Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-18


thousand. II Is the opinion of the Secret;
ry OF War that within the next year cor
siderable diminution of the infantry forS
may be made without detriment to the IL
terests OF the country; and in view Of th
great expense attending the military peac
establishment, and the absolute necessit
of retrenchment wherever it can be az
piled, 1t Is hoped that Congress x Ill sanC
ton the reduction which bis report recon
mends. While in 1860 sixteen thousan
three hundred men cost the nation SIG
47z,UO0, the sum of $65, 682O00 is es
tinated as necessary for the supper
OF the army during the fiscal yea
ending June 80, 1870. The estimates o
the War Department for the last two fisca
years were, for 1867, $50, S14, 461, and 1856
25,2O5,689. The actual expenditures dur
| ing the same periods were, respectively
$05,224,415 and $12S, 246,64S. The est
mate submitted in December last for. thu
hscal year ending June so, 1869, was $77,
l24,TO1: the expenditures for the first quar-
ter, ending the Both Of September last, were
27,2l9,ll7, aud the Secretary of the Treas
ury gives S66, 100000, as the amount which
VIII probably be required during the re.
naming three quarters, if there should be ne
reduction of the army-making its aggre-
gate cost for one year considerably in ex
excess OF ninety-three millions. The diff.
ference between the estimates and expend-
1tures for the three fiscal years which have
been named Is thus shown to be $i75, 545,-
543 lot this single branch of tbs public SER
vice. 1-iIs[I5
Thus it viii be seen that the
President of the United States, called the
attention Of Congress, which has the abso-
lutte control Of the appropriations and ex-
penditures made for the whole Govern
ment, 10 the startling amount of expendi-
lures over and above the estimates made
for the War Department. This, said Mr.
johnson. is referred to tor the purpose Of
directing your attention to that depart mens
of the Government which should
economic and reduce expenditures, at least
to that amount estimated by the respective
departments; and in many instances instead
of going beyond the estimates, should go
greatly below them.
Mr.. johnson said he knew that in public
speeches statistics or reference to fg-
ures were generally dry and became unin-
teresting, but the recent trying ordeal
through which the nation had passed made
it absolutely necessary to furnish the pub
lie mind with facts and arguments irfefrag-
able in their character, and he would there
fore indulge in the use Of some facts and
figures which are to be found in the mes
sage of the President which was submitted
to the Congress of the United States.
The condition Of our finances demands
the early and earnest consideration of Con-
gress. Compared with the growth of our
population, the public expenditures have
reached an amount unprecedented in our
history.
The population of the United States In
100 was nearly four millions of people.
Increasing each decade about thirty-three
per cent, it reached in 1860 thirty-one mil
hOns-an increase of seven hundred per
cent. on the population in 1870. In 1859
1t Is estimated that it will reach thirty-eight
millions, or an increase of eight hundred
and sixty-elght per cent. in seVenty-nine
years.
The annual expenditures of the Federal
Government in 1871 were four million two
million two hundred thosand dollars; in
1850, forty-One millions; in 1860, sixty
three millions; in 1865, nearly thirteen hum
dred millions; and in 1869 it was estimated
by the Secretary Of the Treasury, ia his last
annual report, that they would be three hun
dred and seventy-two millions.
BY comparing the public disbursements
Of 1869, as estimated, with those of 1891, it
will be seen that the increase of expenditure
since the beginning of the Government has
been eight thousand six hundred and eight
cen per cent, while the increase of the pop
llltion for the same period was onlys eight
hundred and sixty per centum; Again:
The expenses of the Government in 1860,
The year of peace Immediately preceding the
war, were only sixty-three millions; while
IN 1869, the year of peace three years after
The war, it Is estimated they will be three
hundred and seventy-two millions-an in
crease of four hundred and eighty-nine per
centum, while the increase of population
vas only twenty-One per centum for the
.ame period.
These statistics further show that in 1901
he annual national expenses, compared
With the population, were little more than
)ne dollar per capita, and in 1868 bat two
lolars per capita; while in 1869 they will
each the extravagant sum of nine dollars
Ind seventy-eight cents per capita.
II will be observed that all of these State
nents refer to and exhibit the disburse-
nents of peace periods. 1t may, therefore,
De of interest to compare the expenditures
If the three war periods-the war with
Great Britain, the Mexican war, and the
var of the rebellion. /
In 1914 the annual expenses incident to
he war of 1912 reached their highest
thirty-ole millions; while |
,ur population slightly exceeded eight mil
ions, showing an expenditure of only three |
dollars aud eighty cents per capita. In |
SAT the expenditures growing out of the |
var with Mexico reached fifty-fVe millions, /
md the population about twenty one mil |
ions, giving only two dollars and sixty |
,ents per capita for the war expenses of |
hat year. In 1866 the expenditures called |
or by the rebellion reached the vast amount |
# twelve hundred and ninety millions,
which, compared with a population of thir-
y-four millions, gives thirty eight dollars
nd twenty cents per capita. ~
From the fourth day Of March, 1889, TO
he Both of June, 1861, the entire expendi-
ures of the government were seve nteen
hundred millions Of dollars. During that
'eriod we were engaged in wars with Great
Britain and Mexico, and We're involved in
lostilities with pos erful Indian tribes;
louisiana was purchased from France at a
ost of fifteen millions of dollars; Florida !
vas coded to us by Spain for five millions;
JalfJrnia was acquired from Mexito for
fteen millions; and the territory of New
fexico was obtained from Texas for the
um of ten millions. Early in 1861 the
var of the rebellion commenced; and from
be first of July of that year to the Both of
une, 1855, the public expenditures reached
he enormous aggregate of thirty-three
undred millions. Three years of peace
and during that time the
of the government were
five hundred ami twenty
billions, three hundred and forty-six mil
ons, and three hundred and ninety-three
Millions. Adding to these amounts three
undred and seyenty-two millions, esti-
lated as necessary for the fiscal year end
" the 30th of June 1859, we obtain total
Expenditure of sixteen hundred millions of
ollars during the four years Immediately
lcceeding the war, or nearly as much as
as expended during the seyenty-two years
nat preceded the rebellion, and embraced the
expenditures already named.
These startling facts clearly illustrate the
eeessity of retrenchmeHt ia all branches
the public service. Abuses which were
,lerated during the war for the preserya-
on OF the nation, will not be endured by
re people, now that profound peace pre-
ais. -e. 80 al |