Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-12-24

'AANs% II
II nine dollars and seven eighteentha per !
.apita. II will be observed that all Of taefe
,tatements refer to and exhibit the disburae-
ments Of peace periods. II may, therefore,
be af interest to compare the expenditures
ofthe War periods, the war With dkoat DllI
sin, tho Mexican war, and the war OF the IL
rebellihii. In 1914 the annual expenses inc.'
dent 10 he war Of 1919 reached their hlgheal
amount, about thirty-une millions, Ehio our
population slightly exceeded eightmiillops'
showing an expenditure Of only three
dollars and eighty cents per cgpita.
In lsi7 the expenditures growing out N q war
with Mexico reached ffty.nve millions, and the
population about twenty-one millions. giving only
two dollars and sixty cents per capita for tho war
expenses. In the year 1865 the expenditures called
for By tho rebellion reached the vast amount OF
twclve hundred and ninety millions, which, COM
pared with a population OF thirty-four millions,
alvesthlrtyeightd dollars and twenty cents per capita
From the fourth day Of March, l7SQ to the 5Oth OF
June, 1861 the entire expenditures of the govern
ment were seventeen hundred million dollars.
During that penod we were engaged 10 wars with
Great Britain and Mexico were inyolvcdip hostilites
with powerful Indian tribes. Louisiana was purchas
cd from France a. cost OF fifteen millions OF dol
lara Florida was coded to us by Spain Tor hve inl
lions. California was acquired from Mexico Tor
fifteen millions, and the territory OF New Mexico
was obtained from Texas Tor tne sum o. Ten mn
menced and from tho 1st Of July Of that year to the
SOth of June, 1865 the public expenditures reached
the enormous aggregate OF thirty-three hundred
millions; three years Of peace have INTERVIEWED, and
during that time the disbursements OF tne
government have successively been fve hun.
dred and twonty millions, three hundred
and forty.six millions and three hundred
and ninety.three Millions adding TO these amounts
three hundred and seventy-two millions estimated
as necessary for the fiscal yoar ending tue Stn oi
June, 1859, VIC obtain total expenditure OF siSteef
hundred millions Of dollars during the
fonr years succeeding the war, or nearly
as much aR was expended during tue
seyenty-two years that preceded the rebellion
and embrace the extraordinary expenditures already
named These startling facts clearly illustrate the
necessity Of retrenchment in all branches, OF the
public service. Abuses which were tolerated dur.
Ing the war for he preservation of the nation VIII
not be endured by the people, now that profound
poaoo prevails
The receipts from internal revenue and customs
have, during the past three years, gradually di-
mlnished, and the continuance Of useless extraVa,
giant expenditures will involve us in national
bankruptcy, or else more inevitable, an in
crease of taxes already too onerous, and In many
respects obnoxious on account Of ihqusitoral
character. One hundred millions annually are OK,
pended for the military force, large portion OF
which Is employed in the execution OF laws both
unnecessary and unconstitutional. One hundred
and fifty millions arc required each year TO pay the
interest ON the public debt AN army Of tax-gath-
erers imnoverishes tho nation. and public agents,
placed by Congress beyond the control OF the execu'
s,,ms az money which they collect from the people
a. s,, na,no ~ ~ government Judicious legisla-
zion and nr1dent economy can alone remedy defects
and avert evils which, If suffered W exist cannot
fail to diminish confidence In the public councils,
and weaEen.the atiachment and respect Of the ped.
nsa tovards their politieal institutions.-
ttv;,ho,t ,roT,or carc the small balance which
d 10 Fcstimatad will remain In the
reasrv at the Close Of tho fiscal year will not be
realized and additional mililons ho added to debt
,,icl is rov enumerated by billions II IL ahown
Inv ,he ahie and report of the Secretary
- ,hs Teassnrv fine reeeiDt for the fiscal wear
ending Jnne ann. ls6s. were S4O5, ,688, ,O83, and
thos tbe ernenditrres for the same period were
sa57 slo ost leaving the Treasury a surplus Of
sSe 5S7 1as ~ ''
s1o'1'''so' ..,.,..,. a. 80,
is estimated tnat the recelpts uuIiS ue p,y' ,i
ent nsca year enue 'uno oo', i9yo' 9yo 10
S9Z,ooe ana Ine ~ aSo aS T. & S ~
VeFy shah puines ol Hz.V,osI y, I Sa.h 4,
government FOR the hscal year enullg suuV DULL n
Is estimated that ne receipts VIII ao ao ono y
OOOOOO and the expenailresS 80 oso
an estimate surplus OF s+,OuvuUV' oesolnes
proper IN thls cohneSuo, 70 aIs VIZ
10 our Puonc lhueoteaness, Whhen nay
sucn colossal propottions. ~ a'o, WIFI ~, w
erRlent commence s tdat,ednass
Constitution, II was Duroehsu win an
OF seyenty-nVe hAltons u ugai Tsia nsrt b.d hsas
reS,,ccd % " 10 millions Of doars when, in
isl2. war was declared against Great lrjtajn the
three years struggle that followed largely nctess,
ed tho national obligations, and in 1916 they had
attained the a9m Of one hundred and twenty y-seven
millions Wise and economical iessSVh ,ho howtv, Ntro
err enabled Ihe g9seiAlleny 70 & pay no onS tho
aaGunt laen. the nasiopaI Ssbt iIed the land
With dI,'s reioIcine. and was ono of the great
events q President Jackson's administration.
After its redemption large fund remained in
Treasury, which was deposited for safo keeping
with the several states on condition that i should
be returned when required " sne pu9nc s wanss
In ls4s the year a1or se tIh pvoived
sVe war war VIA y, ooo Sco o,d this vas the smount
aaS IN ~ .bo In 1890 lust prior 10 the
ortbrcal Of tie Rebellion. In the spring Of 1861,
our civil war commenced, and each year Of its
tinuance made on enormous addition TO the debt,
and when in the spring of 1885 the naticn success,
fully emerged from the eoniies tne oDnga'ions s os
the goVernenS hs9 peceu NY ~ ~, sbo,vs
~ ,s Az ~ NpvSnor ~ afi is3 ta smount
hsd been reduced Il 4g1 .5OI gso but Al the same
time Ms repor exhipits an increase during the past
wear of S5 iOQ, for the dobt on the first day of
November iSstated 10 haye been 2,D91, ,l29,552
It is estimated by the Secretary that the returns for
the past month viii add to our Liabilities further
sum OF II, 100000, making total increase during
thlIseen months oi ao'oVV.OOV'
In my message to Congress Of December
4th, 1865, It was suggested that pohcy
should be devised which, without being op-
pressive TO the poop.e, would at once begin
to effect REDUCTION Of tho debt and u per
sisted in discharge il Tally within A definite
number ofyears. The Secretary OF the Treas
ury forcibly FecomWends legislation OF TINS
character, and Justly Hrees.thet tpe longer 1t
is deferred the more dinieuit must
become its accomplishment, We shou ID
follow the wise pPecedepts estabished
in 1883 and 1876, and without further delay
make provision for the payment Of: oar obi
cations at as early period as may be practl-
cable. The huits OF their labors should be
enjoyed by our citizens, rather than to build
up and slstain moneyed monopolies In our
own and other lands. Our foreign debt 10 al
ready computed by the Secretary o. the
Treasury at eight hundred and tlfty millions
of dollars. Citizens of foreign countries re-
coive interest upon q large portion OF our
and American taxpayers are made
to contribute large sums Tor thor support.
The idea that such n debt is TO become per-
manont should bp at all times discarded as
involving taxation too heavy to be borne,
and payment once in sixteen years at the
rate of interest OF an amount equal