The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-05-29

have the picture in his own hand that he might
contemplate it at his own treside, and at his full
leisure. He could wish every citizen to possess
copy of this report, now received from the Sccre,
tary of the Treasury, under the call of the Senate,
and printed by his order; he could wish every
citizen to possess one of these authentic copies
hearing the impriMGiure the American Senate (;
but that was impossible and, limiting his action to
what was impossible, he would propose TO print
such number of extra copies as would enable some
to reach every quarter OF the Union. He knew
that the report could easily 90 through the news
papers, (ior it was very Short and he hoped that
it would appear in every paper that was a friend to
truth and to fir draling--thut wished to give cor
rect information TO It's readers lie hoped iiwould
appear in all such papers but that was not suif-
ciart. The newspaper Publications were not sul-
cently free from evil 10 answer his purpose; no pub
irnlion could be sufficient but the one made BY the
order of the Senate and therefore, he wished the
document ilselflo go forth, with the Senatorial i'm
PREMATURE upon it, in sufficient numbers TO reach
every qnartei of the Union. He wished large
number to be printed but would not suggest any
particular number until he had first given to the
Senate some view Of the papers themselves, and
thus show them to be worthy of the most ample
multiplication, and Of the most extensive du-
sion.
Mr. 7. then opened the tables, and explained their
character and contents. The first one (markedA
consisted Of three columns, and exhibited the ag-
gregatc, and the classified expenditures Of the
Government from the year 1924 to 1885, inclu-
sive; the second one (marked B) contained The de
tailed statement Of the payments annually made
on account of all temporary or extraordinary Obe
iects, including the public debt, for the same peri
3D. he second table was explanatory of the third
column of the first one ; and the two taken togeh-
er, would enable every citizen to see the actual cx-
pendiures, and the comparative expenditures of
the Government for the whole period which he had
mentioned
Mr. b. than examined the actual and the COM
paraIive expenses of two of the years, taken from
the two contrast2d periods referred to, and invoked
the attention Of the Senate to the results which the
comparison would exhibit. lie took the first and
The last of the years mentioned in the tnblcs-thc
years 1924 and iS39-and began with the first
item in the fits: column. This showed the aggre-
gate expenditures for every object Tor the year
1924, to have been 81, SSs, 53S 47-vcry near
lhrty-two millions of dollars, said Mr. b. and if
stated alone, and without anution, very capable
of astonishing the public, of imposing upon the ig-
nornnt, and OF ra''ing cry against the dreadful en-
trava9Gncc, the corruption, and the wickcdness Of
Nr Aonroc's administration, Taken by Itself,
|
grcgatc Of near hrty-wo millions is very sufficient
to effect all this surprise and Indignation in the
p,blic mind but, passing on to the sccond column
10 see what were the expenditures, independent of
The public debt, and this large aggregate will be
found TO be reduced more than one half. it sinks
SIS, $50, Ia II, This is heavy deduction but
ii is not all. Passing on 10 the third column, and
it Is seen that the actual expenses of the Govern
mcnt for permanent and ordinary Objects indepcn-
dent oithe temporary and extraordinary ones, for
this same year, were onlys7, l07, S92 % being
less than the one fourth part of the aggregate of
near lhlry-two millions, I his looks quite reason
able, and goes far towards relieving MIR Monroc's
administration from the iHlputalion which view
Of the aggregate expenditure for the year would
have subjected it. But, to make it entirely sasic-
tory and TO enable every citizen 10 understand the
! important point of the Government expenditures
IA point on which the citizens ot Il ice and rep
rcscnluiiNe Government should be always well
informed, To attain this fully and saiisf,' tory, let II;
pass on to The second table mGrkcd }) and fix our
eyes on It's first column, under the year 1924
! We shall there find every Temporary and eytraor-
binary object, and the amount paid on account Of
it, the deduction of which reduced an aggregate of
near ihir,y-two millions to fraction over seven
mil ions. We shall there find the explanation of
the difference between the first and third columns
| The first item is the sum of = 49, 5GS, 1913 IS,
paid on account oflhe principal and interest Of the
public debt. The second Is the sum Of 81, sol,
$50 SO, paid to merchants for indcmncs under
the treaty with Spain Of 1910 by which we ac-
quircd lolda. The third Is $3.50 u paid to
States for claims on account OF war debts. The
fourth is Si7,7li SO for the three per centum to
the ncw States on the lands sold within their limits.
The fifth is s II 600 on account of the two per
g., & ',,,, In 81
373 - for the survey Of the coast. The sixth is
$i23,3l2 50 for collecting materials for the grad
ua increase Of tie navy, and the Improvement of
the navy yards. The seventh is $50, 300 81 for
durable public buildings. The eight is Si29 ,912,
OF Tor bridges and ioricrtons The ninth it
$50, 95j 80 Tor roads, canals, and breakwatcrs-
and improvements in rivers and harbOrs, eXceps
the Cumberland road, which WAS stated BY itself
I he tenth is ti7l,ij5 43 for providing arms for
the militia of the United States, and for arming
the forrcaions. The eleventh is S ,2G7 sos II,
for all pensions, except those of inyalids. The
twelfth is Si2o,- 9s7 80 for purchasing land from
Indian, and paying for Indian depredations. The
thirteenth, and last ilen is the sum of S2gG $3.50
q for miscellaneous objects. and for propcty lost
or injuries committed, daring hosti.iticls with any
power. The total of all these items, except the
public debt, is SS,222,252 &C. This total, added
10 he sum pilu on account OF inc pune debt,
makes close upon twenty five millions of dollars
and this, deducted from the aggregate of near
thiry-two millions, leaves fraction over seven
millions for the real expenses of the Government
the ordinary and permanent expcnses-during the
last year Of Mr. Nonroes administration. This il
certainly satisfactory result 1t exempis the
Administration of that period from the imputaton
of extravaganza, which the unexplained exhibition
Of the aggregate expenditures might have drawn
upon il in the minds of uniformed person. II |
clears that Administration from all blame. II |
must be satisfactory TO every candid mind. And
now let us apply the test of the same examination
10 some year Of the present Administration, now
so inconlncntly charged with ruinous extravaganza
Let US see how the same rule will work when
applied TO the present period and, for that pur-
posc lei us take the last year in the table, that of
1890. Let others take any that they please, or is
many as they please take one because only |
propose TO give an exomple and take the last
one in the table, because it is the last Let US
proceed with this examinations and see that the
results, actual and comparative, will be.
Commencing with the aggregate payments from
The Treasury for all objects, MIR. b. said it would
be seen at the foot of the first column in the first