The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-09
THE ESTIMATES OF THE ADMINlsTRA.
TON

We have been told that much fault has been
found by the opponents of the Administration
with the estimates Of appropriations de rand.d
by the public service, presented to Congress by
the Executive Departments This appears 10
US the more surprising, coming from the quarter
whence It is said TO have emanattd, when we
call to mind that among the many objections
urged against Mr. Van Buren's Administration,
one OF the most prominent was that of making
estimates short Of the public wants, in order 10
mislead the people, and make them believe that
the Government was administered economical
ly, when, in fact system Of the most wJnton
profusion prevailed. In public as in private mat
tiers, "honesty is the best policy" and we hold
Il to be highly honorable to the President and
his advisers that they had the moral courage 10
ask for what is indispensable TO the wants OF
the nation, although in doing so they might in
cur the odinm arising from the charge of unne-
cessary expenditure. Looking TO the necessi-
Ties OF the Government, IN the proper discharge
OF its functions, as the only legitimate rule by
which TO graduate the public expenses, instead
Of being blamed, the Administration deserves
the extent Of the burdens TO be borne by
the nation in maintaining its dignity and
providing Tor its security. Our country is
TO be sustained in its position among the
nations Of the earth, or it is 10 become an
object Of rdcule from abroad and the VIC
means of efiecting the end should be furnished
with discreet but liberal hand If the latter,
the sooner that the people know their condition
the better, in order that they may guard against
impending ruin. What shall we say or think
of politicians who can stoop TO attain temporary
popularity by the use of such unworthy means
AS for the Administration, it asks no fdrors
and wishes to receive no more than hand
ed Justice will award Having found the pub
ic service, civil as well as military, in the ut
most confusion, it is willing, SO far as the Exc
cutive is concerned TO place it on whole
some and sound footing and it remains for
Congress to say whether the peoples money
shall be expended for the peoples good or not
On the score of responsibility the President and
his advisers are willing to be tried by their coun-
trymen, provided they be permitted to carry out
the measures which they have proposed. AS
for these measures, not one has yet been acted
on, although Congress has been in session near
" three months. Where lies the blame of such
unwarranable delay and neglect We say
with the Legislative branch of the Government
and, II we be wrong, we ask TO be put right.
1t has been said that the Administration is act
ing on the defensive. This, so far as the unjust
allegations of its enemies are concerned is true.
but, as regards the performance Of its duty, 10
the utmost of the means placed at its disposal,
il not only does not assume a defensive position,
but, on the contrary, lays the responsibility for
what has not been done at the door of Con-
gress.
Ii is admitted on all hands that our foreign re-
lalions are pregnant with mischief and that the
country is totally unprovded with the means of
repelling attack, should any be made. Congress
knows that such is the case, and has known il
for some time, and yet Congress has not voted
dollar 10 place the country in proper attitude
of d fence. Congress is aware that the coun-
try i, groaning under all Of the i'll eff els of a
ruined currency, and that the producing powe,
of the people is utterly paralyzed for want of a
sound circulating medium and vet Congress
has done nothing to remedy the evil, notwith-