The constitutionalist — Exeter, N.H., 1810-07-16 00:00:00, page 1

ITHE CONSTITUTIONALIST.
siscdlanp.
out any of the " more or less" that ap
peared in official style, as economical
knowledge, strutting by wholesale,
when secretary Dearborn was enjoy
ing a salary of 4,500 dollars per an
num, and could displace persons of ex
perienced competence, that the family
establishment might flourish ? Take it
then, precisely as set down in the state
ment, from the treasury department!
The sum is 53,573 dollars and 9 cents.
So much was actually expended in re
lation to the palace, from the 29th of
March 1803 to the 30th of June 1808.
according to accounts rendered and
settled at the treasury department.
The balance of monies, advanced from
the treasury, and remaining to be ac
counted for by the superintendant of
the city of Washington; on the 30th of
June 1808, according to statement
(No. 2.) was 49,107 dollars and 58
cents, neither mote nor less. It does
not appear from any of the documents,
how much of that balance was then
considered specifically reserved for ac
count of the palace.
Although the public information,
therefore, is not so complete as might
be desired, yet, with the data now be
fore us, some estimate may be formed
of the public expenditures relative to
the Presidential establishment, for'the
two administrations of eight years.
The comparison is interesting, especi
ally if there be aquestion, whether the
affectation of economy can be used as
a political cloak for extravagance ?
Expenditures in relation to the Presi
dency of General Washington
Salary — say for 8 years
from March 1789 to March
1797 —computed at 25,000
dollars per annum $200,000
Charge —for accommoda
tion of household—say,with
in first period of 4 years 14,000
Expences —on ^count of
bouse and relative accommo
dations at seat of govern
ment—as deducted from pres
ident's salary, and not charg
ed to public treasury — 00,000
Amount in relation to Presi
dency of General Washington 214,000
* —% :
Expenditures in the relation to Presi
dency of Mr. Jefferson
Salary —ln 8 y^ars.from
March 1801 to March 1809
-—computed at 25,000 dol- .
lars per annum 200,000
Charge--for ac
commutation of
household, with
reference to the j
period of 4 years
commencing the 4th
March, 1801,
propriation 0f,15,000
liv Q^t OAbL
Have you examined the abstracts of
monies expended on account of the
President's house, as officially called
forth by the committee? Although they
may be thought, perhaps, to betoken
curious and cunning matters, relative
to the management of public monies,
let the subject be fairly considered !
The items, it is true, are not the same
as have been, seen in consul General
Lear's accounts, which'are so notori
ous for multiplicity and enormity of
charges against the United States. Its
items for making and repairing pumps
and pump boxes—clearing out the well
—repairing the ceiling—repairing cor
, nices, &6.—white washing and repair
ing plaistering—new water pipes and
repairs to offices —putting up one grate
and taking down another—small jobs
-—levelling and dressing ground in the
" President's garden, manure for the
President's square—manuring, sowing,
grass, &c.—clover seed—the specific
sum of 2,850 dollars and 14 cents
in one item for digging earth and cart
ing—such charges appear to have
been paid from the treasury of the
United States, on account of the Pres-
Vident's house. According to the offi.
cial statement (No. 2.) the whole of
, the expenditures, placed under the
head of the President's house in the
course of about five years and three
months, amounted to more than fifty
tight thousand dollars. Do you choose
to know the amount distinctly, with-
Science of draining money from the
TREASURY.
From the Connecticut Mirror.
Vol. I.]
, AGAINST THE INSIDIOUS WILES OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE, THE JEALOUSY OF A FREE PEOPLE, OUGHT TO BE CONSTANTLY AWAKE ........Washington.
but to allow for any possi
ble error, and that the esti
mate may not be overcharg
ed, set down for the whole,
no more than 61 000
Amount in relation to Presi
dency 'of Mr. Jefferson. $290,000
The difference between the sums
paid during the Presidency of pen.
Washington, and that of Mr. Jeffer
son, is 76,000 dollars for eight years.
A general increase of public expense
on account of the Presidential estab
lishment, to such an extent, was prob
ably not expected by the body of per.
sons, who applauded the inaugural
speech made by President Jefferson,
io March, 1801. Apportioning 76,000
dollars for eight years, the average is
9,500 dollars annually —a sum con
siderably more than sufficient to defray
the salaries of the Governor and Lieu,
tenant Governor, the Secretary and
Treasurer, and Comptroller of ac
counts, for the State of Connecticut,
together with allowances for their clerk
hire, and other expenses of office.
So characteristic is the difference
between the Presidency of Gen. Wash
ington, and the Presidency of Mr. Jef
ferson, with respect to public monies,
in cases more immediately interesting
ty themselves...
Science of draining money from the
treasury —Progression in the contin
gent expenses of the two Houses of
Congress. In the first session of the
third Congress, commencing the second
of December 1793, there was appro
priated for expenses of firewood, sta
tionary, printing work, and all contin
gent expences of the two Houses of
Congress, the sum of ten thousand
dollars. The whole number of mem
bers, at that time in both Houses, was
one hundred andeight. Theamount,
divided by the whole number of mem
bers, is, per head, seventy two dollars
and forty-six cents. * - ^ I
of April 1800,
sales of property
belonging to the
household of Pres,
ident Adams, by
act of 3d of March
1801—for estima
ted value of the
whole—say 15,000
Charge —for ac
commodation of
household with re
ference to the peri
od of 4 years com
mencing March 4,
1805, appropria-/
tion 14,000 with
sales of decayed
furniture and e
quipage, by an act
of 3d March, 1805
—for the whole,
say 14,000
Expences —oil
account of house
and relative accom
modations at seat
of government—-
charged to public
treasury-estimate,
charged from 29th
March 1803 to
31st Dec. 1808, as,
per official state
ment (No. 2.) 32,865 90
appropriated by
act of 3d March
1807, as per state
ment of appropri
ations 15,000
appropriated by
act of 25th April
1808, as per state
ment of appropri
ations 14,000
$61,865 90
—or estimate otherwise— $229,000
charged from March N
29 1803 to 30th
June 1808, as per
official statement
(No. 2.) 58,573 09
Balance of mon
ies advanced to the *
superintendant be- ,„
ing 49,107 59---100
on the3oth of June
1808—for propor
tion on account of
palace—say only
one tenth part 4 910
: $63,483 09
EXETER, (N.H.) MONDAY, JULY 16, 1810.
For the contingent expences of both
Houses of Congress, for the second
session of the eleventh Congress, com
mencing the 27th of Nov. 1809, there
have been appropriated, thirty-four
thousand dollars. The whole num
ber of members is one hundred seven
ty-six ; and the amount, per hyad, is
one hundred and ninety-three dollars,
and eighteen cents.
- Contingent expences per head—
-Ist session 3d Congress $72 46
Ist session Bth Congress 159 09
2d session 11th Congress 193 18
Is this the astonishing reduction of
national expense, and saving the peo
ple's money, that was to be brought
about by the political reform and econ
omy that were promised under Mr.
Jefferson ? Was it for such augmenta
tions of public expenditure, that all the
mouths of labour, male and female, old
and young, were palled upon to cele
brate festivals, and sing "Jefferson
and Liberty ?" [Conn. Mirror.
The Times. l —The despatches brought
by the John Adams are now published,
& are in the hands of the people. It is
certainly too serious a time with our
country, to indulge in a spirit of levi
ty or trifling; but wedo feel ourselves
at liberty to ask questions.
And as a natural and fair beginning,
we should be glad to be informed why
it is, that our country is in such a
state of disgraceful embarrassment
and degradation A There was a time,
when General U ashington (a Fede
ralist) aided by Federalists in his coun
cils, and in Congress, had the charge of
our government, and yet things at that
time were not so. Why are they so
now ? Mr. Jefferson took the adminis,
tration, when the revenue was ample,
and growing every day more full and
flourishing, when we had no foreign
disputes which required any extraordi
nary skill to manage; he had no ex
traordinary call for expenses during
his eight years presidency—and yet,
we have done nothing but plunge into*
difficulty and disgrace, ever since he
was elected. Why is it that our rev
enue is lost ? Why is it that our treas
ury is empty, and we expect to live by
borrowing ? Why is it that we cannot
adjust our disputes with Great-Britain,
and rid our trade of the shackles which
those disputes bring upon it ?—Why
is it, that after humbling ourselves in
the dust before France for years, and
meanly cringing at the frown of a base
born tyrant, we are now told by the
Administration papers, that we have
no other prospect, after all, than a
war with that overgrown, and over
bearing power ?
These questions are not only addres
sed to Mr/Jefferson, and Mr. Madi
son, and Robert Smith, and Albert
Gallatin, and William B. Giles, &c. &c.
but to their friends and supporters
throughout the country. The people
who elect such men, will eventually
have to answer them. The plea that
Qiey have been deluded, which is the
most favourable that can be made,
comes with a miserable grace. They
have no excuse for being deluded.
The body of inhabitants in the United
States have intelligence enough, if they
would take the,trouble to avail them
selves of it, to see through the wretch
ed' hypocritical professions of such
men as have governed them for nine
years past. They know, or ought to
know, that Thomas Jefferson never
had any claim to the character of a
Statesman or a Patriot.
It is true, Mr. Samuel Harrison
Smith, or some greater man.in his name*
has the assurance to say, that our em
barrassments are owing to the Federal
ists. Nothing but meanness and de
pravity, could induce any man to make
this charge —it is mean to the last de
gree, because the Fedralists have been
both in Congress, and at home, but a
small minority ; and of course, could
not have^ regulated any portion of pub
lic business, unless by the exercise of
eminent talents. It springs from de
For the contingent expences of the
two Houses of Congress, for the first
session of the eighth Congress, com
mencing the 17th of October 1803,
exclusive of the expense of printing the
President's message of the 23d of De
cember 1802, there was appropriated
the sum of twenty-eight thousand dol
lars. Id that Congress, the whole
number of members in both Houses,
was one hundred and seventy-six, and
the'amount, divided as before is, pen
head, one hundred and fifty-nine dol
lars and nine cents.
Shall the ghosts of our fathers indignant
arise,
And behold thee the Corsican plunderer's
prize?
Shall they see their posterity yielding the
waves,
And begging the pitiful safety of slaves;
And tempting the insolent ravager's hand,
Wlien their Commerce is gone, to sequester
, their Land?
Shall the Comet ofEurope, whose dread
ful advance,
Shakes the Cowards of Earth with the ague
of France,
Approaches to sweep with its pestilent train,
Our SYSTEM th ruin with Holland and Spain—
While o'er the sad wreck of our Patriots' toil,
The demons of Anarchy horribly smile ?
Shall the Federal Fabric—the noblest
of time,,
Fall crush'd by th^ Vandals of rapine and
crime,
And„ale with affright, a degenerate race
Sink nerveless and torpid in chains of dis
grace—
Shall the Orb “Supereminent" roll from
afar,
And baleful, eclipse Independency's Star ?
Shall the turbulent fiends whose abode is
the storm,
Efface from remembrance great WASHING"
<ton's form[
No selfish allurements of wealth or of pride,
No base, sordid aim, urg'd the efforts we
try'd;
For our soul's dearest treasure tin jeopardy
view'd,
Our fields and our cities in gore were imbru'd,
Independence !—Alas, have we seen thee
in vain,
And wasted the blood of thy votaries slain !
us deeper in difficulty. This is exact
ly according to the nature of things ;
and our Administration have a fair op
portunity, if they are disposed to im
prove it, of learning this valuable les
son— That a hypocritical and coward
ly policy, adopted from sinister and
pravity, because it is false, and Mr.
Smith knew it to be so, when he wrote,
or if he pleases published, the charge
alluded to. The Federalists have in
cessantly raised their warning voices
against the measures of the last nine
years, which have landed us where we
are. Ngt only so, but no one material
measure of this period, has originated
with them ; and at the same time, they
have uniform!, reprobated all meas
ures of cowardly policy, and support
ed all attempts to raise the spirit of the
nation, and to place the country in a
state of defence;
Would not the Administration, if
bent on the real good of the country,
Change their course, and as far as pos
sible regain the ground they have lost?
They now see the pernicious conse
quences of their folly and perverseness.
To say nothing of their policy towards
Great-Britain, that manifested towards
France, is full of instruction. With
France they have been disposed to fra
ternize as far as porabde. Their great
measures have been calculated to sub
serve French views andQfyccts.
For some reason or other, " his
majesty," after having, in violation of
the subsisting convention between us
and France, and of all faith, law, and
justice, plundered our merchants, de
stroyed our vessels, and captured and
imprisoned our seamen, has suddenly
changed his tone, and demands new
and more extravagant sacrifices on the
pagt of our government sacrifices
whichthey dare not and cannot make,
without yielding^ once the indepen
dence of the nation.
The leaders of the ruling party, are
challenged into the field, one and all,
to vindicate their measures, which have
brought us into such a miserable pre
dicament. Surely, if they possess the
skill and integrity which they claim,
they not only might have avoided the
mischief, but they ought to extricate
us from it. Instead of which, every
month that passes over our heads, sinks
WHEN the Genius of Freedom her chil-
dren invites,t
To unite in enjoyment of social delights,
And hails the blest day of our national birth,
What churl will refuse to devote it to mirth-
While the bliss of our heart-strings from
feelings refin'd?
For the Conquest we boast—was the triumph
of Mind.
base motives pursued without system,
and without regard to the interests
or honour of the nation, will land its
authors and abettors in disgrace and
ruin.
[Composed for the 34th anniversary of A
merican Independence.]
Written by J. Lathrop, jam Esq. and sung
in Fanuiel-Hall, Boston.
American Independence.
SONG—
On entering the Hall in the centre of
the western end the spectator's view wa&
attracted by a noble monument on a pe
destal, and surmounted by a cone, ore
the top of which, the American Eagle
was beautifully portrayed. On this part
of the structure, three scrolls were
gracefully appended, inscribed with
the words Independence—Consti
tution —Washington.—The space
below, was a Tablet, headed " The
4th of July, 1776," on which the
following strikingly appropriate in
scription was written :—
He that outlivd that!)ay,and came safe bacl=
From those sharp conflicts -which the same as=
r sured,
Shall stand on tip-toe -when that day is named,
And rouse him at the sound of Independence.
They -who liv'd thro' those times, and see old
age,"
Shall yearly feast among their countrymen;
And some shall strip their sleeves, andjheia
their set."
Familiar in our mouths as household -words,
Shall be the names ^Washington and Warren^
Hancock and Adams, Hamilton and Greene^
Knox, Franklin, Lincoln, and full many more„
Shall in our flowing cups be fresh remembered-
Our Independence then shall ne?er go by,
From this Day to the Ending oftWVForld,
But its First Founders we will commemorate.
The pedestal, on which this elegant
fabric arose, was adbrned with milita
ry and naval trophies, in the centre of.
which, a shield, bearing the word
"Union," was most appositely con
spicuous. On each side of thir central
decoration, arose pillars commemora
tive of heroes and worthies, who assist
ted in gaining our Independence, or iu
asserting it to the latest period of their
lives. On the right, a naval column
arose to the height of 30 feet— On thi^
were inscribed the names of ISRAEL;
FANUIEL HALL,
The " Cradle of American Independ
ence," was on this Occasion most
superbly decorated, not with empty
shew and unmeaning glitter, but with
ornaments designed by patriotism and
executed by Taste. Every object that
was presented to the eye, was calcu
lated to affect the heart and to inspire
those exalted sentiments that dignify
the human character, and consecrate a
national jubilee to the noblest of pur
poses. Here we beheld upwards of
600 disciples of Washington, assem
bled in honor of an event which has no
parallel in the history of Man. Thi^
assertion is not too bold to be true—
We trust in God, that its consequences
will not degrade it to the rank of com
mon revolutions —May the spirit of
our fathers enable us to preserve our
freedom with vestal purity, and in
duration of existence commensurate
with the period of time.
To render justice to the decorations
ofFanuiel-Hall, powers of description
to which we feel inadequate, are ne
cessary—The hope, however that a
humble attempt to sketch the most:
prominent parts of the elegant and
interesting scene will afford-some grat
ification to such of our readers as had
not an opportunity to witness the bril
liant spectacle.
And, dastardly fear drive our guardians of
state, ' 4
To own Gallia's master the despot of Fate 2
Is the spirit of Ames doom'd no more to re
turn,
And will hope sleep forever in Hamilton's
urn?
No ? the heart of each husband, each
brother and sire,
Feels the potent effect of electrical fire—
Our breasts heave with passions no tyrant
can tame,
And our Millions are glowing with Lib
erty's flame—
For Freedom's rich blessings we'lt-
FIGHT LIKE OUR SIRES,
Or LIGHT WITH OUR Charter, OUR FU~
nerJA pyres!
On her insular throne, in the midst of the
waves,
Our ancestor Britain her enemies braves—
With bosom undaunted by numbers, she
knows
That the love of her sons, is the death of her
foes.
So the deep-rooted rock, which no storms
can displace,
Defies the rude billows that break on to
base.
While the bright e^e of Liberty beams'
thro' the tear,
Whose twin, valiant Lincoln, she dropp'd,
on thy bier,
Our souls catch the ardor that glow'd in th,
breast,'
When thy sword burst its sheath for thy
country distrest—
May the glass that we quaff in this moment
of glee,
Be a pledge to live brave, independ
ent, AND FREE.
The following description of the
elegant and appropriate decorations
of Fanuiel-Hall, is copied from the
Boston Gazette:—
[No. 9.