The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-12-10
sasq,hc c3aaition or our finances dc

aThc cendition Of our finances dc. r
mand the early and earnest consider
alton OF congress, Compared with
the bulk of our population, tho pub
he expenditures have reached an
amount unprecedented IN our his.
tory. The population in the United
States in 1890 was nearly 100000 T
of people. Increasing each year,
about 80 per cent.--it reached, in
1860, 81, 000, 000,--an increase Of 200
per cent, Of the population in 1890.
In 1869, it 10 estimated that twill
reach SO, 0O0, 900, Or an increase Of
sos per cent In seventy mine years.
The ahhual expenditures Of the
federal government, in 1901, we're
S4,2OO,000; in 1920, slS,20O,0OO; in
1850, 100000, 900; in 1860, $4,000,
900; in 1865, sl,3OQ00u,0O0; and in
1869, it is estimated by the secretary |
of the treasury, in his last annual re
port, that they will be S372,O00,O00.
By comparing the public disburse-
ments OF 1869, as estimated with |
those of 1891, il will be seen that
the increase of expenditure since the
beginning Of the government, has
been 5l,6l4 per centum, while the in
crease Of tho population for the same
period was only 1858 per centun.
Again: The expenses OF the gov
ernment in 1sG0-the year of peace
Immediately preceding the var
were only 500, 600, 900; while, In 1869,
THE year of peace three years after
the war, it is estimated they will be
S372, 900, 000---aa Increase of 4S9
per csntum; while the increase OF
| population was only Fl per centum
fer the same period.
| These statististics further show
that, in 1871, the annual national ex-
penses, compared with the popula-
ton, We're little more than ST per
capita, and in 1860, but 50 per capita,
while, in 1869, they will reach the
extravagant sum of 1878 per capita.
:, 1t will be observed that all of these
statements refer to and exhibit the
disbul sements Of peace periods. 1t
may, therefore, be ofinterest to CON-
pare the expenditures of the three
war periods, the war with Great
Britain, the Mexican war, and the
war of the rebellion. In 1914, the
annual expenses incident to the war
of 1872, reached their highest
amount, about s3l 100000, while our
population slightly exceeded, 5000,
O0O,--showing an expenditure of
only $3.50 per capita. In 184S, ex.
penditures growing out of the war
with Mexico, reached S55, 600, 900,
and the population was about 81 900,
600, giving only $3.50 per capita for
the war expenses of that year. In
1865, the expenditures called for by
, the rebellion reached the vast amt
Of 1920, 100000; which, compared
, with population of 34,o00,OO0,
. gives $50 20 per capita. ais
!, From the 4th of day Of March,
1889, to the I'd day of June, 1861, the
entire expenditure of the govern.
ment were 81 ,700,000,000. During
that period, we were engaged il
wars with Great Britain and Mexico
:, and were involved in hostilities with
: powerful Indian tribes, Louisiana
was purchased from France, at q
= cost Of sl5,000,000. Florida was
sold to us by Spain, for $4,000, 00O.-
California was acquired from Mexi
> co for $15, 100000; and the territory
g of New Mexico was obtained from
: Texas for the snm of $4,000, 000.--
;, Early in the year of 1861 the var O.
: the rebellion commenced; and, from
:, the first of July Of that year to the
} Both day of June, 1865, the puclic ex
penditures reached the enormous ag-
gregate Of S3,300,0O0,000. Three
q years of peace have interviewed, and
= during that time, the disbursement.
of the government have successive
: ly, been S520,000,000, S346, 200, 600
aud 1898, 000,0O Adding to these
amounts tho S372,00O,0OO estimated
as necessary FOR the fiscal year end
ing on the Sd day of June, 1869, we
), obtain a total expenditure of $1,000
100000 during the four years imme-
:. aiately succeeding the war; or near
:, ly as much as was expended during
the seventy years that preceded the
= rebellion, and which embraces the
: extraordinary expenses already
: named.
These startling facts clearly illus
trate the necessity of retrenchmcnt
IN all branches of the public service
Abuses which were tolerable during
tho war, tor the preservation of the
. nation, will not be endured by the
people how that profound peace
prevails.
The receipts from the internal
revenue and customs have, during
the past three years, gradually di-
minished, and the continuance Of
useless and extravagant expendi.
: lures will involve us in national
bankruptcy, or else make inevitable
, an increase of taxes already too enor.
nous, and. in many respects, odious,
on account oftheir inquisitorial char.
acter. One hundred millions annu-
ally are expended for the military
force, large portion Of which is EN-
ployed in the execution of laws both
unnecessary and unconstitutional
One hundred and fifty millions are
, required each year to pay the inter
est on the public debt. An army o1
tax gatherers impoverishes the ma
: ton; and public agents, placed by
congress beyond the control OF the
executive, divert from their legiti-
mate purposes large sums OF money
. which they collect from the people
r in the name of the government. Ju.
dicious legislation and prudent econ
omy can alone remedy these defects,
and avert the evils which, if suffered
, to exist, cannot fail to diminish con
, tidence in the public councils, and
weaken the attachment and. respect
of the people toward their political
institutions. Without proper care,
the small balance which it is estima-
ted will remain in the treasuary at
the close of the present fiscal year
will not be realized !, and additional
millions will be added to debt
which is now enumerated by bill
lions.
i 1t is shown, by the'able and COM
prehensive report of the secretary OF