Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-04-05

lc[NnS Ill Tie ucDatc. TIC Coulu nol s't lucTe
without pointing out that this affair OF thirty
millions Of surplus revenue was all an lu.
sion. There was no such surplus. There
appeared to be such asurplus, because Con.
gress had reached the fourth month otthelr
session, and the appropriation bills had not
yet been passed. The money which ap-
pcarcd to be surplus was all pledged to
various objects, the appropriation bills for
which were yet to be passed. Tic thanked
gentlemen for reminding him that the ma.
joritics had changed in the Senate. And
he meant now to admit 70 the: American
People that tic majority should be respon-
sible, hereafter, for the public business. Yes,
four whole months had passed away, the
time for laying in the materials for erecting
Notifications was going by, and no appro-
prIatlon bills had been passed. lie was
determined hereafter to ask tho yeas and
nays On every question, in order that it
might be seen who would obstruct the pub
lie business. At the very moment when
vote was about to betalsen on the Fortifica-
tions bill, it was decided, by vote taken by
yeas and nays, that this bill should be stop.
ped for the purpose .oftaken up the bill to
give away the public lands. 1t was an H.
Iusion to talk of thirty millions surplus re-
venue. 1t was an illusion because the ap-
preparation bills had not been passed no,
not even the Cumberland road bill; for. al
though that bill had passed the Senate, it
it did not pass until after an account had
been made out by the Department and the
most injurious delay, had taken place. And
now, having made up showy account, we
are to tell the People that this moncyis I'm.
properly distributed, that ten millions are
given to one State, and million and half
to another. 1t was all an illusion. 1t was
putting out 4 golden fly, false bait, to catch
| the People. He had determined to call up
| the defence bills early next week, and sec II
the public business was not be carried on,
now that the Jackson party had the .maon.
ty.
| Instead of calling on the Treasury De.
partment for return of the amouHtsof the
| revenue in the Treasury at the date Of the
last examination, why did not gentlemen
call for theamount ofsurplus revenue which
there would be after all the appropriations
of the session shall have been paid. The
! appropriation bills had been delayed for four
months to swell this mass ofarparent accu-
mutation and when it had been ,swcllcd rs
much as possible TO the highest point, it lis
held out to the People that thereis asurp!us
oftwcnty- millions to be divided among
them. Although there seems to be so large
sum in the Treasury, before the adjourn.
ment ofCongress appropriations must pass:
which will dispose Of fifteen or twenty mil.
lions. Let no gentleman decide, even tor
HIMSELF how much will be appropriated.
Let no gentleman decide, even for himself
what will be required in our navy yards,
and for our fortifcations. Hitherto, few
works have been commenced at time, and
those have been finished before others have
been commenced. But 1t may now be ne
cessary to begin at once at many different.
points. A resolution has been passed call.
ing on the President for a,return OF all the
points on our coast at which Notifications
are required. The report, in answer to that
resolution, may be expected daily. Gen.
tIemen, therefore, should not commit their
opinions on these points. Every thing
which could be spared ought to be expended
on the fortifcations.
The evil Of the inniction Of paper he
would only touch for the purpose Of refer
ring to remedy. That remedy would be
found in the first act ofCongress after the
formation of the Constitution. The act of
1889 provided that nothing but gold and
silver should be received in payment of the
public revenue. He hoped this would b.
the case again. He hoped the Senate
would not rise without being called on to
give vote on this question.
The danger which had been referred to-
was not so great as gentlemen seemed to
apprehend.. About year ago, it was as
tonishing to see the amount of gold and
silver which came into this country. Since
that time we had seen no such accounts,
because the country had been flooded with
paper, which at first prevented the inunda-
ton of specie, and then drove out Of the
country what had found its way here. lie
should call on the Senate for vote on this
question before the adjournment.
Mr.. Ewing did not concur in the views
of the Senator from Missouri, that a full
treasury was necessary to meet the appro..
priation bills. Ifthere were put five mil.
lions the public exchequer, it would be
perfectly safe to. go on, make the appropria.
.tions, & pay as the money came in. These
appropriations would not lessen the amount
ofthe surplus. Not at all. Itwere idle
to suppose so. On the contrary, it would
continueto increase. about twenty.three
millions were to be appropriated, and that
would be easily derived from the customs
and other sources, while the sale of the pub. |