Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-12
RICHMOND WING.
SATURDAY MoKNINa, MARCEL
VI, Wise aal ne Caey DAD.

SATURDAY MORNING. MARCuie.
NJ. Wise sad ne CiHey Dasi.
We copy the last Of MIR Wise's recent letters. re.
s7eei'ns his connection with the Ciley Duel. At
tashed to the letter is copious appendix-of wheel,
we can only give Ms Cay's letter in rcply to inter
rOgltofie' propoundsd by MIR Wise.
VIVA, slr Wises obisc, rs. in rey;v;ns Thu. matter.
does no; clearly appear. Heexprcss!y dselain,s any
intention TO crimin-te MIR C,y-so far from this. he
shelters himself behind Mr. CLAW, and,iefend, mn,
Conduct And yet the tendency Of the publication,
in connection with other maters is to ineulna,e the
! kentucky Senaior-n it have any tendency. IG
such be the design, it i, unworthy of MIR WISE
and IS visited with failure, which such desien
vel merits.
Mr. Wise complains that gres, odum has been
thrown upon him for his agency in the duel. Who
has done this thing not MIR Clay-nor any friend
o. his-nOt at all. II is they who are now the DO.
som crones OF Mr. Wise--,he Ritehies, the Browns.
the Smiths, SC, who held him up 10 the world d.
the murderer OF the ma,tyred Ciey. Let him
wrsap his vengeance upon them.
Re'r'HciHs:Nt 81 Contingent E-y.ases a. he ~ use Q,
Representatives.
The annexed letter will explain TO the reader in
what manner the Wings of Congress have been en-
gagged during the past week. We have not been
able to copy the proceedings in detail, tut we ha We
not been an inauentive observer of them They
are proceedings, which merit and will receive the
| appreciation Of the country-for the abuses soueh,
10 be corrected are gross and abominablc, and cry
aloud Tor reform. We are nware that these efforts
OF the Wings, 10 reirench the expenses Of Congress
are rdieuIed md sneered at by the Tyler squad
as beneath the notice of Congress-and every OBJ
sace IS thrown in their way by the Locos-but
we trust they will perseyere-alike indifferent TO
the ridcule Of affected friends or the opposi,ion Of
open enemies. The reforms they propose, are
not TO be sure, OF so comprehensive a character as
we Should be pleased to see. But without the aid
OF the Executive, the legislative body from its very
constitution, cannot make much head way in re
,Tenehing beyond its own limits At any rates It's
movements must be slow-lt cannot tell whether
this office or that be dispensed with, or this
salary or that may be reduced, compatiLly with
the public good, without first making inquiry. This
is matter, which pertains strictly to the Executive
The heads of the Executive Departments are they
who should know what Offices are useless. what
salaries are excessive, and by what means the Pub
tic money IS wasted. The country looked for
ward to the expulsion Of Van Buren,, for an Execu.
tive which would supply this important information
to Congress, that these abuses might he remedied.
But, unfortunately, the hopes the Country in this
respect, as in others, have been blasted by the
trcaehery Of our conscientious President and his six
Secretaries, who haPpH to have eOnseisnees of the
same happy texture of his Excellency. Beire
without party, the present Executive is forced to
be more corrupt, than oil the Executives which
nave gone before, in the effort 10 build up p,rtv
To this end his endeavour is to increase raber than
diminish, the patronage. The moro leaks in the
Treasury, the greater the inducements to the nier-
cenary TO enlist. The more money at command
and the greater the number Of Offices, the better
the reward for the faithful On this account il is
that tho Acting President is labouring, through his
Organs TO defeat Congress in ts laudaJle efforts to
rerench and economic. And he is not onIy on
posed TO relrenchment for the future but he mani
tests strong aversion 10 bringing to light the abo-
limitations OF the past. lle is even seeking 10
strengthen himself by means of the pcculntions and
I rosuenes OF Van Bufen's horde OF plunderers. Il
he detects one OF these delnquents lie is willing to
compound with him 10 this wise "You have been
guilty ola great enormity--you are IN my rower-
but will undertake to screen you from exposure
and punishment, on condition, that you will be nv
thraN." The misercant cannot hesitate moment
at is a bargain"
This appears 10 he The game which is now being
played with the plunderers IN tho New York Cns'
tom House.
We invite attention to the letter of M, 20,
respondent:
CorreyoHdeHes of me Wig.
WA'HIEaroS, March 9th, 20.
The House Of Repres natives has, this day.
completed the first Of the great series Of reforms
which tho Wings promised to CORY out wbtn
they Outlined tho power. They told the pe,ple
that th'rs had been wasteful and ex,ravgan,
expenditures Of the public money, and most corrupt
abuses IN the public Offices Of Washington. Tbev
were, however derlded Ivy the Loco Foco,. They
were challenged 10 bring forward the evidences: and
when the Extra Session passed away without my
I investigations into the alleged abuses, the Wbigs
were tainted with having made charges which tbsv
were olfod even to attempt 60 substantinto. The
wings, however bore oil patiently. They thought
best 70 await the proper time for action. Tia,
uioe has now come, and the Locos will soon have
The evidences to their hearts content.
Acting upon tho old Scripture maxim, the IIouse
OF Representatives determined to remove the b,soo
rom Their own eye, that they might sec the more
eeafy 10 take tho mote out Of their brothers. eve
Ihey commenced tho reform with themselves. bv
cat ing OIL useless expenses, and rsduci No the
thousand little contingencies which so soon run into
enormous aggregates.
! VIII now give you some f,ho rcsult'.
]" Tho first pace, os TO printing. The average
amount Of printing done for the last three Con 10
crosses has been at the prices formerly paid. stt,
t'o per Congress. At the Extra Session the Wings
determined TO reduce the price ofhe printing 90 Der
cant, md This was accordingly done. Now 20 Der
cent on sii5,iIO, IS equal 70 s20Os2, which /,
saved ~ each Congress, in the single item Of print.
ios' Bot This is not all. The contingent expenses
o. the House Of Representatives were,
For 2 5is Congress- 42s915
/ z2h 5gJCy7
<oth Ji3057
Making an aggregate Of si.3J7.glo
W an average, per Congress, Of Sl45g7G
THIS you will observe Is Tor the Contingent r.
lPfHNs, and does not include the nav Of uocn,bc,.