Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-08-24

Ships OF the line 3
Frgates
Total u 10
In every point of view, then, are forced to the
conclusion, that while Mr. Van Buren, has spent
nearly seven millions more on the Navy than ].
q. Adams, it has been so unwiscIy spent that the
Navy is actually in little worse condition than
it was in 1928!
We now pass, without word Of COMMENT TO
the main question:
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS WAN
TON AND WASTEFUI EXPENDITURE
OF THE PUBLIC MONEY?
The administration because it voluntarily took
upon itself the duty to do the work of retrench-
ment and reform; because every dollar has been
spent with the consent of the administration, and
not single dollar could have been spent without
lis consent; because the Executive recommended
the appropriations friends in both Houses of
Congress voted for them--the President approved
the bills, and the President and his officers erecu-
ted them, by spending the money. But i! has been
urged that Wing members of Congress have vo-
ted for appropriations. 1t is true that the Wings
have voted fer and against others. Are we
therefore to shift the responsibility from the adj
mnistration, which had the potcer to press or to
stop appropriations, and cast it upon the minority,
who we've powerless? Heaven forbid. If we are
thus to exempt our rulers from all responsibility
farewell to the republic: the last cord by which
the people restrain Them from becoming yrants
at once, would be broken, the moment we absolye
the majority from their just responsibility. Aud
what if Wings have voted for appropriations p
They have not thereby become responsible for
the manner in ,ohich The appropriations haze been
spent. Here is the only material point. Let us
60 through with the process of one expen di,ure,
and we shall see who is responsible for erirava-
gance. The Secretary of War tells Congress that
five millions will be required for the Florida War,
for the year 1888 for instance. On this assurance
from the proper officer ofthe government whose
duty it is TO know all about the business, Congress
votes an appropriation for this amount, and the
President approves the bill. This is the end ofthe
matter, so far as Congress is concerned it neither
spends dollar or specifies how it shall be spent.
Who, then, does make the bargains and spend the
money? 1t is the Erecutive officers in the War
Department: they draw the money hire steam
boas at $500 day; give $50 cord for wood;
buy ten times as much provision is wanted at
heavy prices and sell it an immense sacrifice; and
spend the peoples money for cologne water, cham
paigne, tobacco and cigars. The bills and vouch.
ers for all this then returned to the Treasury
Department at Washington, and there audited, dp-
prored and accepted. And this is the history Of all
the expenditures: Congress never makes the bar
gains, aud never knows ho,O the money is spent
until after the money is all gone. The Executive
officers make all contracts, and the Treasury De-
parment ratifes them ALL On the Erecutipe De-
pari,nent then rests The responsibility; and there
must the work of reform begin. We must Dust
the spoilers we must have an administration
which will ask for only what is necessary, and
spend only what is necessary when Congress puts
the keys Of the treasury into their hands. To this
work of reform let us address ourselves and begin
by electng HARRISON to the Presidency, and
Harrison men TO Congress, to sustain him in nd-
rnnstering the government 'ciseh, honestly and
economically.
single point more, and have done with
this subject. BY gross misrepresentation of Mr..
Iincolns speech, the locos have endoavorcd to
absove the President from the odlum of spending
so much money about the White House. The
bills and vouchers not, and cannot be, denied
and Tor all the parade Of royal mngnificence on
the one hand, and exira-roya parsnony on The
other; we mean for The purchase of foreign car
pets, foreign plate and foreign gewgaws, ana for
charging the mendng of dish-cloths to the treas
ury-Mr Van Buren must bear the responsibility.
The money was spent under his own eye; he
might have prevented it, If he would but he con-
scented to all this and actually ordered The warrants
10 be issued for drawing the money to pay for it
all Here is the proof
Il The undersigned Wing Members of Congress,
hove had their attention called TO publication in
the Globe of The 10Th Of July, l64O under the
canton of Messrs. Lincoln and Oge," from which
The following extract is taken;
ale (Mr. Lincoln) was no frierd of MIR. Van
Buren,. bul he would do him the justice to say II
, there was any thing wrong in relation to the fur
)niturc of the White House, the President was not
10 blame for it. On the contrary, he (Mr. l") knew
his great decacy on the subject, and would as
sure the gentleman that, whenever the committee
had consulted lhe President in relation to any al
dllonal furniture, he had invariably expressed m
reluctance 10 have any thing expended for that obs