The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-06-03
WOODSTOCK, VERMONT, FRIDAY, JUNE3 1912

taons on the sub ect the President, himself, comes
down in Il message 10 the House, on the same e.
rand Ina very full urgent, and anxious commu-
ncation TO the House, the Executive, doubtless
with the concurrence of his Cabinet, presses on
Congress the immediate indispensable necessity of
repeating the Distribution Bill, and pedging the
proceeds oflhe sales Of the public lands, us secu-
rlty for funded debt of fifteen millions, which he
now proposes TO raise
Here, then, we have the confession by the very
head of the Administration installed by whggcry,
that the great reform party stepped off on the
wrong foot. 1t needed no confession, however, TO
apprisc the nation of the fact, The totally hope
less condition of the credit Of the Government and
of public affairs, as depicted in the Message, no
art could longer conceal from the public eve
Whiggcry, when managing the concerns CT the
country, could not manage them as it did the cleo
tons, by mere professions, natcring every section
oithe Union by various doctrines suited TO the
section. The Wing leaders, in administering the
power they acquired in Congress, and the EXccu-
live station, necessarily substituted action for pro-
icsSion, and now we have the reality of Whiggery
in rapidly accommodating dCbt-a sinking credit
II deprecated and iTedeemable government paper,
instead OF gold and silver, for its currency. Was
this the state OF things under the late AGministra-
tom No. Although the Bank Of the United
States, the great machine made with power al
most TO command the commerce and the finances
of the nation, was discarded, and turned all its
immense weight and influence against the govern
ment- although the State Banks, merchants, and
capitalists, allied themselves with the mammoth
curcncy-makcr and facility giycr, to embarruss
and break down the Administration at Washing
lon-al,hough all the money -mon;ering tribes and
corporations, finding their political and financial
efforts in vain, resoltcd TO the infamous eXpedient
ola universal suspension ofspecie payments, and
an actual robbery of the Treasury Of the millions
deposited in their hands-yet such was the ability
with which the Government was conducted hy the
Democratic administration under all their difficult
ties, that it came ont triumphant; its credit unsun-
ed; It's Treasury notes above par; lis debts pune
tualy paid IN specie, whenever demanded; and az
ter paying oil national debt of siyty-ive millions
and distributing twcnly-eight millions among the
States, lis temporary obligations of about five and
a half millions outstanding were holrded as invest
menls and held above par, although running onI,
for ycGl.
How changed the face Of things in single year
of Wing rule The public lands squandercd-a
new debt Of six millions run up in an extra session.
called without any public motive; Il batch of three
thousand lecches fastened upon the Navy, to suck
expenditure TO great extent, both in the navy and
army, by law--tried, able and faithful ministers,
and other foreign agents brought back, and II new
| swarm sent out with new oulils-the contingent
expenses in various departments inCreascd-a new
tax Of SIX of eight millions imposed, and another
threatened and while the shout of rcirenchmcnt
and reform is raised by the Wing powers at both
! ends of the Avenue, we see them sink in absolute
exhaustion under the weight of their own meas
ures! And the Treasury suspCuds at the moment
that the poor ni.managcd, ne'er-do-wc cor
pomiions, ashamed of their dishonest paractlccs,
resolve 10 resume and compw with their prom
| iscs
| We must however return orr thanks TO i,t ~
Ter for his new message 1t is the first step tow
ards reform which we have yet seen manifested
| As Il declaration of repentance, it is certainly an
earnest of reformation we hope it will be followed
by good works, and then there may be some hope
Of salvation.