The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-11
MR.. CLAY'S RESOLUTIONS AND
SPEECH

uiscusslou Vi MI. tldy 5 RESOLUTIONS was HeIaiu-
ed, we had anticipated on the part of that dis
tnguished Senator a display of power superior
10 any of the numerous and brilliant efforts by
which his political career has been marked
| This expectation was in part founded on the
general character Of the resolutions themselves,
which seemed intended to afford scope for his
mastery intellect in discoursing on the almost
boundless field Of State policy. In the antici-
pations thus formed we regret TO say, we have
been much disappointed. Whether the disap-
pointment thus experienced is 10 be traced to
inability on our pat to appreciate the argument
OF the speaker il deserves, the country will of
course Judge, but we deem it duty TO set forth
our objections, with all-becoming Difference to
the dstingu he'd individual, in order that we
may be relieved from any charge of prejudice
in the premises AS for the general truth of
the positions assumed in the resolutions, there
will, we presume, be but little difference OF OPT
Mon, as they embrace abstract points, on which
all parties are, so far as we advised, perfect
| ly agreed, That economy should be exercised
| in the administration Of all governments, and
particularly such government as ours, no one
will venture to deny and that for several years
past the grossest protuson has existed, we, at
least, are ready to admit That judclous re
trenchment is the only corrective OF profuslon IS
as readily admitted, but as to what may be fairly
termed ludlcious retrenchment, there may be
difference Of opinion and il is on this point, as
| well as some others, that we must differ from
,, the author of these resolutions and found our
condemnation Of his speech as unworthy of so
great and enlightened statesman. In discus
sing the question, Mr.. c. seems TO have occu-
pied his time in looping off leaves and twlgs,
when his axe should have been laid at the root
of the evil. That Congress may have employed
more clerks than were necessary, and that more
paper has been used than was absolutely want
ed by the members, may all be, and undoubtedly
is true, but after all what do these amount TO
when compared with the great principles on
which the Government has been conducted r
1t is not for such men as Mr. Clay to 90 into
petty details about dollars and cents when mil
lions involved, and we had hoped that in
stead of fitting at rats and mice and such small
deer, he would have launched his javelins at
nobler game. No matter how much money has
been spent, the question is whether il has been
well expended, and whether the great interes is
Of the country have been faithfully and judi
ciously cherished and protected. Mr.. Van Blu
rem is said to have expended on an average thr-
ty-6ve millions year. Is the country the bet
ter for it, or is it not now in an infinitely worse
condition than II was even when he assumed
the reins of Government Where are the de-
fences of the land where the public works
where the perfection and thoroughness in the
performance Of pubic duty, that might have
been expected with such an outlay Of treasures
Let the dilapidated state Of our Notifications,
the depressed condition Of our navy, the neglect
and confusion apparent in every department Of
the civil service, answer the question. However
great may have been the abuse of public conf
dence on the part of Mr. Van Puren's admins
traton, its effect has only been to increase evils
that should not have existed, and enhance the
difficulties attending on the change of policy
introduced by his successors in office, and we
confess that, under all the circumstances Of the
case, we were much surprised at seeiag the OBJ
jections urged by Mr.. Clay against the estimates
of the present heads Of departments for the en-
suing year. The present Administration asks
for $26,000,000, instead Of S35,0O0,000, or
rather $40,000,000, expended annually by their
predecessors and yet we are told that their es-
Inmates are too high For what, we ask, are
the $26,O00o0o, which, by the way, is only
81 900, 900 more than Mr.. G. thinks necessary,
with all his retrenchments in mileage, postage,
stdtionery diplomacy, &C., required2 Are they
demanded for ordinary expenses, or such charges
as would have existed had the Government
been previously well administered No. For
tifcations are to be built and repaired, the navy
is to be regenerated and enlarged, the organiza-
ton Of the public Offices is to be changed and
rendered adequate to the public wants, and for
all these only 1926, 100000 are asked, being, as
we said before, excess of only $4,000, 600
over the sum for which the Senator from Ken
lucky hopes that the Government can be admin
istered The item to which Mr.. c. chiefly OBJ
jects in the estimates Of the present Admins
tration, is that connected with the Navy Depart
ment, which is set down at $S,000,000, wher
he thinks that perhaps $4,000 900, or S6,500,o0o
would be sufficient In forming his comruta
ions, did the distinguished Senator take into
account the existing foreign relations OF tn,
country and the change wrought in maritime
tactics by the introduction Of armed steamer:
into the navies of all the important countries o
Europe Did he take into account the protec
ton of the Gulf Of Mexico, as the key to thu
Mississippi valley and the naval depots render
ed necessary by such measure Did he bea
in mind the proposed increase OF our nava
force, deemed at the present Juncture lndlspen
sable, when he made his estimates and manage'
to hope for a reduction of million and a halt
o which same reduction might endanger the los
d of twenty times the sum As for ourselves