Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-03-19
Appropriation.
Expenditure.
Years.
s6l,s2l,li6 10 sa5i $1,000 %

ESQ 2I,e5ss72 81 2aaf2s9t356 81
Total, s97l,s2l,li5 10 sa5i, $4,000 %
\ comparison of the footings of this table will show
that for The twelve years the appropriations exceeded
the expenditures by the OF Sl1,ii2l2, Il, beng
equal annual average excess OF Sloo3,3l0 ~
though the table Will show that there was little uni
ormty the action of Congress in fact IN iegisating
these excuses OF appropriation.
The last four OF the series, from l-3c TO l-40
both Inclusive the years of President Van Buren,
term, and Mr.. w. desired 10 make brief analysis Of
the facts in regard TO the appropriations and expend
lures in those wears also. The first important fact 10
be borne mind was, that the appropriations for the
wear lc3G, The year Immediately preceding the first oil
his term, exceeded the expenditures Of that year by
more than eight millions Of dollars, end that there
fore, together with the balances OF appropriations OF
forme. wears not expended, remained outstanding
appropriations the Isl of January, 1887 He found
by reference the finance reports from the Treasury
Depar men for the years 1886 and So that the actual
amount Of appropriations outstanding the first day
Of January -37 applicable TO the ordinary expenses
OF the Government, SlG4Io,c1J 20. 4 reference
to the table would show that the appropriations for 1857
were more than thirty -four Millions and those for lc3c
more than thirty three millions, while the expenditures
for each OF the years little more than thirty one
and half millions, thus adding largely IN both years
TO the unexpended balance Of outstanding appropria
tons
During the first of these years the revusion
The expansions, and speculations, and overtradngs
which had thus filled the Golfers OF the nation to over
flowing, and stimulated this enormous increase OF the
appropriations by Congress and consequent expehd-
lures By the Executive Government had gone 10 their
utmost excess, and the rehuI produced universal sus
pension of specie payments by the banks in the early
part of the year 1897. Still the expenditures for that
wear had been graduated upon the immense surplus
Of 1856 and the appropriations for The year were
made before the shock vas experienced This fact, To-
pether with the vas, amount nnexpended at the com
mencement Of the year l-37, of the appropriations tor
former years oil than sixteen millions Of dollars,
will sufficiently account for The increase Of the eSpendl-
of this the previous year, although the app.o.
priaons for the year considerably less. Still the
fact should not pass unnotced that the amount actual
ly expended in 1887, vas full two and half millions
less than the appropriations made for the year. The
same considerations will account for the keeping OF
the expenditures through the year 1885, though Con
gress began 10 feel the necessity Of retrenchment in It's
action, and the amounts appropriated after the year
| 1896 were gradually diminished The expenditures,
however, were kept below the appropriations by more
than one and half millions in the year 1888.
The year 1880 brought with il the sensible convic-
ton actively operating upon all the departments otthe
Government, that rapid reductions in the national eS-
penses must be MADE, that new sources OF revenue
must be found to appropriations and answer ex-
stng demands upon the public treasury. The action
of Congress presents The best evidence of the presence
and strength of this impulse The appropriations
brought down more IMAM nine ana quarter
lions in single year. The great amount OF the out.
standing and unexpended appropriations of former
years did not permit equally rapid reduction IN the
expenditures, and hence, during this year, while the
amount actually expended diminished more than
six millions below that of the next preceding year.
exceeded the appropriated for the year by tr'he
more than million and half The same cause pro-
duced expenditure, IN the year 1870, Of about three
quarters of million beyond the appropriations for the
year, and yet left balance of outstanding and une1.
pended appropriations, at the close OF that year, oil
Sl2,306 2GJ 50.
Such very briefan perfect sketch of the inan.
cia history Of the Government. far it relates 10
the appropriations for the curen, service Of the Govern.
men and their expenditure during the twelve years OF
the Administrations OF Presidents Jackson and Van Blu
rem, and Mr.. w pleased that the honorable Sena
tor mir. Clay had afforded him the occasion TO make
| this reference 10 the matter. Nothing farther
from his intention than 10 that gentleman, or
any other Senator, with intentional upon these
Subjects but enough had been disseminated over
the country in regard 10 these public expenses; and
he trusted the time had arrived when the pub
lie mind in I state 10 listen 10 and weigh the
truth regard TO them. Under this belief he begged
gentlemen again 10 look al this simple table, and see
the truths il tells. With the swelling of the
the appropriations swollen from lc29 to 1888 while
the expenses almost uniformly held back from one
to two millions behind the appropriations though in
the last named year the accumnlang balances,
standing and expended appropriations OF former years
1885, the appropriations rapidly depressed and the
expenditures still more rapidly and then, in single year
the memorable year of lS36-the appropriations were
increased from seventeen TO thirty Millions and
the expenditures from seventeen to twenty. nine mil
lions, the latter being increased twelve millions in
year. and yet held eight millions below the appropria
tons for The year This was the work OF President
| jackson.
And at this precise period this full food of exrava
giant appropriation, President Van Buren, came into
I,E,o hi Svct nj
appropriations of more than ,hirty.four millions, and
outstanding balance Of appropriations of former years
unexpended of than sixteen and third Millions
making together almost fifty and half Millions
he expended little than thirty .one and half
Millions and from that time to the close of the year
1910, under his Administration, the annual approprIa
tons reduced from thirty -four to twenty and
three quarter millions, and the annual expenditures
from thirty-one and half to twenty-five and third
millions of dollars. These the facts now given
TO Congress and the country, official FORM by the
fiscal officers selected by this Administration, and from
them the honorable Senator himself cannot fail 10
with what injustice he procalms the average expendi.
lures OF Mr.. Van Buren, administration 10 have been
thirty.ive millions of dollars per for the four
years sum three and half millions beyond the actu
al expenses Of any Of those years and twelve and
iwothrds millions beyond the expenses Of the las.
year in the rapidly descending series
The honorable Senator without reflection doubtless,
made comparison between the expenses Of the last
Administration and the present. which carries along
with it The same erto. end injustice. In The case
| he takes the payments from the Treasury, including
trust funds ana probably the post olce moneys toge-