The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-20

cal year. and has carried up the expenses Of the
government to $44,ooo.ooo for single year But.
speaking OF the deficit cannot omit TO mention the
want OF good failhio call il by no harsher
mas marked Mr.. Meredh's conduct with regard to il II
viii be remembered thai when the deficit first
noanced BY the two Official organs in this city. was
stated that the current adequate 10 the or
binary expenses OF the government, and that the deficit
was occasioned by the expenses growing out OF the
Mexican war. Now, the public records show that the
expenses growing cut Of the Mexican war were fore
seen and provided for by the last Congress, while
The returns from the custom houses and land
Offices show that the revenue was amply sufficient
to discharge all those appropriations; yet Mr. Mere
dith and his compeers in the cabinet exceeded the
estimates for the ordinary expenses OF the govern
ment so far that there enough in the treasury
meet the specific appropriations for the expenses Of the
Mexican war In this state OF things Mr. Meredith tells
the country and prevails upon General Taylor to reite
rate his message, that the deficit is chageable to the
Mexican war, and by nnuendo. chargeable on the last
administration. The Secretary OF the Treasury knew
that had he not exceeded the appropriations for the ord
nary expenses of the there would have been
no deficit; and he knew that the deficit was no more
cbargeable to the Mexican than to the last war with
Great Britain
We have already written greater length than we in
tended; yet there is prominent point in Mr. Mere
dth's administration which we cannot pass over in
silence. We allude TO his resistance to the law
Of March Sd. ls4e, requiring all moneys, receivable
from customs and from other sources be paid imme
datey into the treasury. and limiting the expenses Of
collecting the from customs $l,56oooo To
prevent msapprehenson quote the first four sections
of the ACT rs follows.
enacted By Ssnate and House Of Representatives Of
che Unitea States Amgica IN coaes dsembed That from
and forty nine, gross all duties received from
customs from the sales Of public lands, and from all
shai be paid by the officer agent receiving the same
into the treasury of the United States at early day
Of salary, fees costs charges expenses claim
description whatever Propidsd That nothing herein
contained shall be construed alter the existing laws
regulating the collection Of the Of the Post Office
Department
as may be for the payment Of debentpres
drawbacks, bounties and allowances which may be
same hereby appropriated for that purpose Of
money 10 the treasury 70 be expended under the direction
of the Secretary Of department. according the laws
authorizing said debentnres drawbacks bounes and
allowances Propidsd That the collectors Of the
shall be the dsbursng agents the aforesaid deben
tnres drawbacks, bounes, and allowances; and that all
debentnre certificates issued according law shall be
eeived payment Of duties the where the
a me has been issued the laws regulating drawbacks hav
SEcrIos lad Be farther e~aed That il shall be the
duty OF the Secretary OF the Treasury submit Congress-
the regular session. estimates
OF appropriations which may be reqn ed provide
OF collecting the from customs, and also
from public lands for second half OF the fiscal
year, and separate estimates said purpose for the
ending the ihrrieh June, eighteen hundred and y
SECTION And Be ii further enacted That 50 much money
he pay the of collections
half OF the next fiscal year. and until specific appropria
for the objects shah be made by Congress- be and the
treasury be expended AFTER the theth June, eighteen
hundred and under the direction Of the Secretary
thereof confomaby law and regulation Prorided, That
the expenses Of collecting the from shall
and sixty thousand dollars annu, together with such
under the law paid into the treasury for dray
age, carriage labor and storage, and In proportion for
This law approved on the Sd OF March. 1s49, and
conceive that there be rational doubt that
il intended, expressly states operate .from
and after the 3oth day OF June, ls49 Indeed, have
proof that Mr. Meredith considered it, for, during the
last year, the month OF June Of that year. if
ny at fault, Mr. Meredith directed that large po-
ton OF the Office connected with the revenue marine
should be peremptorly dismissed from service and in
order shield himself from the responsibility OF that act
he alleged that the law limiting him to 81 10000 left
him alternative. This allegation equivalent
direct and positive admission that the law which
have quoted took effect the 3oth OF june lsas Hay-
ing dismissed those officers under the law, Mr. Meredith
continued 10 fill the houses with worthless-and
useless il not worhessmen, in order 10 pension par-
sans the public treasury and then in order TO
the extraordinary expenses which his conduct made
cessary, be and Mr.. Attorney General Johnson-wAhout
even plausible ground stand on-decared that the
law which made ii necessary TO dismiss the revenue
officers in june 1919, did not 60 into effect until the
FIRST day Of January, 1850 We how any can
did mind believe that this latter declaration made
in good faith for il is not only against The plain words
of the law. but directly contrary Mr.. Meredifhs own
Interpretation OF it, when he dismissed the Off
GERS last June. We say that il looks TO like
naked attempt 10 extend, in defiance OF law for six
months the power OF the Secretary OF the Treasury
the public exchequer, and TO enable him 10 reward ad
lbiium the faithful servants Of the no-pary dynasty
We have say this point and there other
features in the sho OF the Secretary OF the Treas
ury which demand notice. But have not space 10
chronicle them to-day We shall recur TO the subject
no distant time, when shall take occasion 10 notice
Mr. Meredh's attempts 10 break down the
housing SYSTEM and examine his character fully by
criticising some OF his estimates Of expenditure
The Montgomery (Alabams) Advertiser commits an
error in the following paragraph in its paper in the 18Th
instant:
House OF Representatives in Congress has introduced into
nj