The Somerset Herald And Farmers' And Mechanics' Register

EXPENSES OF THE WAR

We have seen various estimates of the costs of the war, varying from thirty to one hundred millions of dollars. We have supposed that, if the war were to be closed to-morrow, the total cost would not fall much short of the latter sum; and this supposition is strengthened by a list of the appropriations made for war purposes, as given in Thursday's National Intelligencer.

The whole of these appropriations ($80,873,065) have been already expended within a few millions of dollars, and these will probably be absorbed by outstanding claims against Government. To this sum of nearly eighty-one millions is to be added the value of the bounty lands voted to soldiers, pensions granted, and the destruction or loss of individual property which will have to be paid for by Government. When all these items shall be added together, we feel pretty confident that the gross sum which will have been expended on account of the war will not fall short of one hundred millions of dollars. But should the war be continued another year or two, it cannot be at a cost of less than fifty millions of dollars per annum. These are some of the consequences of the annexation of Texas, and were predicted before that event occurred. But there are other results yet to follow. Texas owes a large debt, for which the government of that State was pledged, and for the payment of which certain revenues were assigned whilst yet an independent Power. These debts must be paid, but by whom? The creditors call on the Government of the United States for payment, and with justice and reason in favor of their claim. They insist that, as Government has appropriated to its own use the revenues which had been pledged by Texas for the payment of their claims, it should assume the debts also. We have no doubt that an act for that purpose will be passed; so that the country may look to be saddled with another large item on account of Texas. It would have been not only cheaper, but in many respects preferable, to have purchased out the claims of Mexico, not only to Texas but to New Mexico and the Californias. It would have cost less and have saved many valuable lives. Having, however, taken what we deem to have been a false step in the annexation of Texas, and thus plunged the nation into war, we must submit to the consequences with what grace we may.—Baltimore Clipper.