The Ottawa free trader., 1868-12-12


as estimated with those of 1891, it will bs sesn
that the increase Of expenditure since the begin
| ming OF the government has been 1854 per
csntum, while the increase of the population for
the same period was only 868 per esntun.
Again, the expenses of the governmsnt In 1850
the year Of peace immediately preceding the
war-wsre only >ss.0O0. 900; while in 1850 the
year Of peass three years aftsr the wsr-it is e.
timatsd they Vim b $S7e, ,0O0, ,0O0 an incrsass Of
ton was only 81 per centum for the same period.
These statistics further Show that in 1871 the
annual natioaal expense compared With the pop
ulation, were little moro than 81 pr oapisa, and
in 1860 but $2 per capita, while IN 1859 they
vii! reach the eItrsvsgant sum of eo.7S per
capita. - :.
1t will be observed that all Of these statements
refer to and exhibit the disbursements Of peass
periods. It may, therefore. bs of interest to
compare the expenditures of the three war pc
riods, the war with Great Britain, the Mexican
war, and the war of the rebellion. In 1914 the
annual expenses Incident to the war of 1919
reached their highest amount, about $31 .000. .00O
while our population slightly exceeded 8, 900, 900
showing an expenditure of only $3.50 per cop
va. In 1S4S expenditures growing ost Of the
war with Mexico, reached $55, 100000, and the
population was about 2lOOO.0OO, giving only
$2SO per capita ter the war expenses Of that
yOoSs Al ACVO tuo cApOuOkSuIVo C8AA0Q ~
the rebellion reached the vast smount Of 81 $780,
100000; which, compared with population Of
234, ,OOO,O 600, gives $500 per capita.
From the 4th day of March 1889 TO the Sd day
Of June 1851 the entire expenditure of the gov.
srnment was $1,700, 100000. During that pc
riod We were engaged in wars with Great Brit
ain and Mexico, and were involved in hostilitiss
with powerful Indian tribes. Lsuisiana was
purchased from France. at . cost Of $4,000, ,000
Flsrida was sold to Us BY Spain for $E,O00,00O
Califsrnia was acquired from Mexico for t15,-
1000; and the territory of New Mexico was
obtained from Texas for the sum Of $l0, ,O00, ,0O0
Early in 1851 the war Of the rebellion eom.
msnced and from the first of July of that year
to the Both day of june 1865 the public expendi.
turss reached the enormous aggregate OF $780,
O00, 900. Three years of peace have intsrvsnsd,
and during that time tho disbursements Of the
government have successfully been $520, ,O00. 900,
tS46, ,0OO 900, and $393, 900 600. Adding to thsss
amounts the $372, 600 600 estimated a. necessary
for tho fiscal year ending sa the Sd day Of jane
1869, We obtain . fetal expenditure Of 81 &c.,
600, 600 during tho four years Immediately sue.
ceeding the war; or nearly ~ much a. wss OK.
pended during the seventy years that preceded
the rebellion, and which embraces the sxtraordi-
nary expenditures already named.
These startling facts clearly illustrate the ne
cessity of retrenchnsnt in all branches Of the
public service. Abuses which were tslerabls
during the war, for the preservation Of the ns-
ton, will not bs endured by the people now that
profound peace prsvails
The receipts from the internal revenue and
customs have, during the past three years, grad.
ually diminished, and the continuance of uselsss
and sxtravsgant expenditures will involve q in
national bankruptcy, or else make Inevitable an
increase of taxes already too enormous, aad in
many respects odious on account Of their inc uis-
itorisl character One hundred millions ANIMAL
ly are expended for the military fsrcs large
portion of which is employed in tho execution Of
laws both unnecessary and uAsozstitstisnal
0ns hundred and fifty millieas are required sash
year to pay the interest on the public debt. An
army Of tax-gstherers impoverishes the AstioA !;
and public agents, placed BY congress beyond the
mate purposes large sums of money which they
collect from the people in the name Of the eev.
srnment. Jsdicioss legislAtion and prudent
economy can alone remedy these defects and
avert the evils which, if suffered to exist, cannst
fail to diminish confidence in the public councils
and weaken the attachment and respect Of the
people toward their political institutions. With.
out proper care, the small balance which it ID e.
timsted will remain in the treasury at the close
and additional millions will be added to Q debt
which is now enumerated by billions.
1t is shown, by the able and comprehensive re-
port of the secretary of the treasury that the re-
csipts for the fiscal year ending July 30, 1868,
were $405, ,80S 03, and that the expenditures
for the same period were $377, ,34O, ,2S4, leaving
. surplus of $2S,797,07S. 1t it sstimatsd that
the receipts during the present fiscal year. end
ing June 80, 1869, will be $34l ,392, ,S63, and the
expenditures 1886, l52, 40, showing small bal.
anoe of $5,240,398, in favor of the government.
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870 it is a..
timated that the receipts will amount to 1897.
100000, and the expenditures to 1908, 900 OOO-
leaving an estimated surplus of $24, 100000
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
1t seems proper, in this connection, 70 make =
brief reference to our public indebtedness, which
has accumulated with such alarming rapidity
and is assuming such colossal proportions In
l779, when the government commenced opera.
tions under the federal constitution, it was bur-
dened with an Indebtedness of $75,OOOOOO,
created during the war of the revolution. This
amount was reduced to $45,00O,OOO, when, in
1912, war was declared against Great Britain
The three years struggle that followed largely
increased the national obligations, and, in 1916,
they had attained the sum of $127, ,00O,00O.-
Wise and economical legislation, however, ena-
bed the government to pay the entire amount
within period OF twenty years, and the eItin-
guishment Of the national debt filled the land
with rejoicing, and was one Of the great events
OF President Jackson's administration After ito
redemption, large fund remained in the treas.
ury which was deposited for safe keeping with
the several states on condition that it should be
returned when required by the public wants.
In lS49,-the year after the termination of an
expensive war with Hexco,-wefsund ourselves
involved in debt of $64, ,0000OO and this was
the amount owed bv the poyernmont in 1S6O