Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-05

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aud corruption if it has not already done it, in our
country. } have been wiling tO reform abuses
ever since have had . seat onthis NOoE, and in,
lNbUr'ing to reform theH Aavr encountered what
the gentleman from New Yor! (Air. 1aylor) said
misfortune, tho being called Radical.
though do rot know that ii Is 50 great Il nsfjr-
tune. The Executive influences in this Govern
lnpnt Is very great II has been Caertcd TO CO.
lumniotc members IN this House, o. well as great
and wise men ont of the House. II has atie mpt-
ed 10 Gu; them OF by dark nucndoes; and hirelnc
scribblcrs, whether from England or Germany
will not say, have been paid directly or Indirectly
for performing the task Sir are we 10 be told
that the expenses OF che contingent tnj under the
control OF this Government have not ceased p
They have increased, they are increasing. & ought
to be diminished. They have increased, and that
10 AN alarming extent. Are 10 be, told that
there are abuses i'll the application of that
fund, and that we ought not TO correct these
abuses, because the expense Of printing alone
for the British Parliament is equal to the whole
cXpencc OF this Government Sir, if You take into
calculation what the people of the u. States pay 10
support the Governments OF the several States, and
ot this General Government in addition, YOU will
Ind that they pay sum equal 10 that paid by the
People of England, under all their commercial de-
preston, ana all the misery and degradation To
which they arc reduced. am therefore in IA
vor OF paying the national debt by all the means
that the Government can 10y its hands on; and |
am not now 70 he persuaded that the sinking fund
IS going TO eXtingush il in year or two because
remember time AZ thc close Of the last war; when
man, which every body will allow To have been
much more capable OF Judging speaking on the
iinancies OF this country than the gentleman who
has now the charge Of them, told us that in four
teen years the public debt would be paid; but il is
not yet; nor is il likely TO be while we take money
out of the Treasury for all sorts of wild and vision
airy projects. We borrow on one side TO pay upon
the other, and the money that is now due is paid
only by new loan, at less rate Of interest Gca-
tenen say that the sinking fund will pay Off the
debt in due time: and the gentleman from New
York (Air. Tayior) has told Us that he is not NE
pared TO say that it ought 10 he increased This ex-
preston OF not being prepared TO advocate n thing,
take TO be Congressional mode ofsay:ng that one
is opposed 10 it,
Mr. TAYLOR here begged leave 20 explain, and
MIR. Floyd having yielded the floor for that pur-
pose;
MIR. Taylor Observed stated that, by the ex-
lStnS law all the surplus in The Treasury, besides
The ten millions annually rcscrv ed, was carried 10
the snkng fund. The present balance, nc bclcv-
ed, was about two millions. Whatever the amount
might be, II went 20 that fund. Whatever might
he saved by retrcnchmcnis would also go there.
He was perfectly willing that every necessary re-
trenchmcnt should be made, and that the ayails
shonid be conSccratcd TO this object; but he did not
suppose that II the desire of any gentleman
to make iorina. addition to thirteen millions
which were settled, by the act of 1916, as con
shutting an annual sinking fund.
MIR. Randolph now asked his colleague TO in
dulgc him the floor, while he put single cues.
ton TO the gentleman from New York
MIR. Floyd having signhed his assent
MIR. Randolph asked-Do understand the gen
tleman of affirming that the whole of the ten mil
lions has regularly been applied TO the reduction
OF The national debt?
CDeJate to be C0ntinucd)