Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-12-31
CLEARFIELD, Pa THURSDAY, DEC. 81, 1868.

repeal of all such laws would be ac.
cepted by the American people as Al
least partial return TO the fanda.
mental PRINCIPLES of the government.
and Indicative thar bereafter tbe Con,
stitution is TO be made the nation's
safe and unering enide They can
be productive of no permanent benefit
10 the countrv. and should moi he.
permitted 10 stand as so many monu-
ments of the deficient wisdom which
has characterized our recent legisla.
ton
Tho condition of our finances de.
mands tho early and earnest cons,dera.
tion of Congress Comnored with the
Growth of onr nonnlation tho nubliol
oxneuditures bava reached an a,nonnfl
unprecedented In our history sThe
population of She United States in
1890 WAS nearly four millions of veo.
pie. Increasing each decade about
thirtv.three pcr cent. il reached in
1860 thirty.one millions. an increase of
seven hundred per cent on the bopu.
lation in 1890. In Is69itis estimated
that il will reach tbirty.eipbt millions
or an increase of eight Hundred and
sixtv.eight per cent in seyenty-nine
wears. The annual expenditrres Of
the Federal government in l7m were
four million two hundred thousand
dollars; in 1920. eighteen million two
hundred thmsand dollars. in 1880
fiftv.one millions: in 1860. six,y.three
millions in 1865 nearly thirteen hun.
dred millions and in 1860 II is estiina-
ted by the Secretary of the Treasury
in his last annual renorl that they will
be three hundred and seve,ty-two
millions Bv eomnarinp tho public
Disbursements of 1869 as estimated.
with those of I7gl. IL will be seen that
the increase of exnenditure since the
bepinninr oftbe Government has been
e;ght thousand civ bnndred and
eiSbteen ner oentum while the in
orease of Tho nonulation TOR the same
neriod was oplv cigbt hundred and
sixtv-eigbt nor cenfnm Acain. the
exnenscs NJ the government in 1850
the wear Of neoce i'm fbeeiatelv preeod-
inc fbe war were only sixty three
million while in 1s6G the wear of
peaee three wears after the war. il is
estimated they win be three hundred
and seventy.two millions an increase
of four hundred and eIphtv-nine per
centum, while the increase Of popula-
ton was only twenty-one per centum
for the same period. These statistics
further 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
dollars per capita, while in 1869 they
will reach the extravagant sum Of nine
dollars and scventy-cight cents per
capita. 1t will be observed that all
OF these staienentg refer "a and fx-
hibit the disbursements Of pea,
periods. 1t may, therefore, be of
interest to compare the expenditures
of the three war periods, the war
with Great Britain, the Mexican war
and the war OF the rebellion. In 1914
the annual expenses incident to the
war Of 1872 reached their highest
amount, about thirty-one millions,
while our population slightly exceeded
eight millions, showing an expendi-
ture Of only three dollars and eighty
cents per capita.
! In ls47, tho expenditures growing
out of war with Mexico reached fifty
five millions. and the population about
| II millions. giving only two dollars
and six cents per capita for the war
expenses of that year In 1865, the
expenditures called for by the rebellion
reached the vast amount of one billion
two hundred and ninety millions,
which. compared with population OF
thirtv-four millions, gives thirty-eight
dollars and twenty cents per capita.
From the fourth dav Of March, 1883,
to tho IAN of Juno 1861. the entire
exnonditpros of Inc government wnro
one billion seven hundred millions OF
dollars During that period we were
: engaged in wars with Great Britain
: and Mexico and hostilities with DOW.
orfpl Indian tribes, Louisiana wa,
nurcbased from France at cost o
ffteen millions Of dollars; Florids
yvos ceded bv Snain for five millions
California was acquired from Mexico
for five millions. and the territory o
, New Mexico was obtained from Texai
for the sum of ten millions. Early il
1861 the war of the rebellion com
, menced and from tho 1st of july O
tbnt wear ia tho 1Stb of June. 1865
> abe nnblie expenditures reached Ga,
, enormous aggregate of three thousan,
threo hundred millions. Three voar,
of noace have ;ntervened. and. dnrin,
thai time the disbursements of th,
Government have suecsssivolv becl
Ave- hundred and twenty millions
/ three hundred and fortv.six millions
and three hundred and ninety-throl
millions. Adding TO these amount
three hundred and seventy.two mil
lions estimated as necessary for th
fiscal wear ending Both June, 1868