The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-12-16

of the nation for its protection and
preservation, the other Is contrary to
the express declaration of the Consti-
tuition, to wit: that q well regulated
militia being necessary to the security
of a free State, the right Of the people
to keep and bear arms shall not be in
fringed. It is believed that the re-
peal of all such laws would be accept
ed by the American people as at least
a partial return to the fundamental
principles of the Government, and an
indication that hereafter the Constitu-
ton is to he made the nations safe
and unerring guide. They a be
productive of no permanent benefit to
the country, and should not be per-
mitted to stand as so many monu-
ments of the deficient wisdom which
has characterized our recent legislation.
THE FINANCIAL QUESTION.
The condition of our finances dc.
mands the early and earnest consider
alton of Congress. Compared with
the growth of our population, the pub
lie expenditures have reached an
amount unprecedented in our history.
The population of the United States
in 1870 was nearly four millions OF
people. Increasing each decade about
thirty-three per cent, it reached in
1861 thirty n millions, an increaee
of seven hundred per cent. on the pop
ulation in 1890. In 1869, it is est
mated it will reach thirty-eight mil
lions, or an increase of eight hundred
and s~ixty-eight per cent. in seventy
nine years. The annual expenditu' es
of the Federal Government in 1871
were four millions two hundred thou
sand dollars ; in 1920, eighteen millions
two hundred thousand dollars; in 1850,
forty-one millions; in 1850, sixty
! three millions in 1855, nearly thir-
teen hundred millions; and in 1869, it
is estimated by the Secretary of the
Treasury in H. last annual report
that they will be three hundred and
seventy-two millions. b comparing
the public disbursements of 1859, as
estimated with those of 1871, it VIII
be seen that the increase of expendi-
ture since the beginning of the Govern
ment has been eight thousand six
hundred and eighteen per centum.
Again, the expenses of the govern
ment in 1860, the year of peace i'm
mediately preceding the war, were
only sixty-three millions. while i'll
1869, the year of peace three years
after the war, as estimated they will
be three hundred and seventy-two
millions, an increase of four hundred
and eighty-nine per centum, while the
increase of population was only TWEEN
ty-one per centum for the same period.
These statistics further show that in
1894 the annual national expenses
compared with the population were
little more than one dollar per capita,
and in 1860 but two dollars per CAPT
ia, while in 1859 they will reach the
extravagant sun of nine dollars and
seventy-eight cents per capita. 1t
will be observed that all of these state
ments refer to and exhibit the dis
bursemeuts of peace periods. 1t
may therefore be of Interest to COM
the expenditures of three war periods
the war with Great Britain, the
Mexican war, and the war of the Re-
bellion. In 1914 the annual expens-
es incident to the war of 1912 reached
their highest amount, about thirty-one
millions, while our population slight
ly exceeded eight millions, showing
an expenditure of only three dollars
and eighty cent per captain 1S47 the
expenditures growing out of the war
with Mexico reached $55, 000, 900,
and the population about 81, 900. 0UO,
giving only $3.50 per capita for war
expenses in that year. In 1865 the
expenditures called for by the rebel
lion reached the vast amount of ST.
29O, oOO, 600, which, compared with
population of $4,000 900, gives
$500 per capita. From the 4th day
of March, 1889, to the 30th day of
June 1861, the entire expenditures of
the Government were 81, 700, 600, 600.
During that period we were engaged
IN wars with Great Britain and Mex
leo, and involved in hostilities with
powerful Indian tribes /; Louisiana was
from France at a cost of
of SIS, 000, 900; Florida was coded to
US by Spain for five millions; Gala
was acquired from Mexico for
millions and the territory of
Kew Mexico was obtained from Tex
IS LQr the sum of ten millions Early
in 1861 the war of the rebellion COM
menced. and from the first of July of
that year to the thirtieth of June,
1865, the public expenditures reached
The enormous aggregate of thirty
three hundred millions. Three years
Of peace have interviewed, and during
hat time the disbursements of the
Government have been successfully
five hundred and twenty millions,
three hundred and ~forty-six millions
and three hundred and ninety-thrce
millions. Add to these three hundred
and se~venty-two millions, estimated
as the sum necessary for the fiscal
year ending the Both of June, 1869,
obtain a total expenditure of six
teen hundred millions of dollars during
the four years Immediately succeed
the war, or nearly as much as was
expended during the seventy-two
years that preceded the rebellion and
embraced the extraordinary expendi-
lures already named. These startling
acts clearly illustrate the necessity Of
-etrenchment in all branches of the
service. Abuses which We're
,olerated during the war for the pre-
iervation of the nation, will not be
endured by the people now that pro-
ound peace prevails.