Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-12-10

tanned on the day of publication, the reduc~
ton was S l00, ,544. .491 12S.
The source of this reduction is as follows !:
Reduction is principal account. $50 $50 oO3 81
Reduction in unpaid interest. 3,33O,952 SO
Reduction in cash ON hand. :..... s,74S,4Ss 81
On the basis of the last table the statements
show a reduction of the public debt from the
first'of March, 1869, to the present time, as
follows :,
From March /. 1869, to March l.
From march 1870, to Mach II 3 .
From March l. 1871, to March 1, '72 81 S95 ,34SiS4
From MarchsI 1879. to November /,
1872, Ceight months) ............. 64,047, ,23T "a
Total. ss6s. .ss6. .sss 81
With great reduction of taxation by the
acts of Congress at its last session, the exI
penditures of the government in collecting the
revenue will be much reduced for the next
fiscal year. 1t is very doubtful, however,
whether any further reduction of so yexatious
burthen upon any people will be practicable
for the present. At all events as measure
OF justice to the holders of the nations cer>
tlhcates of Indebtedness, Iwould recommend
that no more legislation be had on this sub>
Ject, unless it be to correct errors of omission
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 interest on,
the public debt, and provide for its sinking
fund established by law.
The preservation of our national credit is
of the highest importance. Next in imports.
ance to this comes solemn duty. to provide
national currency of fixed, unvarying value. as
compared with gold, and as soon as practica>
Bile, having due regard for the interests of the
debtor class and the vicissitudes of trade and
commerce, convertible into gold at par
WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of War shows
the expenditures of the War Department for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1871. to be
$50, ,199>99l 50, and for the fiscal year ending
June 20, 1872. to be S35. .372, ,157 %, show.
ing reduction in favor of the last fiscal Year
of 1927 ,834 g. The estimates for military
appropriations for the next fiscal year ending
June so, 1874, are s33. .SOl,37 rs. In the
estimates of the chief of engineers are SUBJ
mittcd separately for fortifcations, river aud
harbor Improvements, and for public buildings
and grounds. and the Washington aoueduot.
The affairs of the Freedman's Bureau have
all been transferred to the War Department,
and regulations have been put in execution
for the speedy payment of bounty, pay, &c,
due colored soldiers properly coming under
that bureau. All war accounts for money and
property prior TO 1871 have been examined
and transmitted to the treasurer for final set.
tlement.
During the fiscal year there has been paid
for transportation on railroads over 81 .3OO.>
600, of which SS00.S57 was over the Pscfc
road; for transportation by water $626 373-
52, and by stage s4S975 81, and for the
purchase of TRANSFORMATION animals. wagons.
hire of teamsters, &c, S92465O 65. About
S37O, 600 have been collected from Southern
railroads during the year, leaving about $4,-
100000 still due. The quartermaster has ex
amined and transmitted to the accounting Of
ficers for settlement 1867 ,172 72 of claims by
loyal citizeus for quartermasters' stores taken
during the war;
Subsistence supplies to the amount of $780,
O4S IL have been issued to Ipdans. The
annual average mean strength of the army
was "a, ,l0l white and 2,494 colored soldiers.
The total deaths for the year reported were
367 white and 81 colored The distribution
OF the medical and surgical history of the war
is yet to be ordered by Congress. There ex-
lists an absolute necessity for medical corps
of the full number established by act of Con>
gress of July %, 1866. there being now 50
vacancies, and the number Of successful can
didates rarely exceeds eight or ten in apy one
year. The river and harbor improvements
have been carried on with energy and econo-
my. Though many are only partially com>
pleted, the results have saved to commerce
many times the amount expended. The. in-
crease of commerce with greater depth of
channels, greater security in navigation, and
the saving of time, adds millions to the wealth
ot the country and increases the resources of
the government.
The bridge across the Mississippi river at
Rock Island has been completed. The proper
site has been determined upon for the bridge
at Lacross. The able aud exhaustive report
made by the commission appointed to inves-
tigate the Sutro tunnel has been tranimetted
TO Congress. The observations and reports of
the signal Office have been continued Sta
tions have been maintained at each of the
principal lake, seaport and river cities. Ten
additional stations have been established in
the United States, and arrangements have
been made for an exchange of reports with
Canada, and similar EXCHANGE of observa-
tions is contemplated with the West India
islands
The favorable attention of Congress is in
vited to the following recommendations oftbe
Secretary of War: a discontinuance of the
appointment of extra lieutenants to serve as
adjutant5 and quartermasters the adoption
of code providing specific penalties for we'll
defined otfenses, SO that inequality of sentences
adjudged by court martials may be adjusted
the consolidation of amounts under which ex-
Penditures are made and, as measure of
economy, reapPropriation of the money for
the continuation of depot at San Antonio,
the title TO the site bein now perfected; a
special act placing the cemetery at the city of
Mexico on the same basis as other national.
cemeteries; authority to purchase sites for
military posts iu Texas.
The appointment of commissary sergeants
from non. commissioned officers as measure
for securing the better care and protection of
sunnlies an annrnnriatinn fn- tl,a -rhl;aa.;a.