Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-19
Congressional.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
6ctrenchment.-De6Gte of Jan. 90, 1928.
After. Mr. Pnarce nnnclndoh Il. onnnch n,, N

/ After Mr.. Pearce concluded his speech, on this
subject, the floor taken by
4 Mr.. Bell who addressed the House 70 the fol-
! lowing effect w hen this discussion commenced,
dad not suppose that any thing coufi possibly oc-
! cur, which would draw me into its vor;e-. II is
mot nay fault that l am now induced TO engage in
1T feel, however, driven 10 the necessity of
throwing myself npon the indulgence ofthe House,
Tor iew moments, by what has been thrown out
i IN the course of the debate. trust | shall not
Indulge in tisat dscursiye range OF remark which
has distinguished the course of gentlemen who
nave preceded me, on both SIDES OF the question.
On a motion TO lay the resolution on the table,
] voted in the affirmative. Although the House
could have felt interest in the motive OF that
vote. yet it was, perhaps, due 10 myself, TO have
exPleined the reasons which influenced me in Civ
ing II, (withou being prompted to do so by the in
snuatons of any gentleman,) that il might not APP
| pear 10 be inconsistent with the vote 1 may now
give, and the course shall steadily pursue in the
| future stages OF this measure. Now, other al
formative is lett me. The question has been sig
nihcantly propounded TO some OF the more prom-
nent gentlemen, who voted as l did upon that
question Did they mean TO stfe inquiry while
they continued to urge the charge of prodigality
and abuse in the public expenditures, against the
Administration: Without supposing, for one mo-
ment, that my vote could be OF sufficient conse-
quence to attract the attention of any gentlemen,
upon this, or any other question, yet, as l would
rest under any censure which may be attempted 70
| be cast on others | answer 10 the intcrrogatory
4
unfair intention was intended 20 be made, / an
tswer, that the gentleman who made it. could not
have believed it true.
] When the original resolutions were introduced
| by the gentleman from Kentucky, saw in their
| I'll digested form, (and when saw this do not
mean 10 say that could have given them a better
shape,) the substance of proposition for a general
retire nchment in the expenditures of the Govern
ment To well-tmed proposition Of that nature,
| / beg leave to say, would never be opposed In
inf
ordinary appropriations for the support of Govern
nent, or into the abuses supposed 10 attend their
disbursement, by its officers, will ALWAYS be pro-
ductye OF some good, in Government, constituted
on whatever principles it may, although no imme-
date Legislative enactment of remedial nature
may be the result of them. The very discussions
which attend propositions for such inquiries serve
TO keep alive spirit of jealousy and watchfulness
in the People in regard TO that, which, when pro-
perry managed, constitutes their strength, and
which, under the evil auspices, may be converted
! into the material of their weakness. For in the
estimate of nations strength this paradox intrudes
Itsei-that which forms the chief sir " Of It's pow
er, may, at the same time, become the source OF
its greatest debility. National wealth. Of NAV be
permitted common-pl place argument) can no where
be rs safely and properly exhibited in the hands
OF the People who created it; and there should it
remain, except such portion Of il may be abso-
iutely necessary Tor the protection and free enjoy
ment OF the balance. When, therefore, n nation
shall have arrived az that point in its organization
when it dcliberates upon the expediency of abol-
IshIng certain Institutions as useless improper,
and OF cuItaliing certain expenditures eXtrava-
giant, we may take it for granted that the annual
! 0iOdtclu3 OF the Peoples wealth, which is abso-
iutcly necessary TO be drawn from their pockets is
already large enough, and that no new institutions
VIII be created, and no additional eYactions en-
forced. But 80 farther. would have support
! ed well-tmed proposition Of this nature, for a
better reason. have entertained the opinion as
do now, that the expenditures in some branches OF
the public service, would bear retrenchment with
ont injury TO the Interests of the country, and to
that the career Of this Government, during late
! Administration, was marked with n wasteful APP
preparation of the public revenue and that the pre-.
sent Administration has entitled itselfto still high
or distinction ID the same prodiga course. ! be-
lieve, too, that the present Administration conten-
plated, al one time, still greater emnence in this
way than they have since thought il prudent TO at
tain am Of opinion, that, for a part of this ex-
agAuce the Executive officers Of the Govern
mont are alone responsible and that Congress NAV
well come in Tor the balance OF the responsibility
How THIS responsibility should be divided between
/ those two departments ofthe Governments | will
not undertake 10 determine; nor,will |. at this
time be drawn into specification of instances Of
the extravaganza in the Executive officers of the
Government; neither will | be forced, upon this
OCCASION into argument OF the specifications that
others have thought proper to make in the course
/ OF this debate In speaking Of the extravaganza Of
! pnen, il it may be regarded as Of any conss-
! qnence, has been formed upon facts, which have
J never heard disputed; and what may now or at
L any other time say Of the conduct of the prcgen,
Administration, will be found to be based upon as
1 certaned facts about which expect 10 sneak free
y, withoutthe imputadon ofjoining ia hue and
cry merely for party purposes. despiso sense
less ciainor az much any man, but am not pre-
pared TO admit that thisis one The inquiry NAV
shew how this is.
whether government is cxtravagant or not I
look upon as a question about which gentlemen
may diiieT. according to the notions they NAV en-
terrain Of the policy OF = government in relation 10
is expenditures Some are Of opinion that fi,e
SGovernineni should array itself in some degree Of
spiendor, believing that the respect and reverence
oil the People may be secured in that IvaV while
Others entertain The opinion I have already cx-
pressed upon the point As 10 the question wbe.
iher. IN the disbursement, Of the funds placed un.
der The discretionary control Of any of the Exccu-
Ave Departments of the Government any mart nj
those funds has been applied 10 Illegal or corrupt
uses, concur in the sentiment expressed bv a
gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Clark whose
dRHbed and many course in this debate must
gam him The respect Of every gentleman upon
this io0r, although some of them NAV not aorce
With hin in political opinion. That gentleman
said shat, upon the eve OF an investigation reason
justice, and Christian charity, require that the tee.
hmony should be heard before sentence Of Gull
should be pronounced. So let IL be- But thr
question recurs, why j. tho proposition iii-tiued
Or, IN the language SO often and so efnuhaficsIi,
repeated, vlly is this not the accented ,iroc LS
answering Tor myself can say, thatI rersrded n =
timc ~ Particularly uniavOrablc. IaOkipr upuo
the resolution a. intended 20 effect = pcr,o,rs,t
retrcnchment in the ordinary cxpenlif9res ~ ,bc
Government, believed that such = dispassions,c
inquiry into the various and ;,fric,,, fet,;i, -.