Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-03-25
No. 24--WHOLE No. 3ss.

I useful and salulary reforms must DC
made with care and circumspectlon.-
The gentleman from South Carolina ad'
mils that the reforms he accomplished
took him four years to bring about II
WAS MOI ill after four years OF constant
exc rtion that he was enabled TO esiab
lsh system Of just accountability. and
to bring down the expenses Of the army
TO that average, per man, to which they
were al length reduced. And now, with
all his personal knowledge Of the diff.
culties Of such task, was it kind in him,
was il kind or fair in his associates, TO
taunt US, as they have done, BY already
asking, "where are the reforms you
promised to accomplish when you were
oul of power"
Mr.. CALHOUN here rose TO explain,
and observed that what he had again
and again said on The subject Of reforms
was no more than this, that it was time
the promised reforms should begin; it
was time they should begin; AMI that
was all he now asked
Very we'll: if that is all he asks the
gentleman will not be disappointed -
We could not begin at the extra session; /;
it could not then reasonably be ex'
pected Of US; for what is the duty Of a
new administration when it first comes
into the possession Of PowerH lis i'm
mediate and pressing care is 10 carry on
the Government; 10 become acquainted
with the machine; 10 Iook how il acts
in its various parts, and 10 take care
that il shall not work injuriously 10 the
public interest. They cannot, at once.
look back at the past abuses; it is not
practicable 10 do so; it must have lime
to look into the pigeon holes of the var.
ious bureaux, to find out what has been
done, and what is doing Its first great
dOty is 10 keep the machine Of Govern
mept in regular motion. 1t could not
therefore, be expected that Congress
would 90 into a thorough process Of re-
form at the extra session. Its peculiar
object then was 10 adopt measures OF
immediate and indispensable relief TO
The People and TO the Government. -
Besides which, the subsequent misfor'
tunes of the Wing party were well
known. President Harrison occupied
the Chair Of State but for a single
month; and the members Of his Cabinet
left it under circumstances which, let
me here say, do them The highest honor.
| do not enter upon the inquiry wheth'
er the state Of things which they suPpo'
sed to exist did actually exist or not ;
but believing it 10 exist, as they did ,
their resignation presents one OF the
most signal examples Of The sacrifice oI
the honors and emoIuments Of high sta
ton, al great expense and personal in
convenience, and Of noble adherence to
honor and good faith, which the history
OF any country can show. But NAV
Justly claim, not only on behalf Of the
retiring Secretaries, buV for the whole
Whig party, stern adherence TO Prln
ciple, in utter disregard Of the spoils
doctrine, and OF all those baser motives
and considerations which address them
selves TO some men with so great a pow
er say, then, that the late Extra
Session was no time to achieve a great
and extensive and difficult reform
throughout the departments Of the CO.
vernment: process like that can be
attempted only during regular session
Of Congress; and do not gentle know
tina, it IS now in progress, by The faithful
hands TO which it has been here and
elsewhere in Congress committed?
and that an extraordinary committee has
been raised in this body, insomuch that
to effect it the Senate has somewhat shot
from its usual and appropriate orbit by
establishing a standing Committee oI
Retrenchment? lflhe honorable Sena
tor from South Carolina took four years
TO bring down the expenses OF the War
Department, when under his own i'm
mediate superintendence, | may surely
WIN COUUubnC6s Wdhb WY uppSul W h'9
sense Of Justice and Iiberslity to allow
us al least two years before he reproach
rs US with failure in a work so much
more extensive.
will now say that, in suggesting the
proprety Of fixing the annual average
expenditure of this Government al
twenty-five millions Of dollars, from thi:
time and for some years TO come, it i:
not my intention to preclude any further
reductions of expense by the dismssa
of useless officers, the abolition of use
less institutions, and the reduction o
unnecessary and extravagant expendl
lures. No man is more desirous than
am Of seeing this Government admins
tered at the smallest possible expense
consistent with the duties entrusted ia
US in the management of our public in
reres,s bo'h at home and abroad. None
will rejoice more if it shall be found
practicable to reduce our expenditures
10 eighteen, to fifteen, or even 10 thlr
teen millions. None, | repeat it vii
rpioice in such a triumph Of economy