Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-03-19

Thus showing that the nett ordinary
expenses for the year l-4l, as ascer-
tanned aud estimated al the Treasury -.
Department, were S2o''Jo,''4 70
Thus then we have, as nearly as they can be yet
ascerained the expenses of the Government properly
so called for the first two years OF the present Aunt
nistration the first little more than twenty SIX ana
onehrd millions and the second al little more than
TWENTY-FIVE and two-thirds millions; While The same
expenses of The last years of the Administration oil
Mr. Van Buren, vere for $50 little less than twenty
FIVE and huff millions, and for lc40 iracuon more
than twenty-five and onethrd millions OF dollars
Nor will il do say that the expenses oil lc4l were
graduated BY the legislation which had taken place be-
fore the present Administration into power, as was
the fact with the first year of Mr.. Van Buren, term;
because the Extra Session Of Congress IN the summer
of the year lS4l must have increased the expenses OF
that wear, by direct appropriations TO an amount not
very different from four millions
Compare them the state OF The country anu the state
Of the Treasury the two periods, and see now the
questions Of economy and extravaganza VIII stand De-
tween the two Administrations. MIR. Van Buren, came
into mower upon the flood tide OF an excessive revenue
and his whole term was characterized by reduction and
retrenchment both TO appropriations and expendl-
lures as has been abundantly shown from official do
cuments resting upon the authority of the highest lis
cal officers of this Administration The present party
in power came in upon the lowest ebo OF mat toe, I'M
der sinking revenue, and Impoverished treasury, "a
pidy diminishing appropriations greatly depressed e1-
penses and state ofm paired public and private credit,
and what has been the policy Increased expenses ne
and additional taxes, and forced loans. AT the iormer
period the greatest evil npon the country was The re-
dundancy ofthe public revenues and 1t was great IN
deed so great that it derangng and unselng every
thing connected with the monetary affairs of the coun-
try; so great that it was the anxiety, NJ. w. might
almost saw the ambition, OF all to get rid OF 1t IN any
way which should not be positively mlschlevous -
Hence appropr ations cheerfusly voted, which,
under other circumstances, would have ionno iltie
support and whole classes of private claims were recog
Missed and temporarily established, without very rgd
scrutiny into the principles involved, or the equities
presented Ask the members of the committees OF THIS
body those who have had occasion TO examine claims
of the various classes, what weight they VIII give 10
presidents of allowances 10 be found upon our statne
book during those years OF surplus revenue: anu yr
after we had voted all the appropriations we could IND
apology for voting all the appropriations we darec
TO vote more than twenty eight millions of The money
in the Treasury was given away TO the States, under
The specious name of "a deposite because Congress
could not sommon ingenuity enough to e1pend the re
venue as fast as accrued and the accumulation reused
to action the appetite for distribution 10 the States
the second period every circumstance which shoult
hive controlled and limited expenditure was reversed
and strange say the policy adopted has been reversed
also; and while reduction and depression OF exPen
dture characterized the councils of the country unde
the former enlargement and extension is the pass on
under the latter.
stance that governments should be conducted within
their Means in times of peace. The rule is soune
one. and how are these two Administrations likely e
compare in reference TO the observance ofths saluiary
limit, How stands the Administration of Mr.. Van Blu
rem, upon trial by this rule, and how is the presen
likely TO stand far past and present acts and pc
cy furnish a standard Of judgment for the future
Upon this point, again, Mr.. W. could speak by The
book An official document from the present Secreta
~ of the Treasury transmitted in 10 call made
by the Senate during its present session. states the
amount Of public Indebtedness, at two specific periods
the Sd Of March, l54l, the day on which The Admin
straton of Mr. Van Buren, terminated, and the 23d Of
December last precisely nine months and twenty days
after the present Administration came into power.
The amount of the public debt on the Sd of March
l54l, as given in the document referred TO,
was ss,379,o59 81
OF this amount The following items
compose part, and, as will be seen
from their character, should be de.
ducted to ascertain the amount of
debt contracted 70. the support Of the
Government during the Administra-
ton of MIR. Van Buren,, viz:
ssDeht Of The corporate cities Of the District Of
Columbia assumed by the l.. g 81 10000 70
nThe funded debt