The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-03-03

ennnive n, aud HrQnlesce in, abuses, ar by
pursuing inquiry, 70 ,how n determination ri
thrr 10 purify the Government from abuses,
ii they exist, ~ Ia riear loot the odium and
saspeion of them, II they do uot exist.
But, sir, The gentleman from Pennsylvania
took still buider ground He not ouls sad
tina there IVES no sufficient proot Of abuses,
calling fr REFORM but h. attempted TO show,
that, III itut, there ARE no ADJUST s. aud thai tho
Administration OF The Government is dlslln.
eui he'd te'leXlfaordinars economy Sir how
did he mike this out hy reviewing the Il
uanclnl operations Of thc Government Tor
tie II t9elve years, nom 1919 Ia 1877, aud
exhibiting their accumulated results. He
told Us that, @lih,n ttHl period, seventy mil
taIs 81 ~ public drhf hid been paid oil, he-
sdcs Bile ltiing lHc Amy, the Navy, tn
evil list, apd sll the alher branches OF the
rtafIe service aud seemed 10 rely upon this
ash conclusive proof oil the economical nd
minisnNti0n ot our finances. SIr. The first r..
mark which occurs upon this statement, Is,
that ADMITTING 4. ,uhGrncV Is evidence III
economy, II does mol prove, what Is the onl,
maiter WIN winch we have any concern, thu
| The Administration OF tie Government Is, al
! the pre- eni tlpc, an economical one. llconld
prove only, lhut, III time. past, there has been
| ECONOMY
But, ,ir, waive this oh iecDlon mud will 70
! baek With the honorable Lrnllrmnn IN hi re.
| ifnsped. /, II not llnc singular, that,
while HE gentleman ~, telling us OF he n
mount of a, bt winch hau been pdm of, aud
the expenses which hHd been met by the Go
sernmsnt, Is evidence at "a o'#snpmy, II did
mol Occur 70 hun lIud he ought 10 have told
| rs something 81 the means whirh had be- n
pm n H. disposal, for the accomplishment, ol
! thee olietts2 Ecuuumy, an, i II relative
! hing At Il, I,pnI d. nu In t,ro,aftinn Int,,..,
be results winch have been accomplished, q
the resources " hlch have been furnished for
accomplishing them
! Now, sir, what were the resources OF the
| Government during those twelve years, from
which the honol able gentleman has collec-
ted the results he So iundv display ed 10 the
admiration OF the House Why, sir. more
than 900 millions oi dotlals. During sevtia
wears OF the period included III tue houora-
bic geutlemhn'o retrospect, We bad direct
'nNes, audH system oi internal revenue aud
nom t,ose eoarCes added To the customs, the
sale ui public lands. aud thu hhui, bonus aud
dividends, thew bor revenue winch lowed
into the public Treasury. from lsl5 10 1872
con literally rNeerAed 900 millions oil dol.
lars Non sir, with such fund rs this nj
Il, dispo-al, Is it PROOF, either Of cAlrnordina-
ry lrpg,lat> ar i consuHmate Gnauri lskil
ia the Government 10 hHHr pad Oh ~ mi
lions oi debt, aud betrayed II, current ~.
pen
The average annual ,eceiPts OF the Govern
mrui, during tbs period, amounted To more
than - millions. We will suppose that a.
bou 10 millions were annually applied 10 the
prlncipal aud interest OF the public dch The
ordinary current expenses Oi the Government
may have amounted 10 another sum 81 nbaut
10 millions annually and there then rrmnin.
ed millions TO be expended nd kh,iHm.
How the honorable gentleman can dedn1e
from thesc facts. an evidence Of the cconn-
nv ot the Government, cannot conceive.
Bnl, sir, the gentleman iIUm Pcnn5yivanla
exhibited another view Of lhls suhircf. furihc
purpose oi showing Us how lightly ue are tan
ed Ion the support ri oar tnslitaltohs. ~,
told rs that the whole expenditure Of the go
Y, rnmenl, for the yehl ls2d, WIS - million.
IT dollar. ussessed upon our twrl,c million.
oil population, produces II charge Il only Two
dollnr II lead, while, according 10 Stale
tneui he made, the taxation at the BRITISH
People accounts 10 fifteen dollars a head Oh
serving, IA passing metely,) that the gentle.
man has stated the amount OF public burfI
Gus in Great Britain, enormous n they Ger
rainly are, al u bi2her rale than have ever
sren any authority tor, think shaIl be able
10 sarisy him, that lie has pul ours own much
too low. Ills Statement I'geicrmits several
3 important items, Which undoubtedly eutct
largely into our complicated system d public
81 burhrns
, lie sremed 10 assume the amount al duties
I paId to the Government As the lnll measure
ni American taAa'ion. But, Sir, tn IS nol
50. / IS true that G.r proceed, II thu d0lie-
are all which the Government receive, but
they are moi all that The People pay. lh'
; merchant, WHO pay The duties 10 NJ GOV