Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-07-19

l.. L.lil
have had no othar elect than to draw the
attention OF Congress, from time 10 time
more closely to the subject, and. on that nc
count, to give to its decision the greater
weight
1t may be remarked, however, that the en-
Pcnditurc, whether great or small, bps kept
Wltlin the income. Ia the wear 1926. after
paying more than eleven millions Oh account
OF the public debt, ana PROVIDING for MI cy-
penscs, there remained in the Treasury a
surplus Of above six r!ilons, and ct Tie end
OF the year 1927, -. $50 re.npincd a sur
PHYS III the Treasury OF above six millions
MS cardinal maxim, therefore. has not been
violated. The income has not been exceed
ed; no debt has been contracted: no lust
claimant left unpaid: but, on the contrary.
large amount OF prc-eXisting debt has been
oischaEged, and the resources Of the country
liberated, ior the future, from the payment
OF lis interest; while, Ut the same time the
nation Is nd7anclngi in an uninterrupted ca
rcer OF prosperity. The same course OF con
duct, II tho case Of an individual. would be
deemed wise and prudent, and il is not per
celyed how it can be thought otherwise in q
nation.
The mere fact, that tilc expenditures hare
been greater {or some years past than they
were at an earlier period of our Government
IS, IN Itself, circumstance whose value and
90 '1il2, IN comparative estimate, depends
upon other circumstances with which ii may
! happen TO be connected, Witl us, It will
READILY be perceived that It ought to occo-
sion heitiler alarm nor apprehension. On
me contrary, it is what every one would
nave expected, and, when rightly exaIninad
what every friend Of his country would have
wished. 1t is the effect, Us it is also, iii some
measure, tie cause, Of the growth Of the
country, and otits constantly increasing pros
parity. which has fully kept pace with its OK
pansio0. If, fox example we institute d
comparison with the early period Of oGr Go
vcrninent, it will be seen, 1T once. that the
| expenditure, IN us rate Of Increase, has not
| exceeded the necessary demands arising cut
OF every other increase, nor borne any pro
/ portion to the Increase Of our ability, nor to
the benefit the citizen derives from the acts
! o. the goTeInmeaf. Assuming for the com
pHuso1 the average expenditure of the firsi
eight years under Washington, it is stated to
| &C S2,IG4,G2l 81: but TIC average poputa-
ton Of the United States during that period
vas but about four millions and n half
whereas ii is now supposed TO be about
twelve millions. Considering the coIupara
tive value OF money ct tho two periods, the
increase IS not out Of proportion. Consid,
crIng the comparative ability Of the countrg
It IS fer below; it. Of this, some idea NAV
be formed from the fist that the valuation
OF lands lots, and dwelling houses, in the
year 1852. amounting to S6i9, 977, 900. and
(silch was the Improvement Of the country
III 1915 il amounted TO 81 ,3O2, 296 900. ii
the period first mentioned, there were bu;
thirteen States, represented in Congress BY
CO members oftho House Of Representatives,
Increased III 1874 70 I05.) and sc Senators
Now, there arc tW'cGtY-fGur States. represen.
ted by o13 members, &. three Delegates from
, Territories and 48 Senator'S The expenses
OF the Legislature alone, at the present time
amount 10 50 PEI cent. more than tic whole
civil list 1T Tie period FIRST mentioned. Tho
latter, IL the year 1876. (thc largest Of the
PcE"d) was but FiA7,t39. In the year
! 1924, the expenditure for the Legislative
branch alone was S60C,95j 90; and in 1896
G@67,698 40. The contingent expenses oi
both liouscs, it 1876, were 81 $50; in IS %
they were 100000. 1t the period first mon
toned, IT must also be remembered chat
there was no Navy Department in The 1rov.
crnmantamd that there was no Navy. M
thority was given by law, in the wear 1874
10 build SIX trigatcs; but the whole oxpcndi
furc on that account, in the year 796. wa.
, loss than 100000, and was managed by tlt
Department Of War The Nav Dcpal,
= nIcnt was instituted III year 1898. In tina
and the two following years, the Navy wa
established upon permanent foundation, br
an expenditure Of 1858 la; constituting ;
very large addition TO the general cxpcndi
lures Of the nation for the periods but nov
universally considered IS Il most bcncfcia
;. Expenditure. At present, ii costs upward
f! OF 51,20OoOO q year, and is fully worth VIVA
it costs. Il isunucccSsary TO dwell upon thu
territory that has been acquired, the cxtcu
= sion over it Of the cares Of Government. anc
the consequent increase Of expense. Ru
one branch Of the public service may be sui
fcient to show how the operations Of tn,
i Government, and, at the same time. the ac
Commedation and convenience ofthC citizen
have grown with the growth OF the nation
in the year 1901, there were bat 50 postoGi
IL. Z Il