Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-05-02

prefer IN accusation which Las 10 BET.
ter foundation Than this.
But, suppose the Revenue had fallen
short, by more Than The annual amount
OF This Pension list. lc. ms see whether
even then the Administration is liable
10 the reproach which is cast upon IL.
Almost one half OF our annual expen-
Giiure. viz. ten millions OF dollars, goes
10 " hat Is called the Sinking Fund; out
OF which IA paid SO much as is necessary
TO detray The interest of the Public Debi,
and The remainder annually applied 10
The redemption Of Tie principal Of that
debt. This Is The Republican policy /; and
is II this--this expenditure of one half
the amount OF our annual income, to pay
on debt contracted, first, in the estab-
lishment OF the Independence OF our
Government, and, secondly, in maintain
ing II, That iscalled prodigal2
We shall be glad 10 understand, if not
by those we have mentioned, To what
branch OF the public expenditure, st
the present day, This epithei Of prodignh-
fy ls applied, by those who now throw il
III our teeth. Some there are, we know,
who believe we ought to have no Army.
or one very reduced in numbCrs-but il
Is not the ultras who hold that opinion.
10 the question we're presented 10 them
W. are persuaded they would unanimous
~ oppose its reduction. ifthen an ARMY
be maintained, il is enough that the adj
minis,raiIon OF our Military affairs is al
present economical, and the espence Of
the establishment, 80 far from incrcas-
Ing, IL growing daily less as experience
points out where the hand OF reirench-
ment and reform may be safely and pru-
IDENTIFY applied.
r Al
Wy, we have heard 10 obiectiOn, whatever
difference Of opinion there may haveex-
listed as to the mode OF emPloy ment of
part Of it. Is il, then. 10 the additional
expenditure OF one million of dollars all
naaily, for eight years, for ship timber,
that objection is made? Or 10 the Two
hundred thousand dollars annually ar-
propriatcd for providing for arning lie
MliitiaI Whatever these expenditures
may he, they are certainly mol prodigal,
nor the result Of The shori'sighied policy
imputed 10 the government. Such mea-
sures are the fruit Of wisdom. To provide
IN due season, that which, when need
comes, cannot be gotten in haste, is true
economy as we'll as wisdom.
The same may be said al The annual
expenditure OF nearly million of dollars
| Tor FortIficaiions, for the permanent ma
| Rhine defence. For the want of them.
| our waters, during the last war, became
the unmolested resort OF The British Ma
Wy, and our shores the scene Of the enc
my's depredations. Is it not wise, while
| you may, Ia provide against the recuf.
renee Of evils which have been thus once
| eAperienced2
Deduct the expenditures for the objects
We have enumerated, to none OF which,
! "'lI the Ultras venture specifically 10
object, and what expenditure remains 10
which the charge OF prodigaliiy can al
tach Why, the sum of about two mill
lions and hall OF dollars, mol az much
IN amount as that revenue derived, in
| the last year, from the sales of Public
Lands alone, and about one tenth oi the
wroie amount of the revenue. This sam
| covers all The civil and diplomatic expen-
ditnres ct the government, inducing
miscellaneous charges and contingent
expense and even tie expense OF carry
IS 40 prodigalIty
Tat there NAV have been miscon6uct
"n he part of pubic officers, ON some
"c"fsions; that The governnept NAV
sometimes have suffered from the impo-
sRions or negligence Of itslagenis, will
not be denied. No individual is exemnt
from them IN the administration OF his
ilRiled concerns. No government GER
family ever WIS, or ever will be, SO lorp
as 'nman nature remains The same. Bui.
IN the general estimate, the whole amount
OF such dllapldaiinns is a mere fraction.
The subtraction or addition of which
would not essentially vary the sum total
OF The Transactions OF he government.
Enough has been said, perhaps To i'm.
duce the reader, who may have been mis-.
ed by sounding and dcclaraiory phrascs-
TO examine for himself with what fru,h
The government l. accused of prodigall,y.
II he does, he will al least find. TIA, lie
most prOdjgal of these expenditures is
The one which the naiion would proba-
bly, most revolt al disseminating
Nat Int.
The District Banks-The Report of the
committee Oh lie District OF Columbia. made
TO the Senate, in relation 10 these i,stitutions
w.ll be found below. 1t is generally beIIey.
ed that the course recommended will be
adopted. 1Gtoretown gIess.
The Report Of the Senate on the District
Banks.
The committee foI the District of Colum.
bia, TO whom was referred the bill from the
House OF Representatives, entitled" An sct
concerning the banks in the District Of c oIu1n.
bid aud for other purposes" respectfully SUBJ
mi, the following report:
without noticing many of the notifications
and conditions OF the bill most OF which The
commisiet approve, they beg leave TO call
The attention ct the Senate to its pTinciDal
provisions. These are Iwo:-- First an exten.
sion foI five years ofall the charters ct the
several Incorporated banksi in the DistTict of
COliinbia which now pas on demand ihcir
notes IN specie; secondly, a plan of console a.
ton for reducing the number 10 two in each
Town.