Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-03-11
SENATOR MORTON ON THE ADMIN
ISTRATION, ETC.
WE extract the following nom Senator
Morton's speech at the recent lnuisna
Republican State Convention

RcoNoNr IN EXPENDITURES.
Economy is the word.
Retrenchunent and reform are the order
of the Administration, and are being
pushed in every direction. Congress lie
working diligently 10 reduce the expenses
OF the Government TO the lowest point
consistent with % efficient operation and
the protection ofthe great interests com
mitted TO Us care. During the eleven
months of this administration great re
forms have been effected In various ways
The amount df fevenue collected upon
the same rates tof taxation have been
largely increased, as compared with an
conal period under the administration of
Mr.. johnson. During the first eleven
months of this administration the amount
of internal revenue collected was $685.
3346S1, being an,increase of &19, ,066,3S0
over the amount collected during the last
eleven months OF Mr,J Johnson's admins
tration. During tho same period, the
revenue received nom customs was S170,-
233,e45, being an increase, over the
amount received from the same source
during the last eleven months OF Mr.
Johnson's administration OF S9,73S, al.
These reforms have been effected In less
than a year dufing which much time
was taken up In the reorganization of the
rupt and inefficient officers and puttingin
new ones, aud In overhauling and re-
pairing the entire machinery of colleo.
tions. Much greater results may be ex
pected in the next twelve months, when
the main machinery viii be In successful
operation, and honest and energetic Off
GERS, with fun knowledge of their du.
ties, shall faithfully and efficiently execute
the revenue. lava During the same pc
riod Of eleven months, rs compared with
the precedingeieven months, the expend.
itures of the s0overnment have been
largely reduced. The economy OF an ad-
ministration must be Judged by its actual
expenditures, ;and NOT by the estimates
for appropriation, which are generally
made by subordinate officers, often care
lessly, and always intended to be large
enough. Judged by this rule, the admin
istration of General Grant II il shall 60
on as IL has begun, will, as l believe, all
things considered, prove TO be the most
economical since that Of John Quincy
Adams.
Thus far the President has realized the
most sanguine anticipations of his friends,
and although the tongue of calumny has
been busy with his name, and systematic
efforts have been made to take away from
him the confidence of the people, he stands
higher to day in their admiration and af
fection than ever before. His ability and
integrity will triumph over all the ISLANDERS
of his enemies, and carry him through the
ordeal 10 final success.
During the last eleven months of John
sons administration the expenditures were
1907, ,2S453. During tho first eleven
months of Grants administration they
were $271 1877 10000, being a reduction OF
$55,139,0Sl.44
The comparative account of the two ad.
ministrations thus far, made out for an
equal period, stands thus:
Reduction in expenditures S....... S5s,lSg Qsi a
Increase OF Internal revenues ..... 10 p66, 10,
Increase IN customs, s.,.........,.... pT3S, AL u
Making an aggregate gain of $S4,S44 S0S
Al for Grants administration, which i,
worth more than that many millions o
Democratic platforms and promises
fact, these latter constitute the most worth
less and deprecated currency known tC
political history.
During the first eleven months of Gen
eral Grants administration the publ,
debt has been paid Off to the amount O
$SO649,9ll, which has been done by tn,
application of the surplus revenues to tha
purpose, while during the last year of Mr.
Johnson's administration the debt wal
alton was greater than II Is now.
BY increase of revenue, resulting from
the honest execution of the laws, and the
reduction Of expenditures effected by re,
trenohment and economy, Congress will
be able TO make a very considerable re
duction OF the taxes, and that believe tC
be settled purpose before its adjourn
ment; and il is not improbable that th
reduction may be fully equal to $50, 600,
OOO And the taxes may be still furthe
diminished by reducing the amount whicl
we shall annually pay hereafter in tn,
discharge OF the national debt. We in
tend to pay the national debt, every dolla
ot II, and to liquidate some portion of |
every year but am opposed TO pavinl
II on at the rate of 100000 900 pc
annum.
To pay it off at this rapid rate woul,
sound very well in foreign parts, bu
would be an unnecessary oppression q
this generation. The next generation will
retain the same relation towards the mel
who put down the rebellion that we d
to the Fathers of the Revolution, and /
would be right, in justice and morals, I,
let them pay part of this debt, whicl
was contracted for their benefit as well a
ours. There are those who think Il woult
be splendid thing TO pay OF the entir,
debt within twenty years, but the mex
generation would not thank us for that
any more than the son who inherits /,
large fortune thanks his father for hayin,
lived life OF parsimony and selfdenial
would therefore relieve the presen
generation by turning over to the next
considerable portion of the debt, which
in their vast increase in population an,
resources, will rest upon them as tritlin
burden. II our population shall increas
III the same ratio as 1t has in the las
twenty years, We shall, at the end of III
century, thirty years hence, have ON
hundred millions of people, and ou
wealth will have increased in far create
ratio.
This may be done by funding a porto,
OF the debt into a long bond at the loves
rate OF interest, which will be accented
IL is the purpose of Congress to reduc
the rate Of interest upon the body of tn
debt by funding into'new bonds, II possj
bic, all that part which is subject TO rt
demption and control Whether the tim
has arrived when this can be accomplishs n
made.
The tide of emigration is rising hiche
and higher from day TO day. The homes
labor, intelligence, science and wealth ar
coming TO us from every country II
Europe, and our growth and progress ar
already without parallel in history, an,
are exciting the astonishment and fear o
the nations.
RECONSTRUCTION.
The primary woik of reconstruction |
nearly accomplished. Mississippi ha
just been readmitted, and Georgia an,
Texas will soon follow. The recent actio
OF Congress has enunciated the grea
principle that the power to reconstruC
implies the power to protect the recor
struction, and TO prevent the fraudulen
violation OF the terms and conditions upo
which the late rebel States are restored /
representation; that the power to guar
antee republican government in a Stat
Is the power to secure, and may be a
well exercised in advance, to prevent Il
destruction, as to rebuild AFTER Il has bee
destroyed. But reconstruction will Il
years require the protecting and fosterin
hand of the Republican party. Shoul
the Democratic party come into powe