The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-18

is the case, but il should be borne in mind that
all good government is Of necessity expensive.
In fact, expense in matters Of this kind, is a
point of secondary importance, and should not
be thought Of except when il is carried to pro-
fusion. Governments, and the protection they
afford, seem to resemble in some degree the
houses in which we live. If, in commencing
building, the owner sets out with the determl-
nation TO avoid present outlay Of money, he
will find that upholstered walls, single roofs,
and doors with latches, instead of well con-
structed locks, will cost comparatively very lit
tie, but how will the account stand in the event
of accidents north east storm occurs, and
the thin walls admit the dampness that causes
sickness, and renders the employment of ply
sican necessary A neighboring chimney takes
fire, and aspark, happening to alight on the shin
gle roof, sets the whole concern in blaze, and II
is burned to the ground, by which means the
cost of new house is superadded to the price
of the former one. Burglars are abroad and
obtain admission owing to the want OF proper
fastenings, the plate is stolen, the furniture is
spoiled and the peace of the inmates is marred.
Now it would appear TO US that when all these
contingencies are, taken into account it would
have been cheaper in the long run if the proprie-
tor had, in the first place, gone TO the expense
of putting up substantial walls well protected,
whereby sickness would have been prevented
slate roof by which all risk trem fire would
have been avoided-and good thick doors with
\ Il. - L.,
been picked, and consequently no robbery would
have taken place. Now this is precisely the
case with nations. The structure of the gov
ernment being strong and well cemented by
honesty and intelligence, no impositions are
praclsed-the laws affording equal and effci-
duce exctements-the results Of which are
anarchy and ruin-the military defences being
powerful and well guarded, there can be no sue
cessfu invasion Of right from without, nor can
enemies break in and commit depredations
with impunty. Perhaps there is another fami-
liar case which may be put to show that true
economy consists in uniformity Of protection
A man being DESTROYS to save money continues
to wear the same clothes for long time. A
year having elapsed, he boasts of his small ex-
penses, and tells how little he has paid to his
tailor, his boot maker, &c. during the twelve
months At length his stock Of clothes is ex-
hausted and he finds that he must get every
thing new, He must buy new coats, new
boots, new hats, new every thing, and al the
end Of his second year he discovers that his ex-
penses have been enormous, perhaps four time
as great as they would have been if his supply
had been liberal and uniform. So has it been
with our Government. For time almost no
thing was done to keep up the defences OF the
land and it was called economy, In the mean
while Notifications tumble into ruin, ships rot,
materials of all kinds are wanting. An emer-
gency arises and every thing has to be made
anew, forts and ships are TO be built, and mate
rails to be collected at the highest prices, be-
cause circumstances will not admit of delay,
and consequently an immense outlay is neces-
sary. Would it not have been better to have
kept the OLD forts and ships in order although il
did cost money? We think il would.