The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-12-23


to the country, and should not be permit
TED to stand as SO many monuments of tht
deficient wisdom which has characterize,
our recent legislation. The condition O
our finances demands the early and earnes
consideration of Congress. Compared witt
| the growth of our population, the publ
!, expenditures have reached ansamount uu
fpreceden.ed in our history. The popula
ton OF the United States in 1890 wa
4 nearly four millions ofpeople. ~Increasin.
each decade about thirty-three per cent, i
reached, in 1865, thirty one millions, an il
crease of seven hundred per cent or
the population in 1890. In 1869 i,
is estimated that it will reacl
thirty-eight millions, or an increase
of eight hundred and sixty-eight per cent
in seventynine years. The annual ,expen
j ditures Of the Federal Government in 1871
were four millions two hundred thousand
dollars. In 1920, eighteen million two
hundred thousand dollars in 1850. forty.
one millions; in 1860, sixty-tbree millions
in 1865 nearly thirteen hundred millions
and in4lsf9, it is estiInated by the Secre.
tary of the Treasury, in his last annual re,
port, that they will be three hundred and
seventy-two millions. By comparing the
public disbursements OF 1869 as estimated
with those of l791 it will be, seen that the
increase of expenditures since the begin
ming of the Government has been eight
thousand six hundred and eighteen per
centum, while the. increase of the popula-
ton for the same period was only eight
hundred and sixty-eight per centum.-
Again, the expenses of the Government in
1860, the year of peace Immediately prece.
ding the war were only sixty-three millions,
while in 1869, the year ofpeace, three years
after the war, it is estimated that they will
be three hundred and seventy-two millions,
an increase of four hundred and eighty-nine
per centum, while the increase of popula-
ton was only twenty one per, centum for
he same period. These statistics further
show that in 1871, the annual national
expenses compared with the population
were little more than one dolla. per capita,
and 1860 but two dollars per capita while
in 1869 they, will reach the extlavagant
sum of nine dollars and seventy-eight cents
per capita. It will be observed that all If
these statements refer to, and exhibit the
disbursements of peace periods. It may,
therefore, be of interest to compare 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 expense incident to the war of 1912
reached their highest amount-about thirty
one millions, while our population slightly
exceeded eight millions, showing an expen-
diture Of Only three dollars and e;is.lhty cents
per capita. In 1871 the expenditures
growing out ofithe war with Mexico reach
ed flfty-fve millions. and the population
about twenty-one millions, giving only two
dollars and sixty cents per capita for the
war expenses of that year. In 1865 the
expenditures called for by the rebellion
reached the vast amount of twelve hun
dred and ninety millions, which compared
with a population Of thirty four millions
gives thirty-eight dollars ard twenty cents
per capita. From the 4th day of March,
1889, to the Both of June, 1861, the entire
expenditures of the Government were sew
enteen hundred millions of dollars Du-
ring 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 cost Of fifteen millions of dol
lars. Florida was ceeded to us by Spain
Tor five millions. California was acquired |
from Mexico for fifteen millions, and the
territory of New Mexico was obtained
from Texas for the sum Of ten millions
Early in 1861 the war of the rebellion
and from the LIST Of, July Of
that year to the Both of June, 1868, the
public expenditures reached the enormous
aggregate of thirty-three hundred millions.
Three years of peace have interviewed, and
luring that time the disbursements of the
Government have successfully been five
nundred and twenty millions; three hun
lred and forty-slx millions, and three hun
lred and ninety-three millions. Adding
o these amounts three hundred aud sew
snty-twe millions, estimated as necessary
'or the fiscal, year ending the both ofJune,
1869, we obtain a total. expenditure of six
zen hundred millions of dollars during. the
our years Immediately succeeding the war,
,r nearly as much as was expended during
he seyenty-two years that preceded the
.ebellion. and embraced the extraordinary |
already named. These start
ling facts clearly illustrate the necessity of
retrenching in oil branches of the public
service. ....i..l
Abuses which were tolerated during the
var for the preservation of the nation, will
not be endured 10y the people now that pro-
Dund peace prevails. The receipts frcm
Internal revenues and customs have during
he past three years gradually diminished,
md the continuance of useless and cxtrav-