The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1870-09-30
FGs.issg fEse -ENDiiC DeHt.

II US ssSS sssC Il NTtsC A>S1Ss
The great feature of the present
administration if We are to believe
it's friends and supporters is the pay
ment of the public debt. J. H. Platt
secretary of the Republican Union
Congressional Com. sends out report
covering the period from Sept. l. 1867
to Sept l, 187O--three years.
In 1865 to insure the election of
Grant it became an imperative ne
cessity to show the reduction of the
pubiio debt, by the republican party
under Johnson's administration from
Aug 1, 1865, to June 80, 1868, Ed
ward Atkinson then made a report
from which We copy, and which was
.i.en published and sent out as re-
publican campaign document, intend
ed To show the achievements Of the
party. and of Johnson, Seward & Co.
as a. debt paying party. THIS report
contained this remarka hle statement:
Debt of the United States
August /, 1865. .$5,2S7, 733, 329
June 80, 1868. .... 2,4S5, 900, 900
Reduction ....... $500, 1920
To fortify his figures Mr.. Atkinson
introduced into his statement the
following extract from o speech de-
livered in tho House Of Representa-
tives July q, 1868 by Hon. Geo. S.
Boutwell,, now Secretary ofthe Treas
ury, then member Of Congress from
Massa ehusetts. From this republi-
can authority it seems that from the
first of August 1865 to the 30 of
June 1868 here was paid of the pub
lie debt in a poriod of twenty seven
months. $500, 1873. 329
Since the 4th Of March
1869 to the present
time under Grant they
lain to have paid. $3.50, 543, 600
Difference in favor -
of johnson. .$633, 100, 800
If there is any merit in depressing
the people to pay off debt that no.
body is suffering to have paid off,
then Johnson's administration is en-.
titled to five times as much credit as
Grants, that being the difference in
it's favor. But here is what Boutwell,
said of johnson and his administra.
tion, in that respect July 2l, 1868,
in his place in the House of Repre-.
sentatiyes
From the first day of April, 1865,
to the 1st day of January 1868, we
have paid out Of the public treasury,
Sl,552, 900, 900 of money. Upon q
careful Analysis Of tho expenditures
Of the government during these two
years and nine months, l find thai
the expenses Of a peace establish
ment including interest, pensions ant
bounties, upon the basis Of the year.
1866 aud 1867, when the expenses o.
the government were $40, 600, 900
more than they are to be the present
year. amounted to $4s5, 600, 900
showing that We paid over and abov,
those expenses, 81, ,O66. 600, 900. o,
the first day of April, 1865 the pub
lie debt liquidatcd and ascertainet
was $2, 336, 900. 900 and the u ,066
900. 900 which we paid between tn
lst day Of April 1865, and tho Is
day Of January 1868, would hav'
boen added to the public debt c
proper expenses of the war If we ha'
not out Of tho public revenue fror
day to day liqaidated it. If We adj
: to the So, $50. 600, 900 Of the publ
debt on the 1st of, April 1865, wha
, we paid for war expenses, includin
interest on the war debt, pension
5 and bounties, between the lat @
: April 1865, and the 1st Of Januar
l1SSS tho nnhl;a i0hk 10 rn hal a