Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-04-15

! The gentlemen opposite were very ready, now that
they had plunged their successors in sea Of difficult
ties to tell the world that if they had been allowed 10
continue in possession of power even but year two
LONGER, they would have established economy by re-
,renchments, freed the Government from debt, and
avoided oil necessity for increased taxation. And j,
mus, be confessed they exhibited great zeal in this
work of rerenchment during the last year Of their re-
,renchment But he feared if they had then heen
INDUCED with another years grace, they would have
fulfilled the old adage-
sThe devil was sek-,he devil a saint would be;
ssThe devil got well-the devil a saint was he"
Mr. p. next took general view OF the policy Of the
late Administration towards the close Of It's icrm The
course of which he adverted to the aggregate
dures of The four years. with view OF sustaining
the allegation that the average OF expenditures
thirty FIVE millions He admitted that in this the ex
traordnary expenditures were ncluded but he asked,
what were these extraordinary expenditures: II had
been commended the other sde that they were made
up Of Treasury notes redeemed debt paid trust funds
internal improvements, DC. (enumerated) but were
not the Treasury notes paid and the debt discharged,
obligations contracted by the gentlemen themselves,
and had they not right to pay them and charge tie
ayment part of their expenditures; and as TO The
other items would they not be chargeable 10 the pre-.
sent Administration too: The excuses made about ex
traordinary expenditures he considered very similar
10 those which might be offered by prohigae rake
whose father had given him allowance Of eighteen or
twenty hundred dollars year for his expenses but no
spent thirty five hundred dollars year; and when called
account by his parent should attemptto justify h,m.
self by insisting that he only spent his annual income
because his board, and cothIng and ordinary expenses
were the sau,e-the excess being in extraordinary ex
peuses such champagne at Bouangers and fashion.
able vices else W here.
Here Mr. P. took another review Of the same period,
on the admission that the expenditures for ordinary
purposes were millions annually and after
commenting for time thereon, he contrasted Tie
expenditures and retrenchmenis Of the last year Of The
term, with the expenditures and retrenchmen,s Of the
first Of the present administration and conended
that the economy OF those now IN power would come
out triumphant from the comparison. He asked from
the gentleman but a little tme-they had left their
unwecded garden-things rank and gross
in nature possessed it merely let the Wings get into It
fairly with their hoes and !hey would in due time show
system Of culture, by which the desert would be
made to blossom like the rose.
If the Wings driven into extraordinary and
travagant expenditures he trusted they would
render up their trust, without leaving some
behind them Of their patriotism at least
He trusted they would leave wel-uppointed and
efficient navy-a sufficient revenue-a well furnished
house and thriving condition Of the country.
II was obvious that loan must be had and to obtain
it the bill must be efficient in authority under any
cumstance. The ground assumed by the Of the
amendment now pending, and BY those who advocated
its adoption, il that pledge is necessary-that mort
gage must be offered. A mortgage is no better then
there is court of justice TO enforce
it. lie would ask what is the ground upon which
Governments invariably look for accommodation; Is
It not national honor; and there can be no other
pledge for if that is not kept, no other can be de-
pended upon. The public faith is given, and the
,acity Of mankind will that It is The only national
pledge that be depended upon. Every citizens
property pledged in the general pledge of the faith
,f the Government. He contended that the offer of
his pledge Of the public lands would have tendency
O dlscredt the Government. Where is the excise
,ower If the necessity is 10 exist of resorting to it,
ct il come. il will do the country good to levy
xcise on it Of FIVE millions. il will be salutary. 1t
will force public attention TO the expenditures OF this
Government.
He held in his hand an estimate Of the consunable
rcles of the last years imported the average of
which was ninety millions He took this average
the next seven years, and made calculations attwen-
FIVE per cent. duty to show that with the restoration
The land fund and the reduction Of the free list-ta1
ng tea and coffee, &c-a sufficient revenue could be
btaned not only TO support the Government but 10
rovide for the liquidation of the debt.
This could be accomplished, but gentlemen must
consent 10 tax tea and coffee and other articles long
avored on the free list. They must also come up
he mark at once, and restore the Land Fund II
und that should have been taken from the reve-
,ne-they had now the madness and the folly of
irving 1t away-it was dangerous, he feared fatal
tep and there not 10 be moment lost in retracing
I. There could be no excuse for longer Withholding
from the Treasury. Every one admitted the limit Of
he Compromise act must be transcended, and there
the contingency exists on which the law itself
enders it. But let that surrender be separate mea-
ure, and unconneced with any pledge. He would 90
or the full epeo of the distribution. He believed the
land Fund never should be taken from the revenue
The repeal will come, in spite of every effort pre-
rent it, The country will rise in one mass against the
let Of distribution, under existing circumstances. 1t
s not in the power Of man to save the Land bill II
persisted in il will PROSTATE the Wing party. Why
should the Wing party let itself be Frustrated by it,
II ia not Wing measure-it never was Wing
Eurehe could prove it from MIR. Clay own speech at
Ia ylorsvile.
lie would not, however, go into these things
II was enough TO remind his friends that they never
could have passed the land bill at the extra session but
Tor the provso Of restoring the fund should the Compro
mise act be violated All The arguments abou. IFS be-
ing indispensable part Of the great system of Wing
measures could not have carried it through without tins
express condition. The question had been asked what
harm had occurred from ~ Every thing occurred from
It, fit had been foreseen az the extra session that The
Government would be in such condition as it now is
in with its credit PROSTATE and obligations protest
ed not the proposition Of that land bill could have
been brought forward He glad 10 see the stand
taken by the Senator from Virginia Mr. Archer] in
favor Of the good old doctrine Of the rsh of the Go.
vernment TO the property in the public domain and lis
entire control the whole subject.
But this proposition TO pledge the public domain
separate issue from that OF restoring the land fund.
He regarded the amendment Of the Senator from MIS-.
sissppi in that particular, proposition stop the
supplies of Government he did not attribute that in
lenton the SENATOR to the Senator from Virginia,
W tho had seconded the ann ndmcni.
Mr. WALKER inquired if the President of the u S,
his message to Congress, proposed to stop the sup
plies of Government
Mr. PRESTON did not attribute motives 10 gentle.
men-he had expressly stated that-bu the President
of the U. S acting under different circumstances
from those controlling Congress. He had acted pro.
pery, and right in recommending what he thought
proper; but the proposition was rejected with whrI-
wind in that branch of Congress TO which the message
had been cent. To pass II now here would be The
means of causing the rejection Of the whole bill IN The
other House would be the Of inerminaLe
negotiation Let the proposition to restore The land
fund come another and separate measure, let
in any other shape and he would vote for it,
With regard TO the difficulty rascd about the auho
rty sell The stock at less than par he would say the
money must be had, and how is il 10 be had-how, but
by buying it, AS much must be paid for il il is worth
Just like provision clothing for the sod'ery Of the
.. L L. LII - IL