Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-09-07

branch OF the government ana we uuu tie |
as the sum total Of our oxpeudi- |
lures for the current fiscal year.
Military Academy, S3ll,sG92o |
Defcicocics. G,il0,G0l as /
Diplomatic and Consular Service, l0il, 3l1m |
Works of Defense, l,Jll 900 900
Rivers and Harhors, 3Oi3,vuou0
p0-t-ohce Department, beyond the
amount received from posnges, joOO,00o0 90
Legislative, Executive and Judicial
expenses, laiyly,S1s 10
Sundy CUll expenses, l5'l5. vi ~
Army 2e,52l 80 "
Noyy. 1880 $50 %
Indian Department, 6,323,565.o2
slOj,3l5, 1876 %
The last Democratic administration that
was in full power in this country under Pres.
idont Buchanan spent for the objects en-
braeed in this schedule something over S10,-
100000 per annum in gold--an equivalent
in paper to-day of 100000, The popula-
ton Of this country was then less than 3d.
100000 Ii is now 40,0O00OO, so that
President Grant would be entitled by the ra-
ito which has always governed expenditure in
this country. to spend a third more in the adj
miuistratiou Of the Government than was re-
quired under Buchanan and that would
bring the sum total to Sll4,O0O 600, when in
reality it is but 100000 900 And the de-
tails Of expenditure in the two periods will
show immensely in favor Of President Grants
economy Under President Buchanan the
army consisted of nineteen regiments, and
vet its maintenance cost for the four years Of
the administration an average Of over S2l,-
100000 each year--more than Sl,OO0OOO
per anuum in gold or about sl,3O0,000 in
the paper money Of to-day for each regiment.
The army at present consists Of forty regi-
ments aud yet its whole maintenance for the
year costs but S29000,00O, triAe over
100000 in paper money to each regiment.
have selected the Army merely because
comparison in that branch Of public service is
easy and the result palpable The same
statement is true in al other departments Of
the government, and if the limits | have as
signed to this letter permitted it, | could
readily demonstrate that under republican adj.
ministration the national expenditure has
been far more carefully guarded and rigid
economy far more carefully consulted than
under preceding democratic administrations.
The amounts expended have necessarily been
very large and the temptation 10 extravaganza
thus greatly enhanced, and hence the adher-
eucc to severe economy and strict accounta-
bility is all the more praiseworthy and hon
orable.
/ In all the leading measures Of the 4lst
Congress for tightening the burdens Of the
1 people, the Democratic party as represented
in the Senate and the House. were found
stubbornly resisting. They voted in almost
solid phalanx against the bill whereby the
tax on tea, coffee and sugar was reduced
whereby a large free list was added to the
Tariff aud whereby sixty millions of Internal
taxes were entirely removed They voted
with equal unanimity against the bill which
proposes to fund the public debt at four per
cent. interest and thus immensely decrease
the annual charge upon the people. With
very few exceptions they voted against the bill
which gives to tho South and West some
thing nearer to a fair proportion of national
banking capital and which on the specie basis
makes the banking system free to all who
wish to engage in it as by right and justice it
should be, 1t is not fair to assign motives
to men, and hence L do not attempt it. i
NNhAAhA SUI WIN NAllAllE htltuNlOu II. Lilt
fact that the Democratic party as represen-
ted in Congress, stands recorded as voting
against all these measures Of relief, amelora-
ton and justice.
The Republican party is in the tenth year
of its power in the Nation. When Abraham
Lincoln was inaugurated as President in
March, in 1851, the treason Of leading
Democrats had well nigh destroyed the Gov
eminent. Howell Cobb had blasted our
credit and left a bankrupt Treasury. John
b. Floyd had so demoralized and scattered
the army that the strongest iortresses fell in-
to the hands of'rebeIs and traitors. Isaac
Toucey had dispatched our war vessels on
distant errands, not leaving guns enough in
our harbors or marines enough in our southern
Navy Yards to hold them against the enemy.
The result therefore Of Democratic rule
was national credit ruined, Army and Navy
powerless for defence, treason rampant and
defiant, and the country on the eve of fatal
and final Acknowledgement At the critical
moment the Republicans came into power,
and how they have governed the nation, his
tory will tell. The most gigantic of rebel.
lions has been crushed the great evil of
slavery has been extirpated the national
credit has been revived, and the national
faith maintained great public works have
been prosecuted to completion the continent
has been spanned with Geographic wires the
two oceans have been connected with iron
bonds; our entire domain is organized with
civil government new States Of wealth and
power have been added to the Union, and old
States, purified as by fire from the faint of
treason, have been reconstructed and once
more clothed with their appropriate powers.
And all these results have been achieved not
only without the aid but against the efforts
OF the Democratic party.
political organization of such respeota.
bic antecedents as the Federal party was ut
terly destroyed by the suspicion that in the
hour of war its sympathies were not actively
on the side of the country. How much more
deserving Of reproach and condemnation is
the Democratic party which through its south.
ern wing actually made war upon the govern.
ment, while the northern wing was divided
between active sympathy with the rebels and
tardy support Of the National Authorities.
IT. IS not wise, know, to keep alive anmosi.
'ics OF lhname resentments, and do not re-
call these painful facts with any such desire
orany such purpose. Butt am persuaded that
great evils would result to this country BY
restoring tot power the men who attempted to
destroy it and | believe it is an imperative
and patriotic duty to keep the people aroused
10 the necessity of ayerting even the possibil.
ity of such disaster.
Very truly yours,
j. g. BLAINE