Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1868-12-16

right of the people to keep and bear arms
shall not be iniringed 1t is believed that
the repeal Of all such laws would be ac-
cepted by the American people as at least
a partial return to the fundamental prin.
cipals of government, and an indication
that hereafter the Constitution is to be
made the nations safe and unering guide
They can be productive of no permanent
good to the country. and should not be
permitted to stand as so many monuments
of the deficient wisdom which has char
acterized our recent legislation.
THE FINANCES
The condition of our finances demands
the early and earnest consideration of Con
gress. Compared with the bulk of or pop-
ulation, the public expenses have reached
an amount unprecedented in our history.
The population of the United States In
1890 was nearly f 900, 900 of people, In
creasing each year about 80 per cent.-it
reached in 1860, 81 0,00O-an increase
of 700 per cent. of the population of 1870
In 1869, it is estimated, it will reach 3S,-
100000, or an increase of SOS per cent
in seventy y-nine years. The annual ex-
penditures of the Federal Government in
1871, were $4,000, 900; in 1920, SIS, 200
O0J; in 1850, S40,00O, 900; in 1860, S63,
100000; in 1865, 81, 300 100000, and in
1869, it is estimated by the Secretary of
the Treasury, in his last annual report,
that they Will be 1872 900, 900 BY com
comparing the public disbursements of
1869, as estimated, with those of 1871, it
will be seen that the increase Of the ex-
penditure since the beginning of the GOV
ernment has been 81, GA per centum, while
the increase Of population for the same
period was Only S6S per centum
Again: The expenses Of the sovern-
ment in lS60-the year of peace immedi,
ately preceding the war-were only 500, :
100000; while in lS69-thc year Of pea ce
three years after the war-it is estimated
they will be 1872 900, 900 An Increase of
4S9 per cent; while the increase Of popu-
lation was only II per centum for the
same period.
These statistics further show that in
lI9l, the annual national expenses, COM
pared with the population, were little more
than 81 per capita, and in 1860, but 81
per capita, while in 1869 they will reach
the eXtravigant sum of 1913 per capita.
1t vii be seen that all of these state
ments refer to and exhibit the disburse-
ments of peace peri DDS 1t may, there
fore, be of interest 0 compare the expcn>
diturcs of the three war periods, the war
with Great Britain, the Me xican war and
the war of the rebellion In 1914 the an
nual expenses incident to the war of 1912
reached their highest amount about 50 =
O0OO 900, while our population slightly ex-
ceeded s, 900 000-showing an expenditure
of only s. 50 per capita In lS4S expen-
di.ures growing out Of the war with Mex
leo reached SO 100000, and the popula
ton was about Il 100000, giving only
$500 per capita for the war expenses of
that year. In 1868 the expenditures call
ed for by the rebellion reached the vast
amoant of 81 $50 600, 900; which compar~
ed with population of 81 100000, gives
$3S. ~ per capita.
From the 4th day of March, }7S9, to
the Sd day of June, 1861, the entire ex~
penditures of the government were 81, =
700 ,0OO, 900 During that period we were
engaged in wars with Great Britain and
Mexico, and were involved in hostIities
with powerful Indian TRIBES. Louisiana
was purchased from France at cost of
SIS, ,00O,O0 Florida was sold to US by
Spain for s. 900, 900 California was ac-
qured from Mexico for Sl5 ,0O0, 900, and
the Territory of New Mexico was obtain
ed from Texas for the sum of $4,000, 900
Early in 1861 the war Of the rebellion
commenced and from the lst of July of
that year, to the 30th day of June, 1865,
the public expenses reached the enormous
aggregate of 50 300. 100000. Three years
of peace have intervened, aud during that
time, the disbursements of the govern
.ment have successively been Sj2O 900 900,
1916 100000, and 1898 900, ,000. Adding
to these amounts the 1872 100000 estina-
mated as necessary for the fiscal year
ending June Both 1869, we obtain a total
expenditure of 81 100000, 900 during the
four years Immediately succeeding the
war or nearly as much as was exp nded
during the seventy years that preceded
the rebellion, and which embraces the ex
traordinary expenditures already named.
These startling facts clearly Illustrate
the necessity for retrenchment in all the
branches of public service. Abuses which
were tolerable during the war for the pre-
servation of the nation, will not be endur-
ed by the people now that profound peace
prevails
The receipts from the internal revenue
and customs have, during the past three
years, gradually diminished, and the cons
tinuance of useless and extravagant ex-
penditures will involve Us in national
bankruptcy. or else make inevitable an
increase of taxes already too enormous,
and, in many respects, odious, on account
of their inquisitOrlal character One hun
dred mil ions annually are expended for
the military force, a large portion of which
is employed In the execution of laws both
unnecessary and unconstitutional One
hundred and fifty millions are required
each year to pay the interest on the pub
lie debt An armv of tax eatherers i'm
poverishes the nation; and public agents,
placed by Congress beyond the control OF
the Executive, divert from their legitimate
purposes large sums of money which they
collect from the people in the name of the
government Judicious legislation and
prudent economy can alone remedy these
defects, and avert the evils which, if suf-
fered to exist, cannot fail to diminish con-
fidence in the public councils and weaken
the attachment and respect of the people
toward their political institutions With
out proper care, the small balance which
it is estimated will remain in the Treas
ury at the close of the present fiscal year,
viii not be realized, and additional mill
lions will be added to a debt which is now
enumerated by billions.
IL is shown Gy the able and compreheu-
sive report OF the Secretary Of the Treas
urv that the receipts tor the fiscal year
ending June Both, lS6S, were S4O5. .63S,-
0S3 b, and that the expenditures for the
same period were 1916, $40 2Sf-leaying
in the Treasury surplus OF IS, 50 y. ;.
Ir - estimated that rha raeainr- duriny