The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-06-05

Ii was ready for the contemplation of the Amer-
can people and he could wish every citizen to
have the picture IN his own hand, that he might
contemplate it at his own iiresde, and at his full
leisure. lie could wish every citizen to possess Il
copy of this report, now received from the Secrc,
ary of the Treasury, under the call of the Senate,
and printed by his order he could wish every
citizen to possess one of these authentic copies,
bearing the imprimaiure ofthe American Senate I;
but that was impossible and, limiting his action to
what was impossible, he would propose to print
such number of extra copies rs would enable some
to reach every quarter of the Union. He knew
that the report could easily go through the news
papers, ior it was very short,) and he hoped that
it would appear in every paper that was friend to
truth and to fair dealmg-that wished to give cor
rect information to its readers. He hoped twould
appear in all such papers but that was not sulli-
cient. The newspaper publications were not suili-
ciently free from evil TO answer his purpose; no pub
cation could be sufficient but the one made by the
order of the Senate ; and therefore, he wished the
document itselfio 90 FORTH with the Senatorial i'm
primature upon it, in sufficient numbers to reach
every quarter of the Union. He wished large
number to be printed but would not suggest any
particular number until he had first given to the
Senate some view of the papers themselves, and
multiplication, and of the most extensive dillu-
sion.
Mr. b. then opened the tables, and explained their
character and contents. The first one (narked Az
consisted of three columns, and exhibited the ag-
gregate, and the classified expenditures Of the
Government from the year 1924 to 1889, inclu-
siye; the second one (narked BY contained The de
tailed statement of the payments annually made
ON account of all temporary or extraordinary ODE
ects, including the public debt, for the same peri
cd. The second table was explanatory Of the third
column of the first one and the two taken t0getl-
er would enable every citizen TO see the actual eX-
penditures, and the comparative expenditures, of
the Government for the whole period which he had
mentioned
Mr. b. than examined the actual and the COM
parative expenses of two of the years, taken from
the two contrased periods referred to, and invoked
the attention of the Senate to the results which the
comparison would exhibit. lie took the first and
the last of the years mentioned in the tables-the
years 1924 and lS39-and began with the first
item in the first column. This showed the aggre-
gate expenditures for every object for the year
1924, to have been S3l, $50, 53S li-very near
thiry-,wo millions ofdolars, said Mr. b. and if
stated alone, and without explanation, very capable
of astonishing the public, of imposing upon the ig-
norant, and of raising cry against the dreadful ca
travagance, the corruption, and the wickedncss of
Mr. Monroe's administration. Taken by itself,
(and ndsputable true it is in Itself, )und this ag-
gregatc of near thrty-two millions is very sufficient
to effect all this surprise and indignation in the
public mind but, passing on to the second column
TO see what were the expenditures, Independent of
the public debt, and this large aggregate will be
found to be reduced more than one half. it sinks
SI5, $50, IA II, This is heavy deduction but
it is not all. Passing on TO the third column and
it is seen that the actual expenses of the Govern
ment for permanent and ordinary objects, ndepen-
dent Oithe temporary and extraordinary ones, for
this same year, We're only 81, 1907, S92 O5 being
less than the one fourth part of the aggregate of
near thirty two millions. This looks quite reason
able, and goes far towards relieving MIR Monroe 5
administration from the inputnton which view
Of the aggregate expenditure for the year would
have subjected it. But, to make it entirely saiSiac-
tory and to enable every citizen to understand the
important point of the Government expenditures
IA point ON which the citizens of free and rep
resenlatyc Government should be always well
informed, to attain this fully and satisfactory, let us
pass on to the second table (mared 81 and fix our
eyes ON its first column, under the year 1924.
We shall there find every Temporary and cXtraor-
binary object, and the amount paid on account of
it, the deduction of which reduced an aggregate of
near lhrty-lwO millions to fraction over seven
millions. We shall there find the explanation of
the difference between the first and third columns.
Tho first item is the sum Of SiG' 5GS, 1913 76,
paid on account oithc principal and interest of the
public debt The second is the sum of -, S9l
1856 So, paid to merchants for indennities under
the treaty with Spain of 1919 by which we ac-
CURED Florida. The third is $3.50 u paid to
4, a., nt, I.lty lao
fourth is S47,7ll SO for the three per ccn'um to
the new States ON the lands sold within their limits
The fifth is : II 900 on account of the two per
cenum to the Cumberland road, The fifth is g.
373 10 for the survey Of the coast. The sixth is
Sl23,3l2 40 for collecting materials for the grad
ual increase Of the navy, and the Improvement of
the navy Yards The seventh is $3.50, 300 o. for
durable public buildings. The eight Sl29 1872,
"a for bridges and Notifications. The ninth it
s>56, 95j ~ for roads, canals, and breakwatcrs-
and improvements in rivers and harbOrs, eXccps
the Cumberland road, which was stated by itself
The tenth is $l7l, l55 i3 for providing arms for
the militia of the United States, and for arming
the lorrcatons. The eleventh is s 1867 SOS II +,
for all pensions, except those of invalds. The
twelfth is $40 1857 80 for purchasing land from
Indian, and paying for Indian deprcdations. The
thirteenth, and last item, is the sum of 1926 $50
q for miscellaneous objects aud for properly los,
or injuries committed, during hostilitiels with any
power. The total Of all these ITEMS except the
public debit is Ss,222, 252 6. This total, added
to the sum paid on account of the public debt
makes close upon twenty-five millions of dolIals ;
and this, deducted from the aggregate of near
thirty-lwo millions, leaves fraction over seven
millions for the real expenses of the Government
the ordinary and permanent eXpenses--during the
last year of Mr.. Nlonroe's administration. This is
certainly satisfactory result 1t eXempts the
Administration of that period from the impuiaiion
of extravaganza, which the unexplained exhibition
of the aggregate expenditures might have drawn
upon it in the minds of uniformed person. 1t
clears that Administration from all blame. 1t
must be satisfactory to every candid mind. And
now let us'apply the test of the same examination
10 some year of the present Administration, now
so nconiinently charged with ruinous extravaganza
Let us see how the same rule will work when
applied 10 the present period and, for that pur-
pose, let us take the last year in the table, that of
1889. Let others take any that they please or Us
many as they please take one because | only
propose to give an example ; and take the last
one in the table, because il is the last. Let us
proceed with this examination, and see what the