The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-22

| annexed thus rendering mistake or miscalcula-
ton next to impossible. Such being the case
finding, and, if opposed, the appropriations
should be objected TO specifically and II should
be made to appear either that The thing required
TO be done, is unnecessary, or that the cost an
nexed has been oyerrated. No such thing has
been donei and we risk nothing in saying nor can
objections referred TO, whilst they unfounded,
are moreover unjpstly or unfairly made. There
is point which seems to have been overlooked
and to which we would respectfully draw the
attention of our readers, which is nothing more
nor less than the nature Of the basis on which
the estimates in question stand. Does this ba-
sis consist of the current expenses Of the Go
pernment? Certainly not. The current ex-
penses of the Government form but portion,
and very small portion, of the charges, to de-
fray which appropriations are asked by the Ex-
ecutive. Let reference be had to the statements
and it will be found that, in the departments Of
War and the Navy, with regard to which the
most serious objections are urged, the current
expenses are almost as nothing when compared
with the demands for constructing Notifications,
building ships, and doing other things which
have been most iniquitously as we believe, left
undone by preceding administrations, owing to
disreputable desire for popularity and dread of
the responsibility which would have attached to
a true and faithful performance of duty. The
simple fact is this Mr.. Van Buren's admins
tration, in its zeal to acquire reputation for
economy, stWdiously apoided doing any thing
that could be left undone, e.rcept, indeed, such
matters as 1pere connected Nth electi0neering
purposes, and therefore 1t is that aOhat should
hare been done by him and has friends has de-
SolUed on the present Administration. Such
was the state of things when MIR. Tyler assum-
ed the reins of Government, and his Secretaries,
as in duty bound, in making their reports, adopt
ed as their guides the actual aoGnts Of the coun-
try, due regard being had to its honor and secu-
rity. Such being the case, is it not ungene-
rous and uncandid to assign as a fault, to the
'esent Cabinet, the faithful performance of its
DUTY, because the uisdeeds of its predecessors
had left host of things to be provided for,
whel, If these predecessors had acted honest
ly, no such wants would have existed.
We will suppose case for the purpose of
illustration, and then we will ask whether the
objections of which we speak are not most out
rageousy unjust2 man, in succeeding to
an estate, finds that he has become proprietor of
large cotton factory Having sent for his
agent, he requests him to furnish statement of
the expense incident to the efficient operation of
the factory for the ensuing year. The agent
goes to work, and finds that the building has
been suffered to go TO decay, the roof is leaky
the aoalls hare fallen doaon some Of the mrchi-
merry is out ofplace, a shaft has been broken,
&C., &c., and of course, in making his estimate,
he cludes the necessary repairs as indspen-
sable to the deficient operation" Of the estab-
lishment. His estimate, we will say, amounts
to twenty thousand dollars for tn year, and on
presenting it the proprietor, he is told that the
owner has no money, and therefore the estimate
is too high, and must be reduced. Would not
his answer be-why, sir, you asked me to estl-
mate what it would cost to carry the establish
ment into " efficient operation" and the data on
nished by experienced mechanics. The house,
you must remember, has been suffered to go to
decay, the roof is leaky, the walls have fallen
down, the machinery is out of place, and there
fore useless until put in order; the shaft is bro
ken, &C.. &C.; but if you will look to other parts
of my statement, you will see that, apart from
these repairs, the current expenses would be on
ly ten thousand dollars, instead Of twenty thou
sand. Now we ask any candid man to say
whether, in this case, the agent deserves blame
for extravaganza, because he gives fair and
candid exposition of the condition Of the facto-
ry. To this question there can be but one an
swer, which is in the negative. With what
grace, then, or propriety can the Departments
be charged with extravaganza in their esti-
mates? We will put Congress in the place of
the proprietor; the Secretaries are the agents ;
the factory, in its ruinous condition, is the pub
lie service, and the estimates of the Secretaries
are the returns of the agents based upon well
ascertained data, furnished by experienced
workmen. The two cases stand on -four
legs" and are precisely analogous and now we
demand whether, under their oaths of office, the
heads of Del artments could have acted other
wise than they have done. So far from avoid
ing inquiry, the gentlemen in question court an
examination, and, if there be one single item
not demanded by the honor and safety of the
country, or miscalculated they will agree that
it shall be corrected. We believe that every
fair and honorable mind will agree with us in
saying that, under the circumstances, the objec
tons are unjust in themselves, and that, admit
ting them to be well founded, it becomes the