Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-01

ablished upon a permanent foundation, by an ex-
'endiiure of 81 ,6SS,i4i; constituting very large
addition To the general expenditures of the nation
or the period, but now universally CONSIDERED "a
most beneficial expenditure. At present, il costs
upwards OF sSi,200,O 900 year, aud is fully worth |
what It costs Ii is unnecessary 10 dwell upon the
territory that has been acquired, the extension
yer It o! the cares of Government, and the con
luent Increase OF expense But one branch of the |
public service may be sufficient. TO show how the |
operations Of the Government, and, at the same
time, the accommodation and convenience of the
citizen. have grown with the growth OF the nation.
In the year lI9l, there were but 50 post offices
in the United States; the amount OF postages was
1921; and the extent of post roads was I,905
miles. La the last year, (lS27J there were 1917
post Offices; the amount OF hostages 81 i73 $751;
and the extent of post roads was so, 1874 miles.
comparisons OF one year with another, or OF one
period with another, must, however, be extremely
unsatisfactory and inconcusive. BY this process, it
might be proved, that one Administration, or even
one and the same Congress, was extravagant, as
compared with itself For example la the year
1913, under the Presidency of Washington, the
expenditure was ) us, I29; in 1894 S35oO, 3iS;
and in l795, $a,s5o $50 In 1876, also under his
Presidency, it was reduced TO 81 53l 1870. So, in
the Presidency Of Mr. jefferson, the expenditure
was, in 1902 81, 1871 ,DI9; in 1909 81 002, S24; in
loU4 s., f52, 1856; in 1905, $685. ,23i; in 1906,
S6,0SO, l09; and in 1907 1T was reduced 10 81 9S4,
5I2; and, in lS0S it again TO sc, 50i ,333. In
the first year OF Mr.. Madison's Presidency, the ex
penditure exceeded that of the preceding year IL
bout one million of dollars. 1t must be obvious,
IRON this view, that the mere amount Of eXpendi-
t,ire, III any given year, can furnish evidence,
that the Government was either extravagant or e
economical. Nor can the comparison of the aver
ages oil expenditure, for given periods, lead to any
inore satisfactory conclusion. For such compar-
'soh would show, that the average expenditure of
the government. during the Presidency of Mr..
Jefferson, was nearly double that during the Pres
idency OF Washington, from which it was separat
ell by an interval OF only four years; the former
being 50, l37 ,59S 81, and the latter, G2,794,22l.
1t would also show that, under the Presidency of
Mr.. nj adison which Immediately succeeded that Of
Mr. Jefferson, there was in addition to the average
annual expenditure OF on million oil dollars. or
s'tth OF the whole. Besides, il is perfectly famaliar
10 every one, that the expenditure OF given year
may and generally does, in part, arise from appro
9ria'ions made and authorities given at antecedent
periods.
Ii it should be said that, at the times referred
30. the expenditures for useful and valuable
purposes; the answer would undoubtedly be cor
rect 1t is the only true answer in all such cases;
and 1t brings al TO this conclusions, viii L.
believed to be entirely just, that it is the character
OF the expenditure, and not its amount, which must
determine whether il is extravagant or economi-
cal. To arrive at any certain satisfactory result,
At would be necessary, 20 examine each object OF
expenditure, 10 consider il by itself, and i'll its
'ation to the general concerns oil the country; and
then TO decide whether IT Is worth what il costs
Such an inquiry would, iii effect, he cKainina
ton OF the whole structure OF the Government, in
Its general bearing, and in all its details But this
is the very work which CONGRESSES constantly en-
gagged in, and has been engaged in, from the be-
ginning to the present time Every expenditure
has had It's origin IN some measure which Congress
have deliberately decided be proper, and dii
ed to be carried into effect; and every such eKpen-
titure owes its continuance TO the continued con-
vction OF Congress, that the measure which occa
Sons it, Is suited TO the circumstances and wants OF
the country. W hat the system Is, which has ,hus
been successfully built up, what the parts of
which II is composed, and what each of them costs,
may be seen from the statement of expenditures
already presented. Some of the items will be re-
terred 10 hereafter. In the meantime, il is only
necessary to remark as further exposition OF the
views intended to be presented, that, if the same
tuss nIore than another, this would naturally lead
TO inquiry, tho it might still be very satisfactorily
explained. But II the amount of service has been
increased OF the objects OF expenditure multiplied,
the increase oil expenditure is matter OF course
ard can occasion neither surprise nor inquiry
NOW, this Is precisely the fact in regard TO the 60
Vcrninent. 1t follows, then, that to establish that
Il greater amount oil money was expended i'm the
years 1922, g. H. than in the years 1909 10. III
or that graater amount was expended in 1925 IS
Z, than III 1922 3, 4, proves no more than il does
10 show Gas the fact was) that the expenditure of
IsO9, 10, IL, exceeded by million year, the
average expenditure OF the eight preceding years
can be made OF it-that Congress, in the Just ex-
ercse OF their constitutional power, for which they
are accountable TO the people, have thought CON
cucive to the public good, to enlarge or to multi
Ply the objects of pu.lic expenditure, and have
found il practicable to do So without Inconvenience
TO the public.
But there is a limit and check to public eKuen-
diturc, OF a much more precise kind than any of
those which have been adverted to- and furnishing
a good test oil the economical chlrac,ero Of Gov
eminent, or the contrary; and is now brou rht in
TO view with great satisfaction and is deserving of
ihuch consideration, because ii evinces the prac-
teal excellence of our institutions well as con-
tinued conformity to their true spirit in those who
have been, and continue to be oEti us.ed gilh the
conduct of our public affairs. The expenditure of
Government must. in some shape or other, be pro-
yided by contributions of the citizen The rev.
enue from the customs, fall. upon the consump-
ton; 1t has the advantage OF being cheaply and
easily collected land the further and greater alyan-
tage. mentioned by Mr.. Jefferson, that the great
mass OF the articles on which mpost is paid, are
foreign articles, purchased by those only who are
rich enough to afford themselves the use of them
Still, when levied for the purpose of the revenue.
II is contribution Ivy the citizens for the support Of
Tie Government The total revenue, derived from
contributions of every kind, exhibits the amount
contributed by the citizens, and compared with the
whoie number o. the citizens, exhibits the propo-
lion OF an individual. These contributions NAV be
termed the burhens upon the people; sud, as these
Durthens are lighter heavier the conditions of
nose subjected to them il, IN this respect better
Or worse. This them is the limit and the test re- /!
erred 10. The minority Of the Committee, do not |
mean 10 institute comparison with any other Go !
has OF en- been made, and every ont |
;nows how much to the advantage of our own
put THIS they do Intend 10 say-and they think il
deserving OF the closest attention-that the bar
hens upon the citizen have not been increased.
nat Is to say, that the contribution of each indi-
rfluN /. 4