The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-12-13

ance ut the close of the wear. accor.
panied with the sales at the Commencement
OF the year. Is, 371 .3is.65; total, 500. 06O. 353. ia.
This abatement treats solely Of the principal
OF the public debt. by the monthly state
ment OF the public debt. which adds together
the principal and interest due aud unpaid and
the interest accrued to date due, and deducts
the cash in the Treasury, accordingly on tbe
day OF publication the reduction was s1O0 :
5a4 ,49l.95. b source Of this reduction IL
az follows: Reduction in principal account.
96o wv. 90; reduction In unpaid interest
account, $3.50, 952. IS total, clos, 200, 95G 30.
Reduction in cash in hand. "a. GAG, 4G5. "a TO-
tai, el0O, 544 491. 2S. On the basis OF the last
table the statements show . reduction of the
public debt from the LIST Of March, 1868. 10
the present time, ~ follows: From March
!, 1863, to March l, 1870, s87 1874. 1872. 81 /; from
March 1, 1870. to Merch 1. 1871, sI77. $40. ESQ.,
IS; from March /, 1871, TO March i. IS7l.
S9i, s95. 3lS. 81 from March /. 1872. TO Sovem.
Dor !. 1872. eight months, ga, Oi7, 237. "a. To-.
tai. 1858 ,696, 999.87. With the great reduc-
ton ut taxation by the acts OF Congress- At it's
last session. the expenditure of the Govern.
ment in collecting the revenue viii be much
reduced for the next fiscal year. 1t is yery
doubtful, however, whether any further re-
duction OF so vexatious . burden on any peo-
pie will be practicable for the present. AT ali
events, rs . measure Of justice to the holders
OF the nations certificates of indebtedness. l
would recommend that NO more legislation be
had on the sdbject unless il be to correct err
rors OF omission or commission in the present
laws, until sufhcient time has elapsed to
prove that 1t can be done and still have SUM-
Gent revenue to meet the current expenses of
the Government, pay interest on the public
debt, and provide for the sinking fund estab-
ilshed by law. The preservation OF our ma
tiopal credit is Of the highest Importance.
Next in importance to this comes . solemn
duty to provide a national currency. of fixed.
unvarying value as compared with gold and
as soon ~ practicable, having due regard for
the interests Of the debtor class and the
vicissitudes Of trade and commerce, and con.
vertible into gold at par.
The report Of the Secretary OF War shows
the expenditures of the War Department for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1871, to be
s35, 799, 991 81 and for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1872, to be s35. 372, Isl. 20. showing
4 reduction IN favor OF the last fiscal year OF
e427. 834.62.
The attention Of Congress will be called
turing its present session to various enter
prises for the more certain and cheaper trans
OF the constantly increasing surplus
of the Western and Southern products to the
Atlantic seaboard. The subject is one that |
will force itself upon he Legislative branch
u the Government sooner or later, and l sug-
yest. therefore, that immediate steps be taken |
~ koiu AL osdliaDlc luIOTm3IlO0 10 insure |
and just legislation. The route to
connect the Mississippi Valley with the Allan
&c, Mt Charleston, s. c.. and Savannah, Ga.
by water, by the way OF the Ohio and Tennes.
zee rivers. and canals, and slack water nayiga.
ion to the Savannah and Ocmulgee rivers.
las been surveyed and report made by an ac-
'omplished engineer of the army. Second
nd third new routes will be proposed for the
consideration Of Congress, namely, by an ex-
ension of the Kanawba and James river canal
o the Ohio. aud by extension Of the Chesa-
and Ohio canal. / am not prepared to
Government aid to these or other
Enterprises. until it is clearly shown that they
re not only Of national interest, but that
hen completed they will be Of a value CON-
lensurate with their cost. That production
.icreases more rapidly than the means of
ransportation in our country, has been de-
ionstrated by past experience. That the un-
growth in population and pro-
ucts OF the whole country will require adj
itional facilities and cheaper means for the
lore bulky articles OF m to reach the
de water and a market viii be demanded in
he near future is equally demonstrabie.
ould therefore suggest either a committee
r commissioner be authorized to consider this
hole question, and to report to Congress at
,me future day for its better guidance i'm
on the important subject. The
of the country have been rapidly ex- .
'nded during the last few years to meet the .
demands of producers, and reflect
UGH credit upon the capitalists and mana !
ers engaged in their construction. In addition
these. a project to facilitate commerce by
le building OF q ship canal around Niagara
alls or the United States side, which !
rs been agitated for many years, will no !
,ubt be called to your attention this session. ,
ookinS to the great future Of the country and ,
10 increasing demands Of M II might ,
we'll while nm this euhiact MT ortr -
we examined and reported upon, the various !
acticablc routes for connecting the Missis- !
ppi with tide water, but the feasibility of an Z
most continuous land locked navigation from .
aine to the Gulf Of Mexico. Such a route =
ong our coast would be OF great value at all !
and OF inestimable value in case of q :
reign war. Nature has provided the greater :
1T Of this route. and the obstacles to be l
ercome are easily within the skill Of the .
gineer. 1 have not alluded to this subject :
tn the view of having any further cxpendi- :
re of public money. at this time, than NAV y
necessary to procure aud pace ell the !
cessary information before Congress IN an :
thentic form to enable it hereafter. If deem. !
practicable and worthy, to legislate on the :
bject without delay. 9
Il is evident unless steps are taken to
escrve our navy, that in a very few. years |,
. United States will be the weakest nation q
on the ocean Of all the great powers. With !,
energetic, progressive, business people n
e ours, penetrating and forming business r
atoms with every part Of the known world, =
strong enough to command the re- 4
oct Of u flag abroad is necessary for the !,
] protection Of their rights. 1 recommend q
.eful consi 1eration by Congress Of the n
concentrations made by the Secretary of =
Navy. ~
The accompanying report Of the POST 4,
ster General furnishes q full and satisfac- II
y exhibit OF b operations of the Post n
ice Department during the year. Our q,
stall communication with all parts Of the -
iized world have been placed upon . most r.
outrageous footing by the improved postal n
and arrangements recently con- r.
ded with the leading commercial countries IL
Europe and America, and the gratifying m
tement is made that, with the conclusion n
4 satisfactory convention with France. the .,
ails Of which have been definitely agreed ",