The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-03-04

made upon the Treasury, hut TO procure a
surplus to meet any contingency that the Pc
cuIiar state OF our foreign relations might de-
mand. How then the honourab!e member
can charge the Secretary with The deficiency
which the salt tax would have prevented, ac-
cording 10 the gentleman's calculation, Mr.
A. said he was at loss to know. The hon
Durable member ought more properly to
charge his own compaisanc with the great
deficit which he seems so anxious to charge
TO the Secretary The Secretary was oppos-
ed to The repeal Of the salt tax, from his
opinion Of the correctness of it. The hon
durable member was also opposed to IT, for
the same reason but from complaisance, he
himself tells us, he voted Tor the repeal. lie
then, and not The Secve.ry, is answerable TO
the Treasury for the great loss sustained by
the repeal of that tax for he has told us,
that lib repeal depended upon his single vote
and that that vote he gave from complaisancc,
and from conviction OF lis correctness.
The honourable member charges the tres-
sury department with recession frsm the
difficulties Of the nation during the last three
years, and with the upwillingness Of rhc Sc.
cretary 10 afford the usefulness OF his talents
10 government. Mr.. A. said he cculd not
well understand the meaning OF this charge,
as the honourable member acknowledges that
government had not called on the Secretary
for greater excrtions. Mr.. a. said he would
ask the bonourable mcmbcr--in ha; do ths,
recession and unwiilingness consist Have
not all the duties of the Office been perform
ed ! Has the Secretary ever shrunk from
responsibility upon any occasion, or declined
answering to The fullest extent any OF the
calls made upon him by. Congress, either Tor
information or opinion Has he not carried
The financial bark safe TO this moment, not
withstaHding the difficulties Of the times
Have NOT all the pubick engagements been
fulfilled all the increased expenses been de-
iraycd Notwithstanding the decrease OF rev.
enue, occasioned by the state of our foreign
relations w hat is then meant by recession!
Does the honorable mem5er mean 10 say,
that il was the duty of TIE Secretary to point
out new branches OF revenue while those
already existing were sufficient TO dcfray the
expenses authorized by law AT this mo-
mcnt, whilst we are acting Oh the subject OF
tho army, which will greatly more than
double the pubIick expenses, the honourabie
member does not deign to inquire into the
ways aud means. He scouts the very idea,
and finds great fault with him (Mr. A. be-
cause he presumed to make some inquiry in
10 the present state of the national treasury.
Whether we now vote six or ten regiments
of infantry, with the addition OF those Of ar
,illery and horse, the expense will be great
lsnt we think 1t necessary some additional
troops shall be raised, and will vote accord.
ingly After they shall have been authoriz-
ed, and NOT be fore, the treasury department
rlxx ll.,I
the resources and present them to our con-
sideration. The Lonourable member, not
satisfied with his vague charge of what he
calls a recession of the treasury department,
extends the charge in most extraordinary
manner, to the late and present adminis,ra-
tions To their indisposi,ion to press on the
treasury, and to disturb the repose and pop
clarity OF the Secretary of the Treasury, the
honourabic member ascribes the measures,
which, In his opinion, had Gishonoured the
na,ion.the last three years. Can this be cor
rect, MIR. President ;. Can this House believe
that the late and Observation-Disclosures would
DC capable Of acting upon such principles
Inc honoarable member ha. rountily ASSERT
ed that the late President, that Mr.. jefferson,
whenever he was opposed to what he deemed
unnecessary expense, instead Of being actua-
ted by his known aversion TO saddle such an
expense on The people, instead of being, as
he had expressed it, averse to taking from
the mouth Of taboar rte hard earnings, had no
other motive, but fear to disturb the rcpose
and popularity of the Secretary Of the Trea-
sury But, Mr.. President, what i. the trca-
sury, abstrac,edly speaking and what does
the honourable member mean, by fear to
press on the treasury ! Tue officers of the
treasury are mere agents to receive and TO
pay the money which is collected from the
people. There is never any real pressure on
the treasury. Ii there be at any time pres
sure for the purpose OF defraying any ex-
pcnse, it is pressure on the people, who
mus. pay the money. Whether the treasury
has ten or twenty millions to collect from the
people, and TO pay TO the other agents of gov
ernment, the reposc Of the Secretary is not