The Montana post., 1868-12-11

millions of people. Increasing each decade
about thirty three per cent, IL reached IN 1850
thirty one millions, an increase Of 200 per
cent. on the population of 1890. In 1860. it
is estimated, il will reach thirty eight mil
lions. or an increase of 500 per cent. in sew
-nfy nine years. The annual expenditures of
the Federal Government in 1871 were 81, 200
600. in ls20, sis 2ooW, W,00o; IN 1850. Si7 ,00o,-
ooo: IN 1860. So3,OO0,oOO: in lS66. nearly
Sl3o.0oo.coo: and in 1869, it is estimated by
the Secretary of the Treasury in his last annual
report, that they will be s372,00o,0o 900. BY
comparing the public disbursements of 1869,
as estimated. with those of l19l, 1t will be
seen that the increase of expenditure since
the beginning of the Government has been
S,6lS per cent, while the increase of popu
lation tor the same period was only S6S per
cent. Again, the expenses of the Gov
ernmeut In 1860. the wear of
peace Immediately preceding the war,
Were only Sti3 200 900. while i'm 1863. the
year OF peace. three years after the war.
II Is estimated they will be 1872 200 200:
an increase of 4S9 per cent. while the in
crease of population was only II per cent.
for the same period. These statistics fur
ther show that in 1871 the annual nation-
al expenses. compared with the popula-
| ton. were little more than one dollar per
capita. and in 1850 but two dollars per
| capita. while in 1869 they will reach the
eNtravagant sum of 1913 per capita. IL
will he observed that all of these state
ments refer to aud exhibit the disburse-
ment off peace periods. Ii may therefore
be OF interest to compare the expenditures
of three war periods-the war with Great
Britain, the Mexican war, and the war
| OF the rebellion. In 1864 the annual eN-
pen>es incident to the war of 1872 reached
their highest amount. about s3l ,OOO, 900.
while our population slightly eX-
ceeded eight millions. showing an
expenditure of only $3.50 per
capita. In lsfI the expeditures growing
out of the war with Mexico reached
800. 900, and the population was about
Il 900 200, giving only $3.50 per capita
for the war expenses Of the year. In 1860
the eXpei ditures called for by the rebel
lion. reached 81 go ,OOO. 200, which COM
pared with population of n 900 900
gives 81 $40 per capita. From the 4th
of March. 1859. to the 3Oth day Of June,
| 1851, the entire expenditures Of the gov
ernment were 81. 100 ON, 900. During
/ that period we were engaged IN wars
| with Great Britain and Mexico, and were
| involved in hostilties with powerful In
dian tribes; Louisiana WAS purchased at
| "a cost of S15. 900 COO: California was ac-
guircd from Mexico for 81 600 900, and
the Territory of New Mexico was obtain
| ed from Texas for the sum Of $40, 900 900.
Early in 1861 the war Of the rebellion COM
| menced. and from the first OF July OF that
year to the Both day of June, 1850, the
| public expenditures reached the enOr-
nous aggregate of 81, 100 900 900. Three
years Of peace have interyened and during
the time disbursements Of the government
have successfully sen Ss20. 900, S346,-
000, 900 and x.,9:.. .0VO. 900. Adding to these
amounts the S372. .VUO, 900, estimated Ne neces.
sary for the fiscal year ending on the 3oth OF
June, 1865, we obtain the total expenditure
| 81 900 900, 900 during the four years imme1i-
ately succeeding the war, or nearly as much
as was expended during the seventy years that
! preceded the rebellion, and which embrace
the extraordinary expenditures already
named. These startling facts illustrate the
\ necessity of retrenchmeBt IN all branches OF
/ the public service. Abuses which were tole-
rated during the war for the preservation of
the nation will not be endured by tae people
/ now that profound peace prevails.
! The receipts from Internal Revenue have,
during the past three years gradually diinin-
ished. and tn" continuance of useless and ex-
| trayagaut expenses will involve US In national
bankruptcy else make inevitable an in
crease of taxes already too. onerous, and in
many respects obnoxious on account of their
| inqui-itorial character. One hundred million
dollars yearly are expended for the military
forces, large portion of which is employed
in the execution of laws, both unnecessary
/ and unconstitutional. One hundred and fifty
/ millions required each year to pay the in
terest on the public debt. An army of tax
| gathererS impoyerishes the nation, and public
payments, placed by Congress beyond the
| control of the Executive Department,
divert from their legitimate purpose large
sums Of money which they collect from the
people in the name of the government. Ju-
dicious legislation and prudent economy
| alone remedy these defects aud avert the evils
which, ii suffered to exist, cannot fail to di-
minish confidence III the public and weaken
Z ho o.affa fanbs,a ,at,fo ~. pff fhn NIL IN
ward their political Institutions. Without
proper care the small balance which IL Is esti>
mated will remain in the Treasury Mt the close
of the present fiscal year will not be- relieved,
and additional millions will be added to a
debt which Is estimated by millions. 1t is
shown by the able ard comprehensive report
of the Secretary of the Treasury that the re-
ceipts for the fiscal year ending June 50th
were S405. .63S. .0s3 81, and that the expendi-
lures tor the same period were $377, ,2iO, ,2S4.
lsavening in the Treasury a susplus of $2s,-
297 ,1g9. Ii is estimated that the receipts du-
ring the present fiscal year, ending June 80,
, lS69, will he S5ll .392, SOS, and the expenJi-
! tures 1886 -, 40, showing the small balance
. of IS, DAG, ,29S in favor of government. For the
/ fiscal year ending June, l7g0. IL is esfiinatel
that the receipts will amount to 1927 ,0OO, 900,
and the expenses TO S303, 900, 900, leaving an
/ estimated surplus of $4,000, 900. Ii becomes
I proper III this connection to make - brief
I
debtedness, which has accumula with such
alarming Tapidity and assumed such colossal
1 proportions. In 1889. when the Government
/ commenced operations under the Federal con-
| stitution, IL was buriened with indebted
| nesr of 500, ,Oo0, 600, created during the war of
the revolution. This amount had been re-
| duced S45, 900, 900, when, in 1872, war Was de-
clared against Great Britain. The three years
struggle that followed largely increased the
national obligations. and in 1916 they had at
tained the sum of Sl27 100000. Wise and
! economical legislation, however, enabled the
Government TO pay the entire amount within
| period of twenty Year, aud the extinguish>
inent OF the national debt filled the land
with rejoicing, and WAS one OF the greatest
events of President Jackson's administration.
After its redemption large fund remain ed
in the treasury, which was deposited for safe
keeping with the several States, on condition
tha. II shonld be returned when required by
the puolic wants. In ls49, at the ter minatiNn
of AN expensive war with Mexico, we
found ourselves involved in y debt Of
$t3 900 900. and this was the amount
owed by the Government in 1s60, Just
prior to the outbreak Of the rebellion. In
the spring of 1861 our civil war COM
menced. Each year Of its continu uance
made an enormous addition to the debt,
and when in the spring Of 1866 the nation
successfully emerged from the conflict.
the obligations Of the Government had
reached the immense sum Of ~ ,Ss3 ,9D2, -
500. The Secretary Of the Treas ury
shows that on the LIST day Of November,
ls6,. this amount had been reduced to
- AL .j04 40, but at the same time his
report exhibits an increase during the
past year of S35 .625 ,lO2. The debt on
the first day OF November last Is stated ut