Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-05-26

when tic Government comes 10 draw from the treasury
the accumulated mnss, Tic necessary elects, that 'hc
addition 10 he already full channels differentiation, swe
the tide TIL inmndation follows, sweeping all before
H. such lately witnessed Yes, We have luS
passed through period, in which the most was'eiu
and c"rrnp, expenditures could slrce the Treasury
fast enou" prevent the nundnt0n paper, but has
len the country and Government in their present EN-
harrasscd condition. now ask, whatcaused tins over
flowing Treasury; with all the accompanying extrava
Gnnce and following disaster: What but the prolific
parent Of evil, the protective systemdntes imposed
not for revenue but 10 favor branch of industry
The expense Of all Others and which exacted from tho
people than the wants Of the Government needed
even its waste and extravaganza could eypend.
Ii is difficult, the changed condition Of things, and
in the midst Of the present Remuneration of extrava
gance and praise Of economy, to realize the scenes
through which have lately passed. 1t IS but four
years since, when he considered beneactor, who
could devise some scheme Of spending money, and
when the then Administration, Notwithstanding the &
avagance Of The appropriations, censured for not
spending money fast enough, and was called on
by resolution Of the Senate 10 know how much they
could spend Such the cause of the extrae gancp
which is condemned all SIDES and 'he fruits o
a mistaken and mischicy"us policy.
In order to determine who responsible for this K
travagance, it is only necessary decide who
sponsible for the policy in which originated l. then
put the question: who were the authors and supporters
Of the protective system; leave gentlemen TO answer
submit II TO the journals of Congress and the public
voice to decide Appropriation and expenditures are
but ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and cnrruptrng consc-
que nces-bu al the time, consequences whose
alternative accumulation of surplus of bank
notes the Treasury is, say the least, not less dan
gcrous and corruptng. II has been misfortune to
be cursed with these combined evils
But rs important as are those questions there IS
another still more So relating the future The past
is past and cannot be recalled and 1t is
only profitable of furnishing lessons Of experience The
future still before with It's realizes and the import
question who the advocates and support
ers Of calamI'Ous policy, spite OF the les
sons nf experience; Time will show and when it does,
il will make manifest who the real friends and
lhors oeXravagance and foes ofeconomy and rctrench
ment repeat, economy cardinal republican virtue;
and nat there existed Government Of the kind,
in which it Indispensable as in this OF ours do
not intend to 90 into the this occasion; but of
all Governments ours is that in which patronage and
extravaganza are the most corrupiing and dangerous
Thus thinking, | rejoice that compelled to
rctrace our steps and economic. les, compelled
by that which only enforce economy on dnmi-
naft party and empty Treasury II is on that rely.
It's mandates must be obcyed, and wish II TO be under
stood that intend to my best efforts to keep low,
till the Government is thoroughly reformed and re.
stored to It's original purity Fill the Treasury to
flowing to-day and tomorrow, the of proiuson
and extravaganza through which We have thus far pass
ed would Nothing but stern necessity can cor
arrived for the adjustment of the tariff shall resist
all attempts to draw money from the pockets OF the
people than absolutely necessary, with rigid econo.
NV to the JUS, and constitutional wants Of the Govern
mrnt In doing 50, shall give the highest evidence OF
being the friend of economy and free institutions
Here let me saw that deem fifteen millions of dollars
annually to be ample TO meet all the just wants OF the
Government not including the Post Office Department
With tina, sum- we may place our civil list and military
establishment all lis branches, on respectable foot
inr aud enlarge our navy so as to give protection 10
our widespread commerce, and give us the command
of the adj accnt seas.
know nothing of the contents Of the document that
has caused this discussion, but will vote for the motion
without knowing whether the effects OF the publication
will be such as the contemplates or not. The
public attention is reused to the subject of expend-
lures and whatever we publish the subject doubt
not will be closely scrulnzed If there be errors in
the report il be drawn as TO make false impress.
sons IL will be and pointed out; but, II not It will
have lis due weight. With this Impressions care not
to look at its contents before giving my vote butt tany
gentleman desires time to examine it before he votes,
as far as am concerned, it shall not be withheld from
him.
Mr. CLAY was glad that the Senator from South
Carolina admitted that the expenditures of this Ad-
mnistration had been extravagant. Coming from
him. it was al admission very important. And Mr. {.
denied both his premises and conclusion and proceed
ed to argue that the protective system vas not the
cause of tho surplus revenue, and hat did not neces-
sarily follow that Government, with surplus, would
always be extravaganza though he admitted the conclu-
son be correct in regard to this Administration Mt
c. proceeded 10 point out what he thought the real
causes OF n surplus and TO specify and comment upon
various expenditures of the Administration.
Mr. BUCHANAN said | rejoice at this days debate.
has keen the most proptous day for ecitng truth
which we have seen since the commencement OF The
session It's for good or for evil must be
felt and will be felt either By our friends in the Oppo-
1 20
result.
do not rise TO discuss any Of the great questions
,,,,otrd today which have not Immediate bearing
on the subject before the Senate My purpose so far
as nv voice be heard, to tx 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 eS-
traraoan, and wasteiu expenditure of the public mo-
neg. :, -,
"A 10 the result Of the next Presidential electon-l
shall nc:er make that subject OF discussion IN tins
boLr unless should be forced into II by Senators 81
,hc OpposItjon In passing. would merely say, "Let
mt him that girdet his harness boast himself, as
he that putteih il off shall never RAISE the shout
Of victory, until the battle has been fought and won;
although NAV feel great confidence IN the result
The event, under Providence, IS IN me mahds ., ' m
American people and this day debate will essentially
serve to cnrhten their judgment and TO influence
their decision. =,
N, Van Burcn came into Office on the 4th of March,
t-a1 Since that day, must all admit that the Tea.
surv 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 if we have been guilty
of cytravacant and unnecessary expenditures Of the
pulc money within tha, period, neither Justify
nor excuse ourselves under The plea OF an overowng
Treasury. We desire 10 escape from tins charge IN
der no such snbtcrfuge. We boldly deny the accuse
ton Of xtravagance preferred against US by our po
cal opponents and demand the proofs BY when 1t IS 70
be sustained.
In order to establish their accusation, that ths al
minstration has been guilty of an exravagaht ana uh
necessary expenditure of the people money since te
4,h March, le37 they must clearly and distinctly pom,
ont the items and the objects Of this eSravasant ana
unnecessary expenditure We call upon them tor the'I
bill of particulars. We ask them where, when, ana
how, have these expenditures been incurred; ,aSus
and general charges of extravaganza although cpteD
in the most eloquent language, amount 10 no'h'he
We call for spec6caons-for items. BY ms fePor'
from the Secretary Of the Treasury, we iurnsh "c'
ouponents with the best weapons to assam US, u
We are vulnerable I; cnumeraies under ashs5Sn
heads, all the expenditures OF pubic money since
the present Administration came into power. ltpre'
SCENTS this subject item by item, and makes an aggre