Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-03-23
y O u I IN I @ A Ia o
w HIG ADD ESS.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA

|
consulting OH the disastrous condition of the
lcoentry-ilie causes which have reduced il.
WITHIN the last ten years, from prosperity to adj
versity-and the means by which its prosper-
aty may be restored-we invite the attention,
not oil the Wings only, but of honest and patri-
Otto men ofall parties in the State. to the views
which we are about To submit. They NAV be
said indeed, to be addressed, rather to our no.
liucal opponents than to our friends and all
that we ask OF themis candid and dispassion-
ate hearing. Widely separated from us as they
may be, IN feelings, predictions aud opinions,
they are yet connected with us by common
institutions, by commVh interests, by n COM
mon country. If it be written in the book of
desnny this last aud most promising ex-
perIinentV9n the capacity OF man for self-gov-
ernnent IS to prove an utter and disgraceful
failure, Wings and Democrats alike will groan
under tire evils of anarchy or despotism. In
this hour of peril and adversity-while it is
yet possible, by strenuous exertion, to aver,
| Tins common calamity-Whigs and Democrats
should hold counsel together and direct their
exertons to a common end--the preservation
OF our free institutions, and the restoration of
our lost prosperity.
I CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY ON MR. VAN
BUREN's ACCESSION TO THE PRESIDENCY.
! Fellow!Ci,lzens ~ on are all familiar with
the memorable declaration of General Jack
son, in 1897, OIL his retirement from the Pres
ldency, that he ''left this great people prosper
Gus and happy, in peace with all nations ::
and fiourishiDg beyond all former exampIe''
But the sagacious statesmen who opposed his
violent measures-the removal of the depos-
ties, and the initiation of the State Banks-iore-
told, with the accuracy Of inspiration, the evils
that must inevitably follow his interruption Of
the commercial relations of the country.
what was the character of this prosperity, was
soon VISIBLE in the sudden and overwhelming
revulsion, which in less than three brei months.
followed this selccomplacent vaunt. The
public deot, ii is true, had been discharged, I'M
der the authority of an annual appropriation
oil ZEN millions, as sinking fund, beginning
ar lSl7. From the abundant: means nowing
INFO the national Golfers from the customs. and
from extraordinary sales of the public do
man. The Treasury was not only dsencum-
oered OF all ats engagements resulting from
two wars, but large surplus had been distri-
buted TO the States. An ample fund was
transmitted to Mr.. Van Buren, by his prede-
cessor, and the party which, for eight wears.
had revelled ia the spoiss, entered upon new
lease OF office, with buoyant hopes of glori-
Gus harvest for eight years more. But the
seeds OF disease were sown SO deeply in the
commercial system of the country, that there
was not only dlninution in the receipts from
the customs, of more than one-half in 1897,
but falling off in the land fund from the enor-
nous amount of f,oenty-fce millions in 1886
to seuen millions in 1887!
But with this rapid decline of the means of
the country, let US see whether the reduction
OF expenses kept proportionae pace. Facts
speak too audibly and intcllgbly for contra
diction.
From official statements of the Treasury
Department by Mr. Woodbury., it appears that
on the 1st day of January, 1887, there was a
surplus In The treasury, arising from ordin-
airy sources of revenue, Of SEVENTEEN
MILLIONS ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND
DOLLARS
49,. $l7:loo,ooO
Additional sum sccruing from Jan.
], 1882, to March a, IS4l, from
other than ordinary sources,
(Bank, u S., &c.) 9.l25.OOO
When the extravaganza of the par
ty rap beyond the income the
! Treasury, SO as TO require the
4th instalment TO the States TO
he withheld, Treasury Notes
were authorized, and these were
issued during the four wears 10
TO the 4th Of March, lSll, to
! the amour, Of 5,e5O,ooo
Total S3l $4,000
Making, in all. from other than the regular
y receipts from the customs and public lands
i during Mr. Van Buren's term, nearly THIR-
I TY-TWO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS!
/ Now let us see what was received from the
regular sources of income daring the same
period.
/ From the Customs.
From January, 1887, to January.
lS41, the receipts were S62;s0O,o0C
! The receip pts from this source
/ having run up from eleDen mil
lions IN 1897 TO sixteen mil
:. lions in 1851
From the Public Lands, in the same
! period Of four years 100000
Making the ordinary revenue of
Mr.. Van Buren's. term 100000
To these "EIGHTY--THREE
MILLIONS" from the ordinary
sources, add the foregoing sum
from extraordinary sources 3l,S75O0C
Total, Sf14,S75,OOC
And we have the enormous sum of nearly
! ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN MIL
LIONS OF DOLLARS paid into the Treas,l-
| ry during Mr. Van Buren's term of Il years-e,