Indiana American., 1868-12-18

tho executive In its Efforts 10 employ and
direct the common strength Of the nation
for its protection and preservation, the
othcr contrary 10 the express declaration
Of the Constitution, that a we'll a regula-
tod militia, being necessary TO tho secur,
i,y ef free State, the right OF tho people
70 keep and bear arms shall not be In
fringed upon. ifn' f'Ht fai'aa 'ai
Itis believed that tho repeal Of all such
laws would bo accepted by the American
people a. at least a partial return 70 the
fundamental principles Of tho government
and an indication that hereafter tho Con.
rtifuiion IL 20 be made the nations safe
and unerring guide They can he pro-
ductive Of no permanent benefit to the
country, aud should not bo permitted 10
stand ~ 10 many monuments OF the do
Gcient wiadom which has characterized our
recent legislation.
THE FINANCES.
The condition Of our finances demands
the early an earnest consideration OF Con.
gress. Compared with the growth OF our
population, the public expenditures have
reached an amount unprecedented In our
history. The population Of the United
States Ia 1890 was nearly four millions
Of people, increasing each decade about
thlrty.lhree per cent. itreached, in 1860
thirty.one millions, m increase OF seven
hundred per cent on the population of
1890. In 1869, II Is estimated, IL will
reach thirty-eight millions. or an increase
Of eight hundred aud sixty eight per cent
in seventy mine years. The annual ex.
pendiiures Of the Federal government
In 1871 $1,000, 900; Ia 1920 SIS 200, 900;
in 1850, sil 900, 900; In 1860 s68 600, :
900; in 1865, nearly 81 300, 600, ,0OO and
in 1869 IL IL estimated by the Secretary OF
the Treasury IN his .ast annual report that
they will be s372 900 900 BY eompar-
ing the pubic disbursements of 1869, as
estimated, with those Of 1891, VI will be
seen that the increase Of expenditures
since the beginning OF the government
has been SGlS per cenlum, whil,i the in
crease OF the population for the same pc
Rod was only eGs per ceutum. Again,
the expenses Of the government In 1860
1.-The year Of peace Immediately proceed
ing the war-werc only sG3, 900 600;
while Ia 1869, the year of peace three
years after the war, il is estimated they
will be three hundred aud seventy two
millions, an increase Of four hundred aud
eighty -nine per centum. while the increase
Of population was only twenty. lone per
cculum for the same period. These sta.
tistics further show that ia 1871 the un
uual national expenses compared with the
population were little aore than 81 per
cspita, and in 1850 but 80 per capita,
while ia 1869 they will reach the extrav-
agant SUN Of s9,7s per capita. IL will
be- observed that all of these statements
refer to aud exhibit the disbursements Of
peace periods.
Ii may, therefore, be Of interest to con-
pare the expenditures Of the three war
periods, the war with Great Britain, the
Mexican war aud the great war of the re-
bellion. In 1914 the annual OK penses in
cident to the war Of 1872 reached their
highest Smount, about S3i ,000, 600, while
our population slightly exceeded eight
millions, showing an expenditure Of only
So, 80 per capita.
In 1917 the expenditures growing out
Of the war with Mexico reached fifty five
millions. aud tho population was about
twenty one millions, giving obly $500
per capita for the war expenses Of that
year. In 1865 the expenditures called for
by the rebellion reached the vast amoun,
of twelve hundred aud ninety millions,
which, compared with population Of
thirty four millions gives sSS 20 per cap.
itn. FROM the 4th day OF March, 1889,
to the 30th OF June, 1861, the entire ex
penditures Of the government were ST.
7O0, 200. 600, during that period VIZ we're
engaged in wars with Great Britain and
Mexico, aud were involved ia hosiilities
with powerful Indian tribes. louisiana
was purchased from France nc cost of
Sl5 600. 600; Florida was ceded to us by
Spain. for s., 900 900; California was ac-
, quired from Mexico for Sl5 900 900, aud
the Territory Of New Mexico was obtain
ed from Texas for the sum Of $4,000, :
900. Early in 1861 the war Of the re-
bellion commenced, and from the LIST OF
July of that year to the 30th Of June,
1868, the public expenditures reached the
enormous aggregate Of S3.S00,000 600.
Three years Of peace have intcryened and
, during that time the disbursements Of the
government have successfully been $500.
00G 900, 1916 900 900 aud 1898 000, O00.
Adding TO these amounts 1872. 900 600
estimated us necessary for the fiscal year
ending the Both Of June, 1860, we obtain
total expenditure of 81 GOO 900, 600 dur.
ing the four years Immediately succeeding
the war, or nearly as much as was expen.
ded during the seventy two years that pre-
, ceded the rebellion and embraced the ex.
traordinary expenditures already named
These startling facts clearly illustrate the
necessity Of retrenchment in all branche.
: Of the public service. Abuses which were
tolerated during the war for the preserva.
ton Of the nation will not be endured by
: the people now that profound peace pre-
I walls.
The receipts from Internal Revenue.
: and Customs have, during the past three
+. years, gradually diminished, and the con-
: tinuance of useless and extravagant ex.
: penditures will involve US in nationa
] bankruptcy, or else make inevitable an in,
I crease of taxes already too numerous
4 and in many respects obnoxious, on ac
! count OF their inquisitorial character. On,
e hundred millions annually are expended
: for the military force, large portion v
e which is employed in the execution o
r laws both unnecessary and unconstitution,
b al; sl50, 600, 900 are required each year t
pay the interest on the public debt. Al
I army OF tax-gatheIers impoyerishes th'