Page images
PDF
EPUB

year ending 30th June last, the war cost $437,042,976, or about $1,200,000 a day. During the year ending 30th June next, it is estimated to cost $829,536,333, or about 2 1-4 millions a day; and during the 1864, $807,086,401. As the increased cost of the current year includes the outfit of a million of armed men, and the construction of a fleet of iron-clad vessels, expenses that, it is to be hoped, will not be repeated, there is reason to believe that the war bill in 1863-4, if the war last so long, will fall short of the Secretary's liberal estimate by a very large sum.

'Should we succeed in suppressing the rebellion by 1st July, 1863, the war will have cost the North in round figures $1,300,000,000, or about $60 per head of our total population. Should it last another year, the total cost may be increased to $100 a head. The debt of Great Britain amounts to about $154 per head of the British people; that of France to about $48 per head. We are told that we can better pay $100, than Great Britain can $50, or France $30; but, however this may be, it cannot alter the terrible facts of the case.'

'Our revenue to meet all these demands, isestimated by the Secretary at $223,000,000 for 1863-4, and by some others, in round numbers, $300,000,000, or $10.50 a head of our free loyal population. This makes a tolerable show in comparison with either England or France, the revenue of the former ranging from $300,000,000 to $350,000,00€, probably about $12.50 a head of her population: and that of the latter about $350,000,000, or $10 a head of her population. The revenue of Spain, with a debt of some eight hundred millions, is about $60,000,000.' Hence it is claimed that, in proportion to our resources, our debt is likely to be less than any other leading nation. If this be true, the fact can be, after all, but a poor consolation to the millions that are doomed to be crushed for ages to come under this enormous burden.

SACRIFICE OF LIFE BY THE REBELLION IN 1862.-We cannot rely on current reports or estimates; but, according to these, the losses of the year just closed in killed, wounded and prisoners, amount to 96,409 for the rebels, and 106,819 on our side. The casualties, of which there are no reports, swell these figures to 108,707 for the former, and 132,819 for the latter; the sum total on both sides, 241,526. Rebel losses, seldom reported in full, are probably much greater relatively. How near the truth these figures may be, we can hardly venture to guess; but in any view they show a fearful waste of human life. How long must such havoc continue ? Is there no better way possible for men calling themselves Christian to settle their disputes? If there be, why not adopt it, and stay this deluge of blood?

MILITARY BOUNTIES.-How little do the mass of the people consider the drain of this war at every turn upon their pockets! Besides all that the General Government spends, what sums, for one purpose or another, are paid or assumed by the several States! Long ago it was said, the bounties by the Government to the new volunteers already amount to

seven millions. These, of course, are merely the bounties paid by the National Government. It is estimated that the other bounties, paid by State Goveruments, counties, town corporations, etc., will swell the amount expended, beyond the legitimate payment of soldiers' wages and outfit in raising volunteers under the President's call for three hundred thousand men, to fifty millions.

Here are some figures for Boston on this subject, showing what is paid for our "nine months' men," where the bounty is put at only $100, whereas $200 and 300 were given in some parts of the State, and in some other States, as in Rhode Island, as high as $400 to $500.

"United States pay...

United States pay at end of service.

State aid, for wife and two children.
Boston bounty...

Wards Six and Nine, extra bounty...

$117

100

100

100

58

$475

This amounts to $52 77 per month, besides board and clothing.' vast must in the end be the sum total of all these expenses!

How

HOW ENGLAND TAXES.-We give a few specimens, reckoning an English penny at two cents and a pound stirling at $4,48:-On receipts for $10 and upwards, there is a stamp duty of 2 cents; persons receiving the money are to pay the duty. The penalty for giving a receipt without a stamp is $50. Agreements of the value of $25, or upwards, 12 cents; if the agreement contains 2160 words, or upwards, then for every quantity of 1080 words over the first 1080, a further progressive duty of 12 cents. Leases of any lands, tenements, &c., the yearly rent exceeding $50, and not exceeding $75, thirty-six cents; exceeding $400, and not exceeding 500, $2.50. There is also an ad valorem stamp chargeable on each lease when granted. Admission to act in any court as advocate, $250. To act as notary public in England, $150. All drafts, warrants, or orders for the payment of money, are chargeable with a stamp duty of one penny, by using adhesive receipt stamp, which must be canceled by the person drawing the check, draft or order, by writing his name on the stamp. All incomes amounting to $500 per an., are taxed $12.50, and those of $750 twentyseven dollars and forty-five cents. The duties on male servants are, for those aged 18 years, and upwards, $5.08, and under this age $2.54. Horsedealers residing in the cities, $121; those residing in the country, $60.50. For every horse kept or used for racing, $18.64; and for every other horse or mule, exceeding respectively the height of thirteen hands, of four inches to each hand, kept for the purpose of riding, or drawing any carriage chargeable with duty, $5.08. For every carriage with four wheels, when drawn by two or more horses or mules, $16.94. Horses, mules, wagons, &c., used solely in the course of trade or husbandry, are exempt from duty.

DRUNKENNESS IN THE ARMY.-We have heard usque nauseam about the benign moral results to be expected from the grand display of our patriotism in crushing this atrocious rebellion. It would be strange, indeed, if no incidental good should come from such a huge and horrid mass of evil; but nearly all its legitimate effects are likely to be evil, and only evil. They may be inevitable, but none the less real and deplorable. We copy a single

illustration of what must have been all along occurring at any time on both sides:

"I have been convinced," says one writing from Gen. Grant's army, "that excessive drinking is the besetting sin of our officers as well as soldiers. Indeed, the latter have few opportunities, comparatively, to dissipate, and are liable to punishment therefor, while the former can indulge their propensity to any extent. Of this fact I was particularly reminded at Corinth, where I learned from the free and open conversation of many who had figured in the battles of the 3d and 4th of October, that dozens of the principal officers-I would not like to mention their rank-were so tipsy on the one or the other day, and some on both days of the fight, that they were really unconscious of what was going on around them. Men who were mentioned honorably for their gallantry, were glad to hear they had behaved so well, but had no remembrance or knowledge of what they had done! Gen. Rosecrans narrowly escaped having his head taken off by cannon balls several times during the engagement, in consequence of a drunken officer who had charge of a battery shooting at random. In the army of Tennessee I see men now that I knew eight, ten or twelve months ago as sober and trustworthy officers, whom to-day I can hardly recognize on account of their bloated and strangely altered appearance. No doubt drinking is the pursuing demon of our army, and the fearful habit seems to be growing. Is it strange our troops are badly managed, and that we so often fail of accomplishing desirable results in the field?"

THE WAR OF OPINION.-So long ago as 1823, Canning, in the most admired of his speeches, predicted that "the next war in Europe would be a WAR OF OPINION." Forty years, for the most part of peace, have not effaced the memory of this famous prediction; but little did any one then dream that this great, all-absorbing question of the age and of the world for all ages, whether the few or the many shall rule, the struggle between aristocrats on one side, and the people on the other, to wield the vast powers of civil government for their own respective interests, should begin among ourselves in the present desperate efforts of our slave-holding rebels to inaugurate the despotic principle here, and enlist in their behalf the sympathies, prejudices and interests of nearly all the aristocrats of Europe. Our rebellion necessarily makes common cause with aristocrats everywhere; and should it continue long enough, it may yet marshal, face to face, the great forces of Liberty and hereditary Despotism in a final, decisive struggle.

MORAL GUARANTIES OF PEACE.-We are very glad to see influences at work in the right direction for the preservation of a good understanding between ourselves and England. Among the most hopeful of these are the contributions of our merchants, especially in the city of New York, to send provisions to the sufferers in Lancashire, and the Address of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society to the people of England respecting President Lincoln's Proclamation of Freedom, and similar indications there of juster views touching the great rebellion still raging in our land for the support and perpetuation of slavery. God grant that good men the world over may soon see eye to eye on a question that we deem so vital to the future permanent peace of this country and this continent, if not of all Christendom.

THE SELFISHNESS OF NATIONS.-We talk of their friendship; but what does it mean? The hope of gaining thereby their own selfish ends. Their entire course is often, if not generally, a sad, humiliating commentary on human depravity. How little is there of principle or conscience, of generosity or real honesty! What a ceaseless struggle to get advantage of each other! There may be a show of fairness and friendship; but how commonly, if not always, does selfishness lie at the bottom of it all! Self-interest decides everything; and on both sides is it a constant stretch of effort to outwit each other by any safe means in their power.

It will be long before any really Christian principle can be expected to rule even the nations of Christendom. It will require a different education of her people, and a different standard of morals among her rulers. Nearly her whole code of international morality is rotten to the very core. It is, for the most part, a palpable and utter contradiction of the Gospel she professes. The attention of the Christian world is scarcely awaked as yet to this great theme; and hence, in no small degree, the slow and difficult progress made in the cause of Peace.

BARBARITIES IN CHINA.-The capture of the Imperialists of the city of Nanking, after a stubborn resistance on the part of the rebels for many months, was attended by horrible atrocities. As far as we can gather from the scanty intelligence forwarded, it would appear that the city was impregnable to the attack of the beseiging force, and so they resolved to starve the rebel horde within the walls into submission. This had its usual effect, where the beseiged are determined to resist; and the horrors of famine raged within the devoted city, until it merged into cannibalism of the most frightful description. After every catty of ordinary food was consumed, and the most loathsome animals devoured, they resorted to eating human flesh, which was vended at eighty cash per catty, or about four pence per pound. It is reported, also, that three regiments or separate bands of the rebels gave themselves up as prisoners of war, under the impression that their lives would be spared; but they were slaughtered to a man, and their bodies thrown into the river. These were seen in hundreds floating down the stream, by those on board the steamers and several sailing vessels.

BIG GUNS.-The Fort Pitt works are turning out immense fifteen-inch guns now at the rate of three a week. These guns weigh each in the rough about 70,000 pounds; and, apart from the difficulty of casting, the labor of handing, turning and finishing such a mass of metal must be immense. There are four of these guns now in the lathes, and by the time these are out, others will be ready to take their place. It is the intention to turn out three a week, we believe, for the balance of the year. These guns are intended for the new "Monitors," and are the most formidable of their character in the world. Arrangements are now in progress for casting a twenty-inch gun. This latter gun will throw a ball of one thousand pounds, and is expected to have a range of four miles.-Pittsburg (Pa. Chron.)

INCREASE OF THE BRITISH NAVY.-The English Government has at present in course of construction no fewer than 50 iron-plated ships of war, of various dimensions, from 50 guns to 3; and 14 alone are 70,000 tonnage, carrying 500 Armstrong guns. All these vessels will soon be in a fit state for launching. Independently of these vessels, England has afloat nearly 700 ships of war.

PERIL OF FUTURE WARS.

One of the worst fears from our Rebellion has been an apprehension entertained immediately on its rise, that it would soon embroil us in difficulties with other countries, and perhaps kindle the fires of a general war. Their interests are so interlinked at the present day, that it is well nigh impossible to avoid entirely such hazards. The spirit of war once started, is very like a fire kindled in autumn on a western prairie. It is a species of wild-fire from hell, a huge Pandora's box of evil to the world. Never did Milton, pregnant as his mind was with great and glorious truths, utter a truer warning than when, in his sonnet to Gen. Fairfax, he said,

"What can war but endless war still breed?"

These views are forced upon us anew by seeing at every turn how prejudice, passion, and conflicting interests threaten to embitter more and more the feelings of England and America against each other. This new year opens with a specimen that seems to us fraught with we know not how much mischief in prospect :—

"At a meeting of the N. Y. Chamber of Commerce, a letter was read from Mr. Dudley, our Consul at Liverpool, stating that there are now four large vessels fitting out at Liverpool to follow the piratical example of the Alabama, three of iron and one of wood. Nine vessels are preparing to run the blockade. Mr. A. A. Low submitted a lengthy preamble setting forth the doings of the Alabama, and the course of the British Government in relation to her, ending with the following conclusions and resolutions, all of which were unanimously adopted:

1st. That through the active instrumentality of the subjects of Great Britain, the so-called Confederate States are furnished with ships, men, arms and ammunition, with which to war upon the commerce of the United States.

2d. That, without such foreign aid, the States in revolt against the Government of the United States would be powerless to effect any injury to our commerce on the high seas.

3d That this war upon American commerce, carried on by ships built and manned in Great Britain, is not rebuked by the British press generally, is not discouraged by the public sentiment of a once friendly nation, claiming to be governed by high and honorable principles, and is not effectively and thoroughly arrested by the strong will and stronger arm of the British Government.

4th. That as a result of the foregoing acts and conclusions, the merchants of the United States are subjected in a certain degree to the evils that would attend a state of war with great Britain, and are compelled to witness the carrying trade of their country transferred from their own vessels to British bottoms, under all the sanctions and advantages of peace and neutrality to the latter, while the source of this great peril, threatening to drive American commerce from the ocean, is of British origin.

Now, therefore, resolved, that a committee of ten be appointed (which was done) to take into consideration the foregoing, and to report at a special meeting to be called for the purpose, what action it becomes the Chamber to take in the premises."

Here is only a specimen. The moral and political atmosphere is becoming more and more impregnated with combustible elements which it will

« PreviousContinue »