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

lice-it was due to those charged with the admin.
Iteration of our public affairs, to set history right
to present to the people incontrovertblc facts-to
remove from their minds any false impressions
which garbled and imperfect exhibits of public ex-
penditures are calculated to make.
There is at this very moment an extraordinary
excitement abroad in the land, touching this very
subject. 1t is not confined within the limits of this
District, but it has reached his own State it is run
ming through every section the country. Not an
Opposition journal is to be seen, hut what is man
iteStly laborng to impress the public mind with the
extravaganza and prohgacy of this Administration
in its expenditures. Within few weeks, if rumor
can be relied upon, neighboring Commonwealth
has literally been flooded with document, ten
ding to show the aggregate expenditures ofthis Ad-
ministraton. 1t probably, has produced its designed
effect there. 1t was subject upon which the peo-
pie were peculiarly and properly most sensitive
The expenditure the public money was a matter
connected too intimately with their interests, not to
excite their attention. and to awaken their vigilance
Aware, as he was, of what had taken place, he
rejoiced when his friend from Missouri offered the
resolution, calling upon the Treasury Department
for Information of the aggregate expenses of the
Government from 1924 to 1889, inclusive. lie
knew not that such resolution was to have been
presented He had not exchanged u word with
that Senator in relation to the matter. lie had Of
tcred it, undoubtedly, to elicit the truth, for the
purpose Of cOunteracting the statements having the
sanction ofan Executive Committee" which was
circulating through the country. He had read the
resolution after was offered, and he could not but
congratulate himselfahd his friends that it had been
presented. The answer was reported to the Senate
this morning, and, in the temporary absence ofhe
Senator from Missouri, he had moved to have il
printed He knew not the contents of the report,
but he doubted not that it was true answer to the
resolution, as offered and if so, it was of the
utmost importance to have it printed. His motion
was agreed to.
- The Senator who offered the resolution had been
favored it seems, with an opportunity of inspect
ing that report and hae just given to the Senate
full exposition ofthe contents of the report itself
and it had seemed to him, who had listened with
fixed attention to the remarks of the senator from
Missouri, that ifthere was, or could be an oc-
casion for printing an extra number of any docu-
ment, this was that occasion, and this was that
document. lie had thefore suggested the num-
but of thirty thousand, as the number of this doc
ument that ought to be printed. 1t was on his sug.
geslion, that the motion now pending was made
lie would If he couid place this document in the
hands of every freeman of the Confderacy.-
The bane had been sent into every clog cabin
ofthe country. lie would circulate the antdo,e
as extensively This was due TO the Adnmisra-
ton and to the country. II was Just that dcscrip.
ton of document which the people would read
H Salsu ' a S$99 9c g MIL ed v Wiz TIE exact
lions of their Government. A tax paying commit
nifty have right to claim fom the public servants
full expose of the public appropriations. They
have right to know how their money is expended,
hny "a ri, tn ,.hp ibnrt oh.
with the execution of,hc laws are faithful, prud-
ent, and economical in the expenditure of their
contributions. This is one of the most ellcctual
modes which can be adopted by the public servant
to give up TO his master full account of his public
stewardship. lie could not expect to havea great
er number of this document, than that named,
printed by order of the Senate he hoped not to
have Il less number. 1t was he admitted, the
largest extra number usually called for but the
document ITSELF and the time and circumstances,
demanded that number.
He would not add another remark, if the adop-
ton oflhc motion made by the honorable Senator
from Missouri, upon his suggestion, had not met
with the most determined opposition As it was,
he should 90 into brief examination of the rcso-
luton submitted by his friend, and the notice
which had been taken of the answer to that reso-
luton. He had not read the report itselfb wasG-
miar with the terms of the resolution. He had not
exchanged word with the Secretary of the Treas
nry upon the subject Of his report. lie was, how
ever, much gratilied when the resolution was Of
fercd to the Senate and he had no doubt that he
should be as much pleased with the answer now
given. The information required, was of the ut
most importance, and demanded by every consid-
Grafton of JUSTICE
What was the resolution What was the nature
Al. .l...u. .t..,t
This resolution, calling for specific information,
had been before the Senate a number Of days-lt
had deem printed, and Senators could not but be
familiar with its terms. 1t required, first, the ag-
gregate amount of all expenditures or paymets of
every kind from the Treasury, from 1924 to 1889
inclusive. Secondly, the aggregate amount, indie
pendent of the payments on account ofpublic debt,
whether funded or unfunded. Thirdly, the ag-
gregate amount for permanent and ordinary pur-
purposes excluded payments on account Of objects
| either extraordinary or temporary, and goes on TO
state eighteen or twenty heads, under which he in
cluded the extraordinary expenditures of the Gov
eminent. The resolution was explicit, and was
drawn up with great particularly. The resolu-
ton required that the information should be ar
ranged under the distinct columns. The Register
ofthe Treasury, upon whom the duty necessarily
devoved, had prepared the answer, and the Sec
rotary of the Treasury had this morning commu-
nicated that answer to the Senatc-and the honor
able Senator from Missouri had now given detail
ed statement of the contents of that answer
But had he not done so, can there be doubt that
this report is true response TO the resolution .
and if so, it is merely but transcript from the
public records of the Government What occa-
sion, them to delay the printing until the report
shall have been examined Is this the usual coursel
| IL Al H.