The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-10-04

save $500 900 annually, because it would cut off
some of their political friends from fat living in
ideness and extravaganza, at the expense of the
people.
The gentleman from Kentucky TMr DAvIs1
declared that he did not believe that the democrat
c members Of this House were in favor ofretrench-
ment," while they were engaged in the work of
saving, annually, half million; and to satisfy them
that he and his friends were, they have voted for al
most every useless and extravagant expenditure
that has come up. The same member was very Sc
we're upon Mr. Van Buren for his extravaganza;
complained most pitiously over his vast eXpendi-
lures; and then, with the versatility of 'the dicta-
tor" wheeled about and abused him because he
had not expended in western Improvement millions
more. That was not all, he said Mr.. Van Buren
had requested Congress to authorize him, in refer
ence to the forcation bill, to suspend the appro-
priaton--to withhold it, if, in his Judgment it
should be proper to do SO; that Congress conferred
that power upon him: and he says that Mr.. Van
Buren, had the audacity to withhold itsixteen hun
dred thousand dollars appropriated, subject to this
discretionary power of the President, he did not
expend. For expending appropriations he is abus-
ed, notwithstanding the law compelled him. he
having no discretion, for not exrending sixteen
hundred thousand dollars more, where he was e
gally authorized to exercise his discretion, he is
equally abused For the latter act, he is denounc-
ed usurper, and compared to Charles the First.
The exercise of legal discretion-a right confer
red upon him by Congress, is denounced as the
usurpation of kingly prerogative, the exercise
OF an arbitrary and despodc power. What would
the gentleman have said if, in other cases, where
no such authority was conferred, Mr.. Van Buren,
had omitted tosee all the money expended? With
how much more propriety might he, in such case,
have denounced him? In what strange predica-
ment does this kind of argument place President.
| Ifhe expends the money, as directed by Congress,
he is denounced for his extravaganza? If he omits
TO eXpend it, although authorized by law to do so,
he is denounced usurpeI and tyrant He is
denounced, at the same time, for expending too
much and too little. This is the beauty consisten
cy, and integrity of federalism 1t is by means so
unfair, so disingenuous, so unjust that those gen.
tlemen hope to injure the character of an honest
man, and to withdraw the public attention from the
acts, principles, and public character of Henry
Clay, and to foist him into the presidency. Sir,
there are many living Ogles here; and am sur
prised that they do not give US an inventory of
''the lounges, ottomans, Brussels carpets, damask
curtains, mahogany chairs, and gold spoons, in the
palace;" the extravaganza Of the kitchen furniture,
and, by way of establishment, they should inform
the country that Of the first acts passed for the
whig President, in 1871, was all appropriation of
$4,000 to furnish this extravaganty Furnished
palace" More gold spoons, danask curtains, and
Brussels, carpets were doubtless deemed necessary
by those ''retrenchment-and-reform democratic |
whigs," to support the dignity Of the new log cab
in administration. ! do not alude TO this appro-
priation improper, but merely to show the gross
dishonesty and falsty of the charges of eXtrava-
gance in the furniture of the white house-the |
"Oge palace" Sir, what have these economical |
wings done in the way of expenditure since 1911;
They have increased the debt, and made part Of
it permanent, by loans, about $4,000, 600. To
effect this, has taken them two years and nine
months In the mean time, they have expended
all the accruing revenue-everythng they could
lay their hands on; and but for their election from
power, at the end of four years, would have sad
died the nation with debt of at least $50 900 600.
Worse than all this, is the berality, the proaigacy,
exhibited in giving away to the States the proceeds
ofthe sales of the public lands, while the treasury
was empty, and their agents were trotting about
from door to door in this and in foreign countries
to borrow money to pay the ordinary expenses of
the government. They were spurned like idle
the credit of the country destroyed and
its character degraded and disgraced These are
the fruits of their boosted economy and financial
skill These are the entries in Mr. Webster's new
books. The $40 900 debt which they told the
people existed in 1910, dwindled down, on their
own showing, to Ss.OOO,OOO and, in fact, to about
;s5 100000 Their "retrenchment'' has swelled
the public debtto about $50 900 600; and but for
the popular veto-the peoples veto-no man can
tell to what extent it would have increased within
the four years.
Since the nomination is made, they have turned
their poisoned arrows at Mr. Polk, He is charged
with being in favor of free trade. Sir. what proof
have they given as to the fact! That he is in favor
Of Mr.. Cay's compromise tariff bill: SO is Mr. Clay;
so he has always avowed, and still avows. What
next' Why, he was in favor of the pet bank sys- !
tenn. True sir, he was in favor of the experiment,
so long they performed that duty well; but when
hey failed, he opposed them, and then the whole {
vhig party came to the aid of the broken pets ,
This is all have heard, except that Mr.. Polk 1
was insulted, and did not fight duel-TSee note I
II the end Of the speech,l And why! Because c
nc is Chrisan-a believer in the principles of 7
hat religion which is peace and love towards all
men. Sir, he is above and beyond their reach;
lie is protected by the bright, broad shield of truth
md justice, which is impenetrable to the shafts of
malice. He is encircled by the strong arms of the 5
and elevated above the reach of those e
Who are enervated and jaded with toll in the race
# boundless ambition b