The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-05-28
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREA.
SURYsS REPORT

THE SECRETARY OF THE Urea.
SURYsS REPORT.
A few days since, the Secretary of the
Treasury made a Report to Congress in
reply to resolution introduced by Mr.
Benton, in which an effort is made to re-
lieve the Administration from portion Of
the charge of extravaganza and wasting
! the public money. Thirty thousand
copies Of this Report were ordered to be
printed. and this, too, before any of the
Senate had an opportunity of rendering
it, or knowing that it was worth the pub
LEGATION. r
The following synopsis Of the debate
will show how freely the peoples mo-.
ney is spent for partizan purposes, and
to crafty the cormorants Of the Globe.
Mr. Preston said, the people have been
demanding explanation of the enormous
aggregate amount of the expenditures
of this administration, and he hoped
these statements would show how it hap
pened that the party in power had con-
trived to treble the expenses Of Govern
ment. The intelligence of the people,
to which certain politicians profess so
constantly to appeal, will not be disturb
ed by these additions, subtractions, null
Implications. figures and tables in this re-
port. Hitherto they have been astoun-
ded at the grand result; but now, they
will investigate the specifications para
ded !; and the conclusion of that inquiry
will be that this prodigal expenditure
this steady; .habitual increase, or outlay,
cannot be. justified. 'Fhe Administration
will be held responsible. not only for the
aggregate, bnt for the items. The plea
of necessity vii. not screen these spend
thrifts. The people will 60 behind that
plea. They will ask the ca,tse Of that
necessity. Where do we find the Gov
eminent plunged in the worst necessity!
Precisely in that country which is worst
governed. Who made the necessity
which is now put forward as an apology
for lavishing the public money? The
Administration created it; and, if the
excuse is allowed, the men in power
NAV 90 on, increase the necessity
tenfold, and come to those who hold the
purse strings. demand proportionate
supply, and then, as now, say they are
not to blame: it is the . necessity of the
case !" To what condition should we
be reduced, if responsibility is thrown
off in this way? An administration is
as much to blame for expenditures made
necessary by their own improvidence
and incompetency, as for any other.
] If man were wasting his fortune. it
would be poor consolation to say he
!, could not do without this, that or the
} other thing, in which his money had been
squandered. The great fact to which
the people will look is, that this party
which came into power with a cry Of re.
trenchment, have run up the expenditure:
: from thirteen millions to TH1RTY.N1Nt
MILLIONS of dollars. And they will ask
what have been the fruits of this i'm
!, mense outlay of their money. Has there
!, been any improvement in the administra
e ton of the Government! Have the re
n sources of the nation been proportionate
" developed is any department bet
!, ter managed? Even in regard to tina
: bleeding artery of profusion, the tlorld
war, what benefit has resulted from sucl
o exhaustion of the Treasury is tina
e region of country safer than 1t was! l
0 the Army or Navy in better condition
Is our National Flag more honored il
this continent or distant lands! Are w
three times better off than we were un
l. der an administration which spent only
e one-third of what is now lavished; 0
are we not in worse condition AM
{. have not abuse, corruption and incom
If potency characterized every branch of tn
l. public service, while the public none
u has been wasted
e Attempts have been made with unpara
a leled effrontery and hardihood to put til
n blame Of extravaganza on the opposition
:. How can such an accusation be SUI
If ported? The Administration has had a
l.. acknowledged supremacy in the Nation;
sr Legislature. Its opponents have not ha
IN power to dictate terms, or even MAX
IS notifications of the measures OF Cover
lie ment. Upon what point have the CO
is horts Of the Majority Party moved an
is failed to carry it? Who can belle,
ed that if any proposed expenditure h;
to been made a party question, it won
I'll have been defeated? The imputatit
,g upon the opponents of Government is
en- arbitrary as false. NE haze drunk Of t
W stream below them, and they accuse as
1T making the sUoter turbid aboue them.
e. There is no reason in the charg
u, What motive have the opposition f
50 voting increased supplies to their opp
n nents for adding to the Executives P
ne tronage, and his measures of rewardll
an his partizans and instruments
= q To substantiate it, they present son
. half dozen opposition votes for the tie
. of public printing; and vainly hope
turn the public gaze from the immen
mountain of expenditure, to peer into tt
!. mole hill. But even as to the measu
T.; 10 of printing who are responsible Th'