The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-12-18
uments of the deficient wisdom which
has characterized our recent legislation.
THE FINANCES.

THE FINANCES.
The condi ton of our finances de.
mands the early and earnest considera.
ton of Congress. Compared with the
growth of our population, the public ex-
peuditures have reached an amount un.
precedented in our history. The popu.
lation of the United States in 1890 was
nearly four millions of people. Increas-
ing each decade about thirty-three per
cent, il reached in 1860 thirty-one mil
lions, an increase of seven hundred per
cent. on the population of 1870. In 1865
it is estimated that it will reach thirty
eight millions, or an increase of eight
hundred and sixty-eight per cent. in
seventy-nine years. The annual eXpon-
ditures of the Federal Government in
1871 were four million two hundred
thousand dollars in 1920, eighteen mil
lion two hundred thousand dollars; 1850
iOrty-one millions in 1860, siXty-thlpu
millions; ; in 1860, nearly thirteen hun
dred millions and in 1869, it is estilna-
ted by the Secretary of the Treasury in
his last annual report, that they will be-
three hundred and seventy-two mil
lions. BY comparing the public dis
burSements of 1863, as estimated with
those of 1892, it will be seen that the in
crease of expenditure since the Begin
ming of the government, has been eight
thousand six hundred and eighteen per
ccntum, while the increase of the popu-
lation for the same period was only
eight hundred and sixty eight per cen
tum. Again: The expenses of the gov
ernment in 1860, the year of peace inn
mediately, preceding the war, were on
ly siXty-three millions; while in 1860,
the year OF peace three years after the
war, it Is estimated they will be three
hundred and suVenty-tWo milliOnS-an
Increase of four hundred and eighty
nine per centum, while the increase of
population was only twenty-one per
centum for the same period. These Sta
tistics further show that in 1871 the an
nual national expenses, compared with
the population, were little more than
one collar per capita, and in 1850 but
two dollars per capita; while in 1863
they Will reach the eXtravagant sum of
nine dollars and seventy-ejght cents per
capita. 1t will be observed that All of
these statements refer to and exhibit
the disbursements of peace periods. 1t
may therefore, be of interest to
compare the expenditures of the
three war perods-the war with
Gr'at Britain, the MeXican war,
anu the war of the rebellion. In
lSll the annual expenses incident to the
war OF lSl2reacheu their highest amount
about thirty-One millions; while our
| population slightly exceeded eight mil
hons, sh wing an expenditure OF only
! three dollars and eighty cents per capita.
In loil the expenditures growing out of
The war with Mexico reached hity.iive
millions, ,and thc population about twen-
ty-One millions, giving only two dollars
ana sixty cents per capita for the war
expenses OF that year. In 1860 the eX-
penuitures called Tor by the rebellion
reached the vast amount of twelve hun
urei ana ninety millions, which, COM
pared wi h Il population of thirty y-lour
millions, gives tlirty-eisht dollars and
twenty cents per capita. From the 4th
DAY OF March, l7S9, to the thirteenth OF
June, 1861, the entire expenditures oi
| me government were seventeen hum
ureu millions of dollars. During that
period we were engaged in wars with
Great Britain and Me eXico, and were in
volved in hostilities with powerful In.
dian tribes Louisiana was purchased
from france AT Il cost of fifteen millions
oi dollars: Florida was ceded To us by
| SPAN Tor five millions; California WAS
acquired from Mexico Tor fifteen mil
lions and the Territory of New MeXi-
OF ten millions. Early in 1861 the war
OF the rebellion commenced and from
the first Uf July of that year to the 3Oth
oi June, 1860, tho public eXpeudi lures
reached the enormous aggregate of thir-
ty-three hundred millions. Three years
ol peace have lnterveneu, and during
that Time the disbursements of the gov
efnhent nave successlvely been five
nuhured ana twenty millions, three
hundred and iorty-siN millions, and
three hundred and ninely-thrce mil
lions. Adding TO these amounts three
hundred and serenty-tWO millions, es-
tllnated ao necessary ior the fiscal year
ending The Both o! June 1863, We obtain
IL lolai expenditure OF sixteen hundred
millions OIL dollars during the tour years
| Immediately succeeding the war. Oh
nearly as much AS was eyuendea duriup
the seventy-two Years that preceded Tho
rebellion, aud enbruc, d the cytruordi.
nary expenditures already named
These startling facts clearly illustrate
the necessity of retrenchnicnt in MI
branches of the public service. Ahusn.
which were tolerated during tho wa,
for the preservation of the nation viii
not be endured by the nunuIu now tbni
profound peace ,ruyuiis, The rpc,imt,
rom internal revenues ana rustnr',
have, during the p,,t threr yc,rs oval
ually diminished and the coutini1auc,
OF useless and extrayurnnt eyurnIi,nre
will involve us i'm national nkruntc,,
or else make incyilnblr nu inrrnoln y
taxes, already too ourrn,,s and In ,,,.,n,
respects obnoxious ON accrunt nf th"i
inuuisitorial character, One hnudrn,
millions annually are cxnend,d cnr th,
military force n 1arre nnrtinn or W. u'him, hi'I,
is EN- pioyed in the execution of law
both UNNECESSARY and unconstitutionaI
one hundred and iiitv millions are rc
quired each wear to nav the intorrst -,
the public debt an army of tnv."nther
ers impoverisnes the nation and nuhli
agents, placed by Congress- bovond th
control of the Eyccutive' divert from
their Legitimate nuruoses LARGO sun,s -
Nancy phirb ,bn,, ooj,"at c,',' a.