The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-01
g STATE OF THE FINANCES AT THE
CLOSE OF THE LAST ADMlNISTRA-
TJON l.s EG tt8


fasTATE OF THE FINANCES AT THE
CLOSE OF THE LAST ADMINISTRA-
TON"
Such is the announcement, in the Globe of the
9th, of what it calls ga copy of Mr.. Woodbury's
Report to Mr. Van Buren, at the close of the last Ad
mnistration." The Globe adds: g It is an important
paper and should be universally repubshed, that the
nation may the condition Of the finances when
the present Administration came into power" See
the document in another column.
We sincerely second the WISH that it may be !" uni
versally republshed," universally read, universally
pondered. and universally commented upon by the
curious gratuity uncalled for by any precedent,
custom rule curious for its dark conectural
certain, unbusiness-ike as being
addressed to the President the day before he retired
from power, having no practical use whatever con-
nected with the administration of the Government
curious, as being semi-ofcia dated Treasury De-
partment, March 2, 184l" and signed respectfully,
LEVI Woodbury., Secretary Of the Treasury" with
out being in fact addressed any body but apparent
ly and inferentialIy addressed to Mr.. Van Buren,,
whether as President, private citizen, one
can tell, but the whole led to suppose the
atter-curiois, as hating and stumbling vindica-
ton of that which appears The worse the it is
looked curious, abortive ad captandum finale
Of disgraced Administration and bankrupt Treasu-
ny, soliciting faith by concealing factsand curious,
finally the most extraordinary anomaly to be found
in history.
We have obtained copy" says the Globe
Where, how, by whom, from whom2 What is it 4
Uhot,. ;t, L Il 80,
or otherwise To whom addressed and what is it
for2 In fact it has no address. But reading it,
we fnd that it appears 10 be addressed to the then
President, going the next day into dignifed and
elegant retiracy" It is, in substance-or kindly in
tended to be- priuate cup of consolation, under
semi-official garb.
Now to the business character of this document
Look, ye honest folks, who want to know facts, and
see what virtue there is in mystifcation.
" In pursuance of suggestion by the President"
&C. Here we have the keyto its origin. The Presi-
dent wants crumb of comfort and on this wise they
sonsoe one another. 1t is understood between them
to be difficult to be made OUT but there is no
telling what charm there may be in general state
mens, avoiding carefully every thing in particular
So far as get ascertained, the ordinary expend-
ure 1910, since that (the ANNUALLY report, proved
to be less than those Of 1885, by ." Observe
" ordinary. What disguise Observe Co."
blank! What valuable fact! We have conscien-
tiously quoted the blank, that Mr.. Woodbury. may
have all the benefit of it.
"The revenue" Of that term "turncd out, also,
nearly the same there calculated . "little
narration from the estimates Of 1882" Give us
the figures Mr.. Woodbury., and we will dispense with
all such terms as "nearly the same" little no
VARIATION &c.
"The available balance in the Treasury, at the
commencement Of iS4f, has proved to be about as
much aoas anticipt ted" HoO much, Mr.. Wood
bury and by aohom anticipated
"The only material difference in this balance,
since explained" &c. HoD material, Mr.. Wood
bury and what is the explanation Both these
are important poii ts
The power remaining on the LIST Of January to is
Treasury Notes, constituted another Of the fiscal
means for the present year. and has been dsceraned
to exist in amount greater than has been
tirnated" Ascertained" Somewhat greater" Then,
why not state it in fgures2 The whole amount issu-
able aerthe annual report to the 3Ist Of March, as
stated by Mr.. Woodbury. that occasion, was $342,
GIG. Mr.. Woodbury. knew exactly how much ofthis
remained to bessued after the LIST Of January "Some
what greater than was estimated" Does Mr. Wood
bury to confess clerical errors here, or what
How could this difference arise except by incorrect
books since il is business Of gures3 We are glad
any how to be richerbut should like TO know how
much richer. Besides, if Mr.. Woodbury. did really
make mistakes in his annual report we think they
ought to be publicly corrected.
Hence the present year commenced with resources
on hand quite equal 10 the anticipations previously
formed "Anticipaon, poeitical sentiment, being
an item in the account Of the Treasurer Of the United
States But all dark, all vague all uncertain, nothing
specified "The resources" of the nation "quiie