The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1868-12-17
original design Of the Federal Con-
stitution.
INTERFERANCR WITH EXECUTIVE
FUNCTIONS.

/ IlONAoAVuo NhANA AutNAlNAt Win Aut
Presidents constitutional functions
] as Commauder.in Chief Of the army,
aud deny to the States of the Union
the right to protect themselves By
means of their own militia.
These provisions should be at once
annulled, for while the first might in
times Of great emergency seriously
embarrass the Executive in his eff.
forts to employ and direct the com
mon strength of the nation for the
protection and preservation, the 9TH
er is contrary to the express declar-
alton Of the Constitution, to-wit that
well regulated militia being neccs
sary to the security of free State,
the right of the people 20 keep and
bear arms shall not be infringed. 1t
is believed that the repeal of all such
laws would be accepted by the Amer
lean people as at least partial re-
turn to the fundamental principles of
the Government, and an indication
that hereafter the Constitution is to
be made the nations safe and uner-
ring guide. They can be productive
ofno permanent benefit to the coun-
try, and should not be permitted to
stand as so many monuments of the
deficient wisdom which has charss-
teriEed our recent legislation.
TEE FINANCIAL QUESTION.
The condition of our fusnces dc.
mands the early and earnest consid-
Grafton of Congress. Compared with
the growth Of our population, the
pubic expenditures have reached an
amount unprecedented in our histo-
| ry. The population of the United
States in 1890 WAS nearly four mill
ions of people. Increasing each de-
cade about thirty.three per cent, it
reached in 1860 thirty-one millions,
an increase of seven hundred per
cent. on the population in 1890. In
1869, it is estimated it will reach
thirty-eight millions, or an increase
of eight hundred and sixty eight per
cent. in seventy. .nino years. The an
nual expenditures of tho federal
government in 1871 were four mill
ions two hundred dollars; in 1920,
eighteen millions two hundred thou.
sand dollars; in 1850, forty.ou mil
lions; in 1860, Si1ty-throe millions;
in 1865, nearly thirteen hundred
millions; and by 1869 it is estimated
by the Secretary Of the Treasury in
his last annual report that they will
be three hundred and seventy-two
millions. BY comparing the public
disbursements of 1869, as estimated,
with those of 1891, it will be seen
that the increase of expenditures since
the beginning of the government has
been eight thousand six hundred and
eighteen per centum, while the ia
crease of the population for the same
period was only eight hundred and
sixty. eight per ceutum.
Again, the expenses of tho Gov
ernmcnt in 1860, the year of peace
Immediately preceding tho war,
were only sixty-three millions, while
in 1869, the year of peace three years
after the war, as estimated there will
be three hundred and soventy-tSo
millions, an increase of four hundred
and eighty-niDe per cenium, while the
increase of population was only twen-
ty zone per centum for the same pc
Rod. These statistics further show
that in 1871 the annual national ex-
Tenses compared with the population
we're little more than one dollar per
capita, and in 1860 two dollars per
capita, while in 1869 they will reach
the extravagcnt sum of nine dollars
and seventy eight cent per capita
1t will be observed that all of these
statements refer to and exhibit the
disbursements Of peace periods. L
NAV therefore be Of interest to COM
pare the expenditures of the three
war periods-the war with Grea
Britain, the Mexican war, and tn,
war of the Rebellion. In 1914 th,
annual expenses incident to the wa
Of 1912 reached their highest amount
about thirty-one millions, while our
! population slightly exceeded eigh
millions, showing an expenditure o
i only three dollars and eighty cent
; per capita. In 1S47 the oIpendi
: lures growing out of the war witt
Mexico, reached $50, 900, 900, and tn
; population about q 900, 900, givin
, $3.50 per capita for the war expense
of that year. In 1865 the expendi
! lures called for by the rebellion
reached the vast amount of $3.50,
+. 100000 which compared with tn
! population Of "a 900, 900, gives 1882
a per capita. From the 4th of March
: i789, to the 3Oth day of June. 1866
. the entire expenditures of the Gov
= ernment were Sl,700,000,0O0. Du
q ring that period we were engaged /
= wars with great Britain and Mexico
= and involved in hostilities wit
i powerful Indian tribes; Louisiar
= was purchased from France at co.
y of Is, 100000 Florida was ceded
us by Spain for Eve millions, Cal
10 fornia was acquired from Mexico fc
y fifteen millions, and the territory
20 = of New Mexico was obtained fro
= Texas for the sum of ten million
~ ~ Early in 1861 the war of the rebel
~ ion commenced, and from the first
- July of that year to the 3Oth of Jun
1865, the public expenditures reacl
ed the enormous aggregate OF thirt
lie three hundred millions. Three yea
he Of peace have intervened, and duriI
as that time the disbursements of q
bv Government have been successive
nd five hundred aud Twenty-Five million
he three hundred and forty.six million
id and three hundred aud ninety-thr
al millions. Add to these three hui
on dred aud seyenty-two millions, est
ID mated as the sum necessary for q