The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-09
PRODIGALITY OF THE ADMINS
TRATION.

INTERESTING DEBATE IN THE SENATE
The proofs of the increase of the public expen
ditures by the party in power, which are contain
ed in an official report of the Secretary of III,
Treasury (of which the printed leafn is an ex
act copy,) have produced an effect upon The
country, which makes this corrupt end imbecil,
Administration tremble for its fate The friend.
OF the Executive have felt the necessity of AZ
tempting something 10 turn the tide of publ,
indignation. Mr.. SECRETARY WOODBURY. wa.
called upon, therefore, TO make another specia
report, for the purpose of repairing in some
measure the mischiefhis previous statements has
produced.
Mr.. BENTON made the call ; and the answer
was sent TO the Senate on Thursday We have
no means OF knowing the contents of this docu-
ment; for il was not read nor printed. The
Globe calls II g statement showing the expen-
ditures of the Government from 1924 to 1899"
Mr.. BENTON, who had probably the advantage
OF studying it for days and nights, made an
elaborate speech upon it. He saw the galleries
We're crowded to overhowing with the members
OF the Baltimore Conventions and he eagerly
seized the occasion TO make a defence of the
administration, and violent assault on the OPP
position.
Acquainted with all the details Of the report
which the Secretary had sent in TO extenuate
the prodigality of the Administrations he Hatter-
ed himself with the idea that the Opposition
Senators who knew nothing, and could know
M Of tha e. AZ. 4
postpone their replies until the paper should be
printed; and that his attempts at deusion would
be allowed to pass without the exposure and re-
Duke they deserve.
Never was there more abortive undertaking
Several of the most distinguished Senators of
the opposition successfully joined issue at once
with the Executive, and his financial Secretary,
and his pompous advocates and their prompt
and lucid answers, delivered with all the effect
of their commanding powers of oratory, com
pletely overwhelmed the friends of the Admi-
nistration in the field to which they had most
presumptuously dared to invite them We re-
Joice that this debate took place in the presence
of 50 many young men from different sections
of the Union. 1t produced an impression upon
them which will never be effaced The chagrin
and notification of the Administration Senators
were most manifest. They evinced it not only in
their looks, but in their exertions to bring the
discussion to close One of the most eminent
of them said aloud, this debate is ruinous to
us-it mustbe stopped"
We viii give complete report of il as soon
as possible In the meantime, we hope we are
rendering an acceptable service to our readers
by presenting the subjoined sketches, accom-
panied with observations of our own.
MIR. Preston said the people have been de-
handing explanation of the enormous aggregate
amount of the expenditures Of this Administra-
ton: and he hoped these statements would
show how il happened that the party in
power had contrived to treble the expenses of
Government. The intelligence Of the people
to which certain politicians profess SO con-
stantly to appeal, will not be disturbed by these
additions, substractings, multiplcatons, figures
and tables in this report Hitherto they have been
astounded at the grand result but now, they
will investigate the specifications paraded and
the conclusion of that inquiry will be that this pro-
digal expenditure, steady, habitua in
crease, or outlay, cannot be justified. The Ad-
ministraton will he held responsible not only
for the aggregate, but for the items, The plea of
necessity, will not screen these spendthrfts.-
The people will go behind that plea They will
ask the cause Of that necessity. Where do we
find the Government plunged in the worst ne
cessity? Precisely, in that country which is
worst governed. The whole history of the world
proves this fact. Who made the necessity
which is now put forward as an apology for la
Wishing the public money? The Administra-
ton created it; and, if the excuse is allowed,
the men in power may go on, increase the "ne-
cessity" ten fold, and come 10 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 easel" To what con-
diton would we be reduced, if responsibility is
thrown off in this way An administration is
as much to blame tor expenditures made neces-
sary by their own improvdence, and incompe-
tency, as for any other.
| If a 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 considered 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 expenditures from
thirteen millions TO THIRTY-NINE MILLIONS of dol
lars. And they will ask what have been the
fruits of this immense outlay of their money
Has there been any improvement in the Ad-
ministration of the Government Have the re-
sources of the nation been proportionatey de-
veloped2 Is any department better managed ?
Even in regard to that bleeding artery of profu-