The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-12-15

nnual expenditures of the Federal Gov i
in 1871 were S4,200,000; in y
$50, S1S,20G, 900 in 1850, $4,000, 600;
n 1860, 1868 ,0e0,G0a, in 1865, nearly 81
100000, GOO, ard in 1869, it is estimated
" the Secretary Of the Treasury in his
asst annual report, that they will be S372-
100000. BY comparing the public dis
,urscments Of 1869, as estimated. with .
hose of 1871, it will be seen that the in
,rease of expenditures since the begin
hing Of the Government has been S,61S .
'cr centum, while the increase OF the pop +
llation for the same period was only SOS
Der centum. Again, the expenses of the
government in 1860, the year of peace
immediately precedingthe war,wele only
$50 COZ. 600, while in 1869, the year of
pe4ce three yaars after the war, it is csti-
mated, they will be 33T2, ,000, eco, an in-
crease of 4S9 per centum, while the in
crease of population was only 81 per
centula for the same period and the sta
listics further show in 1871 the annual
national expenses, compared with the
were little more than one
dollar per capita, and in 1860, but two
dollars per capita, while in 1869 they will
reach the cXtraeagant sum Of 80 IS per
capita. 1t will be observed that all of
these statements refer to, and exhibit, the
disbursements of peace period, 1t
may, therefore, be of interest to compare
the expenditures of the three war perl
DDS, the war with Great Britain. the Mex
;can War, and the war of the Rebellion.
In 1914 the annual expenses incident to
the war of 1912 reached their highest
amount, about S31,000,OO0, while our
population slightly exceeded S,0oo,Ooo,
showing an expenditure of only S5 oS
per capita.
In 1917 the expenditures growing out
of the war with Mexico reached S39,-
000,G00, and the population about IL
100000, givingonly 81 60 per capita for
the war expenses of that year. In 1868
the expenditures called for by the rebel
lion reached the vast amount of 81, l,29O,-
100000, which, compared with popu-
lation of 34,000,000, gives S3S 2Ocents
per capita From the 4th day of March,
1889, to the 30th day Of June, 1851 the
entire expenditures of the Government
were S1,700,0G0,000. During 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 S15 100000; Florida was ceded
to the United States by Spain for So
100000; California was acquired from
Mexico for $4,000, 900, and the Terrific
ry of New Mexico was obtained from
Texas for the sum Of SIC, 0,000,O00. Early
in 1861 the war of the rebellion com
menced. and from the lstof July of that
year so the 9th of June, 1863, the public
expenditures reached the enormous ag-
gregate of S3,300,000,000 Three years
of peace have intervened, and during
that time the disbursements of the Gov
ernment have been successfully Sa2o,-
000,0O0, S346, 900, 600, and S393, 100000
Adding to these amounts S3I2,CGO,0Go
estimated as necessary for the fiscal year
ending 30th of June, 1869, we obtain &
total expenditure Of $l,6CO,OO0,0OO du
ring the four years Immediately succeed
ing the war, or nearly as much as was
expended during the seventy-two years
that preceded the rebellion, and embrac
ed the extraordinary expenditures al
ready named These startling facts
clearly illustrate the necessity of re
trenchment in all branches Of the public
service. Abuses which were tolerated
during the war for the preservation o
the nation will not be endured by the
people now that profound peace prevails
REVENUE RECEIPTS AND OUTLAWS.
The receipts from internal revenues
and customs have during the past three
years gradually diminished, and the con
tinuance of extravagant and useless ex
penditures will involve us in nationa
bankruptcy, or else make inevitable al
increase of taxes already too onerou
and in many respects obnoxious on &C
count of their inquisitorial character
One hundred millions annually are eN
pended for the military force,a largeror
ton of which is employed in the execu
ton Of laws both unnecessary and I'm
constitutional. One hundred and fift.
millions are req ired each year to pa.
the interest on the pu5!ic debt An arm,
of tax -gathercrs impoverish the nation
and public agents, placed by Congress
beyond the control Of the Executive, d
vert from their legitimate purposes larg
sums of money which they collect fror
| the people in the name Of the Govern
ment. Jueicious legislation and pruden
economy can alone remedy defects an
avert evils which, if suffered to exist
cannot fail to diminish confidence in th
public councils and weaken the attach
ment and respcct-of the people toward
their political institutions. Withou
proper care the small balance which it
estimated will remain in the Treasury 9
the close of the present fiscal year, vii
not be realized, and additional million
be added to debt which is now enumt
rated by billions. 1t is shown hy the abl
and comprehensive report of the Secre
tary of the Treasury that the receipts 70
the fiscal year, ending June 80, 1865
were s4O5, 73S, ,0S3, and that the expend
lures fort the same period were $317 ,34t
2S4, leaving in the Treasury surplu
of S2S, ,297, ,79S. tits estimated that tn
receipts during the present fiscal yea
ending June 80, 1869, will be $34l 1892
S6S, and the expenditures 1886, l52,H AZ
showing a small balance of 5,Ae,39
+ in favor of the Government. For til
), fiscal year ending June 80, 1870, it is e'
timated that the receipts will amount t
j 1927, ,O00,C coo, and the expenditures
! S303, ,O00,0 600, leaving an estimated SUI
plus of 24,G00,000. ee.sf .a..
OUR NATIONAL INDEBTEDNESS.
; It becomes proper in this connectio
| to make brief reference to our pull
, indebtedness, which has accumulate
with such alarming rapidity and assume
, such colossal proportions. In 1879, whe
l the Government commenced operation
under the Federal Constitution, it W.
burthened with an indebtedness of S75
e. pOO cOO orootn1 d,,rinU tha war of I'll