Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-03-26
Making an aggregate Of

Making an aggregate Of Sl42,56I,945 A.
Which gives Us an average per year Of s35,Gic,466 80
The sum have proposed is only twenty-five
Millions, which deducted from thirty five as above.
leaves a reduction of Sl3 $40. 000-being IA sum
greater than the whole average expenditure oil
the exiravagant and p~rofiigate administrator oi
sir. Adams, which they told US was so enormous
that 1t must be reduced by i great "retrenchment
and reform"
| am not here going 10 inquire INTO the items
which composed the large expenditures of the 4
Years Of Mr.. Van Buren's administration. | know
what has been said, and Will again be said, on
that subiect--that there were many items Of ey-
ira expenditure which may never occur again
BE II so; but do we not know that every Admin
lstIatlon has its extras, and that these ma! be ox~
pecled to arise and will and must arise under ev-
cry Administraiion beneath the sum- But take
this also into view in looking at the expenses of
that Administration: that less was expended on
the national defences-less in the construction or
repair of for,Ifications-less for tho navy, and less
tor other means Of repeliing a foreign attack, than,
perhaps, ough, TO have been expected. At pres
ent, we are all animated with a common zeal and
determination on the subiec, Of defence; all feel
the necessity OF some adequate plan Of defence,
as well upon the ocean as upon the land. and cs-
pcciaily of putin" our navy end our t0rtif:ations
IN a better state 10 defend the honor aud protect
the rights of the patton. We feel this necessity.
dit-iui8h " q III tFbSA tlil me tdldtbttS Oh u war
may be averted. This calls for a greater amount
Of money for these purposes than was appropria-
ted under Mr.. Van Buren's administration; be-
side which, IN the progress of affIIrs, unforeseen
exIgencies may arise, and do constantly occur,
calling for other appropriations needed, which no
man can anticipate. Every Ministry in every
Governmeut-every Administrator Of our own
Government, has It's cxtraordinaries and its CON
tingcncies; md it Is no apology for Mr.. Van Blu
rPn's administration to say thai the circumstances
which occasioned It's expenditures were extraOr.
binary and peculiar. Making all the allowances
which its warInest friends can ask for the expen-
ses al The in4lnrious For a warn contest whrch
has profuseiy wasted not only the resources Of
the Treasury, but the best blood of the nation
making the nmp!est allowance for this and for all
other extras Whatever. the sum expended by the
last administration sitil remains TO be far, far be.
yond what is proposed III these resolutions as suf-
tieient for the present, and for wears 10 come. It
must. 10 candor, be conceded hat this is a very
great ditninu'ion OF the national expenditure; and
such, ifnoih!ng else were done, would redeem The
pledge of the Wig party.
Bat let US now consider the sui act in another
light. Thirteen millions was the average annual
amount OF expenditure under Nr. Adams admin
Is;raiion, which terminated thirteen wears ago.
should be authorized, therefore. to take the com
Of his administration III 1925, being
period OF II years. IN mating a comparison Of
the progressive increase of the national cxpendi-
lures; or, at all events. adding one.haif OF Mr..
Adams term, to take the period as running -
years back; but | shall not avail myself OF his
perfectly fair calculation; and | will therefore
say, that al tho end OF thirteen years, from the
time when the expenditures were thirteen mil
propose that they be raised to twenty-five
And is this an extraordinary increase
Tor such q period, in a country of slch rapid in
crease and development as his is? What has
during this lapse of time? The army
been doubled. or nearly so; it has increased
rom o little over 5000 men to Il, 900. We have
bullt SIX, eight, or ten ships Of the line, Ct DO no,
the precise %namber) two or three new
States have been added to the Union; and two
periodical enumerations have been made of the
national population; besides which there have
been, and yet are to be. vast expenditures on
works of GortIticaiion and national defence. Now
when we look at the Increase IN the number Of
in both Houses Of Congress, and con-
'lder the necessary and inevitable progress and
growth Of the nation, is ii. | ask, an extrnordina-
v thing that a, the end OF a period of thirteen
,ears our expenditures should increase from thir-
to twenty-five millions Of dollars? IL we
axe the period at seventeen years, las we fairly
or at but fifteen years, the increase of ex'
,ences will be found no, TO 60 beyond the proper
ional increase of our population within the same
period. Tha, increase is found 10 be about four
oer cent. annuallv-and the increase of Govern
nent expenditures, at the rate above stated. will
lot exceed that. This is Independent, Of any
augmentation of the army or navy, of the addition
# new States and Territories, or the enlargement,
i the numbers in Congress. Taking the add
ion. at the end of thirteen wears, 10 be nine mil
ions OF dollars, il will give an annual average in
,rease of about $1,000 Doc And | think that the
of no people, young, free. and grow
ng az Is this nation, can. under circumstances
Ike ours, be Justly charged with rashness, reck-
or extravaganza. If lis expenses increase
ut AT the rate OF $4,000 per annum. If our
'osteTltv, after their numbers shall have swe!ied
Q one hundred millions. shall find that their ex-
lenses have augmented IN no greater ratio than
his. they will have no cause of complaint Of the
or extravaganza oftheir Government.
But il should be recoIIected that while / have
the rate Of expenditure at The sum | have
mentioned, viz: TWENTY-FIVE millions. this does not