THE AVERAGE WEALTH TO EACH INDIVIDUAL. 1. New York......$1,483.27 | 14. Missouri. 1,140.15 18. Michigan 6. Pennsylvania.. 1,081.31 19. Iowa.. 7. New Jersey. 8. Ohio.... 9. Illinois 10. Maryland 11. New Hampshire, 12. Delaware 13. Indiana....---- 1,038.49 20. Oregon 838.73 21. Nebraska. $746-48 26. Louisiana. $444.51 431.32 395.89 665.90 29. Virginia.. 334.31 607.41 30. Arkansas 322.81 601.03 31. South Carolina. 294.99 FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE STATES OF THE UNION. Town, County, Receipts from Taxes Expenditures. | Year ended. and City Debt. and Investments. Illinois 2.539.891 884,731,999 2,060,151 none *37,300,932 4,049,543 3,762,328 Nov. 30, 1872 Indiana 1,680,637 654,519,0161 176,890 none *3,651,203 2,191,529 2,399,276 Oct. 31, 1872 Iowa 1,194,020 366,076,206 300,000 none *7,508,635 1,154,993 1,182,340 Oct. 31, 1873 958,538 963,728 Nov. 30, 1872 none *15,061,004 2,016,494 2,029,718 Oct. 10, 1873 21,801,800 2,291,608 *28,065,707 4,312,034 4,371,429 Dec. 31, 1872 Maine 6:26.915 224,552,406 6,186,100 none *8,556,724 1,334,860 1,147,544 Dec. 31, 1872 Maryland. 780.894 419.323,067 10,911,679 none *15,715,102 1,876.369 2,350,654 Sept. 30, 1872 Massachusetts. 1,457,351 1,696,599,969 25,876,104 none *40,940,657 5,661,295 5,465,882 Dec. 31. 1872 2,515,556 New York. 4,382,759 2,129,626,386) 32,392,101 none 188,373,280 18,569,403 13,926,875 1,632,171 876,181 Nov. 30, 1872 Dec. 31, 1872 1,596,829 3,526,113 Dec. 31, 1872 369,808 Dec. 31, 1872 392,361 Dec. 31, 1872 779,803 May 31, 1873 Sept 30, 1873 Sept 30, 1872 Oct. 31, 1872 North Carolina. 1,071,361 123,507.628 29.900,045 7.813,898 *2,573,991 700,477 801,809 Sept. 30, 1872 Ohio.. 2,665.260 1,524,323,118 8,583.546 17,559,498 4,607,798 Oregon 90,923 34,744,460 290.477 76,884 *111,903 337,316 4,411,952 384,987 Nov. 15, 1872 Sept. 9, 1872 Pennsylvania. 3,521,951 1.313,236.042 27,303,495 none *57,915,469 7,048,637 4,666,702 2.638,500 none *3,025,142 700,133 634.501 183,913,337 15,851,627 5,306,398 *5,409,320 1,658,083 1,655,601 Tennessee.......... 1,258,520 272.674,352] 20,966.382 5,200,000 *10,285,389 1,938,330 Texas 818,579 222.504,073| 1,166,832 644,745 *1,105,266 1,105,710 1,105,641 Nov. 30, 1872 July 30, 1873 1,074,064 Dec. 31, 1872 Aug. 31, 1872 Vermont 230.551 102,366,300 380,000 none *2,592,200 627,490 348,075 July 31, 1872 Virginia. 1,225,163 365,437,708 30,478,741 West Virginia. 442,014 132,356,703 15,239,371 1,289,405 644,703 *8,530,416 2,421,945 2,761,310 Sept. 30, 1873 *561,767 Wisconsin. 1,051,670 390,454,875 18,157 8,880,029 Total. 38.115,641 $15,762,006.108 $318,670,718 $26,893,053 $586,131,743 $86.598,187 $77,786,566 CHAPTER XVI. WAR DEPARTMENT. Men, unfortunately, have never been able to so arrange their mutual relations as to dispense with violent and deadly contests. Although they are less frequent and shorter now than formerly, they are more costly and more destructive, and every nation is still, as formerly, obliged to anticipate the possibility of war and to make provision for its sudden occurrence, that it may not be borne down and overwhelmed by the first shock. It is an event so probable, even, and especially if the country should be in a defenseless state, that it has become a maxim of prudence with statesmen to avoid war by being prepared for it. The nation that can best repel an attack is least likely to be attacked. Most goverments, like our own, had their birth and early history in the confusion and devastation of that great destroyer of life and property; and it is natural that the first leisure of peace should be occupied in preparing themselves, in the most effective manner possible, for both defensive and offensive operations in case of its return. The Constitution contemplates the existence of an army and navy for warlike purposes, and makes the President Commander-in-chief of both. The first Congress assembled under the Constitution hastened, in its first session, to provide him an army and navy to command by organizing the Department of War. At its head was placed the Secretary of War, and so necessary was it deemed to the dignity and security of the nation that he was made one of the principal officers of the government, having a seat in the cabinet and being regarded as one of the advisers of the Chief Magistrate. He is appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate. A Chief Clerk, to be appointed by the Secretary, was provided for by the act of 1789 creating the Department, who was the second authority in it, and acted as Secretary, in case of a vacancy; but when the Civil War raised this Department to great prominence, in 1861, a law was passed authorizing the appointment of an Assistant Secretary, and. in 1863, two additional Assistant Secretaries were provided for by law; all to be appointed by the President. This last measure was temporary only, designed to expire when returning peace should reduce the Department to its ordinary condition. At first the affairs of the national navy were managed by the Secretary of War. This was changed, as we shall see, when our commerce and foreign relations became more important. The Secretary of War ranks next to the President in military authority and dignity, and has the whole oversight, under him, of the army and its affairs. He makes out military commissions to be signed by the President, has the care of providing for the support, clothing, pay, and equipment of the army, and of all military stores required to keep the army in efficient drill, and in readiness against a possible war. He has the care of all books, records, and papers relating to the army and to military affairs. The names, grades, time of enlistment, term of service, and time of mustering out of all officers and privates in the army, whether in the regular or volunteer service, are to be found in his office. All military accounts are kept and adjusted under his supervision. These cares and duties have become so numerous and important as to require a careful organization of the Department into sub-departments, or bureaus, as the Commissary's, the Quartermaster's, and the Ordnance bureaus. The general management of the whole depending on the Secretary of War, he evidently requires to be a man of judgment, thoroughly versed in military affairs, and of eminent organizing ability. A Solicitor, to have charge of the legal business of this Department, was provided for by law in 1863, to be appointed by the President and the Senate. SECRETARIES OF WAR. Henry Knox, Mass., Sept. 12, 1789. William H. Crawford, Ga., March 2, 1815 |