The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-30
PRACTICE VERSUS PROFESSIONS.

PRACTICE VERSUS PROFESSIONS.
During the discussion Of one of the many
Church questions in the British parliament,
Lord STANLEY argued, with great naipete that
unless clergyman has comfortably laid up
worldly store against the chances of life, he can
not exhort his people to have no care but for
heavenly treasure. That is--a clergyman can
not tell his. flock that "the Lord will provide. y
unless his own family be secured against the
accidents Of fortune. It is only with his pock-
cts crammed, that he can find il in his heart to
preach contempt of riches. In short, clergy
man cannot promulgate the scripture sentiment
against taxing heed for the morrow, unless his
practice bellies his preceptl
This argument, however amusing, is precise
ly similar TO that which our present Executive
and his subordinates have been acting upon
They think il indispensable to have an annual
allowance OF THIRTy-NINE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
in order TO make their homilies about retrench-
mont effective. They cannot exhort the people
to irugality simplicity, and economy, unless
their own practice bellies the precept. This is
the case with the whole corps of Office holders,
from President Van Buren, down to the lowest
subordinate.
We have Mr. Stanly in the American Con-
gress, who has taken view Of these matters
very different from that put forth by the English
Lord Stanley, in his speech on the settlement of
the Church question. He has exposed, in a
mastery manner, the cnormty of the abuses
and extravaganza of the administration and its
adherents, while they are making the Ioudest
professions for economy.
The superintendent of the Branch Mint at
Charotte,.N. c., was, we doubt not, noisy
enough in these empty professions pnd to illus
trate them, we find Mr.. Stanly has exhibited a
long bill Of contingent expenses for "horse
chesnuts, magnolias, tulip-poplars, roses, honey
suckles, and morus muticauls !" All very use
full and indispensable, no doubt, in coming Ben
ton mint-drops. Then came "garden reels,
scutlle hoes, swan-necks, and hower-pots ne
cessary implements in stamping eagles and halt
dollars ~
The operations Of the branch mint were begun
in the last month Of the year ls37-December-
but on the principle that it was necessary to cram
his pockets before he could be fit agentof a
refrenching and economical Administration,
the SALARY ofthe superintendent commenced in
the first month of that year-January! This
was not considered enough. The superintendent
must be sent 10 Philadelphia to make purchases
Of furniture, flower-pots, garden seeds, and sta
tionery, &c, &c. and the Administrations calls
upon the People to foot large bill for his travel
ling expenses and then TO pay for sofas at
DoLLARs-easy chairs at THIRTY -FOUR DOLLARS
and inkstands at EIGHT DOLLARS AND SEVENTY
FIVE CENTS
Whatnext? Tosay nothing of the expenditure
of twenty-nine thousand eight hundred dollars
on the principal edifce of the mint buildings,
how will our readers relish cool FIVE THOU
SAND FIVE HUNDRED for an ice-house, a summer
house, dc. These were not all there are a
bathing house, and carriage-house, all paid for
by Uncle Sam
Very luxurious, really, and particularly envi-
able in this weather. Sofas TO lo away the te-
dlous hours upon, and dream of economy
Bathing houses in which to recover exhausted
nature in the limpid wave Summer houses to
retreat to, and enjoy, amidst the odors of flowers
and the breezes bearing the fragrance of orchards,
the apeH-iced draught
Such are the means and appliances with which
the Executive and his subordinates surround
themselves, out Of the public money, and yet
they pretend to talk of economy