The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-25
"MR. wooDBURY,s LErTERs. !,


"MR. WOODBURY'S LETTERS"
Il is singular fact that Mr. Woodbury. letters
should he in repose till accident calls them into
notoricty. There his letter to Mr.. Van Buren, Of
the ID Of March, in the style and form Of half off,
ciaI, which nobody heard any thing oftl weeks
after and which the Globe finally affected to have got
possession Of by good luck and brought il forth
ms an important document We do not discover, how
ever, that much capital has been made of il as was
promised at the time 1t has fallen an abortion, ex-
ccpt as prompted inquiries into the vaunted
state of the finances at the close of the last Admins
tration.
Now we nave again Mr.. Woodbury. Letter,
What letter letter Of the 18th of April, in an
swer to one from :" the Suffolk Democratic County
Committee Of Boston" in compliment of his retiracy
They congratulate him con leaving the Treasury free
from embarrassment, with ample resources for
nomical administration for the present yeaf!p
We have lately had occasion to notice the state of
the Treasury and its sample resources" as le by the
late Administration. Is il not extraordinary, that
Mr.. Woodburys statements about the finances should
have left the impression the minds of these men
that the Treasury was free from embarrassment
and its resources ampel" But enough ofthis hereto
fore.
MIR. Woodbury. says in his reply to this Committee,
That Government"--the late Administration" has
gene through expensive wars, betrayed large
current expenditures executed numerous great public
works, exnguished Indian titles 10 many millions of
Of land, paid off, instead of having created,
permanent debt" &C.
After what we have shown of the state Of the
tona defences and finances the readers Of the Madi-
sonian will require to meet these several points
particularly. They viii only be astonished at the
cool erontery with which such statements can be re-
irerated. We would not say they absolutely and
entirely false bu, our readers must know that they
make an utterly false impression where information
the points is wanting. Weconfess our soul sickens
al such unfairness ia public fnancier Il seems TO
us inexcusably wicked.
Some parts of it are ridiculous. That Govern
ment has gone through expensive wars" This,
certainly is very indefinite and obscure statement.
What wars Such statement in history would i'm
ply lapse of centuries and some such struggles as
Europe has gone through in that time. What wars
We know of only one, the appropriation for which in
1910 was 3O0U00 Il is true, indeed that the Fiori.
ia has been expensive considering what has been
done; hut all its expenses have been provided for as
extraordinary. Instead Of being the boast of gov
ernment as to manner skill and energy, its laures
are not likely to be greatly coveted. Some expen-
sve ,carsl What labor to make out something.
betrayed large current expenditures" That they
have been large, is certain is not true, however,
that they have all been betrayed
Executed numerous great public works" That
may be true il any thing at all has been DONE at the
time is equally true, that most important pub
lie works, Indispensable to the prosperity and defence
the nation, naveDeen suspended, ana sunered ~ 20
into decay. A Government makes a boast Of doing
small fraction Of its duty, and leaving the rest un
done
Extingushed Indian titles TO many millions of
acres of land" Howl By having the consideration
in the shape Of public debt amounting to Millions
of money.
g Paid off, instead of having created, permanent
debt" Our readers will probably say-Ths is
round Wrapper. How such statement could be
made by an ex-Sccretary of the Treasury, whose
own books show accumulatng public debt, is some
what STRANGE We refer to former articles on the
finances.
We will notice one other statement of this letter
Come what may, no event can rob those connected
with the last Administration, of the satisfaction which
results from the eligible condition in which they have
left its credit and resources"
We have, on former occasions shown, by minute
review of this whole subject how il stands 1t may
surprising that such things could be reiterated by
such authority. II notifying, indeed to be obliged
to notice them, and it would be very undignfed TO
treat them they deserve. The facts, however,
becoming and tangible, and the public will
yet be made acquainted with them. The days of nan
cial humbuggery and deception passing away
Come what may" 1t the ex-Secre,ary of
the Treasury expects something uciH leone. We
guess So That is, that something will to light
A little has already TRANSFERRED