The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-12-17
LANCASTER, OHIO, DEC. II, 1868.


able the EXECUTIVE Department to
exercise the power Of appointment
and removal in accordance with
tho original design OF tho Federal
Constitution.
APPROPRIATION ACT.
The act Of March, ., 1867, ma.
king appropriations for the sup.
port Of the army, for the year end
ing June 80, 1868, and for other
purposes, contains provisions which
interfere with the Presidents cot :
stitutional functions as Commander
in Chief Of the army,,oud deny to
States of the Union the right to
protect themselves by means oi
their own militia These provis.
ions should be at once annulIed,
for, while the first might, in times
OF great emergency, seriously EN-
barrass the Executive in his efforts
to employ and direct the common
strength Of tho nation for its pro.
lection and preservation, the other
is contrary TO the express declara-
tion of the Constitution, that q well
regulated militia being necessary
to the security of u free State, the
right Of the people TO keep and
bear arms shall not be infrlnged
1t is believed that the repeal OF all
such laws would DC accepted by the
American people, as ut least par.
tial return to the fundamental
principles of tho Government, and
an indication that hereafte: the
Constitution is 10 be made the ma.
lions safeguard and unerrirg guido.
They can be productive Of no per.
manent benefit to the country, and
should not be permitted to stand
as 80 Gany monuments Of The de-
ticient wisdom which has charac,
terized our recent legislation.
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF TIE
COUNTRY.
The condition of our finances de.
mands tho early and earnest con.
sideratiOn Of Congress. Compared
with the growth OF our populat ion,
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. Increas,
ing each decade about thirty three
per cent, it reached in 1860, thirty
one millions, an increase of seven
hundred per cent. of tho population
Of 1890. In 1869 it is estimated
that it will reach thirty eight mil
lions, or an increase of eight hun
dred and sixty eight per cent. in
seventy nine years. The annual
of the Federal Gov.
ernment in 1901 were 81 200, 900 !;
in 1920, Sl8, 100000; in 1850, S40,.
100000; in 1860, s63,OOO,O00; in
1868 nearly 81, ,3OO,OO0,OO and in
1869 it is estimated by the Sccro'
tary Of the Treasury in his last an,
nua report, that they will be 1872.
100000, By comparing the public
disbursements of 1869, as estima.
ted, with those of 1901, it will be
seen that the increase Of cxpendi-
ture since tho beginning of the
Government has been 8,GlS per
while the increase OF the
population for the same period was
only SGS per centum. Again, the
expenses Of the Government in
1860, the year Of peace immedi'
utcIy preceding the war, were only
sixty three millions; while IN 1869.
the year Of peace, three years after
the war, it is estimated they will
be three hundred and seventy two
an increase of four hun
drcd and eighty nine per cent
while the increase of population
was only twenty.onc per cent. Tor
the same period, These statistics
further show that in l19l tho an.
nual national expenses, compared
with tho population were little
more than one dollar per capita,
and in 1860 but two dollars per cap.
ita, whilo in 1860 they will reach
tho exravagant sum Of nine dol
lars and seventy eight cents per
capita. 1t will bo observed that
all of these statements refer to and
exhibit tho disbursements of peace
periods. 1t may, therefore, be OF
interest to compare the cXpcndi'
lures of the three war periods
the war with Great Britain, the
Mexican war, and the war Of the
Rebellion.
In 1914 tho annual expenses in
cident to the war of 1872 reached
their highest amount, about S3l,-
900, 900, whilc our population
exceeded 100000, show
ing an expenditure of only So so per
capita. In 1917 the expenditures
growing out of tho war with Mex
leo reached $50, 100000, and the
only 2l,OOO,OOO, giving
only SO 90 per capita for the war
expenses of that year. In 1868,
the expenses called for by tho re.
belion reached the vast amount OF
twelve hundred and ninety mil
lions, which, compared with a pop.
of thirty.Iour millions, gives
S3S 20 per capita.
From tho 4th day CT March,
1889, to tho 30lh of June,
1861, the entire expenditures of
the Government were seventeen
millions Of dollars. Dur
ing that period we were engaged
in wars with Great Britain and
Mexico, and were involved IN hos
tilitics with hostile Indian tribes.
Louisiana was purchased from
Franco AT cost OF fifteen millions
nf L.Llnra Elnrihn wns cGled to