Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-02-29
portsmou1h Oracle..-We never reat

/.
Portsmouth Oracls.s-We never read
This paper without pleasure and we
Jbave reason ~ary often to admire the
4sty.e and argument, by which tits d;stin,
lguished. The following is entitled to q
Very attentive perusal.
From the Portsmouth, Oracle.
In a former number, we observed, that
the present time was peculiarly favora
.Ible for correct opinions respecting the
|real policy of the leading men of the two
great parties in our country thatit was
1.-The duty OF every citizen to form such
opinions; that the policy Of leading men
was to be Inferred from the result OF the
respective systems of measures OF the
different administrations OF Our gene al
government. That our national charac'
tier, at the time Of the adoption of the con
Istitution, stood as high as that OF any O.
lther nation, and that the public debt, al
THAT time, amounted to nearly $4,000
GOO; that our public debt now, is at leas'
|Sl5O,O00,o0 that our national charac
tier stood unsullied at the close OF VAS
,[iagton and Adams administration
THAT at that time the revolutionary ap'
lpublic debt was reduced to S5S,GOO,GoC
THAT all these facts. were now admitte'
Ihy inen Of all parties and opinions.
I In order to place, in clearer point Of
|view, the relative economy or prodisallt
Iof the two former aud two latter admins
Itratiens of our general government,
n;eht have added, that during the twel' {
wears of Washington and Adams ADM
Illustration. the whole amount Of revenh,
was S78, 100000; that during fourteef
wears and nine months u Mr.. Jefferson
Iand MIR. Madison's administration, tn,
receipts into the treasury were S268 ,00(
600, 1t appears, therefore, that the ie
lderalists on coming into power, foun'
1.-The public debt about SlC0,O0o.Ooo; tha
lthey received of the peoples none
S78. 100000. and left them, S63,C00.0Gt
in debt. That the republicans, on CON.
ling into power. found the public deb
IS5S,OOO, 600: that they received Of th'
|neople's money Sa58, 0Go,o0c, and nov
-|hod them responsible for public deb
of S15O,0oO,000.
: Now, if we deduct from the pubic
debt sum equal to what it was at thu
close Of Mr. Adams administration, VIZ
: IS .000,C 90 dells and add the remaining
Q 81 to the 269 .000. roo dolls. received ia
Ito the treasury since the republicans cam
Into Office, it makes an excess of 257 ,C00
loco dolls. which has been received an'
exrended by Mr.. jefferson and Mr.. Ma
dison's administration, more than al
that was received y the two former ad
ninistrations. Besides of the 8,0o0,0o
dolls. which they received 10000
!; Idolls. Tor about that sum- was appropriat
ed to the reduction of the public debt
rhe inquiry at once forces himself up
lon the mind, what las become of TIN
enormous sum of the peoples money
One thing is clear, it is gone, and we ar
still in debt 15O,G00,0Oo dolls; tina
,Itherefore is no longer subject Of enqul
Iry. We will not, how ever, call it
prodieal expenditure till We have enqulf
ed into facts and see whether indee'
they will support SO high charge. Per
Ihaps it has been judiciousty expended
Upon works ofgeneral utility to the ma
ton; as in building public roads, open
ling public canals, ard in aiding the In
fant literary institutions Of our country
Perhaps our frontier, our seaport town
:. and cities have been rendered more Sc
cure against the desolating ravages o
war. Perhaps our liberties have bee
enlarged, national injuries redressed
: and questions Of national right, whlc
1.-THE powers of Europe would never be
fore yield, have been settled and confirm
: led in our favor.
> But to these, corresponding enqui
|ries suggest themselves. Where ar
those nnhIic roads and canals! Wher
the literary institutions that have tel
the munificent and fostering hand OF tn
administration of the general govern
! ment ? Why then in the late war, wa
Jour frontier laid waste, our seaport town
land cities threatened with plumber am
lconfagration, which were averted onl
10y the extraordinary exettions OF tn
state governments? Ia what respee
lhave eur liberties been enlarged VIVA
n national injuries have been redressed
l,l What questions of national right hav
Irecently been decided in our favor. Th
voice OF all parties, the voice of tx
whole country responds in the mega