Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1868-12-19


government were sl,T00,000 600,
Daring that period We were ehgag,
Ell in Wars with Great Britain and
Mexico and were involved in hosiil'
itics with powerful Indian tribes
Louisiana was purchased from
France at a cost OF sl5,ooo, 600
Florida was seeded 90 Us By spain
for e5,000, 600; California was 10
auired from Mexico for illeen mil
lions, and the territory Of New Mex
leo was obtained from Texas for the
sum of ten millions. Early in 1861
the war 0fiho rebellion commenced,
and from tho first Of July OF that
wear To tho 30th of June. 1868, the
public expenditures reached Tho
enormous aggregate Of $4,000, ,0OO'-
OGO. Three years Of peace have in
teryened, and during that time the
/ disbursements of the Government
have suceessivelT been $500, 600, 900,
s3lG, 900, 600, and $4,000, 600. Ad-
ding to thse amounts s3I2 600, 900.
estimated ~ necessary for the fiscal
year ending the 3Oth Of June, 1859,
we obtain total expenditure OF
4 al, GOO. .OOO, 900 during the four years
Immediately succeeding the war, or
nearly as much asw as expended
during the scvcnty-two years that
preceded the rebellion, and embrac'
cd tho extraordinary expenditures
already named. These startling
facts clearly illustrate the necessity
of retrcnchment in all branches of
tho service abuses which were toll
Grafton Of tho nation will not be en-
dured by the people, now that pro-
found peace prevails. The receipts
from internal revenues and customs
have, during tho past three years,
gradually diminished, and the con
tinuance of useless aud eXtravagant
expenditures will involve us in ma
tional bankruptcy, or else make in
cvitable an increase of taxes already
too enormous, and in many respects,
obnoxious, on account Of their in.
quisitional character. One hundred
millions annually, arc expended for
the military force, large portion
of which is employed in tho cxccu-
tion of laws, both unnecessary and
unconstitutional One hundred and
fifty million is required each year,
TO pay the interest on public debt.
An army of tax gathcrers impover-
ish the nation; and public agents
placed by Congress beyond the con-
troll of the executive, divert from
their legitimate purposes, large
sums of money which they collect
from the people in the name of the
Government. Judicious legislation
and prudent economy, can alone
remedy defects, and avert suits,
which if suffered to exist, cant fail
to diminish confidence in people to-
wards their political institutions.
Without proper care, the small bal
ancc, which it is intimatcd will re-
main in the Treasury, ,at the close
of the present fiscal year, will not
be realized, and additional millions
be added to debt which is now
enumerated by billions. tits shown
by the able and comprehensive re-
port Of the Secretary of the Ireasu-
ry, that the receipts of the fiscal
year, ending June Both, 1868, were
$4O5, ,78S, ,OS3, and that the eXpendi-
lures for the same period were $685.
077,799. 1t is estimated that the
receipts during the present fiscal
year, ending jane 80, 1869, will be
s341 ,392, ,S58, and the expenditures
1896, 1852, 40, showing o small bal
ancc of So, ,24O,3 1893 in favor of the
government. For the fiscal yeer,
cnoinS June 80, 1870 it is estimated
that the receipts will amount &c
1927, 900, 900, and the expenditure
s3O3, 600, 900, leaving an estimated
suplus of $4,000, 600, it becomes
proper in this connection to make
a brief reference to our public in
debtedness which has accumulated
with such alarm and rapipity and
assumed such colossal proportions.
In 1889, when the Government COM
menced operations under the feder-
al constitution, it was burdened
with an Indebtedness Of S75, 900 900,
created during the war of the Rev
olution. This amount had been re-
duced to .s45 100000, when, in 1912,
war was declared against Great
Britain. The three years struggle
that followed largely increased the
national obligations, and in 1916
they uad attained the sum ofS127,- 4
100000. ta"elIA -.
Wise and. economical Legislation,
however, enabled the Government
to pay the entire amount within a !
period Of twenty years, and the cx-
tinguishment of the national debt
filled the land with rejoicing, and
was one of the great events of Pres
ident Jackson's administration
After its redemption large fund
remained in the Treasury, which
was deposited for safe keeping WITH
the several states, on condition toat
it should be returned when required
by the public wants. In 1S49, the
year after The termination of an ex-
pensive war with Mexico, we found
ourselves involved in debt of s64,-
D0O.O00, and this was the amount
owed BY the Government in 1850, !
just prior to the outbreak of the ro-
bellion. In the spring of 1861 civ
il war commenced each year Of its
continuance made an enormous adj l
dition. 10 the national debt, and
when. in the spring of 1865, the
nation successfully emerged from
the conflict, the obligations Of toe
Gavcrnment had reached the I'M
mense sum Of s2,s73,992, ,9O9. The
Secretary Of the Treasury shows
that on The lat day Of Nofember
1867 this amoant had been fedaced
Z. -, 90 an - - fha cnrun