The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-12-18
tltf1 wI,a 9I1rIAaTs
LYNcHBURG. DECEMBER Is. 1880.
PRESIDENTS MEssAGE-No. 2.

- AfNAtb1tftht AttsABfinfsh To- lc-N.
PRESIDENTS MEssAGE-No >.
After placing before the Nation in the cearest
point of view, the state Of its foreign relations,
Mr., Adams reyerts to our domestic concerns,
and, in a manner which shows his sense OF off.
cial responsibility, aud his desire TO aclSnow-
ledge and perform its obligations, worth all the
rounded periods that ever flowed from patriots,
real or pretended, he gives suecinct aud clear
history OF the operations ofthe government du-
ring the past year.--The first and most impor-
tant subject which attracts attention. is the state
OF the Treasury. II has not been many weeks
since, the fact having by some means been COM
muncated TO few of the most active and vig
lant enemies ofthe administration that the reve-
nue. OF the present year would fall short of that
of the last, was eagerly seized on as a ground
whence its assailants might hurl their weapons
with force and with effect On this ground, they
thought themselves impregnable, because, in
relation to the moned concerns of the nation,
the people are always most sensitive and il IS by
this avenue they will always be assaed. (ifthe
| slightest clue be afforded, by dcmagogues and
faetionlsls, from generation 10 generation IN
this remark, we do not intend TO include single
individual whose sole object is to keep the ex-
penditlues of the nation within lis income. nor
| would we be understood to censurc any who's,
labors are designed to cherish and keep alive
! that spirit among the people which may check
|
the natural tendency of all governments, as they
grow older TO profusion and waste in their ifs
cal appropriations. We only ceusure the ma.
lignity which pretends to perceive in the opera.
| ton of the laws of Nature and the dispense.
tons of Providence, a dereliction of duty or
want Of discernment the part OF the " powers
that be- merely 10 crafty an ancient grudge-
II, during the administration of Mr. Madison.
Tor even Of MIR. Monroe, who was never very
deep in the graces of many individuals who
were, however, compelled to conceal their ha.
tired by the current of popular opinion which,
else, would have swept them into obscurily -
we say, II, during the administration of Mr..
Madison, under precisely similar circumstances
as at present exist, deficit in the revenue had
been anticipated, instead Of attempting TO pre-
JUDGE public opinion, by forestang the public
mind with ungronudcd rumors, aud with affected
fears. the very same individuals, who, during the
last 6 OF sweels, have been pursuing this course,
if they had promulgated the fact at all, would
! have seen at once the cause Of the deficit and
would have stated il with candor. They would
| have attributed / n that Suhdgn Oh ia, a.
aspect ofthe commercial world which has af.
! iected nations only through the agency of nd-
vlduals Commercial credit every where totter-
ed-speculations almost entirely ceascd-and
trade was in a great measure suspended
from these causes, what was to be expected
| Was IT not natural consequence that the reve-
nue. must be diminished What reason, then,
was there in seizing hold on this circumstance
to alarm the public mind and to furnish food TO
the already morbid appetites of MIR. Adams S
enemies Was this course prompted bylpariot
ism Did itproceed from an honest desire to
guard the people against sudden promulga-
| ton ofthe fact from the Presidential chair Did
it proceed from good motives 1t is so pre-
tended, reader; bat Credal Judeas AppeiIa -
The President states the cause of the deficiency
in the revenue with his usual perspicaciiy, and
has put TO silence the meddesome babblers
who had beheld in the fact, nota subject of re-
gret, hut of pleasure did not regret so
much that the Treasury would not obtain so
much money by, two or three millions Of dol
lars as they rejoiced that il armed them with a
new weapon of assault against an administra-
ton which had hitherto proved invulnerabc to
their missiles.-But, why have not these eagle
eyed gentlemen told the people of another fact
diyulgcd in the Presidents Message Did they
/ fear its effects 2 Why have they not told them,
that notwithstanding this Jearf'a deficiency, the
usual annual sum has been applied TO the cxtn-
guishment ofthe national debt---that the wheels of
government, in all their complicated parts, have
gone on unretarded-that unusual expenditures
have been made, in explorations 3. surveys of the
interior ofthe country and along the great va
ter courses which wash the extremes and pass
through the heart of the Union-that works Of
defence have been erected aud permanent foun-
datious laid for others, to guard us from inya-
sion in future wars--and yet, on the first Of ia
nuary next, there will be in the Treasury one
million tuo hundred thousand dolinre more than
were on the first Of January Inst, exhibiting
decrease in the national expenditures, notwih.
standing the new and extraordinary demands,
upon the Treasury, of more than three millions
Of dollars in one year. Notwithstanding these
facts, the administration Isl reprehended for its
proitlsion and extravaganza, is charged with using
the public funds corruptly, and abused for ma.
king expenditures, which. while they are not
sanctioned by the constitution, nor warranted
by precedent are subversve of the morals of
the community
" Thou hast glass eyes thou scnrvy politicians,
" And seemst to the things thon dost n)te
The fact cannot be concealed that The Opposi-
ton intended to make the deficit in the revenue
4 L