The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-06-13
P0hIZgIOAIho
MIR. BUCHANAN'S REMARKS.

MIX. BUCHANAN'S REMARKS.
Mr.. BUCHANAN said : rejoice at this days
debate. 1t has been the most propitious
day for eliciting truth which we have seen
since the commencement of the session.
Its consequences, for good or for evil,m must
be felt, and will be felt either by our friends
in the Opposition or by ourselves. am
most Wiling TO abide the result.
do not rise 10 discuss any of the great
questions agitated to-day, which have not
an immediate bearing on the subject before
the Senate. My purpose is, SO far as my
voice can be heard, 10 fix the attention of
the Senate and the country upon the very
question now at issue between the two great
political parties; which is, have the present
Administration been guilty of an extrava-
giant and wasteIul expenditure Of the public
money?
AS to the result of the next Presidential
election;-I shall never make that subject
of discussion in this body, unless | should
be forced into it by Senators in the Opposi-
ton. In passing, l would merely say,
"Let not him that girdeth on his harness
boast himself, as he that putteth it off,
shall never raise the shout of victory, until
the battle has been fought and won;although
! may feel great confidence in the result
The event, under Providence, is in the
hands of the American people; and this
days debate will essentially serve TO enlight
en- their judgment and to influence their de-
cision.
MIR. Van Buren, came into Office on the
4th of March, 1887. Since that day, we
must all admit that the Treasury has not
been full. On the contrary,we have found
difficulty ever since in raising the ways and
means. This fact we Cannot deny and il
we have been guilty Of extravagant and un-
necessary expenditures Of the public money
within that period, we can neither Justify
nor excuse ourselves under the plea of an
overfowing Treasury. We desire 10 es-
cape from this charge under no such sub.
terfuge. We boldly deny the accusation
of extravaganza referred against US by ouI
political opponents, and demand the proofs
by which it is to be sustained.
In order TO establish their accusation, ,tha
this Administration has been guilty OF al
extravagant and unnecessary expenditure o.
the peoples money since the 4th of March
1887, they must clearly and distinctly poin
out the items and the objects Of this exlrav
agant and unnecessary expenditure. We
call upon them for their bill of particulars
We ask them where, when, and how, have
these expenditures been incurred Vague
and general charges of extravaganza, al.
though clothed in the most eloquent Ian
guage, amount'to nothing. We call for
specifca,ions-for items. By this report
from the Secretary OF the Treasury, we
furnish our opponents with the best weap'
ons to assail US, if we are vulnerable. 1t
enumerates, under different heads all the
expenditures of public money since the
present Administration came into power
II presents the subject, item by item, and
makes an aggrEga!e for the last year (l939)
Of thirty-seven millions of dollars, The
permanent and regular expenses of the Go
vernment, during that year, did not reach
thirteen millions and half; and it has new
or 10 my knowledge, been asserted, either
by friend or foe, that under any system Of
wise economy, they could have been reduc-
ed below this sum. The remaining TWEEN.
ty-three millions and a half Il speak in
round numbers) consists of eleven millions
expended in the payment of the public debt
which we were compelled to create in con-
sequence of the bank explosion of 1887 ;
and twelve millions and half appropriated
by Congress for the purpose of meeting ex-
iraordinary and temporary expenditures
which we allege were unavoidable. We
now come TO the very point in controversy.
This is question Of figures; and honorable
Senators in the Opposition are called upon
with the report OF the Secretary of the
Treasury in hand, TO lay their finger upon
those items of expenditure, whether oIdina-
ry or extraordinary, which they condemn.
Let them poln: out such as could have been
avoided. This, ard this alone, is the mode
by which they can establish the charge of
extravaganza against the present Admins
tration. Now, sir, our case is presented.-
The heads OF our expenditure are before
the Senate, and the people of the United
States, in an official and authentic form;and
feeble as may be, am willing to take up
the guantlet, and do battle with any Of our
political opponents in defence of the pres
ent Administration against this charge.
shall not refer to the journals for the pur-
pose of proving that they themselves have
voted in detail for the very expenditures
which they now condemn in mass. This
has never been my practice. | take these