Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-10-28
support Of the present Administration us far
as its measures may be Whig-thc One Term prin-
eiple-the integrity Of the Wing party-and the
elevation Of HENRY CLAY to the next Presidency.
-S N A U NT0Ns g.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 90, 1871
MIR. BENTON,s spEECH.

belief that the Wings are launching forth into
system of wild and wasteful extravaganza in the
administration of the governmcnt-yet its as
sumptions are so absurd and unfounded-so va
RANT from the facts-and its whole conclusions
so ridiculous and nteligible-that there seems
really to be nothing in it to combat but its cool
and impudent audacty. There is, however,
solemn pomp, an egotistic swell, about the great
humbugger, which, we confess, is at all times,
very imposing. And in this is his forte If you
will consent to take one of his deep intonations
for "a fact, and theatric burst of patriotic rage
for the proof, he may indeed convince you that
the whole Government would tumble into confu.
sion but for him but not otherwise. We have
pretty fair specimen of this in the speech before
us. Instance the sublime positionhe assumes in
his eXordium-ready, like another Atlas, to take
the ponderous load of the whole Nation on his
shoulders, and feeling perfectly able to bear it,
too, in the exuberance of his health derived
from teaching his boys ''Latin and Creek and
his little girls "French and Spanish''-when he
says to his colleagues-"Go and get your dinners
'-tahe s'me refreshment-siay as long as you
'piease-I am going TO take the fuor-Ihaue been
''reserDing and reposing myseyIor this erigeney-
81 am fresh and rigorouS-and tOhen you come
''bach you WiN find me my Jeet." Now, we
need not say, that all this was uttered merely for
effect-to invest his inventions with the air and
circumstance of reality-just as the painted flame
and sheet-iron thunder of the theatre is used to
give the semblance of storm for every body
knows it to be so.--It was said out of season,
and acknowedgedly with no application to ex-
isting circumstances. But it was part of the
continuance, and therefore could not be omitted.
We cannot consent, however, to waste our
time in a close dissection of such miserable
stuff. We shall proceed, therefore, at once, to
the main points of the speech, and show that
there was necessity for the call of an extra ses-
sion ofCongress, in order to provide for the wants
OF the government, and that what is now attepnp-
ted to be held up as extravaganza in the Wing
Congress is nothing more than an honest provs-
ion to pay the debts created by the notorious and
fragrant Encouragement of Mr.. Van Burens adj
ministraton. What did Benton himself say as
tar back as 1887. when opposing issue of
reasury notes Did he not denounce it as
y Che said) proposes the creation Of a debt" Nay
more-he characterised it as s'a forced borrowing
from the government creditor !; as much so as If
the 6ayonet ,ccre PIT to his breast.' Then he
was for direct loans, as the constitutional mode of
providing for the exigencies of the country-but
now, when the Wings seek to discard the Trea-
sury note system, and fund the debt created un.
der it, by borrowing the requisite amount, MIR.
Benton very consistently turns round and oppo-
COO nd et,.x
oil extravaganza when in fact and in truth, be-
sides greater convenience and propriety it pro-
duces saving of near two per cent. per annum
to the country, in interest and expenses which,
on twelve millions, would be something like two
hundred thousand dollars.
But for the facts upon which the call of an ex-
ra session of Congress was based
The aggregate amount of outstanding appro-
as appears from official documents, at
he time Gen. Harrison came into office,was $33-
l29, $1,000, Of which $21,2lO,OOO would be re-
lulred during the current year. To meet this
sum there was really in the Treasury on the 9TH
'f March, SS60,000, of which $2l5,OOO were de-
posted In the minis to procure metal for coinage
The receipts into the Treasury for the remaining
hTee-quarters of the year were estimated to a.
mount to $l4,67O ,000-thus leaving at the end
# the year deficit of ST. ,4O6 600 Moreover,
he demands upon the Treasury prior to the LIST of
'eptember-three months before the regular meet
ng OF Congress-were ascertained to amount
o about 81 $40, 900, and the accruing means to
meet them to only about $6,15O, OO0-leavinr an
ctual deficit on that day of about 1880, 900 J.!
is not perfectly apparent, then, that there was
necessity for the call of an extra session Of
congress, to save the government from bank
nptcy and ruin We have Mr.. Woodburv's
minority (wbo, by the way, Mr.. Benton makes
good witness Of on this occasion,) for SAVING
lat the Treasury, while under his nanapement.
ould not get along safely with less surph,s
IAN fire millions; how then could it be possible
'r it to get along with adefcieney to that amount
S to the issue of Treasury notes authorized bv I
10 late Administration, and which have been set
own as available means to the present, it is a
ell known fact that every dollar of them are re-
ulred TO redeem their own issues.
Aye--but Mr.. Woodbury. now rises in his
lace, being solemnly called by Mr. Benton, and
some IFS to be sure-that he could
ave carried on the government with the means
divided, had he remained in office. This in the
ce Of the fact that at the session of CONGRESS-
ecedIng the election he failed to ask for more
an fire millions of Treasury notes, when he ,
ainiy showed he wanted nine millions to carry ,