The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-12-19

be acceptable by the American people as
at least partial return to the fundamen-
principles Of the Government. and an iu-
diction that thereafter the Constitution
| is To be made the nations safe aud true
guide. This can be productive Of perma-
nent benefit to the country the other
should not be permitted to stand, as 80
many monuments Of the deficient wisdom
which has characterized our recent lcgis-
lation.
FINANCE.
The condition of our finances demands
the early aud earnest consideration Of
Congress Compared with the growth OF
our population, the public expenditures
has reached an amount unprecedented in
our history. The population Of the Uni.
ted States iu 1890, was nearly 1900, 900
Of people Increasing each decade at
the rate Of about 30 per cent, it reached,
in 1860, 81 ,000,0 900, an increase Of over
TOO per cent on the population OF 1890.
In 1880 it is estimated that it will reach
IS, 900 900, or an increase Of s6S per
cent. in seycnty-niue years. The annual
expenditures Of the Federal Government
10 1871 were 4 100000, in 1920 18,2OO,-
900, aud in 1850 47,000,000, in 1860
63 900, 900, in 1865 nearly BOO, 600, 900.
and in 1869 il is estimated by the Sccrc.
tary Of the Treasury in his last annual
report that they will be 372 900, 0,000.-
by comparing the public disbursements
of 1860 (as cstimatcd) with those Of
.l19l, il will be seen that the increase Of
expenditure since the beginning OF the
Government has been S,6l8 per cent,
while the increase Of population for the
same period was only SGS per cent
4 gain. the expenses Of the Government
in ls60-the year of peace Immediately
preceding the war-wcrc only G3, 900. GOO,
while in lSG9-thc year Of pence three
years after the war-it il estimated they
will be 372 600 ,p00-an increase Of 480
per cent, while the increase Of p0pula.
tion was only Il per centum for the same
period. These statistics further show
that in 1871 the annual national expen-
ses as compared with the population were
a little more than 81 pen eapita, and IN
1860 but g per cdptta, while ia 1868
they will reach the eKtravagant SUM ol
s97S per eapita 1t will be observed
that all these statements refer to aud ex.
hibit the disbursements Of peace periods
il may therefore be interesting 10 compare
the expenditure Of the three war periods
the war with Great Britain, the Mexi.
can war. and the war Of the rebellion in
1861. The annual expenses incident to
the war Of 1912 reached, at their highest
amount, about s3l 100000, while our
population slightly exceeded $4,000, 900,
showing IN expenditure Of only $3.50 pr
capita. In ls4T the expenditures grow
ing out of the war with Mexico reached
$50 900 900, and the population was
about q 900, 600, giving ouly s2G0 per
cnpifa for the war expenses Of that year
In 1865 the expenditures called for by
the rebellion reached the vast amount OF
81 900 900 600. which. compared with a
population Of $4,000 600, gives s., $50
per copitn. From the 4th day Of March
1889, to the 30th day Of June, 1861, tho
entire expenditures Of the Government
were sl,TO0 100000. During that peri
cd we were engaged in war with Great
Britain aud Mexico. and were involved
ia hostilities with powerful Indian tribes !;
Louisiana was purchased from France at
a cost Of sI5,000,00O Florida was ce-
ded to the United States by Spain for
s5,000.000; California, was acquired
from Mexico for $4,000, 900, and the
territory Of New Mexico was obtained
from Texas for the sum of $4,000 900.
Early in the year 1861 the war Of the
rebellion commenced. aud from the lst OF
July Of that year to the both day of June.
1865, ihe public expenditures reached
the enormous aggregate of :, 300, ,000,0 900.
Three years of peace interviewed, and
during the time the disbursements Of the
Government have successfully been $500
600, 900, s346. 600, 900, and 1898, ,000, 900.
Adding to these amounts the 1892, ,000,-
900 estimated as necessary for the fiscal
year ending on the Both Of June, 1868, we
obtain a total expenditure of 81 900, ,000,-
900 during the four years Immediately
succeeding the war, or nearly as much as
was expended during the seventy years
that preceded the rebellion, and, too, en-
bracing the extraordinary expenditures
already named. These startling facts H.
lus:rate the necessity Of retrenchment in
all branches OF the public service. Abus-
ses which were tolerated during the war
for the preservation of the patton, will
not be. endured by the people now that
profound peace prevails. The receipts
from internal revenue have, during the
past three years, gradually diminished,
and the continuance of useless and ex-
travagant expenses will involve us in ma
tionai bankruptcy, or else make remark
able increase in the taxes already too
large, and in many cases obnoxious, on
account of their questionable character.
One hundred millions yearly are cxpcnd.
ed for the military force, large portion
of which is employed in the execution Of
laws both unnecessary and unconstitution-
al. $50, 900, 900 are required yearly to
pay the interests on the public debt. An
army of tax-masters impoverishes the ma
ton, and public agents ere placed by Con-
gress beyond the control of tho Execu-
tive, and divert from the legitimate pur-
poses vast sums of money which they
collect from the people in the name of
the Government, Judicious legislation
and prudent economy will only remedy
these doings and avert an evil which if
suffered to exist cannot fail to diminish
confidence in the public council and weak
en- the attachment and respect of the peo-
pie toward their political institutions.
Without proper care the small balance
,ub;ob = 4 est;notod will remain In tha