To James Madison from Alexander J. Dallas, 15 April 1815
From Alexander J. Dallas
Department of War, 15th. April, 1815.
Sir,
I have the honor to inclose to you a statement, specifying the appropriations for the expenditures in this department, in the years 1814 and 1815, including the balances of appropriations on the 31st. of December, 1813: the amount actually expended from the 1st. of January, 1814, to the 10th. of March, 1815; the unexpended amount of the appropriations; and the amount for which warrants have been drawn, but are not paid, beyond the appropriations for particular branches of expenditure.
From this statement it will appear, that the existing deficit of appropriations, amounts to 1,000,977. 9/100 dollars, on the following branches of expenditure:
From this statement it also appears, that there are unexpended balances of appropriations for other branches of expenditure, a portion of which may be applied to make up the deficit above stated, and to provide more effectually for those branches of expenditure, on which the deficit arises:
Upon this view of the subject, I have the honor to apply to you for your direction, if in your opinion it is necessary for the public service, (as I respectfully suggest it to be) that the above portions of the monies appropriated for the specified branches of expenditure, and constituting the aggregate amount of 1,200,000 dollars, be respectively applied to the other branches of expenditure, on which the above stated deficit arises, 1st. to supply the amount of such deficit; and 2d. to provide more effectually for the subsistence and Quarter master’s branches, according to the provisions of the act of Congress of the 3d. of March, 1809. I have the honor to be, most respectfully, Sir, Your obedt. humble servt.
A. J. Dallas.
RC (PHi: George Mifflin Dallas Papers). In a clerk’s hand, signed by Dallas.