Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-03-11

will be larger balance of une expended appropriation
outstanding on the lst of January, lS4l; and cor
responding larger balance of cash hand at the
period To meet 1t; which understand are, to DE-
gree, the facts In the opposite state Of the case
more than five and half millions had been paid, the
there would have been less cash hand and les
amount OF unexpended appropriations to discharge.
The President in pursuance of authority vested i
hun by law, suspended the appropriations on certai
public works. But the superintendent of those works
It is said, yielding TO the opportunities the workmer
consented Tor them 10 90 on, in n limited way, upo
! important parts of the works condition, that the
were 10 be paid ut time when the state of the rreasur
would admit OF It. ! aude TO this transaction now
only TO show that il does not vary the general result
and cannot he Additional Obligation; il constitutes
part of, and included in, the balance of unexpende
appropriations II IS represented by the department
not TO exceed S200,000, and whether small or large
cannot be set down additional charge.
At this session the cry is changed; from the sam
quarter that we have heard during the tendency OF tn
election charges Of prohgale expenditure now hea
charges of nrsmony, niggardly economy, and suspend
ed payments, order to throw the ext adminIsra
ton heavy debts How is this met by facts; TIN
amount OF unexPended appropriations, is less on tn
first OF this year, than it was the commencement o
this administration at the beginning Of any ohe
wear.
It was on The lst day of jan, 1887, SlG,94GG70 .
On the st day of jan, lo3S, 19,lI4747 s.
On the lst day Of jan, 1889, l7S39 g33 3
On the lSt day of January, $50, l536I ,272 y
And is estimated to have been on the lst
day Of January 1871 Il,0OO000 o.
These balances OF unexpended appropriations ar
never all expended, appropriations to pay unsettled &C
counts frequently exceed the amount found due set
tlement and appropriations to construct public worl
or pny my estimated demand, sometimes exceed wha
IS actually required. ffrom these other
any appropriation remains unexpended for two years
by standing law II ceases 10 be appropriations apc
IS returned las it is denomnated) the surplus fund
In th's way variety Of balances amounting to from
one hundred thousand to million of dollars, have an
nually ceased TO be authorized 10 be expended.
| Gentlemen should be cautious in setting down unex
pended appropriations, unwaTrantabe debts against
succeeding administration. ii the votes Of large
majority of their friends, if the declarations this
floor, in the Senate and elsewhere Of the consp
cuous members Of their party, TO be taken ndi
cations Of the measures Of the administration, the
expenditures Will be largely increased and General
Harrison viii be fortunate # he does not at the end Of
his term transmit 10 his successor, balance Of uneS-
pended appropriations of twice the present amount.
large permanent debt is said TO exist usiifying
immediate loan, and increased taxation. Where is this
debt In what does it consist; The ten thousand
claims which said 10 be asking justice in vain at
hands, are placed as the first item. have doubt
there instances Of hardship, arising out of the
lmpracticahily Of deciding such multitude OF
cases that annually presented To Congress When
first came 10 Congress my sympathies were frequently
excited in behalf ptiiu claimants said TO be cruelty
sent from your hall without justice mercy. little
experience has taught me- that most Of these cases.
cases that have been properly rejected al the account
I'M offices, many Of them have been repeatedly pre-
scented mud rejected here, and have good to he
licve, that very few perhaps not one in hundred,
ought 10 be allowed.
Ii the Administration is eager To constitute a
national debt out of these cluins, and will proclaim to
the country that such claims will be paid: instead Of
ten thousand, II may have Ten hundred thousand to
,ii.cv )ups ri hat hp ms nj
lnr 10 five millions Of dollars for French spolatons
before lo0o, will be shortly allowed 1t is expected,
HAT this Congress will borrow money, or levy taxes,
order 10 grant 10 the States nine millions the amount
Of the Jth nslamcnt Of what falsely called the
Grpositcs: Is il gravcy expected, that five or eight
millions shall be borrowed, and vested in stocks III Or
Ger that the interest shall lie ready 10 pay the annni-
ICES engaged /, hc pad 20 thu Indians Or do gentle
men expect so soon 10 their favored objects OF
hlrhors, roads aud other Improvements: Or to unrea-
sonaLlv extend H., public dernces BY studdrng your
immense frontier with armamcnts, and whitening every
with vonr navies: No, gentlemen; II you are 10
have great national debt made up OF rejected claims,
many OF Inch are As old the government, and OF
new projects al distribution and wild extravaganza,
you must contract it yoursclves-you cannot indulge
the hope OF beginning i'll the few remaining weeks oi
this session Go home first, and ask your constituents
if General Harrison elected for any such purposes
viii warrant that you have mistaken tie issue al the
late election many, very many OF the voters nave
done II APPEARS dcmonsrablr, mat the balance 81
responded appropriations the Isl dny of January,
ISL may properly he assumed as including every ex-
prmdliurc that fall the year, except the est
mated permanent, appropriations and such new appro'
pri1ions as shall bp authorised at this session OF Con-
rrtss also reasonable TO expect like amount, TO
rclnain unexpended the commencement Of the next
year we have then, Mr. Chairman, only 10 enquire,
whether the cash The Treasury, and the probable m
come will be sufficient ~ meet the amount OF perna
nen appropriations and such this Congress may au-
thnriSc.
The balance in the Treasury on the lst
day Of January, i-il, was estimated
by the Secretary Of the Treasury, at S l1cO,soo
And the income from all sources at 23,l426lS
Making the whole estimated means of
the year S2],'2o4''
On The other hand The estimate ofthc
expenditures Of the year ISL are stated
For ordinary purposes at Si9,23O,UOO
For the funded debt,
chiefly for the cities Of
his j,sric, $4,000
For the redemption of the
Treasury Notes a,'oo'ooo 500 ,oc
Lcayinga balance in the Treasury after