Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-11
SPEECH OF MIR. CLAY
Upon his Resolutions concerning the TariG and
other great objects Of public policy.
IN SENATE-MAReH .
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Mvn.,t resolution is directed TO the expenses oil
Tho Jnd,elal department Of the Governments
R.sossd That the reoses ofiho iudlc, dsparimsn'
OF late years. been greatly increased
and ought TO be diminished
4, ibis departmcnt also, there has been vast
augmentation OF tho expenses, and such an one as
calls for thorough Investigation. Inc amount OF
the anpropriation for the Judicial department. has
sprung up from $40, 900, which It was in 1879, 10
san 900, at which II stood for the year isio; Can
any man believe that this has all been fairly done
That that department actually requires the expen-
dture every year Of nearly half million OF uoi I.
lnrs7 have no doubt that the district Judges and
the tnsrshas, who have great control OF the eIpen-
urc of tho fund, and the clerks, ought to bc held
responsible for this enormous increase without
INV intention to indulge in any invdious dstinc-
tons think l could name a district IN which great
abuses prevail and the expenditures are four or
five times greater than they in any other dis
triet throughout the country. hope this whole
matter will be thoroughly investigated, and that
some necessary restraints will be imposed upon this
branch OF the public service. am truly sorry that
m branch of the Government which, for its purity
and uprshtness, has been distinguished, and
which so well merits the admiration OF the WI ole
country there should have occurred so discredits-
ble on increase in the expenses of Its practical ad
ministration.
Inc next resolution asserts
~That tho diplomatic relations ofhs United with
foreign Powers have been extended during
the last twelve years, and ought to be reduced"
will no, veil long this subject. I must re-
mark however. that since the days OF MIR Adanis'
administration the number OF foreign ministers of
the first grade has nearly doubled, and that of min
isters of the second grade has nearly tripled. Why
~. have ministers abroad who are seeking for the
Governments TO which they accredited, and the
Governments not TO be found We have min
is,cr' at Constan,inople and Vienna-and for what
We have nnunreciprocated mission TO Naples-and
Tor whlt1 There WAS at the last session an at
Tempt 70 abolish this appointment, but It unfortu.
natly 'ailed. One would think that in such a one.
sided, incorporated diplomacy II regard to eco
u1my DID not prompt ms 10 discontinue the relation,
national pride would. In like manner. We might
look round the coasts of Europe and OF this cont
rent: and find mission after mission which there
-eem' to he no earthly utility in retaining. Blu,
forbear.
ON the subject OF mileage, hope there m,y lie
an sf0t 10 equaiize 1t Justly, and render /, uniform,
ond tlatthe same allowance will DC made Tor the
came distance travelled, whether by land, by water
or by steam route, or whether the distance be as
cs-talacd by horizontal or surface measurement |
think the former the best mode, because Il limits US
jo 4 single and simple inquiry, and leaves no open
door FOR abuses. hope, therefore, tina, we shall
ajor,ii.
III, next resolution of the series reads thus:
.oir'i. That the frankias privilege ou:l, to be fur
Tier restricted TIE abusive uses OF restrained aud pun
iIf distances clearly defined aud prescribed.
pl-sa.os transmie by the NAH be graduated and "a
creased according to their respective weights
The ranking privilege has been most direfully
abused. w G nave AreauN rtaCntu point OF abuse.
not n say corruption, though the Government ha.
been 90 operation but about fifty years. which h
Ias taken Great Britain centuries TO attain. Bank
envelopes, have heard Il said, ready franked have
L,cn enclosed TO individuals at distance, who have
openly bOasted that their correspondence is free OF
charge. The limitation as TO weight is now extend
81, believe, 10 two ounces But what of that If q
man send uuder his frank thousand OF these two
ounce packages The limitation should be TO the
total weight included IN any single mail, whether
the packages be few or many. The report OF the
Postmaster General, al former session, states the
astounding fact, that, of tho whole amount trans
ported IN the mails, ninety five per cent goes free
81 all duty, and letters OF business and private cor
Tcspondence have TO defray the expense Of the
whole. II is monstrous, and calls loudly for some
provision 10 equalize the charge. The present
postage on letters is enormously high in proportion
In The other business Of the country. II you will
refuse carry those packages which ore now trans
mited by mail, simply because, in that mode, they
travel free Of cost, you will greatly relieve the
business interests of the country, which now bear
nearly the whole burden Tor all the rest. This it is
Your duty TO do. Let US throw, at least, fair
portion OF the burden those who receive, pre-
sent, the whole OF the benefit
Again. The law IS very loose and uncertain as 10
tic estimation Of distances Since the Introduction
Of steam travel, the distance travelled has, in many
cases. been increased. while the time consumed has
been shortened Take, as an Illustration, n case
rear OF hand Tie nearest distance from here TO
Frederick city, in Maryland, is forty.fou miles;
but il you 90 hence TO the depot on the Baltimore
road, and thence take the train 10 Frederick you
arrive sooner, but the distance is increased 10 one
hundred miles. Now, as letters o!s charged accord
ing 10 the miles travelled, hold II very wrong 10
subject letter to this more than double charge in
consequence Of adopting longer route in distance
though shorter in time. Such cases ought 10 be
provided against by specific rules.
come now to the last resolution offered; which
j. as follows:
Ess5rsd That the Secretaries OF SAFE OF the Treas
49, OF war and OF the Navy DEPARTMENTS, and The Post
Jie o. report What oGees csn be abolished s6l Wat Te.
tt'nchmenisof public expenditure can be made without
public trrn ent n ne respective branches Of tie putc
f..viee under tisif charge.
We al know that Il the heads Of Departments
v not 60 20 work with Us honestly ard faithfully
IN truth ard sincerity, Congress- thus unzide5 can
effect comparatively but li.ile. hope they will
cr;sr with Us or this good work Of reirenchment
all reform. shall &c the last TO express in advance
any cs.rist Of her uprish, intentions in this re
fpact TIE or = thing that alarms me is tha, two
a. these apartments have come 70 Us asking for
appropriations ar beyond any that have heretofore
been cemal1tl DO iime Of peace. and that with a
fll know edge Of the feet Of empty Treasury
BIT still hope, when they shall see Congress
is4riIv, 90 earnest, engaged in Ierenching use ess
s-rel1tu-s, and reducing estimates that cannot be
compiled vi;h, that they will boldly bring ont %
NsW o. abuses which exist IN their severn spheres
r. at.Ion, and lsi Us apply me pruning knife 50 a.
.. reduce DE national expenditure within some pro-
pr and reasonable amount. At oil events hey
ore, o eoufss, mo't familiar With the details Of the
tunIe-, as u relates 70 their several branches, M
Tie Administration. Among other items there ore
rcrefa. useless mlnts which only operate 10 vast.
ilc public money. ! friend, occupied In invss,i.
eating THIS subject, has 70 me that the mint m y
Ole1ns has ready cost tie country holt a million
~ dollars for getting ready 10 coin bullion not wei
dug out Of the mine
Mr. Beuen here spoke across sometime mt
card by the Reporter IN relation 10 tie mint M
bahontsa which excited much mnh ln the neiyh.
blfng part OF the Chamberl
While every pe-e o. coin made by these useless
f-iaDishments could jos, ne well he coined bv tho
Central mint Of Philadelphia.
Ana now, having gone through with aif the de
fis Of THIS series Of resolutions, which thought Il
NY iuiy N notice, al ow me, in drawing n a con.
cusion Oi these remarks, TO present some Of the aJ
van'ages which u appears 10 me should urge us 10
coop, NE sysen Of hnancll. arrangement contem-
plated DO the resolutions
hnd hut The Government will IN hi, va,,
secure 70 itself an adequate amount Of rsveon.
without being obliged 10 depend on temporary ADD
drrepuaO.e eHpodiens, and thus preserve 10 rri,.
hc credit unsulhcd- which deem a gent sdvs,.
taee OF me plan. Credit IS of incslcul,ble v,I,,c
whether " nation or an individual Enoian5'
proud England, country with which we m ~, 900
DAY agnin come ~ conhcl-thougi Il pives me ,iea.
sure 20 say thrt cannot perceive nj prsse,t 49,,
least "speck Of war" IN the political hof'zon-o,..,
her greatness her vastness Of power peryadinr a.,
h'1tlbIe globe, mainly 10 her sfci and uniform nj