Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1842-08-18
Gbf H7rFr 35ress.

Efforts are frequently made BIZ LoeoFoco bah
blers and ediIsrs toimpfess lhe people with be-
lief that the Wings, instead Of Reforta and Re-
srenehmenl have already rug up Crsai National
Debt We ask the attention Of our fsaeers to
the following arhcls from The Baltimere Ameri-,
fcan, which shows with pencil Of light the man
zneria which a new National Debt has been Gre
Iaied The facts stated By The American are in-
conlrovenible, being amply sustained By public
documents and his prominent fael should BE
horne in mind, that The fulfiment sof contracts
under The Van Buren, Administrator was put OF
50 that hs burihen Of paymen, might fall upon
the Wings E
THE PUBLIc DEBT, AND THE AUTHORS
OF TT.
In orderto fair understanding Of the
facts relative 10 the public debt or The U.
States, and The present deficiency Of reve.
nue., whereby so many ADVERTISEMENTS
have come into the country, il may be
proper 10 look little into The history Of
the Observation-Disclosures. Il.
When Mr.. Fan Buren came into Office
in 1887 dhere was ready money In the
Treasufyto the amount Of SIS, 236, 800
including an instalment Of some nine mil.
lions due to the States under The aci for
distributing the surplus revenue. This
insialmenl has never been paid; il vas
applied 70 the usesof the General Govern.
ment. The stock owned by The Govern
ment in the Bank of The United States was
sold for about S. .000. 900; and this was
also~used 10 meet The wants Of the Trea.
sbry. Here then was an amount Of some
TwENTY:sIX MILLIONS. over and ADORE fAel
ordinary rersnue of NE. Government, lying
as surplus ID the sTreasury-anG ali was
at the disposal Of Mr. Van Buren's ad.
ministration. II was all expended; the
aceruing revenue from year, 10 year. was
all expended, isspes Of Treasury notes
were made 10 furnish still further sums
bbSSaasF Atfa tbas g q ii odisSang te6 0f
Treasury notes unredeemed 10 the amount
Of more than FIVE MILLIONS.
Ills plain, therefore, that il Mr.ANan
Buren, had come into Office with no other
means at his disposal than the ordinary
receipts of ihe Treasury from the customs
aud the Public Lands, he would have ielt
behind him i national de6s Of more than
THIRTY MLLioNs. In other words, there
were expended under his adm inistration.
thirty millions more than the receipts oil
the Treasury during bis term!
i But this Is not all Towards the close
j Of Mr.. Van Burenis administration, appro
priations were made and obligations con-
llIacted to d large amount the fulhlment
or which was put off SO that the burden Of
payment might fall upon the Wing ad-
minisiration which was about 10 enter up.
/ on the government. In a speech delivered
4 during the present session Of Congress by
| Nit. Merriweiher of Georgia, The amoun.
Il OF these postponed obligations, with the
several lie ms specified is Sc, down at the
i enormous sum 81: S24. 7l9,00S. This az.
kregate includes Treasury Notes outstand.
ing Oh the Alb Of March, 1871. debts due
Fin Holland assumed for cries il the Dis
Etrict Of Columbia; amount due navy
pension fund Tor money used BY govern
;Ement: amount due various Indian tribes !;
.amount due by Post Office Department TO
! contractors and others; amountIdue Flori-
ia. Georgia and Maine. for services Of
Ismiilia or no other claims; funded and
unfunded debt OF last Hsr-all reaching
the gross sum Of twelve millions and up
wards and 10 addition to- these items
there were appropriations made by the
!. Congress which expired on The Bird oil
. March le4l. without provision Of ayaila-
Die means to meetthem, TO the amount Of
twelve millions more.
: These estimates, moreover, are exclu.
sive OF private claims TO large amount,
land OF the Smithsonian bequest Of half !
million Of dollars. .sIt may be said re-
marks Mi. Merriwether, that tie approt
pria.ions are no debt, in the technical
meaning Of the word. This is true. Bu
still. when services have been performed
under law. they are as much entitlet
Ito payment as The holder Of . Tressur,
note when il fails due; and it Is Just a
difficult 10 pay demands against the Trea
lsury. when created 10 this way. or sig,
600 GEO. without any funds 10 do it with
as il would Sc TO paw a similar amour
. Of Treasury notes without the means
i And il is 10 be presumed that these ap
= preparations were necessary fof the pub
RI lie Interests. Ifso, then either the publ
20 interests must be neglected and suffer, 0
r else we must raise money 10 meet,he de
Il maids on lhe Treasury made BY the Va
y Buren, party
ae Here, then, we have brief exposi,io
y. ofihe state 81 things brought about by th
u IVAN Buren administrator. To what a
n inheritance 81 debtand disordsT..he Whig
y succeeded may bsre be seen: The in