ix

tional provision, and were, no doubt, animated by a desire
to make ample provision for ..any state of circumstances that
might arise in the critical and disturbed state of the country.

Hence the measures they took, in the increase of the direct
tax and in authorizing a loan, were wise and proper precau-
tions at the time, and none the less so, that under a more
fortunate condition of things since than they could at that
time calculate upon, these measures have been found unne-
cessary. They probably would not have met public expec-
tation by doing less than they did, and would have incurred
censure if untoward events subsequently had overtaken
us. They performed their duty at the time, but the aspect
of things now is very different and the people may be re-
lieved.

A careful examination of the receipts and disbursements
for the past fiscal year will show that if there had not been
paid into the Treasury, one dollar from direct taxes, either of
those of the year, or arrearages, or from tax on Commissions
of Executors and Administrators, or from Collateral Inheri-
tances, or from Trustees and Receivers, there would have
been enough received from other sources of revenue to have
met all the demands for ordinary purposes, and a surplus for
the year have been on hand. A similar result was reached
the preceding year, when the receipts from the "Maryland
Defence Loan " are considered on the one side, and the pay-
ment of the War Tax and arrearages on the other,
Thus, for the last year, there was received

from Direct Taxes from Collectors, - $710,111 54
A.nd from Direct Tax on Incorporated In-

stitutions, ------ 33,571,47

And from Direct' Tax on State and other

Stocks, - - - - - - 41,147 05

Making the sum received from these sources,, $784,830 06

A.nd from Tax on Commissions of Executors

and Administrators, - 36,756 50

And from Tax on Collateral Inheritances, &c. 24,205 04

And from Tax on Trustees and Receivers, 5,684 19