Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-03-04

that is, that the amount paid for months is
os0e less than the other table shows to have been
paid for part of the time.
will be perceived that the object Of both these tables
only different in this respect that the first gave the payments
for year. and the other for series Of years and yet this
enormous discrepancy
The Union" in the article referred to above acknow-
lodges this error as followse
Looking through the tables appended TO the report we
nd two Others, which may require explanation Table r
paid from December 1916, to December l. lSl7, amoun-
ing principal and interest, 10 10 Table G.
67 contains OF the made annually
principal and Of the public debt
from the h Of March, 1882 the ist Of December, s47
Here we lind that the nts these accounts from July
isa6 So ISl7 amounted 721, o2l SO and
from June so to December is47 to 69-togeher
So, 26l 1859 0S.
" How thsf According TO table E. the payments on ac-
count Of the public debt amounted in twelve moa nearly
ten millions and half while, according TO table O. the pay
mens on the same account amounted in seventeen mouths
to little than nine millions and quarter while in these
seventeen months included the very twelve months that
are embraced in table E."
This attempted explanation is too long to be inserted In
deed it is explanation ALL but only amounts state
ment that the trouble arises from the confused mode Of keep
ing the accounts at the Treasury This apology what
ever for these conflicting statements the report,
for the same materials hand In in the
other II the Secretary does not know the Of debt
paid in the time named, he should give place who
can find it out
In view Of these facts may be useful pause and
NINE Tor moment the financial abos of the head of the
Treasury Department During the last session of Congress
he estimates the amount required to meet all the expenses Of
the Government the 30th of June lS4S, and asks for
loan to the deficiency All that he asks is ganed but
before onea the year passed, he informs Congress that
his calculations all wrong, and that additional loan
would be required Of about eighteen and half millions Of dol
lars to the expenses ohe Government that time This
communication is made Congress the 9th Of December
but by the time that the communication printed in full
the 18th Of January he informs Congress through the Chief
Clerk that he had made the gross of than mil
hundred thousand dollars had
been that much than he Of when he made
his report, and that the amount of the loan might be diminish
ed to that extent There much parade of the mistake Of
clerk in preparing statements and very unnecessary trouble
expended in showing h0,o this occurred 1t is far
remarkable that any should be at the head Of
the Treasury that could by any possibility make mistake in
stating his resources nearly millions of dollars short of
the What kind Of knowledge he have Of
the finances of the country he lose this without
knowing it. or, which is the thng in the formal annual
official communication to Congress make statement Of The
actual receipts into the Treasury millions short OF the
amount The is which shows utter ignorance of
the affairs of the department and the Of the finances OF
the country which is truly alarming.
In order, however show the ncompetency Of the head
of this Department strkngy il appears that his
original mistake not great he supposed IT was; and
his correction of the former bunder he has made another
of a very serious amount.
Mr. Chairman, serious question arises What conf
dence have in the of the funds of the Government
mean charge any dishonesty upon the head of that
Department far from it, But where is the check upon the
NUMBER OF through whose hands, form
and another the money and Treasury notes. and stock
tcaes pass What is the system of accountability Does
the Secretary mean to issue, in oton OF law, the amount
Of Treasury notes which he says will be available during the
present fiscal year How many millions of Treasury notes
must be lost stolen in order enable the Secretary dis
the loss Why does the public voice Indignantly
demand that these should be explained and that the
dreaming philosopher the head OF the Treasury, with all
his schemes notions of free trade, and his laborious tng
should give up his post person having practical skill
in the affairs of fesome knowledge of the finances of the
country The doubtless is, that the millions upon
millions which squandered than thrown away in
this miserable with Mexico, renders the public quite in
different 10 minor matters The repeated and
bunders and counterbunders Of millions of dollars which
would in any other period of history have thrust any
Secretary from office covered him with disgrace and made
him the reproach and bword Of the whole land Justly
sideed as only of the minor enomites of this Admins
tra'ion This horrible with Mexico, and Of ALL the
neiarous and heathensh principles openly avowed by
occupying responsible in the Govenmenthe pub
lcly setting naught the eternal aud Interchangeable pnci
Piles of nstice of right aud of TRUTH and the control of
pernendmg Providence the law of the Almighty Ruler Of
the Universe, and worshpping destiny relying upon
peror power INDUCING in unhoy thirst for emprethese
things WELL they do, occupy the public mnd and the
EXTREMIST confusion and disorder, if nothing in the
finances well be considered of minor consequence.
Ii may be amusing inquire what has occupied the
ton of the learned aud aboous Secretary for he distinguish
ed for learning and the abors has
been the commonplace duties Of understanding the condition
Of his Department and attending the dull routine Of their dis
charge which has been the ambition Of his predecessors but
visions Dreams revelations have engrossed the mind of the
Secretary" enthusiasm the organ calls it. ntermina-
bic tables Of figures Of value except exhibit great and
bootless labor tending to practical results learned and alb
sact dsquisions the wild and extravagant calculations
have occupied the weary days and seepss nights Of the Sec
rotary of the Treasury. So imaginative and poeca head Of
the Department surely before Let turn
TO what may well be called the poetry of finance The Sec
rotary has the talent OF making figures Of arithmetic
the vehicle Of the widest visions Of the Imagination and am
Mr. Chairman, after the patient attention which has been
given to my dry details, the committee surely entitled TO
whatever is amusing and poetica in the matter.
The Secretary, in the 23d page of his report says " BY
table 3D. appears that the augmentation ofour domestic
ports exclusive OF specie, last year. compared with the pre-
cedng Ss,S56 S02 upwards of as per cent and,
at the rate cent per Of augmentation would
amount in ls49 per table &C, $500 959, $685. much
greater than the domestic export from Stale State The
future per centaee Of increase may not be great"
This table &C is curiosity in its way
CC.-Staemsnt shouting ,cha the domestic exports Of the
United States, erclusipe Of gold and slre, poah be on
the 30h Of June, ls49, J during each Of The three years
succeeding The last fiscal year, tie per eetagc Of augmea
fdfton pere the same as during The last fscdiyear
The increase Of domestic exports the United States,
elusive of gold and silver, the 3o Of june S47,
compared with the year $780, sis $50, So2-being
48.oo5i6 per cent.
Domestic ex- Per Domestic