The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-06-26

commencement to the present period-there stands
recorded the payments which have annually been
made on account of the public debt--there stands
recorded all the information which the resolution
seeks to obtain. There could be no spcculalions
of the Secretary in relation TO this matter. Ills
course duty was plain, and he had no doubt
that duty was well understood and periOrnled.--
He hazarded nothing Then, in saying that the export,
on the most minute examination, would be found
TO be an answer and nothing less more than true
anwcr to the resolution itself. 1t seemed TO him,
therefore, to be wholly wrong that the printing OF
this report should be delayed until Senators could
have an opportunity of comparing the copy with
the record, in order to see whether the certificate
of the Register be true or false
The Senator had learned in the course of this
discussions that the aggregate amount OF all the cX-
pendllurcs of the Government or payments OF
every kind from the Treasury, for the year 1924,
had been about thirty-two millions of dollars, and
that for the year 1889, they had been over thirty
seven millions of dollars. Here was difference
of over five millions of dollars, which he should
find no difficulty in accounting for without imput-
ing TO the Administration any extravaganza. The
Senate had learned that the expenditures for per-
manent purposes for the year 1924 had little en-
cceded seven millions of dollars, and that the en-
pendures for the same object in 1889 had little
exceeded thirteen millions Of dollars, making df-
ference of about six millions of dollars in the pub
lie expenditures for ordinary and permanent pur-
poses, between the years of 1924 IND 1889. This
difference the Senator from Missouri had not par
ticularly accounted for and he could only, from a
general recollection of the documents which have
from time to time been laid upon our tables, giving
an account Of the public receipts and OF the public
expenditures and also particular documents COM
municated to Congress from the Treasury Depart
mcnt, be able now in partcularze to what the
whole of that difference consisted. lie had tables
showing the public expenditures for series Of
years and he might add hereafter extracts from
those tables. In the first place, the expenses OF
the navy alone, since 1924 had been increased, by
the legislation of Congress- nearly if mot quite two
millions of dollars. The eypences of the army
including the expenses necessary for the support OF
the Military Academy, had been increased also
something like two millions more. These great
additional expenditures in the support of The navy,
and in the support of the army, were not TO be
charged TO the account Oflhe administration They
were authorized by law, and they have received
the support not only of the friends, but of the OPP
ponents of the Administration. lie did not pro-
pose to look into the journals 10 see how particular
individuals may have voted on particular measures.
But he presumed that he should not be contradict
ed when he said that every measure tending To
swell the expenses of our naval establishment, had
received the unqualified support of those now ar
rayed agains, the Administration.
Here wrro, ,hcr, two thirds Of tho whole dit
Terence af va ",,Uui''cu iuI anu l. hi' ..i'"
istraton to be blamed for this incrcnsc Of cxpcnd-
iturc--an increase necessarily connected with the
protection of the commerce and general defence Of
the counry-an increase of expenditure demanded
BY every confederation of patriotism and of Justice,
and by proper regard to the public welfare >
again. the legislative expenses between 1874 and
1899 had necessarily increased more than half OF Il
million of dollars. The expenses of the Judiciary
had nearly doubled within that tlme--an increase
rendered necessary by the increase of the pop
uaton and of the business of the country. Our
lighthouses had more than doubled between 1924
and 1889, and the increased pernnnen, expenses on
that account, between the first and last day of those
years, had nearly equalcd one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars. The public printing also, pay
ments from the Treasury to compensate cnstom-
house officers, IN consequence OF the gradual rcduc-
ton of duties under the tariff of 1888, and nc
count of the necessary reduction of their fees have,
in single year, nearly cquallcd two hundred thou
sand dollars. These increased expenses and charges
upon the Treasury were the effect of the legislation
Of Congress, and could not with any more propriety
be charged to this than to any former Administra-
ton. They were provided for and required by cx-
istng laws and the Executive charged with the
execution of those laws can in no respect be made
cupable for expenditures warranted by such enact
mens. lie would now proceed further in under
taking to show what goes to make up the difference
between the expenditures Of 1924 and 1889. II
the items TO which he has referred were added, 1t
would be found that the aggregate would make all
the difference in the expenditures OF those years.
The resolution, and he presumed the report also,
did the same Justice to the Administration which
preceded that Of General jackson as II did to his,
and as it does to the administration of the present
incumbent The same information was required
for the year 1924 was required for the year 1889
and the same information was asked for tile last
wear of Mr. Adanss as for the last year of Mr. Van
Buren's administration No injustice, then, has
been donc--no pariaty has been shown TO either
administration (; and he confidently believed that ii
was not in the power of any Senator 10 put his lin
ger on single entry in that report which did not
accord with the truth. In order, then, more salts
iactory TO show that this administration was en-
tirely exempt from the charge eff wasciul extraya-
gance in the public expendtures-he proposed to
make more minute comparison OF the expenditures
of the Government, for the years 1924 and 1888.
l his comparison would De more JUST, rs inc lohe
session of Congress took place in each of those
wears. His object was to confne himself excln.
siyey to the permanent, and ordinary expenditures
of the Government in those years. The Senator
from Missouri had faithfully stated the exiraordn-
ary expenditures and the reasons and necesslt,
therefor he did not intend TO refer at all TO them
In 1924, it will be seen that the aggregate ex
pendilures for ordinary and permanent purpose
amounted to the sum of 81, !O1, 1872 %.
In 1888 they amounted to : 1881 ,50i "a.
Making difference against the year 1888, o
S6,729,702 80.
He would now cndeavor TO show some OF the
items of expenditure which went TO make up tina
difference
Increase Of expenditures in 1888 beyond The er
pcndiiures under same heads in 1924.
Legislature, Soso'oo'
Executive Departments, 3s8,oo'
snrvoyors and clerks. AZ OOt
Expenses of minis, exclusive OF buildings, 2o,oo'
governments in the Territories Of the U -. 6o,oQ'
I,J;c;orv 1863 90,
Snnnor, and maintenance of lighthouses, l41 90,
Snryevs oc pubc lands. II 0Ot
Marine hospital establishment, 'l,oo'
Pay, subsistence, forage, Qnartermasters
1 ~ .nnt nnH