Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-03-07

Treasury notes falling due in March, the earliest aten
ton to new legislation this subject seems highly pru
dent, if not indispensable, for the etiectua security
Of the public credit
After this who will have the hardhood to say, that
the President and Secretary did not anticipate and give
timely warning Of the contingency which has arrived,
and OF IT'S causes, character and period? But MIR.
Rvcs IS ds'ngcnuous and unfair on another important
point lie treats the deficiency permanent one,
and the demand for timely legisation as imposing up
on the people additional burthen either OF loans or
increased taxes whereas, the Executive communication
of the 4th day of February, alluded 10 by him, distinct
ly says, that "hc provision asked for IS only intended
to enable the Executive fulfil existing obligations,
and chiefly by anticipating funds not yet due, without
making any additions to the public burdens The
contingency designated by the President, had actually
taken place. viz the failure of the banks-Mr. Rivess
Deposlte banks-o pay their dues to the Government,
added TO which, new and unexpected decisions OF the
Courts, with regard to the Tariff laws, had not only
considerably diminished the receipts OF the CUSTOMS
but had actually compelled the Government to reisnd
large amount More than two millions are due from
the old Opposite banks; nearly million now due from
those which suspended in 1887, have been put in suit
aad nearly two millions and half-the principal and
interest OF the bond of the u. S. Bank-will not be
due until the first of October Mr.. Rves could not,
have been mistaken for The short Message of the 4th
OF February of which he speaks contains this passage:
"Thc application assumes, that although the means
OF the Treasury for the whole year may be equal to the
expenditure Of the year. the Department may nowith-
standing, he rendered unable to meet The claims upon
il al TIC Times rhcn they aH duc. This apprehension
arises, partly, from the circumstance, that the largest
proportion of the charges upon the Treasury, including
the payment of PENSIONS and the redemption of lrca-
sury notes. fall due in the early part of this year, VIZ:
in the months of March and May, while the resources
which might otherwise rely, to discharge them can
be made available until the last half of the year, and
partly from the fact that portion of the means of the
Treasury consists Of debts due from Banks for some OF
which delay has already been asked, and which may
not be punctualy paid.
This communication of the President is accompanied
by detailed statement from the Secretary oil the
Treasury, giving facts and figures which amply explain
and substantiate what he had said. What, then, will
every high minded Virginian think Of Mr.. Rvcs, who
for the purpose of mlsepresenng the President, makes
garbed extract from his Message and builds upon II
assertions and assumptions utterly at variance with the
true state of the case We have stamped the 'broad
seal of the Record upon him, and he cannot cncc the
brand.
But we detect this far-spoken gentleman in another
even more fragrant act Of virtual misrepresentation.
In speak ing of the expenditures of the Government
he observes that according to the Presidents own
statement, the public expenditure during the year 1877
the first of his presidency amounted to "the sum OF
thirty three millions of dollars Now, what the Pre-
sdcnt really says this, viz "That the appropriations
for 1881 made previously TO the fourth OF March, the
day OF Mr.. Van Buren, lnaunuratlon caused the cS-
penditure to rise to the amount of thirtythrcc millions
The candid the pous hr. Rvcs, takes advantage of q
miserable audible, 10 max" it appear that by hS own
adnis SION the first year Of President Van Buren, Ad
mnstration amcnablc TO the charge of an cxPcndi
turc of thirty three millions He shall not escape by
the suberlrc that he asserts fact, when IL pur-
posclv so expressed as convey what is not fact
He knows, that this expenditure was incurred to meet
appropriations made at the last congressional session OF
General Iacksons administration, OF which MIR. Rlvcs
was until very late PERIOD after his Baltimore dIsap
pontment an obscqui0us supporter; and moreover, II
we are not mistaken, Mr.. Rvcs voted for these very
appropriations and never heard TO arrnlgn the eS-
penditures under that administration, which he now
denounces after the fact with much aspcrity and IN
iustcc MIR. Rvcs had better coniinr his opposition to
later topics, unless, indeed he has made up ms NINA TO
turn States evidence.
Our object is not 10 assa Gen Jackson's admins
tration in this regard We believe that its expcndi-
lures were us,iablc and indeed unavoidable consi-
derng the state of the Treasury and the condition OF
the country The money could not have been better ex
prnded than in the purchase of the Indian titles to those
vast domains which constitute the valuable pro-
perry of the nation, and by which such difficult and
threatening controversies have been brought to happy
conclusion The millions appropriated for pensions,
even if extravaganza were applied TO 4 noble purpose,
and generous tribute of the present generation to
the white haired veterans still ngering-those who did
not "colInt the cost of orr independence.
The Opposition with all its turbulent and vague de-
camao has never yet been able TO put its finger upon
one excessive disbursement which 1t did not call Tor or
support 1t bcsccchcd rather bcsIcged The lrcaSury
for Disbursements with an eagerness equal TO the thirst
of the two daughters Of the horsclccch for blood 1t
voted almost unanimously, Tor appropriations far be-
yond the estimates nay, MORE itproposed millions upon
millions which luckily not adopted. All this has
been so abundantly proved, without the attempt al
specific contradiction, that must apologize tor re-
vertnr to it, in this hasty manner The opposI-
ton cannot, with any face, make tins topic oil oblec-
ton How ridiculous, then, we will not say shame
less in Mr. Rlvcs the thlckandt!ln supporter OF Inc
late Administration in tins matter nj least 10 come Tor
ward limping at this late day. and attempt 10 stigma
tic Mr. Van Buren, for the expenditures authorized by
the last Congress in Gen Jacksons Administrations
1t every man. however corrupt who has the lace
to enable him to play such part!
There are other topics whch VIC had wished to dis
cuss nt this time, but have already exceeded our m
tended limits As we upon the subject, however,
we may as well call attention to another tagrant cx-
annie of the dsengenuousncss of this potIca! master
Bliiil.
at is moreover we'll known observes he, "that a
the last session of Congress- opposed to the best oil
my ability another favnrite of the Admins
raop commonly called the Graduation bill, for vIrtu
olly irving away to certain favorlle States that com
mon fnnd of the public lands, derived III great part
from the municencc Of Virginia. and III the benefit OF
which she expressly reserved her equal right 10 partic
nate Now mark the cunning, not wisdom OF this
solemn not cay deccivcr While he ssmatlzes and
misrcprcsens in the most unfair manner, the cha
ractcr and object of the graduation BILL which it IS
not our Intention here. either to attack OF defend
he takes care to Withdraw attention from the fact, that
his name is to hc found recorded throughout the ad
ministraton of Gen Jackson, in favor Of the gradua
ton and pc-empton system, in other words, that ne
uniinchngly, for years, voted in favor OF measures
for virtually giving away to certain favored States
that "conmon fund" of the public lands, derived IN
treat part from the munltcence of Virginia, and IN the
benefit of which, she expressly reserved her equal
right TO participate We have high authority for our
information, yet if we are mistaken we shal! most
checrfully make the correction. If the system is
wrong now, why it right before, or if Mr. Rlvcs
has sincerely changed his opinion, why not confess
manfuy his previous error. He must not shield ln'
self behind the subtcrlugc contained in the cunning
phrase that it is well known that at the last session
of Congress opposed, to the best of my ability when
it is his ohvicus intention to Blind the public of Ergi
MIA to the fact that he had been previously, and for
wears, the consistent supporter of the system man
~ avowa of his error, if error it be- would have been
an infinitely better method of concating hg ll-mind
Cd How that superior prsten.