Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-06-20
PUBLIC EXPENDITURES.

We are told by the Federal press, that III
expenditures ofthe administration of Genert
jackson and Martin Van Buren, we're MUG
greater than those ofthe administration ON
Adams. Thirteen millions year is svss''.b b
the extent of the public xpenditu1E;,s2o rin
Mr.. Adams administration 81 39,000(Ydu
that of Mr. Van Buren,. In ordeE ,preser
the question in its fairest aspecyf.ESttS til pa
s 'iS;' ~s Hf''' the following 1%P"'i'S' a"
1. In the first place and the appropriation
for 1889 amount, in round numbers, to the sur
of $38000,000. OF this the item of S 10000
900 must be deduced, which was appropriate
for the contingency ofemploying $4,000 volun
teers for the Maine service. That will not b.
needed; so we may reduce the sum from SO Il
90 millions.
2. The Post Office during Mr. Adams's ad
mnlstratlon, was a seperate department. |
collected and paid out its own money; but the
law has since been altered, and an appropria
ton is now annually made for its support
though not one dollar Of the appropriation is
ever paid by the Treasury. The sum appro-
priated this year, for this branch o(the public
service, is $5,0OO,OOO. This sum deducted
$98,OOO,0O0, reduces the ordinary expenditures
TO $23,O0O,OOO.
3. But we have another deduction to make
the sum of $l,850,000 for the Florida war,
over and above the expenses ofthe regular ar
my; measure for which the Admir- istration is
not responsible. This deduction reduces ordi-
nary expenses 10 .$21, 10000. But there is
more yet.
4. The policy ofremoyng the Indians west
OF the Mississippi was specially approved by
Mr.. Adams, but its execution was not attempted
until after the close of his term of service. As
the expense Of the measure is not chargeabe
to the profigacy or extravaganza ofthe Admin.
lstratlon, and is no part Of the ordinary expen-
dItures OF the Government, the appropriations
may with great propriety be deducted. The
amount is $l,765,000, which lessons the 49,
100000 down TO $19,385OOO.
3. Then comes an appropriation of 50 $780,
600 Tor pensions, which is probably five times
as much as was paid during the Administration
OF Mr.. Adams, and asthis is not for the support
oil the Government, and the Administration of
is not responsible for it, it must be deducted, as
matter of course, from the 100000. TheI
amount of the expenditures for the support of
the Governments thus reduced 10 81 G, 1856, 900.
6. Then comes three extraordinary appro-
prations for the protection OF the Northern and
Western frontiers, and for military road, in
cldent 10 our present relations with the British
and Indians, which reduce the 38,OO0,OOO down
to 16,255,0OO.
7. The survey the coast, which is no part
Of the expense of supporting the Govern
ment, requires an appropriation of 100000,
which deducted from the gross sum, reduces
the $38,00,000 down to 16.I65,OOO.
8. The public buildings make necessary the
following appropriations: For the Treasury
building 100000, for the Post Office building,
$4,000; for the new Patent Office, $4,000;
for jail in Washington, $4,000; for the Gus
tom-house in New York, $4,000; for the
Custom-house in Boston,, $4,000 These are
all proper items for deduction, and reduce the
$38,OOO,O0O down to $15,6lO,OOO. This sum
we doubt not, might be reduced still lower; but
we are willing to please the Federal press by
allowing that it takes $15,61O,OOo year &c
support the Government under Mr.. Van Blu
ren's Administration. Now, if S13,O0O,OO(
| was nothing but an economical expenditure
! twelve or fourteen years ago, it is most mani
fest, considering the altered condition of the
country, that 100000 is less, in proportion
TO the wants of the people, than $13, OOO,OOt
| then was; and consequently, that Mr.. Van Blu
( ren's administration is more economical thai
4 was that Of Mr.. Adams's.
J [Norwich (Ct) aurora.
The above apology for the extravagant expenditure
OF the Administration, has been extensively circulated
by the loco-foco press and is referred to by some Al
conclusive evidence Of the rigid economy of Mr.. Var
Buren, 1t may be possible that there exist some who
have been iofeordaned to be Ignorant in spite of ex
perience," and who have been endowed with 6
superabundance credulity whom such an apology
may be satisfactory and there may be Others whose
reasoning faculties have been so warped by prejudice
and sefinterest, that they will readily assent to any
conclusion favorable TO the Administration which feeds
them-"where the heart pleads the cause, the under
standing will be favorable judge" but that the body
the people consider tho above apology for Van Blu
rcn's extravaganza any thing short of insult tc
common sense, is to assume the existence OF popular
ignorance extensive as to preclude capabilty Of
discerning difference between Is and IS.
In CHANGING over the argument of the "Aurora," il
cannot escape the observation of the reader, that
allowance made for those items in the appropriation
under Mr. Adams Administration, which by the apol
gis of Mr. Van Buren, arc termed, no part Of the or
binary expenditures of the government, and which