Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-01-19

! What has been Mr.. Gallatin's con-
ldact during the present session OF
fCoagress Let his own report speak
for him gain:
Unless the aggregate of the expen-
/ ses for the kiktdry and naval estab.
I; is!tneatsssh5ula Be reduced to about
INSCRIPTIONS of dolls. Ian uoiH.be
necessary'to make ND the defcicncu.
: Its only in the event Of revenue
Sbeing still more affected by war
than Is apprehended, that resort to
internal faxes, either direct or inai-
rect, may become necessary
Here are two terrifying ideas held
forth t. Congress, namely:
4. That unless the military and ma
val establishments were reduced, loan
would be necessary.
2. IF war ensued there would pro-
lbably be necessity for taxes, either
direct or indirec..
And at what period Of, time did Mr..
Gallatin hold this language to the ma
|tion i legislature? At the very mo-.
ment when the President ofthe u. S.
had declared that,
It's with deepsconcern I am now
to inform you, that the fau9ra5le Pros
{ poet has been overciouded, by arefusal
{ of the British government to abide
: by the act of its minister plenipo.en-
: tiary, and bv its ensuing policy to-
$ wards the Uaited States, as seem
: through the communications OF the
minister sent to replace him.
Under these circumstances, the Sc
|cretary OF the treas iry exhibits a re
port which suggests diminution of
the army aad navy. and the abhorreat
image of taxes. Could any thing Dc
better contrived 60 Increase the inso
lencies AMI outrases ofthe bolligerents
or to palsy the 5ies ofgovernmenf
at home!
We look ia vain to Mr.. Galla.ia's
reports for any thing like al ex3ositi
on of the real wealth; of the coua.ry !;
we search to no purpose for thos-
manly and invigorating sen iments
which, at aperiod like this, ought Ia
chracterize tn. estimates of a secre
(tary OF the treasury. Itis not that h
proposes ioa9s, because loans must
beresortcd to but he presents no per
manent stamina upon which they are
to be bottomed, except the precarious
9nes of commercial revenue and taxa.
| tio1 of the people. The national do
main, the imperishable fuad of six
hundred and forty millions Of acres,
the real and legitimate fund for war,
IS left in the back ground. A loan up
on. the credit Of that soil; the loan to
be extinguished in the land Offices, the
interest TO be paid by the fragments of
commercial revenue and these follow
ed up by a patriotic glow in the style
ofthe report, would nave abashsd our
enemies and animated the nation !;
would have raised orr reputation a.
broad, more prec Jus to US than gold
or silver, and created unbounded con.
fidence at home. The people, coa-
WINGED that taxes would no. be neces-
sary, even for a war of a century, would
have cheerfally rallied round the gov
eminent aud influenced it to formi-
dabie stand; rescued the national hon
or on the threshold of the vilest dis
grace, and the United States would
have made a noble resistance against
the enemies of the Union.
Instead of acting 80 datiful part, Mr..
Gailatln can get no further than loans,
taxes, and banks like peuurious stock :
Ijobber, he wells himself in the atmosphere
LOT projectors, spectators, and artlficla al
nonIed Institutions. This bent of mind
so congenial TO the financial operations OF
Europe, so replete with opportunities Of
making private fortunes at tue expense of
the public, must be banished from our
councils, or we are corrupted and III
med people. When the pecuniary affairs
LOT this country are in the hands of sIocx .
IobDing secretary OF the treasury, in the
presidents and directors of Daaks, and IN
those OF the mOnopolists which stock .ioJDing
occasions, the liberties of tine peopl. are
always 10 jeopardy. Our uaappro 5riated
J lands, Won by t;Iv valor Of oJr srss in the
revolutionary war, are the ricaes of ths
nation and no scheme ot loau3 nos iatriV
aud explicitly founded upon th-ir ultimate
procse'is cau be samtlry nor certain fol
the public.
With 50 enlightened a man as Mr.
Madisop f,r PreH1ent, it Is sickenins {,
see an individual IA ths treasury suggest