Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-03-28
ment of the existing debt, and two millions as a
reserved fund for contingencies"
The fourth resolution nsserts-

| That, IN the ad u5lmen OF tariff to rnise an
am cunt OF tweniy-six millions of revenue the
principles Of the compromise act generally should
be adhered to and that especially a maximum
rate of ad vuorem duties should he established,
from which there ought 10 be as little departure
as possible"
! The first questions which these resolutions sug.
gest is this What should be the amount of The
annual expenditures of this Government? Now,
on this point shall not attempt what is impossi-
bic, to be exact and precise in stating what that
may he. We can only make an approximation
No man, in his private affairs, say, or pretend
to say, at the beginning Of the year, precisely
what shall be the amount of his expenses during
the year that must depend many unforeseen
contingencies, which cannot with any precision
be calculated beforehand all that can be done is
o make an approximation to what ought TO be or
what may he the amount. Before 1 consider that
question, allow me 10 correct, here, an assertion
made first by the Senator from South Carolina,
| Mr.. Calhouu,) and subsequently by the Senator
| from Missouri near me, (Nlr. Linn,) and believe
by one or two other genemen, viz. TINT the wing
party, when out OF power, asserted that II trust
cd with the helm, they would administer this Gov
eminent at all amount of expenditure not exceed
ing sl3,00O,000. | hope, if such an assertion was
actually made ny either or all of these gentlemen,
that it will never be repeated again without resor-
ting to proof 10 sustain il. know of no such po-
sltion ever taken by the Wing party, or by any
prominent member Of the Wing party. Sure
htil tilHt ING nhTlN HeUPruly pleUBeu NSoll W HO
such reduction of the public expenses-none.
And again shy that trust, before such AN as
sertlOn is repeated the pl oois will he adduced.-
For in this case, in others, that which is assert
ell and reiterated comes at last to be believed. The
Wing party did promise Economy aud Retrcnch-
men and trust will perform their promise |
deny (n no offensive sense) that the Wing party
ever promised TO reduce the expenditures of the
Government to thirteen millions of dollars. No;
but this is what they snd During the four years
of the Administration of MIR. Adams the average
amount OF the public expenditure hut thir-
teen millions, and you charged that Adnlinistra-
lion with outrageous extravaganza, and cano
yourselves into power on promises to reduce the
annual expenditures /; bur, having obtained power,
instead OF reducing the public expenses, you car
ried them up TO :he astonishing amount of nearly
forty millions But, while the Wings never
serted that they would administer the Govern
ment with thirteen millions our opponents, our
respected opponents, after having been three years
in power, instead of bringing the expenses below
the standard of Mr.. Adams's Administration de-
clared that fifteen millions the amount at
which the expenditures should be fixed This
was the ground taken by Mr.. McLnne when he
was at the head of the Treasury. have his re-
port before me but as the fuct | presume, will
not DO denied, fprbear to read from il. He sug-
gess, as The fit amount TO be raised by The Tariff
he had proposed, the sum of fifteen million OF
dollars sufficient TO meet the wants Of the Gov
eminent.
hope now have shown that the Wing party,
before they obtained power, never were pledged
to bring down the public expenses either to thr-
teen or to fifteen millions They were pledged,
admit, 10 reirench unnecessary expenditures, and
to make a reasonable deduction whenever it could
properly be made consistently with the public
vice: that process MS understand, is now going
on IN both Houses, and trust the fruits will be
seen before the end of the present session.
Unpledged, therefore, as the Wing party was
as to any specific amount, the question recurs, at
what sum tie expenses OF the Government
De now fixed?
repeat that the exact amount is difficult 10 be
asccrtnned. | have stated it in the resolution |
now offer at tUenty.t,co millions and shall soon
= show how have arrived Ut that amount. But,
before do that, allow me TO call the attention of
= the Senate to the expenditures of the preceding
Administration; for in attempting to fix sum
for the future, know OF no course but TO look
back upon the experience of the past, and then TO
endeayor TO deduce from it the probable account
OF future expenditure. What, then, were The eX-
penditures of the four years Of The past Admins.
, tration?
In 1897 The amour, was 37,l64 ,O37 Is
In 1888 it was 39455,S3S rs
In 1889 37,6l4936 IS
In 1910 29,226,533 81
Making an aggregate of Sl42,56l, 945 46
Which gives us an average per year OF S35, 640,-
= 436 SO.
The sum have proposed is only twenty-five
millions, which deducted from thirty five above,
leaves reduction of Sl3640,000 being sum
greater tban the whole average expenditure of the
extravagant aud profigate administration If Mr..
Adams, which they told us was enormous that
it must he reduced by great retrenchment and
reform"
| am rot here going to inquire into the items
which composed the large expenditures Of the
four years Of Mr.. Van Buren's administration. |
, know what has been said, and will again be said,
on that subect-hat there were many items of
, extra expenditure which may never occur again.
be II SO ; hut do we not know that every Admin
lsirallon has its oxiras and that these may he ex
pecied to arise and will and must arss under eve
ny Administration beneath the sun? But take this
also into view in looking at the expenses Of that
Administration that less was expended on the
national deiences less in the construction re-
pair of Notifications 49, less Tor the Navy, and less
for other means of rcpelng foreign attack shan,
perhaps, ought TO have been expended. At pres
cnt we are all animated with a common zeal and
I determination on the subject of defence all feel
the necessity of some adequate plan of defence,
as well upon the ocean the land and especially
Of putting our Navy and our Notifications in a
better state TO defend the honor and protect the
!, rights of the nation. We feel this necessity, al
!, though all trust that the calamity of war may
= be ayerted. This calls for greater amount OF
: money for these purposes than was appropriated
. under Mr.. Van Burens administration beside
which, in the progress of affairs, unforeseen ext.
gences may arise, and do constantly occur, calling
for other appropriations needed, which no man
! can anticipate. Every Ministry in every Govern
3 neut--every Administration of our own Govern
ment, has its extrsordinares and It's contingent
3 cies; and il is 10 apology for Mr.. Van Burens
administration TO say that the circumstances which
occasioned its expenditures were extraordinary
and peculiar. Making oil the allowances which
; its warmest friends can ask for the expenses OF
) the inglorious war in Florida contest which
; has profusey wasted not only the resources OF
! the Treasury but the best blood OF the nation
making the amplest allowance for this ana ior an
other extras whatever, the sum expended ny the
Inst administration still remains be lar, tar be-
You'd what is proposed in these resolutions as sut-
iicien for The present, and for years to come IL
nrindI hnI Ihis il