Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1839-06-08
From the Richmond Enquirer.
THE EXPENDITURES OF THE GOV.
ERNMENT


grel Opposition 10 deceive you, none IS more ire
Rqueniy Tesured Ia than tie charge of eXtravsFanrc
alleged against the present Republican Aintin>tra-
iinn. Indeed, Il seems now almost the sole re-
source eft ol The many eXpedrutS which have been
iret without success. II Is Impossible 10 opan
Wing paper, without meeting Ills charge staring Us
full IN the face, paraded with all the arts Of decep-
ton, m figures OF rhetoric as well as of arithmetic
IL IS perhaps UNJUST however, TO attribute all th.>
outcry to iIsud and hypocrisy. Much Of 1t, doubt.
| less, proceeds from ignorance. There never was
party whose oracCs were deficient IN information
as that Of modern Nmgery' There never was
faction which counted So largely upon the ignorance
and creduhiy oil It's followers. Arrngatug 20 Itself
all the Intelligence well as the refinement of the
country, It IS yet emo gh to make one blush TOR
large portion Of our community, To witness tie kind
OF arguments and information which is addressed
rather to It's preiudceS than 10 Ms reason have
often been surprised that the really intelligent mem
bcrS of thar party did net sometimes ee themselves
iusulted at the appeals made 10 them hy their adj
! INC men, but more particularly by their leading
presses They are by no means haDterlrp, either To
! them or 10 the country. But my business now IS
with the EXPENDITURES
And first, would remark. that the charge, to
which, have alluded can only come with good
grace from those who have proved ty their acts
they devotion 10 economy. Whenever therefore,
HEAR men declaming with ndgnaton upon tins sub
| lec who belong 10 a party winch has sanctioned
nay proposed and urged, VI the most objectionable
and extravagant expenditures of The Government
| cannot help thinking that their complaints are in
sincere, and their objects selfish Is II not ltlle
curious, thai they should find fault with their
acts, and cry out against Others for their own mis-
deeds II is rather too bad thai men should, as
shall have occasion to prove 10 you directly, pro-
| inr no
by every sort of combination and coercion, excess
i've expenditures, regardless Of all remnnStrance or
| resistance, and then 20 home and make these very
| expenditures the foundation for eliminating that
Government and the party by which it is sustained
II ynn have any respect for yourselves, you viii not
suffer in your representatives course 50 hvpucrti-
cat dSiugeuuous and unfair; so insulting 10 your
intelligence and outrageous 10 your OF Justice.
You will tell them that it does not become them To
complain OF their own mlSdCeds, or visit then own
sins upon the heads of others. Common sense and
common honesty equally forbds it, Much less can
these abuses be employed as arguments 10 induce
you to transfer the Government INTO the hands of
party which has identified Itself with all these OBJ
noXous acts; which has ayowed no restraining
scruples which has supported and will ever Sus-
tain and urge every expenditure however needless,
exlravagant, or unconstitutional. This were to hy
liom abuses, To the protection of those who do not
consider them as such, but The legitimate offspring
OF their avowed principles and policy II even the
resistance OF the Democratic party, bound as it is
! by the doctrine of strict nStrucion-restrained
| by its often declared principles Of economy-pedg-
ed against the miscalled American system, in ALI It's
| branches, has been unable to stem tie torrent of
extravaganza, what are YOU to hope from party
! winch has, in body, supported all these excessive
| expenditures; whDse Interpretation Of the Consttr-
ton Is sufficiently elastic 10 cover any lavish object
which is devoted To banks tariffs Internal improve.
ments BY The General Government, and all those
usurpations which have not only wastcfulIy msap-
| piled our natona treasure but yated our free
| system Of Government
But 10 come to the charges themselves We are
| told that the expenditures Of the Administrations Of
Gen Jackson and Mr. Van Buren, were much great
er than those of the Administration of Mr. Adam.
Now, mere increase OF expenditure is not always a
proof OF extravaganza and If this exist il behooyes
| US To inquire with whom lies the fault EXtaya-
| gance implies useless, waStelul uncalIed for eXpcn
! dure 1t would scarcely be fair to accuse Nj Ma
olson Of extravaganza, because the Disbursements
OF the Government were much more than qua
druped during several years of his Adminislra.
ton. These, il is well known were years of war,
and It would he ridiculous 10 compliment the Admin
| lslratun of Mr. Adams for superior economy at the
! expense Of that Of Mr. Madison, because, ~ 1927,
| ilt tAptHhtb III tHC government amounted bul 10
| $2,653,095. Yet, as we sha! presently see. this
sort Of comparison and argument is resorled to- for
the purpose OF establishing the charge Of exlrava-
! rance against the Administrations OF Gen Jackson
and Mr. Van Buren, In order to present tie ques-
ton IN its iairest aspect for both parties will state
il thus:
The average annual exper dItures Of the Govern
ment exclusive of the public debt and Of the Post
Office Department, from ls25 to 1923 inclusive,
under the Administration Of J. G Adams, were
Sl2,625,477. The average annua expenditures Of
the Government, exclusive of the public debt and
Of the Post Office Department, from 1929 10 1887,
inclusive, under the administration ol Gen Jackson
and Mr. Van Buren,, we've $40, 0s3l Here
then is considerable difference, and one which re-
quires explanation. commence by deducing
!. The sums paid from rust funds, such as the
indemnles received from foreign powers wlich +,
would be ridiculous 10 can expenditures Of the 90.
rernment They were debts due TO our citizens
which they had almost given up in despair, but which
| were recovered by the energy of General jackson,
whose great benefits 10 the mercantile classes have
been but poorly appreciated by The greater number
As il is necessary to bring them to the apprupra-
ton bills before distributions they have been habltn-
ally Jumped with the expenditures Of his admins
ration for tie purpose of deception, BY the mag
unanimous Wing orators and scrlbbers The aver
age annual payments on ms account rom 1879 ~
1887, have exceeded the average annual payments
on tile same account from 1875 10 1878, by tie sum
OF sos 1873
2. The sums paid in satisfaction Of revolution
nv claims, and balances due 10 the States account
OF advances during Tie last war and at other tunes
being, in reality. part Of tie public debt Of the
country. The average annual payments on this ac-
count, from 1929 10 1887 have exceeded the aver
age annual payments on the same accounts, from
1895 to 1929, by the sum Of S276,043
8. Revolutionary pensions. -Four Of the princi-
pa pension laws have been enacted OF brought into
operation since the commencement Of General Jack
sons administration VIZ the acts of 1898, 81 50,
an 'Ss. These several acts have increased the list
of pensioners To AZ, 500or the proprety OF this IL
beral retrbuli0B, it is not my intention 10 speak at
large. Tha the system has been carried too far, all
a..L lIat 4. -. ar.a...a sar.nl.. hur.en