Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1870 — SENATOR MORTON ON THE ADMINISTRATION, ETC. [ARTICLE]

SENATOR MORTON ON THE ADMINISTRATION, ETC.

We extract the following from Ben»tor Morton'* speech at the recent Indiana Republican BUta Cocrentloa: economy t* axi*aaniTua*«. “ Economy ta the weed. Retrenchment and reform are the order of the Administration, and are being pushed in eTery direction. Congrea* is working diligently to reduce the expenses of the Government to the lowest point consistent with iu efficient operation and the protection of the great interests com mitted to its care. During the eleven months oi this administration great re forma have been effected in various ways. The amount of revenue collected upon the mine rates of taxation have been largely increased, as o mpared with an 2oal period under the administration of c. Johnson. During the first eleven months of this administration the amount of internal revenue collected was $165,334,081, being an increase of $19,966,386 over the amount collected during the last eleven months of Mr. Johnson's administration. During the same period, the revenue received from customs was $170,233,845, being an increrfhe over the. amount received from the same source during the last eleven months of Mr. Johnson's administration of $9,738,441. These reforms have been effected in less than a year; during which, much time was taken np in the reorganization of the Treasury Department—turning out corrupt and inefficient officers and putting in new ones, and in overhauling and repairing the entire machinery of oollec tions. Mnch greater results may b« expected in the next twelve months; when the main machinery will be in successful operation, and honeat and energetic offl cere, with a full knowledge oi their duties, shall faithfully and efficiently execute the revenue lawa. During the same period of eleven months, as compared with the preceding eli ven months, the expenditures of the Government have been largely reduced. The economy of an ad ministration must be judged by its actual expenditures, and not by the estimates for appropriation, which are generally made by subordinate officers, often carelessly, and always intended to be large enough. Judged by this rule, the administration of General Grant, if it shall go on as it has begun, will, ss I believe, all things considered, prove to be the most economical 6inoe that of John Quincy Adams. Thus far the President has realized the most sanguine anticipations of his friends, and although the tongue of calumny has been busy with his name, and systematic efforts have been made to take away from him the confidence of the people, he stands higher to day in their admiration and affection than ever before. His ability and integrity will triumph overall the slander* of hi* enemies, and carry him througbthe ordeal to final success. During the last eleven months of Johnson’s sdministration the expenditures were $327,1167,28 4 53. During the first eleven months of Grant’s administration they were $271,927,303.09, being a reduction of $55,139,981.44. The comparative account of the two administrations thus far, made out for an equal period, stands thus: Redaction in expenditures $55,159,931.44 Increase of internal revenues 19.*6-i,356.(1u lucre see In customs 9.786,-Hl 00 Making an aggregate gain of $84,844,808.44 for - Grant s administration, which is worth more than that many millions of Democratic platforms and promises—in fact, these latter constitute the most worthless and depreciated currency known to political history. During the first eleven months of Gen eral Grant's administration the public debt has been paid off to the amount of $80,649,071, which has been done by the application of the surplus revenues to that purpose, while during the last year of Mr. Johnson’s administration the debt was only reduced $5,959,718, although the taxation was greater than it is now. By increase of revenue, resulting from the honest execution of the laws, and the reduction of expenditures effected by re trenchment ami economy, Congress’will be able to make a very considerable reduction Of the taxes, and that I believe to be a settled purpose before its. adjourn ment; and it is not improbable that this reduction may be fully equal to $50,000,fioo. And the taxes may be still further diminished by reducing the amount which we shall annually pay hereafter in the discharge of the national debt. We intend to pay the national debt, every dollar of it, and to liquidate some portion of it' every year ; but I am opposed to paying it off at the rate of $100,000,0190 per annum. io pay it off at tlii/ iapid rate would sound very well in foreign parts, but would be an unnecessary oppression of thisgeneration. The next generation will retain the same relation towards the men who put down the rebellion that we do to the Fathers of the Revolution, and it would be right, in justice and morals, to let them pay a part of this debt, which was contracted for their benefit as well as ours. There are those who think it would be a splendid thing to pay off the entire debt within twenty years, but the next generation would not thank us for that, any more than the son who inherits a large fortune thanks his father for having lived a life of parsimony and self-denial. I would therefore relieve the’ present generation by turning over to the next a considerable portion of the debt, which, m their vast increase in population and resources, will rest upon them as a trifling burden. If our population shall increase the same ratio as it has in the last twenty years, we shall, at the end of the century, thirty years hence, have one hundred millions of people, and our wealth will have increased in a far greater ratio.

This may be done by funding a portion of the debt into a long boud at the lowest rata of interest, which will be accepted. It is the purpose of Congress to reduce the rata of interest upon the body of the debt by funding into new bonds, if possible, all that part which is subject to redemption and control. Whether the time lias arrived when this can be accomplished , A We do not know, but the effort will be made. The tide of emigration ia rising higher and higher from day to day. The honest labor, intelligence, science and wealth are coming to us from every country ih Europe, and our growth and progress are already without a parallel in history, and are exciting the astonishment and fear of the fiatiohs. RECONSTRUCTION. The primary wo. k of reconstruction is nearly accomplished. Mississippi has just been readmitted, and Georgia and Texas will soon follow. The recent action of Congress has enunciated the great principle that the power to reconstruct implies the power to protect the reconstruction, and to prevent the fraudulent violation of the terms and conditions upon which the late rebel States are restored to representation; that the power to guarantee a republican government in a state is the power to secure, and may be as well exercised in advance, to prevent its destruction, as to rebuild after it has been destroyed. Bat reconstruction will for yeans require the protecting and fostering hand of the Republican party. Should the Democratic party come into power, imbued with the spirit of sullen opposition, it would seek to destroy whatever hae been accomplished, like the invaders of ancient Rome, who pulled down the beautiful statues and monuments, which thsy had no genius or skill to set up again.