The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-10-26
THE PUBLIC DEBT.


In response to letter from Genera,
Coburn, Of Indiana, Judge Richardson
acting Secretary Of the Treasury, ha
published . detailed explanation OF ths
apparent discrepancies in the four differ
ent statements Of the public debt. These
are as follows: The statement fro IN the
finance report for 1869, the monthly debt
statement for July l, 1869, the finance
report of the Treasury for 1870, and the
finance report of the Register of the
Treasury for 1870. Judge Richardson
says: u iis
''The first is an exhibit of the amount
of principal Of the United States secur-
tiles and Pacific Railroad bonds, issued
under various acts Of Congress, outstand-
ing june 80, 1872.
'.The second is statement of the prin-
cipal Of the outstanding debts including
accrued interest thereon, with the Paci-
fic Railroad bonds excluded.
1'The third shows the outstanding
principal Of this debt, with sinking fund
deducted, in accordance with the act Of
Congress, July IA, 1870, and exclusive
of Pacific Railroad bonds.
"The fourth is a statement OF the net
debt of the United States, principal and
accrued interest, with the cash in the
Treasury deducted"
Each Of these statements is made upon
| . different basis and from different data
in accordance with law Of Congress
specifically requiring it, and the result
reached is therefore different in each case
solely on account of the different bases
upon which they are made up; but they
do not, in fact, conflict, and the different
totals do not indicate any irregularities
or discrepancies in the books of the Treas
ury Department. Judge Richardson con-
cludcs as follows:
''It is by the monthly debt statement,
which is the balance sheet of the public
debt ledger, and into which enters the
principal OF debt, the accrued interest
thereon and interest unpaid, and cash in
the Treasury, that the debt OF the United
States and the reduction thereof has
been shown by the present Administra-
tion. This is the only statement OF pub
lie debt which embraces all the data upon
which it is based, showing both the as
sets and liabilities of the Government
An examination Of these statements will
show the care and accuracy with which
hey have been prepared, and tha. they
are free from all errors, and as reliable al
the scie nee Of accounts can make them.
| The monthly debt statement is tn
balance sheet exhibited to the natio
every thirty days as a merchants clerk
shows his balance sheet to his employer.
This monthly debt statement, upon
careful examination, will be found entire
ly consistent with itself to the ut termos
farthing. By this statement it appearl
that from the date Of President Grants
Inauguration down to September l last
the debt had been reduced in round mum
bers $34o, 900, 900, and now, on the Is
Of October, there is further reduction
for the month Of September of $10,327,
343, making grand total for three year
and seven months of $350,O00,0OO re
duction Of the national debt.
These figures speak volumes for tn
Administration Of President Grant an,
the Republican party. They are silen
but effsctual answer to the thousand an
one groundless calumnies heaped upo
g the great party Of honest, faithfI! gov
ernment; and, while one slander afte
another Of the Confederate journals
overthrown, these figures, testifying t
the economy and integrity Of the Admin
istration, stand to plead for the re-elee
ton Of President Inter-O Ocean.
Eight Children at a Birth.
On the 21st August, Mrs. Timoth
Bradlee, Of Trumbull county. Ohio, ga,
birth to eight children-three boys On