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WR1Trncs OF SAM HousToN, 1822-184,l
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The deep and general interest which was felt by the people of the United States at its commencement, the extraordinary character of some subjects which devolved on the House of Representatives, were calculated to excite in the community a peculia1: degree of solicitude. Under these circumstances it became me, as your representative, to pursue that course which I thought best calculated to promote your interests, when con- nected with the prosperity and happiness of our common coun- try. These interests are various and important, as might be expected in a government so extensive as ours, whose political and commercial regulations embrace the civilized world. Since the treaty of Ghent our intercourse with foreign nations has been amicable, and we may indulge the pleasing anticipation that such will be our happy condition for· years to come. The aspect of our internal concerns, under all the disasters entailed upon by the late war, now present a most pleasing character. The state of our national finances exhibit to us the most satisfactory evidence of regaining our former prosperity, so far as money can conduce to that end. The Secretary of the Treasury, in his annual report, has given a very lucid and satisfactory view of the receipts and expendi- tures for the years 1823 and '24, with a probable estimate of the year 1825; from which it will be seen that the receipts for the year 1823, including the balance remaining in the Treasury at the commencement of the year, amounted to the sum of $24,778,093.81 that the expenditures of the same year amounted to $15,314,171.00; that the receipts for the year 1824, including the unappropriated balance of the preceding year, on the 1st of January thereof, amounted in the aggregate, to $36,444,816.77; the expenditures of the same year amounted to $31,938,341.87, leaving in the Treasury a balance of $4,506,669.61 unappropri- ated. In his estimate for the year 1825, after paying the current expenses of that year, together with the sum of ten millions applicable to the reduction of the national debt, he presents the then probably balance at $2,725,863.36, which will be subject to appropriation to internal objects, in such manner as Congress shall think most expedient. A reasonable calculation authorizes the belief that in the space of ten years from this time, the national debt will be wholly paid; leaving at least three millions of an annual surplus, after paying that proportion of the debt, together with the ordinary disbursements of the government.
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