Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-10
S37,265.037. Is
39.i55,43S 35
37.6i4,936 Is
2s,226,533 81
sl42,562,945 40
Making an aggregate OF
Which gives us an average |

I'll Making an aggregate OF SlI2 ,562 9i5 40
Which gives an average per
a year OF S35.64OiS6 2S
: The sum have proposed is only twenty two
millions which, deducted from ihiriy-fvc as above
leaves reduction of Sl5.6i0, 0O0-being a sum
greater than the whole average expenditure of the
extravaganza and proiigaie administration Of Mi
Adams, which they told MS was SO enormous that il
FORM" ..l.
am not here going 20 inquire into the item,
which composed the large expenditures of the four
years OF MIR Van Buren's administration, | know
| what has been said, and will again be said on tina,
sutJ tct-that there we're many items OF extra ex
pcndlture Which may never occur scain. BE il SO;
but do We net know that every Administra ion has
It's extras, and that these may be expected to arise
nnd VIII and must arise under every Adninisira II, n
oenea'h the sum- But take this also into view in
looking at the expenses OF that Administration:
that less was expended on the ns tiunal d.fences-
less IN the construction repair OF Notifications
LESS Tor the navy and less for other means of re
peLlhs ioreen attack; than, perhaps, ought to
have been expended. At present we are all ANNA.
ted with common zeal and determination on the
subject OF defence; all feel the necessity of some
adequate plan OF defence, we'll uron tho ocean as
the land. and especially of putting our navy and
our Notifications in better state to defend the
honor and protect the rights of the nation We feel
this necessity although VIC all trust thai the oalam.
~ OF war may he averted. This calls for a
greater amount of money FOR these nurpoSes m, IN
was appropriated under Mr. Van Buren,, admins.
tration; beside which in the progress Of affairs nm.
toreseen eSlsences may arise, and do constantly
occur, calling for other appropriations needed which
no man can anticipate. Every Ministry in eyerv
Goyernment-erery Administration of our own
Government, has its exiraordinaries and its contn.
/ gences; and It IS no apology for MIR Van Buren's
administration TO say that the Circumstances which
oecasloned ITS expenditures were extraordinary and
peculiar. Making all the allowances which lie
warmcst friends ask for the expenses of the in
glorious in Fiorida-a contest which has pro.
tusely wasted not only the resources OF the Trea-
] gnNNF .fNIF la lnaf II. g
amplest allowance for this and for all othsT eYtras
whatever, the sum expended by the last Admins.
tratIon sul remains TO be far, far beyond what is
proposed IN these resolutions IS suffici nj for the
present, and Tor years TO come. Ii must in candor
he conceded that this is 4 very great diminution of
| the national expenditure; and such, If nothing else
were done, would redeem the pledge of the Wing
party.
i But let us now consider the subject in another
light. Thirteen millions was the average annual
amount OF expenditure under MIR Adams admins.
trntion, which terminated thirteen years ago.
should be authorized, therefore, to take the COM
mencement OF his administration in 1925, being n
period of seventeen years. in making a comparison
of the progressive increase Of the national ex pend-
lures; or, at all events, adding half of MIR
Adams term, TO take the period running fifteen
wears back; but shall not avail myself OF this per
ecty lair calculation; and will therefore saw that
at The end OF thirteen years. from the time when
the expenditures were thirteen Millions I propose
that they be raised TO twenty two millions And
IS this an extraordinary increase for such period
IN country OF such rapid Increase and development
as this is? What has occurred during this lapse
I of tlme2 The army has been doubled or nearly !
60; u has increased from little over 600 men TO
1900. We have built six, eight, ten ships Of /
the line, Il do not recollect the precise number1
| two or three States have been adde's TO the !
Union; and two periodical enumeralions have been
made OF the national population, besides which
there have been, and vet are TO be, vast expendi
lures works OF fertilization and national defence
Now when look al the increase in the number OF
members in both Houses OF Congress, and consider
the necessary aud inevitable progress and growth
Of the nation, Is II, | ask, extraordinary thing
that at the end Of period OF thirteen years our
expenditures should increase from thirteen TO TWEEN.
~ two millions OF doliarS7 II we take the period
at seventeen years, las we fairly may,) or nj but
fifteen years. the increase Ofexpenses wall be found
not 10 60 beyond the proportional increase Of our
population within the period. That increase
IS found to be about four per cent annually; and
the increase of Government expenditures AZ the
rate above stated, will not exceed that This is
independent OF any augmentation Of the army or
navy, Of the addition Of States and Territories
or the enlargement OF the numbers in Congress-
Taking the addition, al the end OF thirteen vcars
to be nine millions OF dollars, il will give an annual
average increase Of about 300, 900. And think
that the Government Of no people, young, free and
growing as is this nation, can, under circumstances
like ours, be Justly charged with rashness recK.
lessness, or extrnvagance If its expenses increase
but at the rate of 100000 per nnnum. If our
posterity, after their numbers shall have swelled to |
one hundred millions, shall ind that their expenses
have augmented In no greater ratio than this thew
will have no cause Of complaint of the profuseness
or extravaganza Of their Government.
But it should be rscollec,ed that while have fixed
the rate Of expenditure at the sum have mentioned
VIZ: twenty-five millions, this does not ,recl,ds
further redu ctons, if they shall be found practca
bic, after existing abuses have teen explored and all
useless or unnecessary expenditure have been lop.
ped of
The honorable Senator from South CaroIin, IN,
ca laq fay m
ore, with account OF the reforms he effected
when az the head Of the War Department OF this
Government; and no man, certainly, can be less
disposed than am 10 deprive him Of single fe,tber
which he thinks he put IN his cap by that operation
But what does he ,ell US wss his experience in this
| business Of retrenchmenU lie tells us what we ali |
know 10 DO true-what every father every house. |
holder especially finds TO be true In his own
that II - much easier 10 plunge into extravaganes
| than 70 re1uce expenses; and Il is pre.eminentlv
true Of a nation. Every nation hnds Il far easier 10
rush into an ox,rayagant expenditure Of the money
entrusted TO its public agents than 10 brine do,v1
the public expenditures from proiuse and reckless
10 economical standard. All useful and 81 lutsrv
reforms must DC made with and circurnspsctlon
| The gentleman from South Carolina admits that
| the reforms he accomplished took him fur vears IN
bring about. II YVES not tl after four years OF con-
| stant eIerton that he was enabled 10 establish n
| system OF Just nccountab lty, ord d brig down
! the expenses Of the army 10 that average rsr man
70 which they were At length reduced. And now,
o such a task, was il kind in him. was Il Kind or
fif IN his associates, 10 taunt u.s. they have done
by already asking, "whefe are the reforms Won pro
missed TO aecomp hsh, when you were out Of pow
err
! IMr CALHoUE hero rose 10 explain. and ole rved
that what he had agsln and sgain said on the sub.
Jeet OF reforms WIS more than ibis that il was
time The promised reforms should begin; d was time
'hey should b'giHj and that was III he now hskedI
T Very we'll; n that is al he asks, the gentleman
VIII not be disappointed Wo could NOT Lcsin nj
Tho hxifh Session - could not then reasonably lie
expected Of w.; iOr what is tie duty Of n nsy All.
mInslfaiion when 70 first comes nto the rossessor
OF poweri lts immediate and pressing Gaze a. m
carry on tho Government; o. become ACQUAINTED
with the machine; 10 look how IL ncts ira ~ vo,ior
paris, and TO take thatit shall not work mimi,
ousy 10 the public interest. They cannot, a. once
ook back az tho past abuses; it is not practicable
N do 81 IL mus, have tuo 20 look into the nir,oo
holes OF the various buresux, to find out what has
been done, and what u doing. Us first great duty is
10 keep the machine Of Government in regular moion
u would not, therefore, be expected that COngress
would 90 INTO a thorough process Of reform al the
bIts Session. It's peculiar object then was 10
ADEPT measures Of immediate and Indispensable ro-
LET 70 The People and the Government Besides
winch, The subsequent misoftunos Of the Wing par
II W were we'll known. President Harrison occupied
TIE Chair Of State but for single month; and the
members Of his Cabinet sfl i under circumstances