The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1868-12-15

drSd millions Three years of peac,
have inter,ehed, aud during that tim,
the disbursements Of the government
have successvely been five hundred and
twenty millions three hundred and for
ty-six millions, and three hundred and
uinety-threc millions Adding to thes,
amounts three hundred and seventy.
two millions estimated as necessary fol
the fiscal year ending tho 30th u June
1869, we obtain total expenditure oi
sixteen hundred millions 81 dollars dur
ing the -four years Immediately succeed
the war, OF nearly as much as was ex-
pended during the sevonty-two years
that proceeded the rebellion, and en-
bracad the extraordinary expenditure
already named
I These startling facts clearly Illustrate
the necessity Of retrenchment in all
branches Of the public service, abuses
which were tolerated durilg the war for
the preservation Of the nation, will not
be endured by the people now that pro-
found peace prevails The receipts from
internal revenue and customs have dur
ing the past three years, gradually di-
minished, and the continuance of use
less and extra expenditures, will involve
US in a national bankruptcy or else in
eyitable an increase Of taxes, already
too onerous, and in many respects OBJ
noxious on account Of their inquisito-
rial character One hundred millions
are annually expended for the military
force, n large portion Of which is en-
( ployed in the execution Of laws both
unnecessary and unconstitutional ;
Sl50,000,0O0 are required each year to
! pay the interest on the public debt; an
army Of taxgatherers impoverish the
nation, and public agents placed by
Congress beyond the control of the ex-
ecutiye, diyerts from their legitimate
purposes large sums of money, which
they collect from the people in the name
Of the government. Judieious legisla-
ton and prudent economy can alone
remedy defects and avert evils, which,
if suffered to exist, cannot fail to dimin-
ish confidence in the public councils,
and weaken the attachment and respect
Of the people toward their political in
stitutions Without proper care, the
small balance which it is estimated will
remain in the treasury at the close Of
the present fiscal year, will not be rea-
lized, and additional millions will be
added to debt which is now enume-
rated by billions. 1t is shown by the
able and comprehensive report Of the
Secretary Of the Treasury That the re-
ceipts for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1868, we're $405, G3S, ,O83, and that
the expenditures for the same time were
S377 $40, ,2S4, leaving IN the treasury a
surplus of $28, ,297, ,798. 1t is estimated
that the receipts for the present fiscal
year ending June 30, 1869, will be S341,-
1926 and the expenditures, $780,
152, 470, showing small balance of
$5, 5,24O, 1913, in favor Of the government.
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870,
it is estimated that the receipts viii
amount to 1927, 100000, and the expen-
ditures to 5000, 900, 600, leaving an esti-
mated surplus Of $24 ,0O0,000.It b e.
comes proper, in this connection, to
make brief reference to our public in
debtedness, which has accumulated with
such alarming rapidity and assumed
such colossal proportions In 1859,
when the government commenced ope-
rations under the federal constitution,
it was burdened with an indebtedness
of 100000 created during the war
OF the revolution. This amount had
been reduced to $4,000 900, when in
1872 war was declared against Great
Britain. The three years struggle that
followed largely increased the national
obligations, and by 1916 they had at
tanned the sum of $127000000. Wise
and economical legislation, however,
enabled the government to pay the en-
tire amount within period Of 20 years
and the extinguishment Of the national
debt filed the land with rejoicing, and
was one Of the great events Of President
Jackson's administration. After its re-
demption, large fund remained in the
treasury which was deposited for safe
keeping with the several States. oa CON
dition that It should be returned when
required by the public want In 1s49,
the year after the termination OF an az
pensiye war with Mexico, we found our
selves involved in a debt Of $G4 900 900
and this was the amount owed by the
government in 1860, just prior TO the
outbreak ofthe rebellion. In the spring
Of 1851 our civil war commenced. Each
year Of its continuance made an enor
nous addition 10 the debt, aud when
in the spring Of 1865 the nation success