Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-12-16
CO., O., THURSDAY, DEC. Is, 1869

taxation and the tariff in instances
where unjust or burdensome dis
examinations are made by the pres
ent laws (; but a general revision of
the laws regulating this subject l
recommend the postpomement Of
for the present.
also suggest the renewal Of the
tax on incomes, but at q reduced
rate-say three per cent.-and this
tax to expire in three years.
With the funding Of the national
debt as here suggested, | feel safe
in saying the taxes and revenue
from imports may be reduced, safe
ly, from sixty to eighty millions
per annum at once, and be still
further reduced from year to year,
as the resources Of the country are
developed.
The report of the Secretary of
the Treasury shows the receipts of
the Government for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1869, to he $780,
643,747, and the expenditures, in
terest, bQunties, &c, to be 32l,
490,597. The estimates for the
ensuing year are more favorable to
the Government, and will, no
doubt, show a large decrease of
public debt. The receipts into the
Treasury beyond expenditures,
have exceeded the amount necessa-
ry to place to the credit Of the
Sinking Fund, as provided by law.
To look up the surplus in the
Treasury, and withhold it from
circulation, would lead to such con
traction Of the currency as to Grip
pie trade, and seriously affect the
prosperity. of the country. Under
these circumstances the Secretary
of the Treasury and myself hearth
Ily conculTed in the propriety OF
using all the surplus currency in
the Treasury in the purchase OF
Government bonds, thus reducing
the interest bearing debt Of the
country, and of submitting to Con
gress the question of the disposi-
ton to be made of the bonds so
purchased The bonds now held
by the Treasury amount to about
100000, including those be.
longing to the Sinking Fund. |
recommend that the whole be
placed to the credit of the Sinking
Fund.
Your attention is respectfully in
vited to the recommendations of the
Secretary of the Treasury for the
creation of the officer of Commis.
sioner of Customs Revenue; for the
increase If salary to certain classes
of officials, and the substitution OF
increased National Bank Circula-
ton, to replace the outstanding
three per cent. certificates, and
most especially to his recommends
tions for the repeal of laws allow
ing shares of fines, pensions, for
FIXTURES, &c, to officers Of the Gov
eminent, or to informers.
The office of Commissioner Of
Internal Revenue is one of the
most arduous and responsible un-
der the Government-it falls but
little, if any, short of Cabinet po-
sition in its Importance and respon-
sibilities. l would ask for it,
therefore, such legislation as, in
your Judgment, will place the office
on footing of dignity ecommen-
surate with the Importance, and
with character and qualifications
of the class of men required to fill
it properly.
AS the United States is the freest
of all nations, so, too, its people
sympathize with. all people strug-
Cling for liberty and self-gOvern-
ment. But while so sympathizing,
it is due to our honor that we
} should abstain from enforcing our
t views upon unwilling nations, and
from taking an interested part
without invitation, in the quarrels
t between different nations, or be-
f tween Governments and their sub
iects. Our course should always
: be in conformity with strict justice
and law, International and local.
) Such has been the policy Of the
Administration in dealing with
l these questions.
For more than year valuable
: province of Spain, and a near
! neighbor of ours, IN whom all our
people can not but feel a deep in
lerest, has been struggling for in
dependence and freedom. The
people and Government of the
l United States entertain the same
9 warm feelings and sympathics for
the people of Cuba, in their pend
ing struggle, that they manifested
throughout the previous struggles
between Spain and her former colo
nies, in behalf of the latter But
the contest at no time assumed the
I conditions which amount to war,
s in the sense of international law, or
Y which would show the existence OF
9 a de facto political organization OF
e the insurgents sufficient to justify q
y recognition of belligerency. The
e principle is maintained, however
It that this nation is its own judge
when to accord the rights of bellig-
; erency, either to a. people strus'
) cling to free themselves from
} government they believe to be op
r pressive, or to Independent ma
:, tions OF war with each other. Tht
s United States has no disposition tC
II interfere with the existing relation
n of Spain to her colonial possessions
It on this continent They boliev'
l. that in due time Spain and othe
n .- Ill ell Il, gip in