Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-11
No. S9.-VOLUME XXXVH.

mounted men, and 500 foot,) TO he armed, mounted
and equipped, according TO the provisions OF a bill
which passed the Senate, and reported to this
House last session by the Military Committee. 1t IS
not asked TO support militia, hut ro'nnteerS to be en-
listed according 10 the suggestion of General Jesup,
and the provisions of this BILL for twelve months dur
ing The war; as permanent aGuncs to the regular
Unless therefore, You lpgisate the authority no such
large expenditure can be made But admitting that the
appropriation asked TO pay the militia force which may
be employed during the ensuing year, in prosecuting
the war; does follow necessarily that the expense will
be incurred? The militia be called out into service
but three months; and gentlemen that, if now
IN service they will be in service the 4th of March
next and If then in service, wall they be called out by
the succeeding President, and be continued in service
during the year, The Indians, since the proposed ap
preparation by the Secretary of War; have been broken
up IN their stronsholds, and daily coming M
whilst the summer heats rapidly approaching, when
military operations must be suspended Although
there are 1900 Of regular troops in Florida, do
not say that two millions, twice two millions, may
not he expended during the year. in the prosecution Of
this That will depend upon tie succeeding Ad-
mInstraton. But do say that, according to pre-
sent information and future prospects, S150GG0
val, be far estimate for all lis necessary expenditures.
The expense OF making the census, ct SoGU,Ut0, ard
the postponed appropriations for ioricatIons, Of
81 ,,0OO0OO moe easily disposed Of They constI-
tue part OF the next item, CT Slo,OOO0OO, OF out
Standing appropriations charged by the gentleman from
Tennessee, (Nlr. Bella as gentlemen Will by look
ing over the list IL the report of the Secretary Of the
Treasury. We come ther to this great of
$l0,0U00G0. 1t constitutes the chef argument-al-
most the only argument, (tor without it argument
would have been prc.ended) &C Indebtedness in the
Government, and deficiency in the Treasury for the
wants of the ensuing year. think will show that,
10 represent these outstanding appropriations liabili-
ties upon the Treasury, for which additional means arc
to be provided Leyond the ncu appropriations, gross
allacy.
Grca, confusion with respect 10 this item, resulting
in some degree from the imperfect heading of the
the reports of the Secretary of the Treasury
has been repeatedly exhibited Congress. Last year
the gentleman from Georgia, tNr. Dawson,) and many
others, insisted that this item much money in
the Treasury. Now, il is insisted that It is debt 10
discharge which during the year, must be provl-
ded. 1t is neither the the other IL is in
all annual REPORTS ranging from Ten to twenty mil
lions Last year it thirteen millions this year,
ten II consists OF liabilities the Treasury account
Of past appropriations, TO complete which, the money
has not been called for and when the money called
for during year, there will usually he much
money undrawn from The Treasury remaining on hand
from The new appropriations Thus the money taken
account OF the old appropriations wall be balanced
by The money re!nainng III the Treasury from the new
appropriations. The whoic If an appropriation can
81 dom or Eeyer be expended Immediately: because
the application Of labor is necessarily gradual and linz
tied Pablo works not completed IN day; and what
drawn for such purposes BY virtue OF old
appropriations counteballnced the treasury books
by the new, for which money not required The ac-
count tins from year to year; the outstanding
appropriations at any time being pretty much the
same 1t is therefore affair OF paper not odebt Tor
which money must be supplied Is It not astonishing,
sir, that men old in legislation on this floor should
alarm themselves, and endeayor to alarm the country,
By such egregious Mistakes And yet, this single item
constitutes the main ground for the defamation
have heard about bankrupt Treasury and proiliga'c
Administration; whilst an extra session OF Congress -
gavy urged, 10 stop up the enormous gap has made
the Treasury.
The last charge is account Of the Post Office. made
By my colleague, MIR. Thumpson,) Of 81 100000. |
turn 10 the Postmaster Generals report, and ud that
nc puts The Indebtedness Of his Department ut bot
S2g SD. Nor Will even this small amount he any
charge upon the year ISL, for which extraordinary
means, by taxaton or permanent loans need be pro-
viled The Postmaster General says, III his report:
. But the present apparently uniavorabe financial con-
dllon Of the Department need occasion no anxiety II
can b, sustained upon lis own resources, and soon
placed in safe and prosperous condition
"Wuh reasonable expectation Of re-
Gucon in The expenses Of lie transportation, and near
" 4 certainty OF considerable increase IN It's revenues,
the future prospects Of the Department are highly sa-
ls9actury
II should he horne in mind tia, the contracts for
transporting the mail made for four years conse-
quen,ly, large portion Of the contracts fulfilled with
the last two years made when prices were very
hgh and have therefore, been extravaganza ior the
times. This department has been indebted repeatedly
beyond THIS amount but II has been left TO itseli, and
has always worked out lis cxrcation, and doubt.
less now needs no from any resources but
It's own. This item, therefore, may be wiped out
Let us now review the account and see how Il stands
Navy pension fund SloU,UUo
Maine claims 22u,oUO
Finrd, var $4,000
Census
Postponed appropriations for Notifications
Outstanding appropriations