Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-13
Congressional.
MIR. HAMILTON'S SPEECH,
On closing the business offhe Committee on
Refrenchmeitt.

| NH ctOSiUg re business OF The Committee "a
| Refre1schmeit.
| FRIDAY, FEBRUARY ~
Mr.. Hamilton, from the Select Committee on
keuenchment, submitted the following report and
the accompanying resolutions:
1.-The Committee on Retrenchment beg leave 10
report-Ihat having presented TO the House vari-
Gus bills and resolutions, consequent on such abu-
ses, legislative and administrative, TO which they
! thought corrective ought TO be applied, (upon
which bills and resolutions, the shortness of the
session and the interposi,ion OF bills of public
tnre, having priority on the calender, have pre-
Guided the action Of Congress,) they deem it i'm
portant before the close of their;labors that the
House should distinctly express its opinion on The
Following cardinal subjects OF public econsmy:
L. BE it resolred, That as no free people
should be burdened with Unnecessary taxation, tits
eNpedien to pay the public debt with all convenient
despatch.
2. Reso'ued. That this House has right to ex-
pect, that the Executive will submit to Congress,
ut Its next session, comprehensive system of re-
trenchment, which shall extend to the looping of
all useless offices, and to the securing more
effective accountability in those which are retained.
8. Resofred, That a retrenchment of the fixed,
as well as contingent expenditures OF Congress, is
indispensably necessary; more especially the
last, which are essentially liable to3abuse."
Mr. Hamilton said, that the report and resolu-
tons which he bad just had the honor to submit
TO the House, formed the sequel of the labors OF
the Committee on Retrenchment and il was in
obedience to the express instructions OF that COM
nhttee, that he pressed for. the immediate consid
Grafton and prompt adoption of the report, as the
only atonement which they could make the coun-
try, Tor failing to act on the several bills which
the committee has some time since felt il their du-
ty to report, which would furnish, il passed into
laws, correctives for abuses not Of doubtful exs-
tence; and he was sorry to say if not arrested by
timely Legislation, they were much more likely to
increase than diminish. For corruption in the boz
dy polite was like gangrene i'll the body physical;
spread it would, unless counteracted by astrin-
gents and salutary tonics
He was sure that the Committee would stand
acquitted oil any neglect for not pressing mpor;u-
nately, and, as il would have proved, unavailing-
y, the consideration of these bills on the attention
OF the House, when it was recollected that they
were all reported during the discussion Of the bills
for the occupation Of the Columbia river, and the
repair OF the Cumberland road.-The deep and per-
Vading interest which both of these measures
cited, the length OF time which their discussion
consumed, rendered hopeless the interposition of
any other public bills, excepting the appropriation
acts, which were yet before the House, furnish
ing him at the very moment lie spoke, with the
strongest proof that 1t was no fault of the Commit
tee, that the country would have to look forward
to the great work Of retrenchment, rather as a
blessing that was to be expected, than afrui,ion
which was now TO be enjoyed. Thus circumstanc-
ed, the Committee considered the next best thing
TO the actual contamination of important reforms,
was to pledge this House-this popular organ Of
the People, las far as we could bind our success
sors,) TO commence this necessary and salutary
81
portant TO make this pledge a matter of record, by
adopting the Report and Resolutions he had Just
submitted.
In this state of things the committee were con-
soled by one conviction, that the bills they had
matured, prepared by careful! examination of ex-
isting abuses, would serve the land marks for
those who were to come after them. These bills,
nine In number, covering wide field, were cal
cuiated TO coeTee, he believed, frugal, yet wise
saving OF the public money, and 10 esta bsh more
searching accountability for the public expendi-
lures. These measures had been founded on the
plain and manifest principle, that the highest eff
cheney and integrity in the administration of pub
lie trusts, would bear very nearly an exact ratio
to the degree Of Responsibility by which both were
systematically coerced; and with this view the
committee had asssled those pecuniary trusts with
m the discretion Of the executive, whenever they
could be Topped off without injury to the public
service The bills which they reported in reIa-
ton to the foreign intercourse; to the reorganza-
hon Of the Treasury; for the establishment OF
board Tor the adjustment OF all claims against the
Government; for the abolition Of Offices vs. hch they
deemed useless; and lastly, the wholesome cor
receive which they proposed TO apply to that co.
pious source OF all prodigality and expense, the
proracted duration ofthe alternate sessions of Con-
gress usually called the long sessions, which were
likely TO become in the process Of time, an appel,a-
ton oil as much oboquy the long Parliament IT.
sell, were pledges at least OF the honest zeal with
which the committee desired 10 discharge the du-
ties oil the high trust with which they had been
no nored.
II was true, said Mr.. II. that the committee had
not proposed reduction of the salary attached to
any office, which they deemed il important 10 the
pubic interest to retan because they were salts
ned, that the very purpose Of reform is often de-
leased by miserable parsimony, which contents
itself with cutting of part of the Just remunera-
ton to honorable service, without looking 10 what
was infinitely Of more Importance, to the dminu.
ton oil the number OF public agents and to the sim
pliiyiDg oil the details OF the public business A
wise economist has said, that an entail OF no.
verify and dependence is bad reward OF merit;
and he might have added, that it is an act OF inn
policy equally as cruel 10 the public itself Ads-
quate, aud even liberal compensations to public a.
gents, are the best recipes for private integrity
on which an efficient public spirit must rest at last
as lis surest foundation. To starve pubIic SER
want, and at the same time TO subject him TO temp.
taon, was at TO tell him that he was A. Iibey
ty TO indemnify himself for your neanness, pro-
vIded he had the cunning 10 eIude your detection
Mr. Hamilton said, that he felt warranted in
declaring That the committee were generally of
opinion, that the salaries were not too high for
those Offices or solid usefulness which il was eE
pedent not 10 abosh--tiIat they amounted to not
more than the price which talent required TO I'LL
them, would command in market OF
competition, whilst there a censurable prod-
gaty in retaining, al the smallest conceivable
sum, any office which was, in itself, either use
less or superluous.
He said, he would now take the liberty NJ add.
ing few words in relation 10 the rcsolutions in
the order in which they stand, and he was happv
TO the House, that the self evident and Ak.
tomato truths which they involved, compelled
him 10 be brief, even II he were not Disposed IN
consult what was the inclination Of tho House a.
well as his own.
lst' That as no free people should be bUrihcn- |,
ca WIN unnecessary taxation, ~ is expedent 10 pay
the public debt with all convenient dispatob.