Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-03-26

interests Of the nation During the Admins
tration Of Mr.. Van Buren,, the excess Of expen-
dure over the income, every yaar, was between
seven or eight millions Of dollars; and the mo-
ment that the Administration perceived this dis.
tress, it Yves their duty to impose upon Tree aTtl-
cles according 10 the principles oil the ComPro.
mise act, an adequate amount Of revenue Tor an
economical administration Of the Government.
Passing by the first resolution. he would take the
next three, all relating TO the same subject, and
he proposed to consider them together The
first question presented was, what ought TO be
the amount OF the annual expenditures? Tho
aggregate total expenditure under the Admins
tration OF Mr. Van Buren, was Sl42. SOL 900,
averaging for the four years So, $40, 900 year.
Now, the propose expenditure which he had sug-
gested was only twenty-five millions, which, de.
Quoted from the $35,6i0,0O0 per year. would
leave 513, $40, 900, or, in other words, an excess
over the average amount Of expenditures during
the Administration OF Mr.. Adams, whose naces.
sary expenditures were 10 have been reduced and
curtaed by those who were 10 succeed that gen.
tleman. But how were they TO come to twenty.
two millions? Why, by fixing the expenditures
for the civil list at three and half millions for
the War Department, including all its branches,
at ten millions; for the naval service, seven mil.
millions; and for covering other objects, one mil
lion and half and these, added together would
make the twenty two millions, 10 which he pro-
posed to reduce the expenditures OF the Govern.
nent which amouat, however, would be subject
to further reduction, after the abo1lmeni Of
all useless offices, and after all such practicable
and reasonable rerenchment as would not be de-
! trmental to the public nterest-'rlc lwcn!y.siz
millions proposed to be raised would have to be
drawn from the estimated imports Of SOL 900
which. at II duty Of thirty per cent. would yield
100000. Allowing S1,6O0,000 for tho
costs and expenses Of collection, and there would
remain S25 700O00 supposing thirty per cont.
TO be levied. At the time Of the passage Of the
Compromise act, it was supposed that twenty per
cent. would be sufficient for an economical adj
ministralion Of the Government, for the Trees
ury was then overflow ng, and few imagined that
| it would 50 soon become beggarly and empty.
1t was never contemplated that there should be
strict adherence to the twenty per cent. prin.
cjpie, if it should become necessary 10 advance
upon it. Neither the language nor the spirit Of
the Compromise act contemplated such a state
! OF things. On the contrary, the law declared
that having reached the twenty pr cent. princi-
pie, duties should be levied, having in view an
economical administration Of the Government;
and if necessary FOR this purpose the duty might
be twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, or even one hun
dced per cent. His f III resolution related to The
public lands; and he would remark .ha. II hat
source Of IeyenUe should be IecaIIsd-which
e was only million and q hall during tie last
ysar-te rate Of duty on the ninety one millions
Of imports, to obtain twenty-six millions or rev.
! enue including the land revenue. would be only
twtnty.eght and half instead Of thirty per cent.
Buff the lands should amour: TO three millions,
instead Of one and a halt millions, and they
should be recalled ins.e.d Of being permitted to
remain where they were, the duty would only
come down to tWenty.siX or twenty. seves per
T cent. instead Of going up 10 thirty per cent As
to the sixth and seventh resolutions he remarked
that he thought iha: members Of Congress ought
TO look to themselves; already had steps been IT,
. ken TO reduce the expenses Of Congress 10 tho
, amount of one hundred thousand dollars, and he
hoped that something would be dane with regard
: mileage that it might be better regulated and
more clearly defined. The eighth resolution STA
ted tina; the expenses OF the Judicial department
r Of Government have OF late years, been greatly
increased and ought to be reducel; and it he
were disposed to be invidiou>, he could name
single district court Of the United States in which
the expenditures had been increased, by four nr
1 five tines. beyond those OF any other distrst
. court. The ninth resolution asserted that the
diplomatic relations Of the United States with
'ore IN towers had been greatly increased, and
+ ought to be reduced. Tue number Of diplomatic
: agents had nearly ,rP!sd since the Adninislra-
: tration Of Mr. Adams, and they mad been seeking
out our Governments which were not to he found;
! besides, they had agents at Consian,inope, Aus.
tria, and at Naples, notwithstanding those Gov.
ernmens did no. recpfoca;e the friendly mani
festatious Of this Intry by sending their agen..
{ TO reside here. He had also introduced res0iu.
- ton relating TO the Thinking privilege, which wa: