OF SIXTY -four millions; and this was the
amount owed by he Government in 1,6l, Just
prior 10 the outbreak OF the rebellion. In the
sprIng Of 1851 our civil war commenced. Each
year Of its continuance made an enormous ad-
dit ion 10 the debt; and when, in the spring of
lsc5, the nation successfully emerged from the
Y a. o N hp Sny had
reached the immense sum of S2,S73.G92, ,9Jg.
The Secretary of the Treasury shows that on
the 1st day OF November, i-6,, this amount had
been reduced to S2,i9l ,jU,i5U; but 1T the same
time his report exhibits an increase during the
past year of S35625, ,IG2; for the debt On the 1st
day OF November last Is stated TO have been
-, ,52., ,l2@.552 II is estimated by the Secretary
that the returns for the past month will add 10
our Liabilities the further sum OF eleven mil.
hons-making total increase during thirteen
months OF iVrty six and half millions
In my message to Congress of December 4,
1865, 1t was suggested thar a policy should be
devised. which without being Oppressive to the
people, would Al once begin to effect a reduc-
ton OF the debt, and, il persisted in,
discharge it fully within definite mum.
Der of years. The Secretary of the Treasury
forcibly recommends legiAIation Of this char
ae;er. and Justly urges that the longer it is de-
ferred the more difficult must become its ac-
complishmeht. We should follow the wise
precedents esta Jiished IN 1889 and 1916. and
without further oeiay make provision for the
payment OF our obligations at as early period
as may be practicable. The fruits Of their Ia
bors should be enjoyed by our citizens rather
than used to build up and sustain moneyed
monopolies in our own and other lands. Our
foreign debt Is already computed by the Secre.
tary of the Treasury at eight hundred and
fifty millions citizens of foreign countries re.
ceive interest upon a large portion of our
securities, and American tax payers are made
to contribute large sums for their support
The idea that such a debt is to become perFna.
nent should be At all times discarded, as in.
volving taxation too heavy TO be bsrne, and
payment once In every sixteen years, at the
present rate of interest," Of an amount equal to
the original sum. This vast debt, if permitted
TO become permanent and increasing, must
eventually be gathered into the hands Of few
and enable them to exert a dangerous and con.
trolling power in the affairs Of the Govern
ment. The borrowers would become servants
TO the lenders-the lenders the masters Of the
people. We now pride ourselves upon
having given freedom TO four millions
shame that forty millions Of people,
by their own liberation Of usurpation and
profigacy, have suffered themselv YES to become
enslaved, and merely exchanged ve-owners
for new taskmakers In the shape Of bondhold.
ers and tax-gatherers. Besides, permanent debts
pertain to monarchlcal governmen ATS, and, tend.
ing TO mOnopolies, perpetuities, and class lei
lation, are totally irreconcilable with free in.
stitutions. Introduced into our republican
system, they would gradually but surely sap
its foundations, eventually subvert our gov.
ernmental fabric, and erect upon its RUNS
moneyed aristocracy. 1t is our sacred duty to
transmit nnimpaired to our Posterity the bless
ipgs OF liberty which were bequeathed to ms
49, ha DIR nj ha Pnn hl,p