Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-20
TWENTY.sIXTn CoNGREss-.-ad sEss1o

TWENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS---2d SESSIO
SPEECH OF Mr.. BUCHANAN, OF PEsssrLvAslA,
In Senate, Friday, January %, ls4l-ln defence of
the Administration of Mr.. Van Buren, against the
charge of extravaganza in expanding the public
money.
Mr. BUCHANAN rose to answer each of the four
specific charges of extravaganza which had been made
by the Senator from Kentucky Mr. Crttenden) against
the present Administration. The Senator had called
upon him personally to make this answer; and he I'M
derook the task with pleasure, not believing it to be
one of much difficulty. Before, however, he should
apply himself directly to this work, he would take the
liberty Of making some preliminary observations.
And in the first place. said MIR B., permit me TO OBJ
serve, that l. at least have introduced into this
Senate topics of debate clog cabins, hard CIDER
and coon SKINS" nor have ever made observation
here which could be tortured into reflection upon
either the integrity intelligence Of the people of the
United States for having elected General Harrison their
President The Senator from Kentucky has promptly
and frankly discaimed any intention of imputng TO me
such charge, and with this am entirely satisfied
The people are the only Legitimate soveregns of this
country, and however much may regret their re-
cent decision Of the Presidential question, shall never,
either here elsewhere, indulge myself in the Of
reproaciul language against them Tor this or any other
cause.
III know myself, said Mr. B., came to Congress
in December last with the desire and with the expcc
taon that this would prove 10 be business session.
II was my sincere wish that the political excitement
which has recently agtaed the people and has extend
ed to every portion Of the land might Tor the present.
be suffered to su5side, and that might bring up the
arrears of business with which encdmbered
had not the distant idea that this chamber would
again so soon be converted into mere political arena
Acting under sense of duty, have absained from
political conflicts since the commencement OF the pre-
sent session. except when compelled to enter the lists
in the necessary defence of myself or Of my party
have made assaults and have generally been amerc
listener.
had another for retaining from any parcl-
nation in the debate now before the Senate | knew
that question cf the distribution Of the proceeds OF
the public lands was before the Legislature OF my own
State and that might be instructed on the subject
and, as shall ever entertain and express the utmost
Difference and respect for that Legislature whatever
political party may be in the majority thought that
proper sense of decacy required me to abstain from
discussing this question have not, therefore, said,
nor do now intend 10 say, single word upon that
subject aud shall either give my vote according 10
these Instructions should they pass, my seat
am not the man who, after having enjoyed the sun
shine of political favor will shrink from the storm.
long since from The deepest conviction, adopted the
principle that the representative was bound by the IN
structions Of his constituents consider It Essential
to the wholesome action Of free, Democratic Repub
lican form of Government; and having publicly avow-
ed this doctrine at period when there appeared to be
hut little probability that it could reach myself,
shall not dsavow it in the day Of apparent gloom and
adversely. | am willing 10 abide the fate of war.
from advocating the passage Of the presumption bill,
dear as is, and has been 10 me, had then
known that the instructions before the Legislature OF
Pennsylvania embraced this subject, we'll as that OF
the distribution of the proceeds of the public lands
am glad however, now to find, that the Senator
from Kentucky himself Mr. CrittendenJ is in favor Of
the principle Of presumption, and has actually incorPo-
rated with that of distribution in his motion now be-
fore the Senate This renders it certain, that IT ever
u distribution bill should pass-and from the signs of
alahl flp
man. who has expended his toll in erecting an humble
dwelling, and cultivatng the soil shall not be driven
from his home the public lands OF the tar west, pro-
vded he is willing to pay the Government price Tor the
quarter section which he has selected ana improved.
For one, il was both my design ana my desire SO lar
as was concerned, devote this session to the neces-
sary business Of the country, and to wait patiently until
Gen Harrison should get into power shall then judge
the by its fruits without any pedeernlnaton TO OPP
pose his measures. | am bound, notwithstanding, IN
candor to declare that fine cnteans the of his
friend from Kentucky, (Mr Crenden,) in regard TO
National Bank he General larisonl believes that TO
be great good, which consider one ct the greatest
evils which can befal the country Without, at pre-
sent: abiding to its fatal political consequences, be-
lieve that in n financial point o. view, Vt would
prove destructive to prosperity. In order to obtain
Il specie capital for such institution, you must either
ruin or essentially cripple our State Banks, or you
must adopt the alternative OF borrowing specie abroad,
and creating national debt for this purpose. One or
the other OF these alternatives is inevitable and the
country IS not in condition to resort to either without
great injury the people. But enough of this for the
present return TO The subject win wh'ch coi''
menced
shall now proceed 10 show that the charge of ex-
travagance which has been often made and rcera-
ted against the present Administration by both the Sc
majors from Kentucky, sessrs C:i':enden and Clay,
is without foundation. IL will be 'or the Senate and
the country to decide whether shall have succeeded.
twill be recollected that in The month Of May last,
report was made hv the Secretary Of the Treasury in
obedience resolution of the Senate on the subject
a, .hr annual expenditures of the Federal Governncu,
during the fifteen preceding years From that report
j, appears, that the ordinary expenses of this Govern
.,,l. which III 1921 amounted to little more than
seven millions one hundred thousand dollars, had
been gradually increasing until the year 1872 when
they little exceeded thirteen millions and quarter.
/ mean hy "ordinqry expenses, the money annually
discussed in maintaining the permanent civil, military,
and val establishments of the country and embracing
every expenditure necessary to conduct the Govern
lnent prosperously in time oil peace. Now, IN regard
to this class of expenditures, have never heard any
Senator on either side of the House complain of their
amount or that they had risen from seven TO thirteen
millions of dollars between 1c24 and lo39. During
this period number OF new States nave been admit
ted into the Union and several new Territories created
the army and navy have both been considerably IN
creased and the expenses of Congress have OF late
wears become enormous, requiring reform more than
any other branch Of the Government. Our cxpendi-
necessarily increase with the growth oil the
country but II ought TO be care that this increase
shall be slow possible and never proceed beyond
what is absolutely necessary for the public service
We might with as much reason expect that the 1T
tie garment which sufficient TO the child
of eight ten years Of age, would prove sufficient
to protect him from the wind and the storm after he had
grown to be giant as argue that the eordnary ex.
pensee of the Government should not have increased
with the rapid, nay, the unexamped growth of the
nation during the last fifteen years Nothing has been
said against these expenses, either in the aggregate
in detail since they were brought to the attention of
gentlemen by the secretarys report 1t is then, fair
10 presume, that nothing can be urged against single
item of them On this triumphant result, am mos,
happy to have it in my power % congratulate
The Secretary of the Treasury, in the same report to
which have referred also presented an annual state
ment of the expenses 'of extraordinary or tempo
character from 1924 to 1882 both years inclusive
arranged under different heads When this report came