Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-02-06

YEARS. mas paid The balances 1T ed 70 the Sink
ing una. The principal OF the p nIebt has been
extingushed TO amount exceS one mil
Mons oil dollars, and nearly tive ad for in
tetest The speedy ex,inguis Remaining
oeo' can on re arrested by some uni6nGed for nation:
al calamity has been steadily and most successful
pursued by the present and preceding administra-
"ons II is the settled policy OF this government, in
winch all men of all parties unite Wl,y then is Il NOW
oo"ss forward as If II were some new discovery.
surely ulSannot be necessary, for the purpose
nrhihs orr courage, to abolish useless officers
uu1e eAIaVaSant salaries. have been advoc' e.
sara ihr u tor raising salaries Most of the laws
ceasing them, both in the Legislative and Executive
branches OF this Government, have been passed in OPP
P'S''ioh 10 my vote When the Secretaries ut the
t!eau o' Executive Departments had smaller salaries
they lived less expensvey. They were not reonire ,
1t was not expected OF hern-that they should keep
open house and entertain al! members of Congress and
strangers, who might visit the Seat of Government,
most OF 'heie could not do it without ruin 10 their pri-
vale fortunes. When you raised their salaries tn six
thousand dollars, you did iem no service You impo-
sea upon mem The necessity Of living spenor,
bat IN less Comfort Put the salaries back to the old
standard, and they will have more time for private stu
ay' and public duties; ard doubt not you will have
their thanks.
strike from the resolution word of substance Ii
only expunees those parts, 10 some of which serious
objections apply in point of fact and all of which
at best useless. II leaves the instruction unchanr ed
ana unrestricted, IN the very words of the mover.
Mr.. BucHAx,N said hat If the House should deter
n'e TO adopt any resolution upon the subject of REFORM
at the present time, omeht contain distinct prom
ositioD atit expcdieu TO DISCHARGE the national
debt as soon as possible. For this reason he could rot
vote for the amendment offered by theGenteman from
i-'ew York MI taylor. When that gentleman moved
an amendment, which il should prevail would strike
out all that portion Of t1c or;nai resolution which reIa
ted TO the cxtnguisiment of the public debt he ex-
peeled 10 hear some urged Tor such an omission
In tins he had been iisappn;n.cd
Sir, said AIr. B know il has became vor,
IN The present day to say dischargins the pub
:. lie debt too rapidly Many depore that it is melting
away so last and although has been openly avov
ca that public debt is public blessing, yet such is
Inc necessary tendency OF the remarks which we often
hear Upon this subject, beg the House TO recur 70
the past history of the country What was the amount
of our debt before The late war; 1t had been so much
reduced That very wise and great statesman felt
himself at loss tn know in,S our surplus revenue
could be expended, ans the debt should be entirely
cx'tngnisicd 10 ACCOM- fish this purpose, amendments
TO the Constitution led. But war came
and IN less Than three years. ihe pablo cd
from forty tive TO hundred ami twenty millions Of
dollars. IL was maxim OF thu father oi his country
that III peace, It was our duty TO prepare for low
can we better prepare. an by paying debtss Ac-
cord'n 10 the system which has been pursued by Tins
Government from IFS Gigin we have resource lel,
comparatively speaking in time of war, but resort &c,
loans Ihcy aud they alone must support our credit in
tie day Ell trIa and this resource had nearly beeu
exhausted before The close oftle las, war. What has
once been, experience teaches NAV be again. =
war, by ;nmrins foreign trade would cut off MANY
OF the sources OF OF our vennn and should be cor:
PEELED again Immediately to resort 10 loans WISH
then, If possible be clear of debt when another
snail commence Our debt, reduced ii has been is
sun much larger that 1T was at the declaration of Tie
late war. y future would in very few wears
raise II higher than ever has been. am therefore
IN favor OF outstanding all resources, and APPLYING
the whole surplus, not absolutely necessary for o
OBJECTS TO the eXtingnishnen OF the national debt H.
therefore, should pass the resolution trust tina
this OBJECT will stand in the front rank
4 know that the process of distinguishing tie debt
has been rapidly advancing for several years, and
do not complain that the present Administration have
not fairly applied The sinking fund to this purpose. Al
;hongbi do not pretend to be their friend yet am
wiling 10 admit they have gone carry into effect
the law creating that fund.- which was so wisely ouac
ted by predecessors. This rapid extinguisinco,
ofthe public debt has been productive of much rood
to the country Among other benefits il has esseniis!
y promoted domestic manufactures by forcing capital
into the channel OF business Which never ,yould a,
been thus employ ed, could have remained in the Dub
lie Stock shall vote for amendment which, shall
not embrace, in distinct terms The position that ,
public DEBT ought TO be eXtiuguiscd speedily as DO,
shle.
( MIR Buchanan said, he wsula reply in a few ,yotd-
to his friend from Mary land, Mr. Barney lie rcci-
focated the term friend because me believed he could
do SO towards that gentleman with propetv. Said NJ r.
H. when expressed myself friendly to the reduction
of our per diem allowance, neither that nen;e-
man, any other upon this floor attributed nv r-
marks to the grovelng and selfish desire OF courtina
popularity The eopc ofihis country arc too clear
sighted and too intelligent to be deceir ed by sch pre-
tences here distinctly that the saving OF mo
Ct.te
reason which influenced my mind in arriving at the
conclusion that orr per diem should be reduced.
firmly believe That my constituents would not re-
gard single straw whether s,Oud vol for four or
eight dollars per day. My motion was of higher
nature. My remarks, | trust, sprung from a noble
source, If the gentleman from North Carolina MIR
CupePcr had reasoned upon the fact which he stated
and bad drawn the fair deduction from it, he would
tl'ihk feel The force OF the ks I,ic intend TO
make He says that but bill has passed into law
curing Tue present session, and that bill providing
Tor tie payment of the members Congress would
ask that gentleman why is this the case WHY has no,
more business been done; If he had ed himself these
questions, he would probably have discovered the tue
origin OF my remarks wish to speak with all dnr
Difference 10 the members of this House when say n
is my DESIRE BY reducing wages 10 make il our in
teres as well as our duty, to do the business Of the
country as II arises, and go home soon as passble
DO not wish 10 be in burry-I do not wish TO act
without due deliberations and yet, firmly believe that
The pnbC business be