Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-11-24
RICHMOND, NOVEMBER "A, 1870.

NO |
Pecuniary embarrassments like the pre-
sent are counier5dlanced IN their Injury
10 individuals by their beneti, to a 90
v0rnnient. They serve, like depletion to
The animal economy, To eXprl reiundan.
ces aud remove from HE system all thai
is not requisite 10 its healthy action. 1t
Is well 10 have resting place from
whence to contemplate what prosperity
has brought To pass. We can bes, Judge
how far fictitious wants have blended
themselves with real, when the tide that
impelled them has subsidized. The cry
throughout the country is for circumspec-
ton in public expenditure, aud il augurs
well. We shall be jealous OF The ends of
political authority at least, while the cost
Is severe OF afford,ng means 10 il. Bur
does this recoil "a, the imposition of pnli-
tica! burihens arise from the sum likely
10 be exacted from us-or from the prim-
ciple 10 guard against cacroachmen,,
whether on our means or liberties, Is but
the one half oil political duty the other is
toperpe,ua,e aud apply the lrssons OF eN-
pcrience and trausI.i 10 the age that
follows Us the wisdom OF upr own ls.Ii
not then an object in the diminished value
of property, to retain that which WI! rem,
der the remnant more valuable 10 us and
our successors Shoad we noi be wary,
even in The good work o! removing abu
SEES, lest we wound the wholesome insii-
tulions 10 which they have grown
Congress Is now IN session, and it is
scarcely TO be believed that lis lahors
will be directed 10 The drnipiilion oi those
OF its predecessors. II we have Witnessed
TIL death OF one system of finance. bur
little praise WILDE due 10 these who suffer
II 10 be followed by The good which il
occasoned. Neither are we again To be
Knocked by the economy which vapours
over paitry appropriations, whercm the
diacusslOu costs more than the allowance.
tmaglue therefore that Congress sobrrly
devOtes itselt TO the examination at ma
tIonal mstitulIons-iO ascertain w!.ai are
unnecessary, what abused, and wiat un-
duly burthcnsome-thaiii looks al the
expenses OF intercourse with foreign ma
sloDs, and finds that our diplomatic con.
neciIon with the whole world cosi3 less
than the personal allowance OF Il single
resident OF the British court al that OF
Russia at the internal management of
the department OF stale, and fluids scarce
Iva greater number enployed than NAV be
sound III banking institution in any one
OF our considerable cities: thai iiienewsits
conviction ;ha' our revenues are collected
on nearly The same ierms with similar bu
sInesS when Transacted in behalf OF iudi-
Viduals that The expenses OF The judiCIa-
ry ana the territorial governments leave
no room tor reduction, and tbdi il at last
comes 10 our means OF national defence,
the most important Of all, and lirat which
we pay Tor the most Reluctantly.
Respecting the navy-llefe may be
SOON Tor much debate whether Tie in
crease OF II shall be confined, aud oera
tam retrenclments may obviously be
made III lis current expenses. But on that
subject, The nation will be wary that re
irenchment goes no farther than the re
preston OF abuse The institution is =
favor;e lie nation has felt he value and
shared the glory of it. More than that
as every man IN The community cannot be
sailor, there Is no general unwlllinguess
that portion be sci apart for special EN-
Ploymeu', wherein Ihe whole cannot be-
sharers The army. although connecting
with itself the defeuce Uf the two frontiers
aud the protection OF thosr who explore
\ the wilderness, is less d fayorIie. Therr
are certain popular reasons to make re
trenchm"ni in this branch OF expendiur.
more acceptable, Than in most of the 9th
ers. iile expense Is obvious, The service
less so. The name IS unacceptable tC
thnse who do not ihIuk, and To many who
do, the very advantages of it seem un
friendly 10 freedom. As a g,raipr par, o
the apparent duties of an army are amons
tie highest which The constitution make,
40 detolve upon the citizen, a highe
motive for dislike may be found in the
4 unwlllinguess to delegate the trust. and
1 Jealousy OF those who receive il. Que /.
scarcely willing TO combat an idea of sc
honorable an origin But there il an erTo
IN il derived from applying TO ourselve.
notions which belong TO Europe. The So
gregatlon OF vast masses from the pro
ducllve labors OF society. the exempeOr
from external danger bv certain Oppres
sion at home, and The Individual debase
meni OF any class that looks to anolhe
as Its defender, are the differences in re
suit between all European aad an Ameri
can army. The fundamental principle
OF their creation are moi less opposite
Ihe most speciOus plea TOR the military
establishments Ot Europe is, that they as
sumo The whole defence OF their respective
HalionS. From the commencement Of tn
revolution till The present day simiia
idea has not entered into The organization
OF any of ours. For common defence tl
government OF the United States can TOOL
onIy tn the elements Of which itself i
tormed. The combination OF these ele
menls aud the infusion into them of lie
aud activity, are the causes and use of
regular army. During time of war IL i
the organ OF aggressive warfare, or coop
crates, III numerical iHferiOrity, with til
militia but in peace u slender establish
meni such as ours, scattered over vas
expanse, and employed so variously an
opposliely, is rather watch than guarC
On an Indian frontier II may serve fc
both but instead of augmeniing tie ma
ilonal capacity of direct assault or resls
auer, II Is but tive present depository {
lis means fin nrnau Inr M m nnlin [