The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-12-17

the population in 1870. In 1859 it is
estimated il. viii reach thirty EIGHT
millions, or an increase of eight hun
dred and sixty-eight per cent. In
hseyenty-nine years. The annual ex-
pepditures of the Federal government
in 1791 were S4,200OO0; in 1880, SI8,-
10000; in 1856, SA ,O00,0 900; in 1850
s63 OO0.OOO: I'm 1865, nearly S130,000,-
1000, and in 1869, it is estimated by the
,Secretary of. the Treasury, in his last
annual report, that they VIII be SS72,-
100000. BY comparing the public dis
bufsements of 1860, as estimated, with
those of 179l, twill be seen that the in
crease of expenditures since the begin
ming of the government has been eight
Thousand six hundred and eighteen
per cent, while the increase of popu-
lation for the same period was only
eight hundred and sixty-eight per cent.
Again, the expenses of the govern
ment in 1860, the year of peace imme-
diately preceding the war, were only
$63, 600 900, while in 1869, the year of
peace three years af the war, it is es-
tinated they will be S372, 600, 600, an
increase of four hundred and eighty
nine per cent, while the increase of
population was only twenty-One per
cent. for the same period. These sta
! tistics further show that in I791g the
annual national expenses, compared
with the population, were little more
than 81 per capita, and in 1850 but 50
per capita, while In 1859 they will
reach the extravagant sum of SO 78 per
capita. 1t will be observed that all of
these statements refer to and exhibit
the disbursements of peace periods.
It may therefore be of interest to COM
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 ex-
penses incident to the war of 1872
reached their highest amount, about
$31, 100000 while our population
slightly fexeeeded 100000, showing
an expenditure of only 50 80 per capita.
In 1S47 the expenditures growing out
Of the war with Mexico reached $780,
600 600, with a population of about
2l ,000, 600 giving only $3.50 per capita
for the war expenses of that year. In
1866 the expenditures called for by the
rebellion reached the vast amount of
81 ,290, 200, 600, which, compared with
a population Of 81 y000, 600, gives $38 20
per capita. ygfs a,3,
From March 4, 1889, to June 80,
1861, the entire expenditures of the
government were 81, 200, 100000. Dur
ing that period we were engaged in
wars with Great Britain and Mexico,
and were involved, in hostilities with
powerful Indian tribes; Louisiana
was purchased from France at a cost
Of SIS, 100000; Florida was ceded to
us by Spain for S5,0O0,000; California
was acquired from Mexico for S15,-
100000, and the Territory of New
Mexico was obtained from Texas for
i$10,O00000. Early in 1861 the war of
the rebellion commenced, and from
the 1st Of July of that year to the Both
of June, 1866, the public expenditures
reached the enormous aggregate of
$3,300,DO0,0 900. Three years of peace
have INTERVIEWED, and during that time
the disbursements of the government
have successively been S520,000,- :
600, $340OO0,00O and $685., 600, 600.
Adding to these amounts $372, 900, 600,
estimated as necessary for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1869, we obtain
a total expenditure of 81, ,60Q O00, 600
during the four years Immediately
succeeding the war, or nearly as much
as was expended during the seventy
| two years that preceded the rebellion,
| and embraced the extraordinary ex-
lpenditHres already named. These
startling facts clearly illustrate the ne
cessity of retrenchmenti in all branches
Of the public service. Abuses which
were tolerated during the war for the
the preservation of the Union will not
be endured now that profound peace
prevails, ...e ..,...,....-. ....5.,f (
The receipts from internal revenue
and customs haYe, during the past
three years, gradually diminished, and
the continuance of useless and extrava-
giant expenditures will involve US. in
national bankruptcy, or else make in
eYitable an increase of taxes already
too 0nerous, and in many respects OBJ
bnoxious on account of their inquisto-
Trial character. $I00,000,000 annually
are expended for the military force, q
large portion of which is employed in
the execution of laws both unneces-
saFy and unconstitutional $3.50, ,O00,-
600 are required each year to pay the
interest on the public debt; an army
of tax-gathers impoYerishes the ma
ltion, and public agents, placed by Con
gress beyond the control of the Execu-
4 tive, divert from their legitimate pur-
fposes large sums of money which they
collect from the people in the name Of
the government. isya ff .ie.; t3sgt h,
JudicioHs legislation and prudent
economy can alone remedy defects and
avert evils which, if suffered to exist
cannot fail to diminish confidence il
the public; councils and weaken the at
4 tachment and respect of the people to.
wards their political Institutions
Without proper care the small balance
which itt IS estimated will remain in
the treasury at the close of the present
fiscal year will not be realized, and ad
d bditional millions will be added to the
DEBT which il 10y BOW wyfIna enumerated @ BY
billions.
Z, RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.
4 q 1t IS IS shown o5pW7n BY the abie and compre
fensive report of the Secretary of th'
4 Treasury that the receipts for the fisea
j year ending June 80, 1868, were $405,
638,083, and the expenditures for th'
came period were $377, $40, ,284, leaving
; IN the treasury surplus of 23,297, ,79e
,41t isO estimated that the receipts during
d thespresentfiscal year, ending June 30
1869, will be $341, ,392, 1868, and the ex
penditures 1896, 152 ,470, showing ;
small balance of, $5,240, ,398 in favor o
the government. For the fiscal yea
T ending june so, 1870, it is estimates
that the receipts will amount to 1927,
u 000, 900, and the expenditures to 1908,
100000 leaving an estimated surplu
! of $4,000, ,O0O.. . ''''- a.
II a. OUR PUBLIC DEBT.
2 II .Hbeeomes proper in this connection
:, to make a, brief reference to our publ
Indebtedness, Which has accumulate
I with such alarming rapidity and rs
: suhnedi such colossal proportions: I
1 1889, when 2, the government com
menced operations under the FEEDERS
! constitution, it was burdened with a
: kindebtedness Of SIS, ,000, 900, create
during the war of the revolution
This amount had been reduced to $45
600 600 when, I'M 1872, war was dt