The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-12-10


statements show reduction of the pub,
lie debt from the 1st of March, 1869,
to the present time as follows:
From March l, 1869 to
March !, 1870, sS5,134,7s2 81
From March 1, 1870, to :.
March l, 1871, 1l7,619,63o 25
From March /, 1871, to
March l, 1872, 04,S95.34S "a
From March l, 1872, to
November l, lS72,eight
months. 64,O47,2s7 s4
Total, 1868, ,696.999 81
With the great reduction of taxation
by the acts Of Congress at its last sess-
ion, the expenditure Of the Government
in collecting the revenue will be much
reduced for the next fiscal year. It is
very doubtful, however, whether any
further reduction Of so vexatious bur
den upon any people will be practicable
for the present. At all events, as
measure Of justice to the holders of the
Nations certificates of Indebtedness, l
would recommend that no more leois-
lation be had on this subject, unless it
be TO correct errors of omission or
commission in the present laws, until
sufficient time has elapsed to prove that
it can be done and still leave sufficient
revenue to meet the current expenses of
the Government, pay The interest on the
public debt, :nd provide for the sinking
fund established by law The prcser-
walton of our National credit is of the
highest importahre
| Next in Importance to this comes a
solemn duty to provide a National cur
rency of fixed, unvarying value as COM
pared with gold, and as soon as prac
ticable, having due regard for the inter-
ests Of the debtor class and the virissi
tudes Of trade and commerce, and con
vertib!e into god at par.
WAR AND NAVY REPORTS.
The report of the Secretary of Wal
shows the expenditures of the War De
partment for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1871, to be S35, ,799,99I SO, aud for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1872, to
S35,372 l57 20, showing reduction in
favor ofthe last fiscal year S427, 1884 65
The estimates for military apprupria
tions for the next fiscal year ending
June 80, 1874, are -S33, sol. .37S 7S. The
estimates Of the Chief of Engineers arc
submitted separately for forti6cation
yiver and harbor improvements, and fol
public buildings aud grounds and the
Washington aQueduct.
The affairs of the Freedmen's Bu
reau have all been transferred to The
War Department, and regulations have
been put into execution for the speedy
payment Of bounty. pay, DC, due col
ored soldiers, properly coming under
that bureau
All war accounts for money and prop
erty, prior TO 1871, have been examin
ed and transmitted to the Treasury fol
final settlement
During tie fiscal year there has beer
paid for transportation on railroad 81,
100000, of which SS0,S57 was over th'
Pacific Railroads; for transportation b,
water SGO6,373 so; by stage S4S,97;
S4, and for the purchase Of transporta
tion animals, wagons, hire of teamsters
&c, S924,G50' ca
About $4,000 have been collected
from Southern railroads during tn,
year, leaving about S4,0O0.000 still due
The Qnartermaster has examined an(
transmitted to the accounting officer
for settlement S37 ,617,2 of claims b
loyal citizens for duarterlnaster's store
taken during the ar, Subsistng sup
plies to the amount of SS,904,Sl2 hav,
heen issued to Indians.
i The annual average and mean strength
of the army was 24,1Ol white and 9,
494 colored soldiers. The total deaths
of soldiers for the year reported wer
1857 white and 65 colored.
i The distribution of the medical ant
surgical history of the war is yet to b
!; ordered by Congress There exists al
absolute necessity for a medical corp
of the full number established by act o
Congress of July %, 1866, there bein:
nov f(ty-nine vacancies, and the mum
her Of successful candidates rarely eS
ceeds eight or ten in any one year.
} The river and harbor improvement
have been carried on with energy an
, economy though many are only partial
, ly completed. The results have save
to commerce many times the amoun
expended. The increase of commerc
with greater depth of channels, create
} security.of navigation, and the sayin
of time, adds millions TO the wealth c
the country, and increases the resoul
ces of the Government. The bridg
> across the Mississippi River, at Roc
Island, has been completed, and th
proper site has been determined upo
for the bridge at Lacrosse.
The able and exhaustive report mad
3 by the Commission appointed to inve:
tigate the Surro Tunnel has been trans
. mitted to Congress,
The observations and report Of th
Signal Office have been continued. st,
tions have been maintained at each {
| the principal lake, seaport and river eli
les. Ten additional stations have bee
s established in the United States, and a
engagements have been made for the el
4 change of reports with Canada, aud
similar exchange of observations is cor
D templated with the West India Islands
| The favorable attention of Congress
is invited to the following recommends
4 lions of the Secretary of War: A di:
continuance of appointment of extr
5 Lieutenanis to serve. as Adjutants an
: QuarteImasters; the adoption of cod
: providing specific penalty for a we
+ defined odeDse, SO that the inequality |
sentences adjudged by court-marti'
S may be adjusted; tie consolidation {
accounts under which expenditures al
made as measure of economy reaI
| preparation of the money for the col
struclion of depot at San Antonio, th
title to the site being now perfected;
| special act placing the cemetery at til
City Of Mexico on the same basis 6