The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-18
have seen. il gave to Mr.. Woodbury.. cover for

in regard to the past AT the close of 1896. The
aggregate Of the amount Of unpaid aud most
poncd balances was $40, 752, 900; and a, the end
Of 1887, il was $l4, 1877, 900 From 1929 10
1910, the applied but unpaid balances had in
creased 100 per cent, and the unapplied or post
poned balances had increased sixteen TO one /!
It's an ominous, not to say alarming novelty
| IN the practical operation of our Government for
the last few years, that the administrative au-
enlarge the expenditures within the year at dis
erection. The specific objects Of the leg islative
authorities. in their appropriations, in so far as
this practice obtains, are not regarded A high
moral, legal, and constitutional obligation is
trampled under foot. Such license, once con-.
firmed by precedent and liberation, might open
| the door to the highest and most criminal acts
OF usurpa,ion, as it might afford means sufficient
even for the beginning Of a war, domestic or
| foreign, and plunge the nation into position as
disastrous and as irretrievable, as il would be
Unauthorized by any constitutional principle
| II is proper, however, TO remark, that Mr. Bell,
in his estimate, takes Mr.. Woodbury. on his own
ground, and allows the whole account of applied
but unpaid, and Of unapplied or postponed ba-
lances, 10 be considered as outstanding at the
close Of lS4l. He makes il, however, but &c.
100000, while Mr.. Woodbury. puts il down as
"a probability of conjecture" at S10,0O0,000.
This for political and popular effect inasmuch
as help Of 81 100000 in Treasury report,
falling on the right side, was "pretty consi-
derable" of an item. Foreseeing, however, that
he would be brought up on this point he has
very discreetly suggested "that greater pro-
portion Of outstanding appropriations at the end
Of the year 1910, may be expended in 1874, than
will be left unerpended of the new charges i'm
posed"
| Here, then, in single item, is Treasury ac-
count capital of 100000 to trade upon for po-
ltical and popular effect, so long as it may an
swer the purpose; and in sly corner, is found
saving clause, to be used as shield, in case
of need, against an adversary. "Did'nt say
500" Yes, true, but you left the impression
that the outstanding balances Of al would be
equal TO those of 40, and based your announce
ments of the future wants of the Government
upon this, as one of many similar items of cal
culation.
| The great advantage of Mr.. Bells views of
our late financial history, Of our present fnan-
cial position, and Of our financial prospects, is
that he travels side by side with the late Secretary
of the Treasury, takes his own materials, and
shows that properly represented, they must lead
to widely different results from those which the
ex-Secretary has announced. The field survey
ed by Mr.. Bell is too large TO be gone over by
US, and the points Of interest too numerous TO
receive particular notice in this place. The
country will appreciate its obligations TO those,
who, like Mr.. Bell, have contributed to effect
| such lucid acknowledgements of our financial af-
fairs, to throw light upon such obscurity, and to
prepare the way to bring order out of such a
chaos.
II ought to suffice to say, if true-and the evil
dence is all tangible in Mr.. Bells speech-that
he has proved to demonstration, out of the ma
terials furnished by the Ex-Secretary of the
Treasury. that the real deficiency during the
present year will not fall short of $4,000, OO0,"
it being understood that the Treasury should
never be permitted to approach nearer to.a state
of exhaustion than S5,000,00O, which, in the
more prudent or less proHigate period Of Mr.
Woodbury's administration Of the finances, was
his avowed doctrine, which he has never dis
claimed, and which no prudent statesman would
dare to dsclaim.
1t cannot, therefore, be denicd--the members
of the late administration, with Mr.. Van Buren,
at their head, being witnesses, out Of their own
books-that they have left the present admins
tration $l5000,0OO minus the necessities of the
Government for ls41. This, indeed, may seem
inconsistent with what they have published to
the world. Nevertheless, il is proved.
Mr. Bell has also proved, with equal clearness
and effect, that with all the pretensions and
boastings of the late administration, in the mat
ter of retrenchment, "vigorous retrenchment,"
they have never effected any, in the ordinary ex-
penses Of the Government, but rather increased
them. 1t all turns out like the boast of the Presi-
dent in his annual message Of 1910, that the ex-
penditures of 1889 were reduced sir millions
Of dollars below those of 1888. And how
Simply by abridging the extravaganza expenses
of the Florida war, and refusing appropriations
for roads, rivers, harbors, and national defences.
This last topic, to Wit, national defences, the
neglect Of which, by false and ruinous econo-
my, is ably handled by Mr.. Bell and others, we
have treated at large in former paper; and for
other matter respecting the finances, we refer
our readers TO our paper Of last Friday.
REVOLUTION IN PERU AND BOLIVIA.
BY the way Of Panama advices have been re-
ceived TO the 18th Of February. An outline of
the news is contained in the annexed letter: