The Virginian

Good News, for the Government!

The last N. Y. American has a brief article on the "National Resources," which exhibits a very interesting fact. In the annual report of the Secretary of the Treasury, of the 10th Dec. he estimates the receipts for the present year at $16,110,000 -of which the duties were to yield $10,000,000, leaving the residue to come from other sources.—Even upon this basis, he calculates the receipts to exceed the expenses by $1,162,338. Now, the American informs us, on an authority on which he implicitly relies, that the duties on goods imported into the port of N. Y. alone for the last quarter of 1821, the 2 first of 1822, and the 3d of 1822 by estimate, amount to $10,125,678—independent too of the tonnage duties which will amount to 3 or $400,000. Thus it appears that "the amount received and receivable at the single port of N. Y. falls short of the contemplated estimate for customs in all the ports of the U.S. only by $3,874,322--and of the whole established expense of the government only $4,821,983"--And as in 1820. the receipts at N. Y. were about 5-12ths of those of all the ports ; and last year, a little more than half, then it follows that in this proportion from this source of the cubic revenue alone, it will exceed the estimated expense by more than 6 millions.

This is excellent news. at least for the government. Money is not only the sinew of war, but of the preparations for it. Let the revenue go on at this rate, it will not only contribute to lay up a fund to meet the instalments of the public debt. but we shall possess the means of perfecting those institutions which are so intimately connected with the best defence of the country. We may lay in arms and ammunition -timber and materials for our navy-go on and build shells of ships-increase our fortifications-preserve our army, if not add to it, particularly the officers, and cherish our military academy. It will be in our power to carry into effect the wise and energetic system, recommended during the last session by Mr. Monroe. in his Message on fortifications. A system, which the experience of the last war so powerfully recommends.--Meanwhile, though our revenue may thus relieve our embarrassments, it is our duty to avoid all waste and extravagance—to bring all salaries to their proper rate-to watch over all contracts-to investigate all charges or even the slightest suspicions of frauds--to scan all the public disbursements critically-to hunt up all public delinquencies-and to compel all the public leeches to disgorge their ill-gotten plunder. We look to the next session of Congress to institute the most searching investigations--to erect new barriers against abuse—to cleanse the Augean stable, and not be lulled into an inglorious apathy by any cheering sunshine of financial prosperity.

[Richmond Enq.