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

strictire. Mr.. Secretary WALKER had a.
much authority, as much rightul and Legal
poDer, WITHOUT this " cooperation Of Con-
greSs," TO make the reduction, as has Mr..
Secretary MEREDITH NTH al. We call
close attention to this fact-for stern,
immovable, hinty fact it is and we ask,
can this restriction of the authority OF the
Secretary be THE cooperation OF Con-
gress" sought for by Mr.. WALKER
If it be, then in what predicament does
it place Mr.. WALKER, the Democratic
party, and the Chairman himself
Mr.. WALKER says he did make all the
reductions he could g consistent with the
public good;" but that if Congress should
+" cooperate" with him--id est, require
him 10 sare half million more--he could
do ii consistently with the public good.
The Chairman comes point blank to this
result, and very coolly says to those who
would save both Mr. WALKER and the
Democratic party from this inevitable re-
suit Of his argument, that "gentlemen
ought to do Mr.. WALKER justice !" We
wonder what Mr.. WALKER and his friends
think of this justice administered to him
by the Chairman of Ways and Means.
The Chairman has failed to explain one
curious phase of this affair and that is,
how was il that Mr.. WALKER, pithoM the
aid of this potent " cooperation of Con-
gress," was enabled, and did make many
reductions; and how, upon what principle,
was this division of possible and impossi-
bic reductions determined If he could
withhold some unnecessary expenditures,
why could he not withhold Mn That's the
question
Was there any enactment in existence
compelling these expenditures, so unvil-
hngly made by Mr. WALKER IF there
was, has it been repealed, and when;
Will the Chairman tell u.s.
If, therefore, there was no legal neces-
sHy for these unnecessary expenditures,
las the Chairman declares them to be on
the authority of Mr.. WALKER,) and Mr..
WALKER really did believe he could with
hold half million with no disadvantage
to the public interest, why, in the name
of all that is honest and good, did he not
do it, Answer that, Mr.. Chairman.
And further: if Mr.. WALKER was inca
pable of restraining himself in the cxpen-
diture Of half d million gear improperly,
as he and the Chairman both avow, why
did not his party in 1916, when he pite-
ously called upon them for their aid, re.
strain him from expanding what he plain
ly says he ought not to. spend' Are not his
party equally responsible with himself,
for the useless annual expenditure of hall
millioni-for to this result does the Chair
man arrive in doing justice to Mr..
WALKER.
Then very curious query arises, which
the Chairman in one of his communicative
moods may perhaps deign 10 solve, and
that is
What were the objects of this fascinating
expenditure Of hafa million gear, which
were so irresistible as to bear down not
only the moral sense of Mr.. WALKER,
who, in the midst of his sore temptation
and SHINING, called out Justify on Congress
to save him from his own weakness, but
also to render the Democracy deaf, as an
adder TO his prayers for help 10 restrain
HIMsELF' What serpent was it that thus
beguiled alike Democracy and its high
priest!
All these conclusions flow naturally and
inevitably from the attempt Of the Chair.
man "to do Mr.. WALKER JUSTICE and
the suggestions above arise as naturally
from such defence as odor from the rose.
1t is not we who make charges, but the
postulates of the Chairman are the seeC
which can bring forth no other fruit.
We therefore recommend TO him re
consideration of the matter, and an indul
gence of so much charity in his condem
nation of the Secretary of the Treasury a
will induce him to halt before he strikes
blow at the Secretary, which, TO reacl
him, must pass through both Mr.. WALKEI
and the Democratic party.
!