Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-10-26
LETTER PROM PRESIDENT JOHNSON.
The National Expenditures and the Pub
lie Debt.


On Saturday the President of the United
States addressed q letter to General Ewing
"clearly illustrating" the President says, .sthe
absolute necessity for immediate reform in the
financial operations of the Government" After
reviewing our former wars, and the debts IN
and, after giving the figures already familiar to
the public, sums up by saying:
at will be seen, from this brief review. that
from 1191 TO 1881 our public debt was at no time
more than one hundred and twenty seven mil.
lions Of dollars, while subseC uently four years
OF civil war expanded il to twenty-eight hun
dred millions. IL will also be perceived that
while, prior to 1861, the largest annual dis
oursement was not quite seyenty-four millions
for the year 1865, the expenditures during the
last three years OF peace have successively been
dred and forty six millions, and three hundred
and ninety three millions-three hundred and
seyenty.two millions being the amount which
il is estimated will be necessary for the year
ending the thirtieth Of June next"
1.-The startling facts, thus concIsely stated
suggest an inquiry as to the cause of this i'm
mense increase in the expenditures and indebt-
edness OF the country. During the civil war,
the maintenance of the Federal Government
was the one great purpose that animated our
people, and that economy which should always
characterize our financial operations was over
looked in the great effort Of the nation to pre-
serve Its existence. Many abuses, which had
their origin IN the war, continued TO exist long
after it had been brought to a triumphant CON-
TONED TO a lavish expenditure Of the pubic
money for an object so dear to them as the
preservation OF the Integrity of their free insti-
tutlons, have patiently tolerated taxation of the
most oppressive character. Large sums of
money contin ue TO be extorted from them, and
squandered In useless and extravagant appro-
pflatloDs. Enormous expenditures are de-
manded for purposes the Accomplishment OF
which requires a large standing army, peryer.
sisn OF the Constitution, and subiugation of
States TO negro domination.
With military establishment costing in time
OF peace not less than one hundred millions an
nually, and a debt the interest upon which
draws from the treasury each year nearly one
hundred and fifty millions making a total of
two hundred and fifty millions OF dollars for
these two items OF expenditure ealone-retrench-
ment has become an absolute necessity. or
bankruptcy must soon overtake us and in
trous results. If, however, a wise economy be
adopted, the taxes may soon be materially re-
duced, not merely for the benefit OF a few, but
In the interest OF all. A revenue would vet
remain Sufficient for the administration of the
govern ment, AS well as for such reduction of
the public debt would in a few years re-
Heye the people from millions OF interest now
annually drawn from their resources"
The President states the s.vital lssue' TO be
"whether Congress and its arbitrary assuTnp-
TONS OF authority shall supercede the supreme
law of the Iand-w he,her IN time of peace the
Country shall be controlled by a multitude of
taX-collectors and a standing army-the one
almost as numerous as the other, and making
the debt permanent burden upon the produc-
tive industry OF the people; or whether
the contItuton, with each aud all of lis guar
antles, ANAL be saCredly p-eseTyed-I neither
now, as in 11o9 and ISlG, provision shall be
MADE Tor the payment Of our obligations az as
early period rs practicable. that the fruits O.
then iaooTs may be enjoyed by our citizens,
rather than used 10 bui!d uD and sustain a
mCAeyed monopoly at home and abroad -