Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1868-12-19

and frustrated all that had been 70 sue
cessfully accomplished, and after three
years Of agitation and strife has left the
country further from that attainment Of
Union and fratcrnal feeling than 1t the
commencement Of the Congressional plan
of reconstructiou. 1t il now argued to
show that the legislation which has pro
duccd 10 baneful consequences should be
abrogated or else made to conform with the
genuine principles ofa republican govern
ment. Under the influences ofparty spirit
and sectional prejudice, other acts have
been passed not warranted by the Constitu-
ton.
TENURE OF OFFICE BILL.
Congress has already been made familiar
with my views respecting the Tenure OF
Office Bill. Experience has proved that
its repeal is demanded by the best interests
Of the country, and that while it remains
in force the President cannot enjoin that
rigid accountability for public Offices, 80
essential to an honest and efficient execu-
ton of the laws. Its repeal would enable
the Executive Department to exercise the
power Of appointment and recall, in accord
ance with the original design Of tho Con-
stitutiOn.
The acts of March 2, 1863, making ap.
preparations for the year ending June 30,
1868, and for other purposes, contains pro-
visions which interfcrcd with the Prcsi-
dents functions as COMMANDMENT G hief Of
the army, and with his duty to the States Of
the Union and their right to protect the
States by means Of their own militia.
These provisions should be at once an
nullcd; for while the first might, in
times of great emergency, seriously c,nbar-
rass the Executive in his efforts to employ
and direct the common strength Of the
nation fov its protection and preservation,
the other is contrary to the expressed de-
claration of the Constitution that well
regulated militia being necessary to the Sc
curity of a free State, the right Of the peo-
pie to keep and bear arms shall not be in
fringed. 1t is believed that the repeal Of
such laws would be acceptable by the
American people as ut leasta partial re-
turn to the fundamental principles Of the
Government, and an indication that there
after the Constitution is to be made the
nations safe and true guide. They can
not be productive Of permanent benefit to
the country; and should not he permitted
to stand, ~ 80 many monuments of the de-
ficient wisdom which has characterized our
recent legislation.
FINANCE.
The condition of our finances demands
the early and earnest consideration of Con-
gross. Compared with the growth Of our
population, the public expenditures have
reached an amount unprecedented IN our
history. The population Of the United
States in 1890, was nearly 100000 Of
people Increasing each decade at the
rate ofsbout 80 per cent IL rcachod in 1860,
81 ,OO0,0 900, an increase Of over 700 ror
cont. on the population Of 1890. In 1859
it is estimated that it will reach 3S, ,OOO,-
600, or an increase Of 868 per cent in sew
cnty.ninc years. The annual Expenditures
of tho Federal Government in 1891 wero
81, 200, 600, in 1920 e18, zoo, 900, and in
1850 e47 ,OOO, 900; in 1860 863 900 900, in
1865 nearly 81 800, ,OO0, 900, and in 1859 it
is estimated by the Secretary ofthc Treas.
ury in his last annually report that they
will be 8872, ,OO0, 900. BY comparing the
public disbursements Of 1869, (as cstima-
tcd) with those Of 1901, it will be seen
that the increase Of expenditures since the
beginning Of the Government has been
8,618 per cent, whilo the increase Of pop
ulation for the same period was only 888
per cent. Again, the expenses Of the
Government in 1880-the year Of peace
Immediately preceding the war-wcre only
$8S, 600, 900, while in 1869-the year Of
peace three years after the war-it II esti-
hated they will be 9372, ,O00, ,000-an in
crease of48S per cent, while the increase Of
population was only 81 per centnm for the
sdfhe period. These statistics further show
that in 1871 the annual national expenses
as compared with the population vers r.: I:
little more than 81 per edpifd, and in 1860
but - per capita, whilo In 1869 they viii
reach the extravagant sum Of e978 FER cxp-
NG. II will be observed that al these
statements refer to and exhibit the dis
burseihents Of peace periods; itmay there
fore be interesting to compare the expendi-
turc of the three war pSriods-the Va,
with Great Britain, tic Mexican war, and
the war Of tfre rebellion in 1861. The an
nual expenses incident to the war of 1912
reached, at their highest smoGnt, about
8sl ,O00, 900, while our population slightly
exceeded 5000, 900, showing an cxpendi-
turc Of only $3.50 pr eapila. In lS47
the expenditures growing ont Of tho war
with Mexico reached CSC, ,OoO, 900, and the
population was about q, 600, 900, giving
only $500 per 6ap;ta for the war sxpsases
Of that year. In 1865 the expenditares
called for By the rebellion rsschsd The vast
amount ofsl 200, ,00O, 600, Which compared
with = population Of $4,000, 900, gives
81 $50 pc, eapite. From the 4th day Of
March, 1883, to the S0th day of JOc,
1861, the entire exrenditarss d The Gov
ernmcnt were e1, 100, ,000, 900. During
that period We were engaged In var With
Great Britain and Mexico, and were In