The attack upon the Agricultural College comes with bad grace from a member of a party which incorporated into the Constitution of the State, a provision requiring its erection. In reference to it, we can only say that it was undertaken as an experiment; and that having proven itself useful and successful, other States are now preparing to follow the example we have set them, by forming similar institutions. As to its cost, when compared with the difficulties to be overcome, it has been founded, put into operation, and achieved a reputation as a successful and useful educational institution, at a less expense than any other College of like capacities, extent and conveniences, in the world. แ The next position which we shall notice is relative to the comparative statement of the assessment of State taxes." Upon this head "the undersigned" very complacently says, such a comparison "can hardly be arrived at with any certainty and correctness," and the remark is a just one, as his previous abortive attempts at figuring have undoubtedly convinced the reader. The statement of the "report," that the State tax suddenly fell off from an annual average of $116,579, for the years 1848, 49, '50, '51, and '52, to only $10,000 in 1853, and was only $30,000 in 1854, making "only $40,000 taxation for two years," will undoubtedly excite some surprise on the part of those who have not given the subject a full examination. These figures alone would imply that the "Democratic" administration had suddenly so economized the expenses of our government that taxation would have been entirely done away with, if it could have been permitted to hold the reins another term. Aye, more. Another two years, with a like economical stride, there would have been a surplus of receipts, with no taxation whatever, to distribute among the people! But the truth is, the expenses of government were about the same as they were in previous years; and at the same time, our "State institutions" were suffered to decay for the want of necessary repairs. But where did the money come from to pay the expenses of government? The records furnish an answer to this question. The Trust Funds were resorted to, and expended. To overthrow the sophistry, the quibbling attempt to dodge the whole truth of the question by "the undersigned," we can do no better than to quote a few paragraphs from the majority report, as follows: Comparative Statement of State Tax, from 1:48 to 1857, inclusive-10 years. State tax, per year,.. 89,984 For the second period of three years: State tax per year,. $131,896,164 63,335 66 rate per cent., or mills per dollar, 14 mills. Average valuation for three years,.. rate per cent., or mills per dollar, 47-100 of a mill. During the first period of seven years, from 1848 to 1854, inclusive, the total valuation of property for the whole period, was. The total amount of State tax assessed,. $390,969,929 622,892 During the first three years of the present administration, the total assessed value of property in the State $395,688,492 190,065 was. Total amount of State tax, . : The average rate per cent., 47-100 of a mill. Showing an average annual tax of $25,529 less than during the former period; and that upon a valuation of $96,043,346 greater-being a difference of over one hundred per cent. in the rate of taxation in favor of the present administration. These facts and figures were equally accessable to the majority and minority, and had "the undersigned" really wished to make any comparisons, they might have been made as above, with the most absolute "certainty and correctness.' 22 Leaving the point of taxation, "the undersigned" turns his attention to the State debt, and sets up the absurd and grotesque plea that during the last seven years of its rule the Democratic administrations reduced the State debt a total of $254,012 62; that is to say, they had paid that amount of outstanding bonds, over and above all contingencies, and interest, making an absolute reduction of the debt to that amount. A cursory glance at the public records would seem to substantiate this statement; but a more close examination will establish its entire falsity. Instead of decreasing the State debt between the years 1847 and 1854, the State indebtedness was increased over half a million of dollars. However astonishing this fact may appear, it is beyond the power of successful contradiction. In 1854, Auditor General Swegles, in his report dated Nov. 30th of that year, gives as the total funded and fundable debt of the State the sum of.. .$2,531,545 70 Auditor General D. V. Bell, in his report dated Dec. 1st, 1847, gives as the "total debt of the State for which she is liable, without contingency,' Which figures show an actual increase of the State indebtedness, from 1847 to 1854, under Democratic administrations of. Add to this the sums appropriated for the use of the State from the Trust Funds up to that date,.. Thus making an increase of the general fund indebtedness in the last seven years of Democratic rule of............. Deduct from this for bonds surrendered and canceled in 1852, '53 and '54, . . . And we have as the actual increase of this class of debt, under these economical Democratic administrations, the sum of...... 2,290,768 51 $240,777 19 676,288 80 $917,065 99 254,012 62 $663,053 37 And yet, in the face and eyes of these plain and palpable figures, this "report" says, to which result of its financiering, "the Democratic party have a right to look with pride. Its pride is easily flattered in these days. These results, added to the developments relating to the absorption and expenditures of the Trust Funds, shown up in the former part of this article, certainly entitle the Democratic party to credit, if it is not flattering to their pride. 23 The attempt of "the undersigned" to give a "statement of the cash receipts and disbursements from Nov. 30th to Jan. 26th,” “is a singular one," indeed. His constant perversion of facts and the plainest figures; such unmitigated and wilful lying and deceit are tiresome, we know, to the reader, and for fear of wearing your patience, we shall be as brief as possible upon this point. The "report" says: "The statement of cash receipts and disbursements from November 30 to January 26, as furnished to the undersigned by the Deputy Treasurer, is a singular one--all expenditures, and hardly any receipts. By referring to the statement of the Treasurer as embodied in the majority report, we find the statement to stand thus: Expenditures, Excess of expenditures,. The "report" continues: "That a portion of the $117,105 73, which is claimed to have been expended since November 30, has been paid before the end of the fiscal year 1857, there is in the mind of the undersigned no room for doubt, and was probably kept out of the former account to make a good show at the end of the fiscal year.' Neither the report of the majority or the statement of the Treasurer claimed that any such sum had been expended as is here represented. Now look at the figures of "the undersigned." He says the amount expended from November 30 to January 26, was. $117,105 73 Actual amount expended, 29,157 46 Variation of "the undersigned" from facts,.. $88,048 27 The reader can place the proper estimate upon the intention of “the undersigned" in making this statement. But he proceeds: "How can it be otherwise, when the undersigned discovers among the disbursements during the short period of fifty-seven days, salaries for State officers, $8,000, vouchers for warrants, $8,000, redemption certificates, $5,000," &c. This wonder is easily accounted for by the fact that the salaries fall due, and these balances are always settled upon the 1st day of January; and hence could not be incorporated into a report made on the 30th of November preceding. The "report" continues: "As to the receipts since November 30, the undersigned is astonished at the smallness of the figures, the gross receipts being only $19,158 67, of which $12,000 were lately paid by the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad for specific taxes; leaving only $7,158 67 for nearly two months income from all other quarters. This looks almost like an improbability." Yes, and it is an improbability, as the sum of $12,000 had not been paid by the D. & M. R. R. for specific taxes. True, $10,000 had been deposited with the Treasurer, but no credit had been given on the books of the office, nor could it be done until the whole sum was paid. So instead of the current receipts having been only $7,157 67, they were just $19,158 67, to which add the specific tax mentioned and due, and the sum would have been 31,158 67, or over $2,000 more than the current expenses for the same period. Perhaps it is not improper to state, that while large drafts are annually made upon the Treasury in the months of January and February, for the payment of interest, expenses of the Legislature, salaries, &c., full one-half of the total receipts in the Treasury accrue in the months of March, April and May; thus, while the expenditures always show an excess during the winter months, the receipts always show an excess in the spring and fall months; thus is explained that marvelous and incomprehensible wonder, which seems to have so greatly exercised "the undersigned" in this particular. We have now fully met and refuted every charge of the "report" against the Republican party and the present administration-have, by a fair, honest and truthful exhibit of official and indisputable figures disproved every assertion of extravagance made therein-have by unimpeachable testimony convicted "the undersigned" of most wilful and unqualified perversion of facts and figures-have exhibited the unparalleled recklessness and extravagance of every position and assertion, and fully shown up the despicable and lying character of this pretended "report." The reader is already convinced of its utter want of candor, reliability, or even decency. Here, perhaps, it would be proper for us to close our review, but in justice to the Republican party, and in the hope that no reader is so bigoted as to refuse us a full hearing, we will venture to criticise, and enlarge somewhat upon the concluding portions of the "report," and such other facts as we may deem intimately connected therewith. Firstly, in this connection, we shall notice some of the frands cornmitted on the Treasury by this Democratic party |