Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-11-03
SHOULD THERE BE A CHANGE.


SHOULD THERE BE A CHANGE.
This is the great question about tobe secid-
ed by the freemen of the United States at the
polls. They are called to decide whether their
government has been so wisely, purely and
benefcially administered during the last four
years that there is not q reasonable prospect
that change would not be an improvement.
In determining this question, we ask every
voter 10 cast such ballot as his understand
ing,his judgment and his conscience shall die
tate, and 10 bear in mind the following facts.
We pledge whatever of character may be ours
for the substantial truth of the following state
ments:
]. ], is fact that the expenditures of the
Federal Government, for all purposes except
the payment Of public debt, which were about
Fifty Millions during the four years Of j. Q.
Adams's Administration, have been more than
one hundred millions during the four years of
Martin Van Buren's Administration. We be-
lieve they have exceeded one hundred and
twenty, but that they have exceeded one
hundred millions cannot oe denied by any
honest and intelligent citizen. ,,f
H. Ii is a fact that while the aggregate
expenditures have been so largely increased.
the proportion devoted to purposes of lasting
utility and substantial improvement is far less
than in the former period. Our Notifications,
navy, harbors, rivers, &c. have not been i'm
proved so rapidly as they formerly were, if at
all, under this administration.
Ill. 1t is fact that during the four years
of j. q. Adams's Administration, with an an
nual revenue Of about twenty-five millions,
more than Fifty Millions were paid on account
OF the then existing National Debt.
~. Il is a fact that no National Debt exist
I'D txho Mar lin Vou Rrr inn afaI
| while there was balance in the Treasury,
| beyond what Congre SIS had directed to be APP
| portioned among the States, OF over Six Mill
| ions ofDoll:rs. This balance has been spent;
| Nine Millions of the States money has been
| withheld and expended; the Government stock
| in the old U. S. Bank has been sold for over
| Eight Millions, and that has been expended |;
| and not only is there nothing now in the Treas
ury, but Government has now out standing
over -Four Millions of Treasury Notes or prom
ises to pay making AN aggregate of Twenty
seven Millions of Dollars which this Admins
tration has spent beyond its legitimate in
| come
V. 1t is fact that all the money due the
| Government from all Banks whatever on
claims arising since 1928 does not equal one
sixth Of the amount that this Administration
has run behindhand; and yet we are gravely
told that the Government is embarrassed be-
cause the Banks do not pay what they owe il.
| VI tits fact that the partisans of this
| ADMINISTRATION, which has run the Govern
ment In debi after devourlng its substance, have
the Unreasonable impotence to stigmatize the
friends OF that Administration which paid off
Fifty Millions of debt and contracted none,
as the advocate Of splendid, powerful and
costly Government and of a National Debt /!
Could eifrontery be more brazen than ,hisl
| VIE 1t is a fact that, in addition 10 the I'M
paralleled amount of money expended by his
Administration, several Millions have been
| embeZzled by its subordinates, especially
those charged with the collection and keep
ing of the Revenue. The amount of deialca-
tons discovered and exposed during the last
years has been very great and we have
reason 10 believe that very much more remains
to be made known 10 the public.
| VIII. II is a fact that Samuel Swartwout,
| appointed Collector OF this Port by Gen. Jack
son, but superseded by Mr.. Van Buren, soon
alter lie came into office, abstracted no less
than One Million and Quarter Of Dollars
from the Treasury partly before and partly
after Mr.. Van Buren, was inaugurated Presi-
deat; aud, though Mr. Van BuIen had always
known and regarded him as unworthy OF pc
cunlary nust, yet very inadequate and inse-
cure bonds were taken for his sureties, and
some Of the time none at all; and lac al last
deliberately left the Country, two months af-
ter he had surrendered his office, when the
Government must have known and did know
thai he was a deiaulter, yet took no steps 10
secure the amount or prevent bis escape be-
yond its jurisdiction.
TX. Ii is fact that an able Committee o
Congress, after careful investigation Of the
whole subject on the spot, reported that Mr..
Swartwout had been enabled TO abstract this
large sum through the incapacity or neglect OF
dasy Of several leading officers Of the Federal
Government, among whom were the Seereia,
~ Of tho Treasury, and tie Naval Officer OF
this Pof-all OF them associates and intimate
personal friends OF the President. Not one
Of these officers have been dismissed from the
service by the President, bat Levi Woodbury.
still holds the important pos, Of Secretary o.
The Treasury. for which be Is wholly unqual-
fled, and EnOs T.. Ihroop. who proved utterly
incompetent 20 discharge the duties OF Naval
ofhees of,his Port, AID whose incomPstsnes