The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-08-18
From the National Intelligenoerl.
False Figures.


them lie, and in that art Radicalism and
ita instruments have attained peculiar
perfection. It is work worthy OF their
peculiar ambition, and in which they
most delight to excel.
As the expenditures and extrayigance
OF Radical misrule and corruption are
now exciting general interest, concerted
effort has been made to cover up the In
iquities Of the last three years, to per-
vert the stubborn facts, and to misrep-
resent our financial situation. All sorts
ofexpedients have been invented to break
the force ofthe Treasury returns, and to
explain away offcial statements which
exhibit the monthly payments. But
they stand to confront aud to froTn down
every form Of ingenious falsehood.
Itappears that Mr.. David a. Wells,
Commissioner Of Revenue, was recently
called upon by Mr., Allison, . Radical
member from Iowa, to furnish astate-
ment of the receipts and expenditures
for the fiscal year ending June 80; the
reduction or abatement Of taxation since
July /, 1865; the expenditures, in aggre-
gate and detail, Of the War Department
since Lees surrender; the expenditures
Of the Navy Department for the same
period, aud the expenditures for the
Freedmen's Bureau and reconstruction
up to July l, 1868.
Fer want of other employment Mr..
Wells set to work to cook up these cam.
paign figures, although ne hiss no better
means of ascertaining tae facts than any
body else, but has parsisan interest in
giving them partial coloring. 1t was
labor of love, such as Radical Office
holder delights to perform.
The value Of Mr.. Wells statement
may be estimated by his confession, that
sufficient time has not elapsed to allow
Of perfect and exact settlement on the
books of the Treasury Department of all
the accounts for the last quarter Of the
last fiscal year. Thon, Why not have
waited until these accounts were closedp
The fiscal year ended on the Both Of
June, and the returns are all nearly liqui-
dated. Yet, Mr.. Wells was in such
haste to rush into print and to make up
an imperfect statement, that he would
not delay for the official figures. The
other method suited his purpose much
better than the true returns.
He takes the assumed aggregate Of ex-
penditures and receipts for 1853, and
upon that basis makes out can estimated
surplus of receipts over expenditures of
S34, ,749, TT" This surplus would be
very agreeable if it were real. but since
it only depends upon Mr.. Wells "esti-
mate, we have no faith in it whatever.-
And for sufficient reason. This same
Mr.. Wells estimated with elaborate de-
tail, and made out to the satisfaction OF
credulous members Of Congress, that the
revenue from whisky would produce at
least $50. 900, 900 for the year, whereas it
has Yielded at the rate Of Sl3, 600, 600, or
about one fourth Of his Certain calcula-
tioa.'' In viev Of this exposure, be
might at least be little modest 10 ssa5ri
eating estimates which only serve to rem.
der his Office ridiculous.
In order to furnish an exhibit Of pre-.
tended retrenchmept, Mr. Wells compares
the actual expenditures of the fiscal year
with the appropriations made for the
present. Now, he knows perfectly vel
that these appropriations were arbitrarily
cut down for electioneering effect, whilt
no change Was made 10 the lave suthor
izing the existing service. Consequent
~, the difference between the sppropria
tious and the laws on the statute bool
must be made good By enormous def
cheney bills in December. Among th,
appropriations ct the recent session wer,
two for deficiencies, /" amounting to s17
460,650, for the previous year, wheI
there vas no motive for deception -
More than sixty millions will be rsqnir
ed next winter. An idea may be formed
Of what sort Of deficiency bills are to b,
expected BY single illustration. Tn,
cost of the army proper for the fsca
year is stated by Mr. Wells at s56, ,713
40, without pensions and the like, which
sum up as much more. The appropria
ton made for the current year, which il
paraded as an evidence of economy; il
eoo nor mo ko;r ..h:...
eoo'ooa'vio eoa us,us doo az ooa suPPle.
sion ~ oss, s, eAo,ooo'oov y. iol sna1 Dlancl
been reduced o single man, large force
isstationed on the Indian frontier, six
zen oslal slVuosnu sivvps als ma,.s,Isu VIII
psyprs's a. tle snioass " 'uo o9u'nell
FsoPle, auu ~ .ne sxpeuses - .ne las
ysAl arr soius en.i 1es lol 'ne PulPos'
" eeoslsing .n1 c0nl.ry, H1ensy-sn'e'
n.sa'.!ns are s.V s,Iuck On tue isgulsr sppro
PIlauon, Wnicn must % maoe gooa Wne,
GQngresS meete. AnQ mat IS put f0rtf