Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-02-05
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE OF REPREsENrATyEs-FrnnuAnr 5, isas

= Ir viz The concurrence by The House IN the report OF
h onmi,ee Of the Whole in their resolutions referring the
piS,,s annual message appropriate committees and
a,eeng 10 the amendment of Mr. Conn., Of Georgia. 10 the
ih resolution reported by the Committee OF the Whole VIZ
Add between the word personal and the word property
he words and other, make read " 10 be assess
cd on personal and other property" &c.
Mr. SMITH, of Indiana then proceeded with his remarks
He should not consume any portion of his time he SAID ~
discussing the origin of the with Mexico That question
had been thoroughly discussed, not only during TINS SESSION.
but during the last session. The members of this House and
the country in possession Of all the information necessary
enable them form conclusion satisfactory TO themselves
He had only say in regard that matter that this House.
during present session, had decided upon solemn and
deliberate by yeas and nays that ths war was unnees
say and unconsuonaly commenced by the President Of
the United States He had had the good iorune-and ne
deemed good ouneto have had opportunity o
recording his of this sentence OF condemnation
In giving this his heart concuIrcd with his Judgment
And he desired this time IN regard TO the
origin of this than io express his concurrence with he de-
cson So soemnly made by this House. 1t decision
which the people Of the country would approve and endorse
and whatever might he the opinion of Individuals carried away
by partisan excitement when that excitement shai nave
been dssPaed by the lapse OF time, The deliberate sentiment
of the American people would sanction that vote OF conde
nation in regard TO the origin Of this war
But he Desired speak particularly in reference to
questions of practical utyquesons which concerned
the future rather than past However this might have
been begun whomsaeyer should rest the responsibility Of
its origin the midst Of it its evils now pressing
upon us parayzng the energies OF the couatry drying W Us
resources and wasting its best blood It became hem the
Representatives Of the American people, sent here to deber-
upon questions affecting their Interests to devise some
by which this war may be brought 10 coSe' ana H
cuaed fhey cannot be prevented
He desired 10 occupy few moments III the examination Of
some the evils which likely to result 10 tne country
from the continuance Of this war, and IN the consideration OF
Questions connected with the finances they were to be at
fected bv the prosecution OF It, They had had laid on
their tables and which they would be called TO act IN
day or two bill proposing to add eighteen millions and
half 10 our public debt became them carefully TO inquire
han latd was
ance Of this war; and the Representatives of the
pie were required BY their duty to increase that debt
What was the of our debt at present They were
sometimes told that gentlemen this side OF the House, who
stood opposed to of the national administration
were in of national debt but for he intended TO
testify his and action that that charge did not apply to
him He regarded the accumulation Of national debt as
evil of the greatest magnitude and which every consider
alton Of duty and patriotism required them TO ward from the
country. The of public debt were inform
ed by the Secretary and the President at the
Of the session, SIS 659 659 40. To what amount was
il proposed increase this debt The President had already
recommended loans to the amount of thynne millions, viz
balance Tor ls4s eighteen and halt millions, and for S4s
twenty and half Millions making total OF thirty nine mil
hons which told Congress and the country would be
qured continue the prosecution of the TO the close
OF the fiscal year. the 30h June, lS49 Well, accord
ing the Presidents and Seeretays estimate have then
prospective the soth June, ls4s public debt Of the
Of s4 659 65940 This looks like burden of debt
well calculated the people to ectng even assuming
The estimates made by the Executive Department OF the TO-
the actual expenditures reasonably I've calculated to exceed
these esimae AT the last session Of Congress tie President
came forward with Recommendation for loan of twenty
three millions Mr. s. read short extract from the mes
sage containing this Recommendation, IN which the President
estimated, if the continued TO the 30!h June, lS4s,
that additional loan of iwentythee millions would be
CURED the assumption that there was constantly retained
IN the Treasury four millions TO meet any contingencies
such surplus provided for loan Of nineteen millions
would be sufficient
Now the Presd mt Of the United States CONTINUED Mr.
thaln -
Of twenty three millions would be amply sufficient continue
this until the 3oh June lsfs and that would also enable
Government to retain four millions in the Treasury We hay
reached that period the 2Oh June, lsiS som
months hence and yet, the Of the pesen
session of Congress- the President forward and informs
through his Secretary Of the Treasury that additional oar
Of sls 500 600 j. necessary continue this up
the 3Olh June, ls4s And the time, he tells u
that three millions all that necessary to be retained IN ih
Treasury that adding to this eighteen and half millions
this additional million, appears that nearly twenty millions
additional necessary and that the estimates at the last
sion of Congress fell short BY about twenty millions Of dollars
How and why this gross bunder made Are we to al
tribute il 10 the Of the Secretary Of the Treasury Wa
his judgment in regard TO the finances OF the country so poo
that he fell into such grevous mistakes these Or hal
there been attempt and conceal from the
try the national debt which this creating
He cared not which hoin of the dilemma the Administration
and its friends chose 10 either case conclusvey shown
that no confidence could be placed in the estimates emanang
from that source
This estimate made, showed the public debt 10 be
SS3,OO0OOO the 30h June, lSI9. The estimate was
made on the assumption that the Government would receive
all the revenues estimated in the Secre,as report, and would
only be required 70 expend the which there csma
ted Let him ask any reliance 10 be placed these
estimates What the estimates las; year Why the
Secretary Of the Treasury after the began
the receipts OF the Government for the year ending 3Oh
June, ls47, would be- in round NUMBERS S3l, ,335 the
actual receipts S26, ,3i6 000 showing deficiency
81, 9ss, 000amost five millions. lie estimated the expcn
dures Of the Government for the year s55 2 900
whereas the report their tables showed that the
ual expenditures $50, 45 900, making
600 900. The facts before US, them showed
that the estimates Of the Secretary Of the Treasury in
gard the receipts aod expenditures Of the last year. made
difference of 50, l9s, 906.
Well, not fair TO presume that the Presidents esii
mates 10 regard 70 the expenses Of this and the next year
IS erroneous they then for the year 1917 III
thought that presumption a fair Ii were then
should be required add the national debt, already
tmated, sls,397 900, which would make debt that w
shoudbe owingonh 30h June Is4e ofover 03 600 900
sum largely beyond the entire Of the national deb
created hy the last with Great Britain II.
Let him reir % single fact for the purpose Of showing
what degree Of confidence 10 be placed ia the estimates
Of The Executive Ia the annual report Of the Secretary
the Treasury during tins session told that add
hona loan OF 800 900 would be required for the
year The Pfesdeht IN his message, said the thing
lew weeks ago We informed by the Secretary Of the
treasury al interim that mistake had been discovered in
he estimates amounting 10 within fraction Of 81, ,000, 900
that they found themselves IN session OF 81 000 900
than they had estimated Well Il that true, what
The natural consequence What the inference that every