The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-15

HdSt, diiN viz Wy ~ Wv
constitution of California, was debated by
Messrs. FooTE and CLAY, and, without
taking any vote, the Senate adjourned.
In the House Of Representatives., the
slavery question was again discussed ia
Committee of the Whole.
The Chairman OF Ways and Means and the
Treasury Department.
In the commentaries we have made, or
propose to make, it is far from our pur-
pose to speak disparagingly Of the private
or personal merit of the Hon. Chairman,
whose many striking and attractive quail
tiles we most cheerfully admit.
His warm and strong personal predi-
lections, his devotion to friends and party,
his zeal and ability in the cause Of both,
have rallied around him many friends,
and placed him foremost of his party.
While we thus cheerfully render to him
the credit which is so Justly his due, We
must also state that figures and statistics
are not the elements for the exercise of
the talents which he undoubtedly pos
sesses. And the very fervor Of his feel
ngs, which warns him to enthusiasm in
behalf Of friends and Of party, leads him
to extremes in his course towards OPP
ponents. Having imbbed an impression,
most indstinctly defined to his mind, that
the omission Of the Secretary to diminish
the expenditures more than half mil
lion of dollars is wilful on his part so
strongly has this impression seized upon
his mind, as to cloud the candor Of the hon
orable Chairman, and cause him TO over.
look or undervalue the force of facts,
which cause the full weight of all his
charges, if true, to recoi upon himself
and party.
We discuss his arguments, therefore,
under the conviction that although he does
not designedly purpose to misrepresent,
yet that his judgment is so colored by his
feelings as to render his wish father to his
thoughts. And we doubt not but that the
time is not distant when his judgment
upon these matters will be materially mod
flied.
We proceed to give some Of the reasons
which will produce the change, by con-
tinued review of his speech of Friday last
The Chairman says:
Now, how is all this answered! We are told
that Mr.. WALKER said, in his annual report Of
December, ls47, that he had made all the reduc-
tons of expenditure consistent with the good OF
the public service But gentlemen ought 10 do Mr..
TValker justice" Mark this.l They ought to
take all he said on that subject together In each
of his three letters to the Committee of Ways and
Means, bearing date respectively on the 10th of
March, and 18th Of May, 1916, and the Sth Of Feb
ruary ls47 he stated explicitly that, to enable him
to make all the reductions which were desirable,
the passage of lato indispensable. 1t is true,
he said he could curail much without the interpo
.tion of Congress but in his letter Of the sth of
February, ls47, he said
alt win be perceived, by reference to the com
munications of the 10th of March and 25th of May
last that this department then entertained and ex
pressed the opinion, lst, that under the tariff
the expenses of collecting the revenue might be
duced TO the sum of 300 900 ID, that these OK
made by law Sd, that act Of Congress n,er.
deemed necessary 10 carry these great reforms fully into
effect 4th, that the propriety Of embracing such an
enactment in the tariff of le46 suggested 70 the
Committee and section submitted for that purpose;
5th that il was believed this great reduction could
not take place to the full extent, unless accompa-
MED by the enactment OF the tariff of lS4b. This
act having gone into effect the list Of December
last it is believed by this Department that these
great reforms may be carried into full effect and
tcih the cooperation Of Congress, pis SUN Of half q
million Of dollars year may be sored 10 me treasury
iriLhOut any deiTiaent 10 The public seruice.'"
Gentlemen, in constituting the report, ought tc
do it in connexon with this letter Of the same
year and when he says that he had made all the
reductions he could make, he must be understood
to mean, without the cooperation Of Congress
(which he deemed necessary to carry these great
reforms into effect"
We have thus, at great expense Of
space in our columns, placed before ouI
readers the chairman's own and his en-.
tire version Of this matter and if his con-
clusion be not the clearest non-sequitur,
there is no truth in logic, and facts prove
the very reverse Of their demonstrations.
The entire gist, the whole sum, sub.
stance and declaration of the chairman is,
that Mr.. WALKER, as early as 1916, de.
clared that great reductions of the expen.
ditures could be made that Mr.. WALKEF
also stated that she had made all the re
duction Of expenditure consistent will
the good Of The public service;;" but that
with the aid of Congress, he could make
further reductions to the extent of half :
million and, finally, that Congress hac
given TO Mr.. MEREDITH "the co-opera
ton Of Congress-" so earnestly sought by
Mr.. WALLER and that, therefore, Mr.
MEREDITH was .inexcusable for not savin.
it, and without inconvenience to public o
70 private interests.
We have thus fully, Jairly and cleorl
stated the positions assumed by the chair
man for himself; and VIC beg leave TO as
him if they do not inevitably lead to tn
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