Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-08-11
NUMBER XLvII.

smooth. and the entire grounds, by the
close of Mr.. Adams Presidency, wore
a style and finish quite acceptableio the
taste and judgment of our plain, repub-
lican farmers. But a new order OF
things was soon destined TO take place.
You, sir, and |, and large majority OF
the American People, about the time
whereof | have been speaking, were
incautiously led to believe that Mr..
Adams was a lavish spendthrift, and
that his Administration was not only
wastefully extavagant, but that it was
rapidly verging the very confines of
monarchy, in the magnificent deccra-
tons of the Presidential palace, and
] by the studied introduction of court
/ ceremonies. You doubtless well re-
member the voluminous reports aud
the indignant denunciations on the
fruitful themes Of extravaganza and
aristocracy that were spread before the
country by the renowned champions
of economy in both Houses of Con
gress during the never-to-be-forgotten
winter of 1928. You, sir, cannot
fail. too, to recollect the lugubrlons
homilies which were then addressed to
all pious and devout Christians in re-
Iation to the purchase by President
Adams of billiard table, billiard balls,
cues and chessmen. All these solemn
exhortations were but the harbingers
, of the memorable era of reform then
about oveltaking the Administration
in its supposed headlong departure
from the pure precepts of the frugal
simple, democratic days of the father:
of the Republic. The pruning hOOl
Of retrenchment was about being usher
ed in to lop off all superhuous expendi
ture as "skiIfully'' as the same usefu
implement at this day prunes the re
dundant branches from the trees in tn
palace garden. The hickory broom
was also to be introduced in order t.
scrub away the filthy cobwebs of arts
f tocracy then believed to be in the pro
: cess of weaving within the very pre-
cincts of the palace itself. The Au
: gean stable was likewise to be cleanse
: by the reformers-a mighty work-an
: which in days of yore required the Ia
: bors of Hercules-and no marvel-lc
n history informs US that three thousan
: oxen had been confined in its stall
e many years.
n Well, the reformers attained to tt
u full enjoyment of the powers of ii
Government in March, 1929; ar
! here, Mr.. Chairman, / almost feel i
m clined to resume my chair for fe
- moments until we may all contempla
- in silent admiration the strange resul
\ of that most unique system Of refC
~ nation which had the omnifc wor
" +" RETRENcHMENT AND Reform
nj inscribed on It's Haunting banner.
g reformation that has faithfully per
ne vered in encouraging "retfenchnaei
he until it has reduced the annual exp
al diture of the Government from
Is enormously prodigal amount of IL
M teen millions down to the triiing 5
a.. of thirty-nine million dollars. A
81 formation which has so exercised
bv7l witty faculties of its friends, that t
ia have given birth TO very useful
lar hitherto occul0 arithmetical rule,
the which they are enabled to demonstr
;nr in a manner entirely satisfactory
in9 themselves, this odd proposition:
The fewer units are contained in the mum
md 80 than in the number 10! And
her foregoing result is reached with gre'
ora mathematical precision than the SOP
mn more, by the aid of "the black boar
,To can wade through the protracted Sc
irst of ratioscination in the "Pons AS
in rum" Ever since 1929, this sing
Ter doctrine Of "Retrenchment and
,ol- FORM" agreea6ly TO the ae'0 artthn
and cal rtZe, has been the order OF the
civ and the stern principles of most
can economy in every branch of the pu
oln- service have been vigorously enfol
,ar- according to the aeac ruye.
den But, sir, the subject Of "reform
of character too grave to be tire
lent in this way. It would appear th
be had never occurred to the reform
srve that having come into power thrc
lita- the "hue and cry" of extravaganc
'tant was their highest duty, in conduc
nent the affairs of the Government, to SO
rian their practices in accordance witt
little doctrines they had so boisterously
be- vocated. On the contrary, they s
have to have forgotten all that had ever
tone promised on the subject of Retire
e. ment and Reform; for, in almost
/. @. cry department of the Administra
row the expenditures have been incre
been two, and in some of them four fol
now This has been the case in an EN-
.oted degree in regard to the expense
The the improvement of the Presld
sand grounds; you will be pleased to
sbru- in mind that in the year 1926 the
and of IS, S65 had been appropriate,
re- finishing the fences, graduating
sand improving the public grounds,
rs by they had thus been placed IN
r tin condition Immediately prior TO tn
d I'M vent of the Retrenchment Admin
Tor to ton. Now, a gentleman withou
,pria- perience in the practices OF the
rude, formers, would be, disposed TO b
L L 1 Il L.