The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-12-10

..such laws Would pc acc6pEeG by the
American People as n least aS partial
return to the fundamental principles
OF the sGovernnient, and an ,indioa.
hon that hereafter the Constitution
is to be made the nations safe and
unceasing guide. They can be pro-
ductive of no permanent benefit to
the country, and should not be per-
mitted to stand ms so many monu-
ments of the deficient wisdom which
has characterized our recent legisla-
ton.
The condition of our finances de-
nands the early and earnest consi-
deration of Congress. Compared with
the growth of our population, the
public expenditures have reached an
amount unprecedented in our histo-
ry. The population of the United
States in 1890, was nearly 1000, 900
of people; increasing each decade
about 33 per cent, it reached in 1860,
81, 900, ,000--an increase of 700 per
corr. III The population in 1890.
III .,69, it is estimated that
IT will reach 3O.0OO,OOO, or an
increase OF S7S per cent. in seventy
nine years. The annual expenditures
of the Federal Government, in 1871,
were $4,20O,OOO; in 1920, S1S, 2OO,-
900; in 1850, $41, 100000 in 1860,
S63, 900, 900; in 1865. nearly 81, ,3OO,-
600, 900; in 1869, it is estimated by
the Secretary of the Treasury, in his
annual report, that they will reach
372, 900, 900. BY comparing the
public disbursements of 1859. as es-
timated, with those of 1871, it will
be seen that the increase of expendi-
lures since the beginning Of the Co
vernment has been S,618 per centum,
while the increase of the population
Tor the same period was only S6S per
centum. Again. the expenses of the
Government, in 1SG0-the year of
peace Immediately preceding the
war-were only 1000, 600; while in
l060-the year of peace three years
after the war-it is estimated that they
will be 372, 100000, an increase of 4S9
per cent; while the increase of popu-
lation was only twenty one per cent.
for the same period. These statistics
further show that, in 1791, the annual
national expenses, compared with
the population, were little more than
one dollar per capita, and in 1860,
but two dollars per capita; while in
1869, they will reach the exorbitnnt
sum of $9.7S per capita. 1t will be
observed, that all of these statements
refer to and exhibit the disbursements
of peace periods. 1t may, therefore,
be of interest to compare the expen-
ditures of the war periods-the war
with Great Britain, the Mexican war
and the war of the rebellion. In
1914, the annual expenses incident to
the war of 1912 reached their highest
amount, about $31,000,OOO, while
our population slightly exceeded
5000, 900, showing an expenditure of
only $3.50 per capita; in 1S47, the
expenditures growing out of the
war with Mexico reached 55, 600, 900,
and the population about 81, 900, GOO,
giving only So. 60 per capita, for the
war expenses of that year; in 1865,
the expenditures called for by the
rebellion reached the vast amount of
S1,290, 100000, gives $3S 20 per ca
pita. From the 4th day of March,
1889, to the 30th of June, 1861, the
expenditures of the Government
were S1,700, ,000,0OO; 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 cost of $15, 100000 Flo
rida was ceded to us by Spain for
$1,000, 900; California was acquired
from Mexico for $15, 100000, and
the Territory of New Mexico was OBJ
tained from Texas for the sum of
S10,000,000. Early in 1861, the war
OF the rebellion commenced. From
the 1st of July of that year to the Sd
of June, 1865, the public expendi-
lures reached the enormous aggre-
gate of So, 300, 100000. Three years
of peace have interviewed, and during
that time the disbursements of the
Government have successively been
$1,000, 900, 346. .000,0 adding to
these amounts 100000, estimated
as necessary for the fiscal year ending
the 30th of June, 1869, we obtain
q total expenditure of 1,6OO, 900, 900,
during the four years immediately
succeeding the war, or nearly as
much as expended during the seven
ty-two years that preceded the rebel
Il