The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-04-07

and then 10 endeavor to deduce from il the
probable amount OF future expenditure.
What, then, were the expenditures of the
four years of the past Administration !
In 1897 the amount was S37, 265, 037 Is
II 1893 it was 80, 455,4Ss 35
In 1899 37,6l4,936 Is
In lS40 2s, 226, $50 81
Making an aggregate of Sli2, 56l ,945 46
Which gives us an average per
year of $35,640,4S6 IS.
The sum ] have proposed is only twenty
two millions, which, deducted from thirty.
five as above, leaves q reduction OF Sl3,
640,000-being sum greater than the
whole average expenditure OF the exlrava.
giant aud prof1lgate administration Of Mr..
Adams, which they told US was so enorma1s
that it must be reduced by grea, " re.
trenchment aud REFORM"
am not here going TO inquire into the
items which composed the large expendI
lures of the four years Of Mr.. Van Buren's
administration. know what has been
said. and will again be said, on that subject
that there were many items Of extra ex.
pendl!urc which may never occur asein.-
lie II so; but do We not know that every
Administration has lis extras, and that ihese
may be expected 10 arise and will and mus,
arise under every Administration beneath
the sun But take this also into view IN
looking at the expenses of that Adnlnstra.
ton; That less was expended on the nation
al delcnces-less in the construction or re.
pair OF toHItlcaiOns-less for the navy, and
less Tor other means Of repeIllng foreign
attack; than, perhaps, ought to have been
expended. At present we are all animated
with common zeal and determination on
the subject Of defence all feel the re.
cessliy of some adequate plan of defence,
as well upon the ocean as the land, and es.
pecially of putting our navy and our forti
ticatlons in better state TO defend the hon.
or and protect The rights of The nation
We feel this uecessny, although We all
trus. that the calamity Of war may he
aPerted This calls for a greater amour, of
money for these purposes than was appro.
prlaled under Mr.. Van Buren's admluls,ra.
tion; beside which, IN the progress Of af.
fairs, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS may arise, and do
constantly occur, calling for ether approprI.
atoms needed, which no man can anticipate.
Every Ministry ia every Government, has
It's extraeriinares and its con,ingencle !;
and it is 10 apology for Mr.. Van Buren's
administration 10 say that the circumstan
ces which occasioned It's expenditures were
extraordinary and peculiar. Making all
the allowances which lis warmest friends
can ask for the expenses Of the inglorious
war 10 florlda---a contest which has pro.
fOsely wasted not only the resources Of The
Treasury, but the best blood Of the nation
mailing the amples. allowance for this
and for all other extras whatever, The sum
expended BY the last Administration still
remains far, far beyond what is proposed
10 these resolutions as sufiicen, for the pre-.
sent, and for years TO come. 1t must, in
candor, be conceded that this IS a very
great diminu,ion Of the national expendl.
ture; and such, if nolhing else were done,
would redeem The pledge OF the Wing party.
But lie; US now consider the subject 10
another light. Thirteen mllIlons was the
average annual amount Of expenditure On.
der Mr.. Adams's administration, which ter.
minated thirteen years ago. should be
authorized, therefore, TO take the com.
mencement Of his administration 10 1925,
beng q period Of seventeen years, 10
making comparison Of the progressive
increase o.! The national expenditures or,
at all events, adding one. half Of Mr.. Ad
arns's term, to take the period as running
fifteen years back; but shall no, avail
myself of this perfectly fair calculation :;
and viii therefore say, that at the erid OF
thirteen years, from The time when The ex
pendiiures we:c thirteen millions, propose
that they be raised 10 twenty-five millions.
And IS this al extraordinary increase for
such period, in country Of such rapid 10.
crease and development as this is What
bas occurred during this lapse Of time D.
The army has been doubled, or nearly so
from little over 5000 men TO Il, 0OO.-
We have bolii SIX, eight, or ten ships Of The
Aaes do not recollect the precise NUN,
Der j two or three new States have been
added to the Uniou; aud Two periodical
enumeratloos have been made Of The nation.
ai population; besides which there have
been, and ye, arc 10 be, vast expenditures
On works Of fertilization and national de
fence. Now when we look at The iucrea =.
IN the member of members IN both Houses
OF Congress, md consider the NECESSARY
and inevitable progress and growth of the
nation, IS IT, asa, an extraordinary tbinr
that at the end Of period Of thirteen years
our expenditures should increase from ihir
teen to twenty-five millions Of d9llars7 If
We take the period at seventeen years, las we
larry may or at but fifteen years, the in.