Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-26

7 d.,
submitted by the side OF it, another resolution af-
hrning IT 10 be the right and the duty OF the House
81 commons 10 examine into. and correct abuses
IN inc expenditure of the public revenue, aud de-
eiared That both propositions stood upon one great
principle.
sir, there was period in TIE history of our own
country, when these doctrines were not only a.
'o"eu out praciIsed ailude sir TO the Presidency
OF Mr. jefferson, which have ever looked back TO
as Inc purest OF our govern,neut-as The era of
sound principles and of correct practices As Ihope
u'e doctrines oi that day Will again, at no very
remote PERIOD Come into favor, and they are par
acMa1y applicable to the subject OF our present
deiiberations, must beg permission to read beau
''lei development OF them in the words OF their
great teacher. -
In hrs FIRST official communication to Congress,
tic neii me following language;-'' These views
are formed on thcex Expectation that sensible and at
tne Aaine tune, satGTy reduction may take place
10 o'S haoifudI expenditures. For this purpose
o,e oi tie civil government, the army, and navy,
VIII need revisai- When we consider that this go
Vernmett Is charged with the external and mutual
relations only OF these Staesthat these States them
serves nave the principal care of our persons our
property, and oar reputation, constituting the
srea, heId oi human concerns, may well doubt
! whether our organization IS no! too c0niplicdted
roo erpenS!oe-echether Offices and officers hare
nor oee multiplied ui1aeceSSarily and sometimes
nIrio''Siy 10 the service they were meant to pro-
mote VIII cause 10 be laid before YOU an essay
! towards statement of those who under public
nthpIoyuIent OF various kinds, draw money from
the reasury, or from our citizens Time has not
pcrln.'ted perfect enumeration, the ramihcations
ol ounce being too multiplied and too remote 10 be
/ completely traced IN FIRST trial. Among those
VINO are dependent on executive discTe.ioR hays,
begun The reduction Of what was deemed unne
S S re expenses Of diplomatic agency haze
oee1 considerably diminished The inspectors
OF internal revenue, who were found 10 obstruct
me accountability of the institution have been
discontinued Several agencies, created DIR cree
nfiUe authority, on salaries fred b., that MISC
C2d and @tr
eNpediency OF regulating that power bv law so
as 20 SUBJECT ats exercises TO Legislative inspection
n1d sanction. Other reformdtions of the same
KIND Will be pursued, with that caution which is
requisite In removing useless things not TO iniure
what IS retained. But The great mass of pEblic
ohcers Is established by law, and therefore. by
Ia" alone can be abolished Should the legisla-
tufe mink II eXiedient 10 pass this roll in review
ana 10 try all its parts by the test Of public 1tit,
/ they may be assured of every aid and EgSf
iniich executive information can yield Consid-
erlnS the general tendency TO nlltipiy Offices s.
dependencies, and TO incYease expense TO The nj
innate term Oh burthen which the citizen can bear
II behooves us TO availourselves of every occasion
winch presents itself for taking offthe surcharpe:
oiat ~ never may be seen here, that after leaving
10 TABOR the smallest portion OF its earnings, ON
winch 1t can subsist, government snail itself con-
sumo thesresidue of what il was instituted TO ,ard
IN one case, too, OF The public contributions in
trusted to our direction, il would be prudent TO
NuitPiy barriers against their dissipation, by op-
pTopr4dt'lig specific sums TO ere,y specific piz,ose
susceptible Of defaiti0n; by diSalioLoine an m
PHcGtionS az money Dnrying fi-om the GDproyrt1
ii0n a,s ooIect or trdHScenaing it in amount. bv
reducing the underlined field OF contin geuc;ss (.
there0y ciFcitlnSei1omg discretionary poipers oper
money; and by bringing back to single Denart
inent all accountahilities for where tho ex
animation may be prompt, efiicaclous s. uniform y
said, Mr.. Speaker, that had ALWAYS reo,raeJ
me administration of Mr.. Jefferson az the unrest
. brightest era ofour government. snot the preo
ndnt extract, which have just read from his frs,
message to Congress, sufficient evidence ioi.s,Ic
oil the business OF this praise? Is it possible 70 CON
ooiSe no1Ier spectacle than he presented on that
innfaaiiy divestins himself, 6y his Oip,l act where
II was competent for him to do So of every attri
hute oil ms power, which, however advantageous
70 niH'seii' be deemed TO be inconsistent with the
pubic interest; and in cases where il was not com
petent Tor him TO apply the remedy, calline mon
uIe Legislative authority to do so, by reducing his
patfonagc circumscribing his discretion, and def
mug ms powers Sir, the spectacle is a. rare as
IL was noble. Ii it were not presumption I'm mo I
would venture TO recommend il 10 the i,oitaon of
Tire distinguished individuals, who now preside a.
Yer the administration ofour public affairs Tho
hsI' ma IT. perhaps the most efiectual means of
acquiring present popularity, it ceatanv womb
be oiearning true glory for the future. Bnt tho,,
seem to have taken different view of what bc.
came their situation.
Their whole course has been in striking con-
n trast win the seil-denyng republicanisn OF Mr.
grglc s,f
power which the laws aud The constitntion hi
gwen theIn, we have seen them having claim To
powers which are sanctioned by neifter--instead
oil the suppression OF unnecessary Offices end fc
cur'alment OF executive patronage, we have seen
them rapidly multiplied and increased under te;
unprecedented OF recommending the lu,itation
oi executive discretion over the public disl,,rse
ments' we nave them asking for large grants nj
public money, 10 be expended at their nero m
and pleasure. To descend little more into detail.
let me ask II q" the expenses Of diplomatic agenc,,
nave been considerably dimnished!" Ii is noto.
rieus that they have increased, and shall prese,t
~ attempt to give some idea OF the extent Of that
increase. Have any agencies created by eye
cuuve authority, on salaries fixed that also been
suppressed Let the secret history Of the Exc
& cuuye Departments give the answer
I what respect has been paid by the present adj
lnlhlsuTuOn, to those great maxims of fiscal rcs-
ponsihih'y, iuculcated by MIR. Jefferson? Have
they De0n willing to acquiesce in the doctrine II
>, appFopriaing specific sums to every specific pur-
pose susceptible OF definition" For an answer I
refer to The estimates Of one of the Departments.
IN winch, TO effect survey Of roads and canals Of
national importance, which may surely be defin-
ed, II any thingb susceptible Of definition, we are
asked TO appropriate a sum OF $50 900. ii. was
SoVOOO last year) for the survey Of such route as
the President may think proper 10 denomnate ma
fl0nGL Have they shown more respect for ano.
tner Of those maxims, that which enoins dis
allowance OF all applications Of money yarvnc
from the appropriation in object or transcendiny e
~ amountE There is now a communication moo
our tables from the head Of another Of ,bc n
pariments, seeking to be emancipated from ~
restraint and asking for the privilege Of transfer
rug apPOpriauons from one object Of expenditure
70 another. Has there been disposition manifest
ed in the cstimaies'of anyoT the Dep,rfn,ents a.
1 g reduce the underlined fich ~ rG,,,o,,,.io, -