Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-06-24
TWENTY FIRST CONGR aSs.
FIRST SESSION.

Extract from Tie Speech Of Mr Dauis, of Mas
sachusetts, shoUing phyNte celebrated Commit.
tee Of Retrenchmem could find aothing 10 re.
trench
A gentleman from Kentucky tNr. Chiffon
hns in a two DAYS debate. INDUCED in much
freedom Of remark, and has OCCASIONALLY made
oblique shots, at the committee on retrench.
mpnt. He would | suppose, be understood
to mean that their attention had been direc
ted 10 Insignificant subjects. while matters
OF greater uomPOs stood IN Their way, aud in
vited them 10 quicken their zeal | will do
him the justice TO say there was much m his
remarks of good bumor, bat his sSrcasms
we're occasionally somewhat caustic. aud after
have done with biGl, ! shall leave the House
to Judge whether his censurtS fell with Justice
upon the committee. While abiding to the
works Of rerenchment he took occasion 10
compare the commi'tee, or its chairman. | am
not able TO determine WHICH, 10 the fabulous
god ofthe ocean, employed in spearing min.
vows, while he was himself DIRE ched and SUI
tacated with spray and foam spouIed upon h,n
by the whale He said also, that the commit .
mttee or chairman were pursuing the Track OF a
cricket. while tbs roar OF the lion was 10 the
ear. This is but iignralive mode OF cha & ng
upon us derel CoD of dry. The gentleman
proceed from these and Other circumstances
TO draw tue Inference that Tetrenchment has
become farce and Ia his despair at the fail
nre to redeem the pledges which have been
made 10 diminish the number Of officers, he re
sorts for consolation to the pointed moral
con fSned in the fable of The fox aud flies, and
concludes that II is wiser for a suffering people
to bear the sting OF those partly satlated than 10
A L. -. 81.
sors with keener appetites. IL is not my pur-
pose 10 custom the uUih of his differences, for
he may know more ofthe signs Of the times
than do he may haye better information
than possess. bu, will assure him if ms pro-
pllecies are correct, the committee are blame
less.
| will show the gentleman that we have
not been as needless and inatteniiye 10 our du-
tirs as his suggestions would imply. We had
launched our bark upon the very sea where
the ieviathan was represented 10 be, prepared,
NOT with spear, but hTpoOn, TO put nm end
to its ravages If we could discover him but
there was 10 rloting IN The water there, no
dariRg 10 the contest, bnt all was calm and
TRANQUIL In the cruise we fell in with the high
admiral of your, fleet, and spoke him. and re-
ceived for Intelligence, that he too had been
cruising for the same purpose, bat had entered
in his log book that the search had been vain
and frnitless. II, therefore, this freebooter
exists, he has eluded our vigilance.
!" lie, me tell tina, gentleman. also, that we
have entered that forest where he SAID the lion's
roar was heard, and have penetrated 10 ITS far
thest verge, but we saw mol the footsteps nor
heard the sounds Of this beast oil Prey In tbs
excursion We met the commRndef OF your land
forces and he reported that be had examined
the secret recesses OF the forest for The same
purpose. hllt his search was vain and ffullless.
If, therefore. this plunderer exists, he too has
eluded our obse walton.
"It is known TO all who hear me, that heavy
accusations had gone forth against those who
held public office. They were charged with
corruption, idIeness and Frohigate expendi-
ture Of money, and so mnCn excitement was
created that comsDittee was raised IN The last
Congress Ia investigate these accusations. Inc
members OF this House are well acquainted
with the result of the labors Of the committee.
II was said then, by one of much authority and
saoac,tv in uolitics, now is not the accepted
time to purity the government /; we must walt
until the Executive offices are filled by our
friends for it will be in vain 10 attempt It whlie
our adyeTsaries hold them For this, or some
oIhcr reason, the matter rested here until the
present Chief Magistrate entered upon ms u"-
ties At the opening of this Congress, he re.
vyed the topic IN his Message, deemihg II OF
su cient public interest and Importance to m
wife the attention of the two Houses 10 IL
I'm pursuance Of This communication, the com
miitee on retrenchment was appointed by the
House. This part Of the message was their
charter, and defined the limits OF their JuIis-
diction. And here must ask the House to
recolect what il is. The. President makes
accusations against no one. lie brings Ihe
charge Of deoess and pronigacy against no
one he makes no complaint against the con-
duct OF his subordinate officers; he does not
sav that they are paid too much: But he does
ssy il is proper TO inquire whether any 9th
COS ought TO be abolished, aud whether the ex.
nenses Of the government cannot be advanta'
c.ously retrenched but he asks for inquiry n
iope for the mere ascertaDment OF tho tact, not
In cut down this man, or TO lop of that. lhe
committee were not called upon to inquire into
this expenditure or that, but merely 10 enquire
if abuses exist and it is my purpose 10 sho"
thai thew perform d this duty with zeal and IL
doli,v. An accusation had gone abroad thai
.he several departments were plunged IN the
denrhs of moral filth and degradation. The
n,ess had proclaimed and reiterated the charge
that they were great Augean stable, wh'ch
REQUIRED the arm Of Hercules to cleanse ana
nurify il. The source OF prohigacy ana PEE
cnlaiion was represented TO he there and 1t rs
hut natural, when the committee were on, upon
;noniry that they should direct their attention
- .h;s great fountain of pollution. They did
en- They took an early opportunity 10
- .ck q, the door of the Navy Office, aud in
onre in the terms of the message, whether the
t.nd of ! form or retrenchment could be here
smnioved TO advance the interest Of the nation.
Thsy were courte ously received by the head
If hat department, and frankly answered that
,hsrs 40, ro work for ,tsm there. a Ike as-