Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-12-18


centum, while the increase Of population
was only twenty one per centum Tor the
same period
These statistics further show that in 1871
+. the annual national expenses, compared
with the population, were llttle more than
one dollar per capita, and in 1860 but two
dollars per capita; while in 1863 they VIII
reach the eXtraYagant sum OF nine dollars
and seventy-eight cents per capita.
1t viii be observed that all of these state
menis refer to and exhibit the disburse-
meats Of peace periods. 1t 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.
Ia 1913 the annual expenses incident to
the war of 1912 reached their highest
amount-about thirty one millions; while
our population slightly exceeded eight NIL
lions, showing an expenditure Of only three
dollars and eighty cents per capita. In lo4t
the expenditures growing out Of the war
4 with Mexico reached fifty Eve millions, and
the population was about twenty-one nil
lions, giving only TWO dollars and sixty cents
per capita tor the war expenses Of that year.
In 1865 the expenditures called for 10y the
rebellion reached the vast amount OF twelve
hundred and ninety millions, which, COM
pared with a population of thirty-four mil
lions, gives thirty eight dollars and twenty
cents per capita.
From the fourth day of March, 1889, to
the thirtieth day of June, 1861, the entire
expenditures Of the Government were sew
enteen hundred millions Of dollars. During
that period we were engaged in wars with
/ Great Britain and Mexico, and were involv-
ed in hostilities with powerful indian tribes;
Louisiana was purchased from France at a
cost Of fifteen millions of dollars; Florida
was ceded to US by Spain for five millions;
/ California was acquired from Mexico for fit
( teen millions, and the Territory of New
( Mexico was obtained from Texas for the
sum Of ten millions. Early in 1861 the war
I of the rebellion commenced; and from the
( first Of July Of that year to the thirueth OF
June, 1860 the public expenditure reached
/ the enormous aggregate OF thirty three hun
/ dred millions Three years OF peace have
/ interviewed, aud during that time the dis
( bursements Of the Government have sue
4 cessiyely boen five hundred and twenty mil
( lions, three hundred and iorty-siX millions
and three hundred and ninety-three mil
/ lions. Adding 10 these amounts three hun
lred aud seventy two millions, estimated as
necessary for the fiscal year ending the 3Oth
/ Of June, 1863, we obtain a. total expenditure
OF sixteen hundred millions Of dollars during
the four years Immediately succeeding the
war, or nearly as much as was expended du-
/ ring the seventy-two years that preceded the
rebellion. and embraced the extraordinary
/ expenditures already named.
These startling facts clearly illustrate the
/ necessity Of retrenchmenr in all branches Of
! the public service. Abuses which were tel
Grated during the war for the preservation
/ Of the nation will not be endured by the peO
I pie, now that profound peace prevails. The
receipts from internal revenues and customs
have, during the past three years, gradually
diminished, and the continuance OF useless
and extrayagant expenditures wlI involve
Us In national bankruptcy, or else make ID
I evitable an increase Of taxes, already too
OnerOus, and IN many respects obnoxious on
( account of their inquisitorial character One
I hundred millions annually are expended for
( the military force, a large portion Of which
+ b employed in the execution Of laws hf'.ii
unnecessary and unconsutuuonali one nun
( dred and fifty millions are required each
I year to pay the interest on the public debit
/ an army Of tax gatherers impoveTishes the
nation; and public agents placed by Con
gress beyond the control Of the Executive,
divert from their legitimate purposes large
sums Of money which they collect from the
people in the name Of the Government.
1 Judicious legislation and prudent economy
can alone remedy defects and avert evils
which, 1t suffered TO exist, cannot fail 70 I'll
/ minish confidence in the public councils, and
weaken the attachment aud respect Of the
I people towards their political institutions.
/ Without the proper care the small balance
. which it Is estimated viii remain IN the
. Treasury, at the close of the present fiscal
year, will not be realized and additional
millions be added to q debt which is now
enumerated by billions.
Itis shown, by the able and comprehen-
( sive report Of the Secretary of the Treasury,
that the receipts for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1863, were S405, 63S 0S3, and that
the expenditures for the same period we're
1877. $40, 2S4. leaving in the Treasury 4 sur
plus Of s2S. .297. .79S. 1t is estimated that
the receipts during the present fiscal year
ending June 80, 1869, will be S34l 1892
Sos, and the expenditures 1896, 81, 40,
showing small balance Of s., 24039S in IA
yor Of the government For the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1870, it Is estimated that
the receipts will amount TO 1927 900, 600,
and the expenditures to 1903, ,000, 600 leay-
an estimated surplus Of S24 600 600.
1t becomes proper, in this connection, to
make a brief reference to our public lndebt-
edness which has accumulated with such
alarming rapidity and assumed such COLES
sal proportions.
menced operations under the Federal Con
ssitution. 1t was turdened with an in
debtedness Of seventy FIVE millions Of dollars,
created during the war OF the Revolution.
This amount had been reduced to forly.fivc
millions dollars when in 1912 war was de-
clared against Great Britain. The three
wears struggle that followed largely in
creased the national obligations, and in 1916
= they had attained the SUN OF one hundred
ana twenty-sevcu millions. Wise and eco
nomical legislation, however, enabled the
Government 10 pay the entire amount with
10 a period of twenty years, and the eX-
tingui-hwcnt OF the national debt hlled the
land with rejoicing, and was one of the great
events Of President Jackson's adminstra-
ton After its redemption a large fund
remained in the Treasury, which was de-
posjted for safe keeping with the several
States, on condition that it should be re-
turned when required by the public wants.
In IS49-the year after the termination ol
an expensive war with Mexieo-we found
ourselves involved in a debt Of sXty-fouT
millions; and this was the amount owed by
the Government IN 1860, lust prior to the
! outbreak Of the rebellion. In the spring oi
1861 our civil war commenced. Each year
of its continuance made an enormous ad
dition to the debt; and when, in the spring
of 1868, the nation successfully emerged
from the conflict, the Obligations Of the
Government had reached the immense sum
Of s., ,ST3, SOP q09.
The Secretary Of the Treasury shows that
on the LIST day Of November, 1867, this
amount had been reduced to S2,49l, ,504,
450; But at the same time his report ex
hibits an increase during the past year o
S35, ,G25, l02 for the debt on the lst day o
November last is stated to have beer
s.. 527, l29. .552. II is estimated by The
Secretary that the returns Of the past month
will add to our liabilities the further sum o.
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