Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-01-13

in this way, his immediate personal friends be-
come warmly enlisted in his behalf, and if he
is not the candidate, they become disappoin-
ted, and support the cause less heartily than
they would otherwise do. Let us leave this
matter to the Convention.
81.
u LEGISLATURE OF MIssIssIPPI.--The
two Houses assembled at Jackson on Monday
the 4th January. James A. Ventriss, (whig)
was elected Speaker of the lower House, in
the place of Gen. Speight resigned; and Il.
NJ. Corwin, (whig) was elected clerk. No
business had beentransacted. We learn from
the Southron, that IN the House there are 46
Wings and 43 Loco Focos. One vacancy,
which viii probably be filed with Loco Focos
"a the Senate majority of 2 Loco Focos.
=
THE PRESIDENT EkEcr ANV THE SELF
STYLED DEMocRAcY.-ltis amusing to us, TO
see the efforts made in advance, by come of
the leaders of the self-styled Democratic par
ty, to calculate the disadvantages under which
the new administration will have to labour,
and to throw obstacles in its way. They are
sometimes guilty of the most ludicrous mis-
takes. Thus, it is but few weeks since the
venerable editor of the Richmond Enquirer,
while INDUCING in fond dream of Triumph at
its anticipated downfall and summing up the
difficulties which lay in the way of the Plesi-
dent elect, mentioned, among other things, the
fact, that tax would have to be levied on
the people, for the purpose of supplying the
deficit in the Treasury. This deficit had been
estimated at somewhere between 20 and 30
millions. In its eagerness to show that the
party now coming into power, cannot sustain
itself it thus made most unguardcd confess
sion, to wit, that the present administration has
involved the country to the amount above
mentioned, and Of course, as consequence,
acknowledged extravaganza, which it has
been all along denying. The old gentleman
must have written the article above alluded to,
after dinner, and while lie was under the ihfu-
ence of his daily allowance Of Madeira, or
such confession would never have escaped
him. The confession, however, had been
made, and it could neither be recalled nor
contradicted, unless By authority. But time
rolled on, few weeks elapsed, and then that
document, styled, by courtesy, the President
Message to Congress, but in fact his apology
to his party for his defeat, made ITS appearance,
To the establishment of all parties, this docu.
ment informs US that the Treasury is full
and, forthwith. the editor of the Enquirer raj
ses his song oI rejoicing that the Wings will
not hereafter have Il as an excuse, maj Thea
found an empty Treasury. Thus was the ed
itor and his party relieved by authority from
the odium of his ungarded confession made
we suppose, while :" The best feelings Of :ht
heart icere al cork" and great was his rejoi-
cling for such relief But about the same pc
Rod another strange document makes its APP
pearance. Our most sapient and clear-headed
Secretary of the Treasury makes a report, in
which said report, he states the expenditures
of the current year 1640,) at near twenty Sc
ven millions. Not content with thus doing
his duty, the Secretary kindly makes an esti-
mate Of, what should be the expenditures Of
the year IS4l, the first year of President Har.
rison's administration, and puts it down at
something over sixteen millions, but adds on
two millions to cover, as he says, any small
oversights that may have occurred. tbs very
kind in the Secretary the Treasury to make
US this, small Gllo,oance oftsco millions we
are aware that it is in conformity with what
has been his practice since he has been in Of
flee; but it's an extension Of kindness, from a
locofocu to wing, which we value the more
highly, inasmuch, as it was entirely unexpec-
ted, and we thank the Secretary accor-
ding'y. But while we are returning our
thanks to Mr.. Woodbury., we must at the
same time inform him, that the time has gone
by for small oversights of two millions: that
the day of retrenchment aud reform has at
last arrived; for what the Wing party
preached when out Of power, they mean to
practice when in.
But why does the Secretary make this es-
innate of the expenditures for the year l84I /?
Is it not perfectly evident, that it is for the
purpose ofprejudicing the minds of the people
in advance, and thus compelling President
Harrison to fall off in ore year, ten millions
from the smallest expenditure of President
Van Buren,, or to raise against him, the hue
and cry ofextravagance. This course Of Mr..
Secretary Woodbury. ard Mr.. Richie, is per-
fectly contemplate, and therein, it is in accor-
dance with what has been the conduct of ma
ny of the leaders of the Van Buren, party.
President Harrison has been elected by ma
jority of more than one hundred aud fifty thou.
sand of the free voters of this country. In
giving him this unprecedented vote, we sup
pose that the people intended to say to the
world, that he is the man of their choice, that
the principles which he avowed while a can
dldate, are their principles. Such being the
case, we humbly suppose il to be the duty of
all true democrats, to bow to the decision thus
made, and in Difference and respect to their
wishes, to wait patiently the Developments.
which time may make, as to the course of the
new administration, and not by thus condemn
ing IN advance, and constituting a factious war
iare; to say in effect, 10 the people, that thew
are fools and not capable of choosing a ruler
for themselves. When the people have once
made choice all who have a proper respecs
for them will acqniesce in that choice, until