The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-07-02
RETRENCH Nj EMF.

REIRENCHMENT.
| The Globe, in publishing statement Of the
appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year, cool!y
asserts that the :" Democracy have recommend
ed their system of retrenchment, which was
stopped by the Wings in 1910. It is rare
! thing to witness case of more barefaced mpu-
dence than is thus exhibited by the Globe. When
General Jackson came into power, in 1922 the
average expense of The Government, exclusive of
! the interest on the national debt, had been be-
tween twelve and thirteen millions annually for
the four preceding years. The average expense
per annum Of his first four years was about four
teen millions, and Of the second four, something
over twenty-five millions. The expense Of Mr.
Van Buren's four years, exclusive of interest on
the public debt, funded and unfunded, was one
hundred and ~ enty millions, or thirty millions
per annum. But the aggregate expense of Mr.
Van Buren's four years was one hundred and
| forty-two millions six hundred and sixty -one thou
sand, or thlrty-fve millions SIX hundred and six
| 'y-five thousand dpllars per annum.
| Now let us see what the Wings have done to-
wards counteractng these "retrenching' mea-
sures of the Lpcof,cos. The two first appropria-
tons made by the Wings amounted to fifty-egh
millions seven hundred thousand dollars, which
appropriations were made 10 cover the expenses
OF two years and half--ihe last of the two be-
ing made for eighteen months, in consequence of
change in the fiscal year, which will in future
commence on the 1st of July instead of the 1st of
January. From this sum three millions two hum
dred and eighty mine thousand dollars are to be
deducted for arrearages which existed prior to the
4th of March, lS4l-leavng ffly-five millions
four humid ed and thirty thousand dollars fairly
| chargeable to the Wings. Divide this sum into
years, and we have the amount of Wing appro-
| pration per annum, which is twenty two millions
one hundred and seventy-two thousand dollars.
1t is thus that the Wings have interrupted the
retrenching" system of the Locofocos, by re-
ducing the appropriations from thirty five millions
| to twenty-five millions.
| The appropriation for the current year is not
exclusively Wing nor Locoloco measure, since
one party has the majority in the House and the
other in the Senate; but the state of things
which has rendered larger appropriation un-
necessary having been brought about by Wing
policy, they are entitled to the greatest share Of
the credit. The Globe, therefore, in claiming
the merit of the appropriation for the Locofocos,
is guilty OF the most preposterous piece of impu-
dence. The amount of the appropriation slwen-
ty-one millions seven hundred and seventy-seven
thousand d, liars, from which FIVE millions one
h,,,,I IL IL. IL
Quoted, on account of the Post Office Department.
which will dreray its own expenses, and some
| other trlfiing items of extraordinary expense
the appropriation for the current year, therefore,
amounts to only sixteen millions six hundred and
seventy-five thousand dollars, which is less than
half the expense OF one year of Mr. Van Buren's
administration. So much for Locofoco retrench-
menl'' and Wing extravaganza
| But how stands the account as to revenue
l he reade. will remember that when Mr.. Van
Buren, came in'o power, there was the round sum
of tweniy-eight millions Of dollars in the Treasu-
ry, independent Of what was distributed 10 the
Siaies; and that when he went out of Office he
lett not dollar behind, or at any rate but trfe
while he had run up debt of eight millions,
which he left as legacy to the Wings. lie
had done more. lie and his llusrious predeces-
sor had ruined the finances of the country So
that paper money and bank rags became sypo-
nymes-and as necessary consequence, they had
destroyed commerce, foreign and domestic, and
thereby dried up The fountains Of revenue. No
wonder, then, if the conservative policy of the
Wings has been three years in Fighting the
tlon' But their cherished object is now on the