Mr. SHERMAN. Then there is the measurepresented by a prominent member of the HoRep, which, I hope, will not pass, and upon which I have a very clear judgment the proposition to assume a portion of the expenses of the States in raising men during the rebellion; the proposition generally known as Mr. Bituxns bill, and which, should it receive the sanction of Congress, would take, by its terms, $116,000,000. As I have seen but very little effort to pass that bill, I lay that aside as not aprobable burden upon the Treasury. Then there are classes of large private claims growing out of the war, many of which are being constantly pressed upon us, and which will take probably millions of dollars, but the precise amount ofwhich no man can estimate. he bill passed the other day for the relief of the contraetors for the iron clads, and the claims made by the States of Kentucky and Tennessee and the various border States for damages caused by the war, and claims for property used by the Army, are specimens of this class of claims, amounting, I might say, to fifties and 100s of millions. I take it the great body of these claims will he rejected upon the general principles of public law; and therefore, in estimating the probable burden on the Treasury, I do not put this item very large, especially as I see a disposition in Congress to criticise very accurately this class of claims. It therefore is very certain that in the most favorable aspect of affairs the public debt of the U.S. might fairly now be estimated at $3,000,000,000. [hat is the amount stated by the SecyTreasury in his annual report, and I think it is not overstated. With the strong probability of passing the bill for the equalization of bounties, it may be under stated; but I take it as a correct estimate. It will be observed that this debt is of the most diverse character. It consists, not only of the uuliquidated claims that I have specified, but the public debt which is ascertained is provided for by 27 different laws and as many as torty different forms of securi ties. The report on the finances, which was laid on your table at the commencement of the present session, contains a list of these various oans, coverin 6 or 7 pages. Under some of these Taws there are a great diversity of issues. For instance, under the 7 30 law there are 3 different series of notes, and under the five 20 law there are 5 different series, containing somewhat different provisions. The 7 thirties vary somewhat, although it is very difficult precisely to state the difference.