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


fully accomplished, and amer three
wears OF agitation and strife has
1 len the country further from the
attainment OF union and fraternal
feeling than at the inception of the
congressional plan oIreoonsiruellon
Ii needs no argument 10 show that
legislation which has produced sneli
banelhl consequences should be ali
rOeated or else made to conform "a
tho genuine principles Of repuhll'
eau government. Under the inilu'
enee of party passion and sectional
preindiee other acts have been pass
cd not warranted by the eOnstitu'
ton. Congress has already been
made familiar with my views re-
specting the tenure OF Office bill
experience has proved tina, It's re-
peal is demanded by the best inter
ests of the country, and that while
IL remains in force the President
cannot enioin that rigid accounia'
biliiy or public officers 50 essential
10 an honest and efficient execution
of the laws. Its revocation would
enable the Executive Department
TO exercise the power of appoint
ment aud removal in accordance
with the original design Of the fed
eral constitution. The act Of March
., 1867, making appropriations for
the support of the army for the
year ending June 3Oth, 1865, aud
for other purposes, contains provi-
sions which interfere with the Pre-
sidcnl's constitutional functions rs
commander in chief of the army
and deny TO certain States Of the
Union the right to protect them
selves by means OF their own militia.
These provisions should be ut once
annulled, for while tho first might,
in times of great emergency. serl-
ously embarrass the Executive in
his efforts TO employ and direct the
common strength of the nation for
its protection and preservation, the
other is contrary TO the express
declaration of the constitution that
well regulated militia being ncces-
sary to tho security Of n free State,
the right of the people to keep and
bear arms should not be infringed.
1t is believed that the repeal of all
such laws would be accepted by tic
American people, as at least a par
tial return to the fundamental prin-
ciplcs of the Government, and an
indication that hereafter the consti-
tuition is to be made the nations
safe and uneriing guide. They can
be productive of no permanent good
to the country, and should not be
permitted to stand as so many mon
umcnts of the deficient wisdom
which has characterized our recent
leg station.
The condition Of our finances de-
mands tho early and earn est con-
sideration Of Congress. Compared
with the growth Of our population,
the public expenditures have reach
cd an amount unprecedented in our
history. The population of the
United States in 1890, was nearly
four millions Of people, Increasing
each decade about thirty three per
cent, it reached in 1860, thirty-one
millions. an increase of seven hun
dred per cent. on the population in
1900. In 1869 it is estimated that
it will reach thirty eight millions.
or an increase of eight hundred and
sixty.cight per cent. IN S"venty.nlne
years. The annual expenditures Of
the federal government in 1871
were four million, two hundred
thousand dollas in 1920, eighteen
millions tive hundred thousand dol
lars in 1850, forty-one millions ; in
1860, sixty three millions; in 1865,
nearly thirteen hundred millions
and in 1869, it is estimated by the
Secretary of the Treasury, in his
last annual report, that there will be
three hundred and sevonty-two mil
lions. By comparing the public
disbursements of 1869, as estimated
with those Of 1891, it will be seen
that the increase Of expenditure
since the beginning Of the govern
ment has been eight thousand six
hundred and eighteen per centum,
while the increase of the population
for the same period was only eight
hundred and sixty eightpercentum.
Again the expenses Of the govern
ment in 1860, the year of peace i'm .
modiately preceding the war, were
only sixty three millions, while in
1869, the year of Ieace three years
after the war, it is estimated there
will be three hundred and seventy
two millions, an increase of four
hundred and eight nine per centum,
while the increase of population
was only twenty one per ces. for the
same p.riod. These statistics fur.
ther show that in 1871, the annual
national expenses, compared with
the population, were little more
than one dollar per capita, and in
1860. but two dollar per capita,
while in 1869, they will reach the
extravagant sum ofninc dollars ana
seventy eight cents per capita, IL
wall be observed that all of the statr-
menls refer 10, and exhibit the dis
bnrsements of peace peri0ds. 1t
may therefore be of interest To com
pare the expenditures of the three
war periods--the war with Great
Britain. the war with Mexico and
the war of the rebellion in 1914
the annual expenses incident TO
the war Of flSi2 resehed their high
est amount, about thirty-onc mill
lions. while our population slightly
exc, eded eight millions, showing
AN expendiIare Of only So 50 cents
per capita. In lS4T the expendi
lures growing out Of the war with
Mexico reached s55. .O00, 900, and the
population about 2l,000.000. giving
only 81 60 cents per capita for the