Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-08-12


FoE THE TINES.
A chapter on Ecoaomy-P Political and Private.
Riding a few days ago on the outside of a crowd
ed stage, between Staunton and the White Sulphur
Springs, seated between fellow traveller and the
driver, the conversation turned upon the dongs OF the
Convention, and | expressed my qualification that
some provisions had been adopted by that body that
would have tendency to check extravagant and
reckless appropriations OF the public money and
fine appropriations for Internal improvements to such
great works would confer lasting benefit upon the
State The stagedrivel remarked that tor his part he
could not any objection to such expenditures,
whether they produced profit to the State or not,
for they to do good somewhere to somebody:
and said that if the State were to spend million of
dollars in making tunne in some tanous region
of the West, and that tunnel should never be used he
would not regard the money wasted because the
contractors and aborers would get the benefit of it.
replied that such a doctrine if acted upon, would
make the State bankrupt in twelve month; and that
a. the resources oil the commonwealth were not unm-
ted,-as the money which could be conveniently raised
Tor the purpose OF making roads and canals was
sufficient to accomplish all that desired by all
parts OF the country was obvious duty of political
economy to spend that money to make it yield
the largest return 10 the State, either by the income of
the works themselves, or by the accommodation given
to the trade and travel of the country, and the
sequent enhancement Of the value of property.
might have added, in order further demonstrate
the aacy OF the drivers notion, that it s not true that
the contractors and laborers get the full value of the
money spent upon the WORKS Wncn they are employed
to execute Say that five hundred persons employ
ed Tor year in making tunnel at the price Of one
million ofdollars, they furnishing everything and
ceivug the whole price, The State spends million
of dollars but do the men who perform the work and
furnish the Tools the powder the provisions &c. gain
that much? Asauredy not; they give their time and
labor to the work, besides the money which they
spend upon in the purchase of materials and in find
ing themselves and their families with the neces.aries
| OF life Deduct the value OF what they give TO the
work from what they get for it. and the balance only
is their gain. That balance is in truth often against
them. II the object ofspending public money is sim
| ply to benefit the contractors and laborers who
ceive it, that object would be much ef1ectually
obtained by direct gratuty,cby dividing million of
| dollars for example, among five hundred poor people,
without requiring thenlto waste their time and strength
upon tunnel which is never to be used. Then they
| would gain the whole Of the million If such system
of expenditure as this seems desirable, let it be carried
out, and shall have enormous taxes yearly collect
ed from the people and carried into the treasury in or
der 10 create fund tor arbitrary and grauitous disr-
bution and the whole wealth of the State will be ia
ken from the hands OF those whose industry has accu
| mulattd it, partly to pay army OF tax. gathers
partly to be given to those whose deness and want of
thrift will constitute their only ground of claim 10 it.
crude and idle, would not have done it, indeed if
had supposed our worthy stage-driver be alone in
his opinon but as found him upon other subjects to
be fair specimen Of western radical democracy, SO
| feared he might be upon this ALSO
| This conversation led me into some reflections upon
the uses OF money, applicable both to public and private
so
| as accomplish at least two good purposes at once
1t cannot be denied that the expenditure of public mo-
ney may do good to those who become its recipients
| in affording employment and the means OF Livelihood
and fair profit honest and industrious Iaborers and
artisans in encouraging private industry skill and en-
teprse in various orms, and in comforting reward Of
flee and emolument upon distinguished private merit or
public service. But these benefits, although of great
importance, and requiring care mpartiaty and JUS.
tice in dispensing the patronage OF the State are only
the indirect and incidental benefits the direct and
| oh; TO of tha rofp
The direct and primaryobject in almost all cases should
be public benefit, supposed to be equivalent 10 the
amount proposed to be expended Thus, offices are not
created for the men who to fill them, railroads and
canals projected for the sake OF the engineers and
contractors and laborers who to make lhem But
whenever is practicable in cases it s both
the direct and indirect benefits OF appropriations shond
be aimed at; and those expenditures of public money
will be the wisest and most beneficial to the State
where object of general public utility is obtained
at fair price and the cost expended as to reward
private merit an encourage private industry and en-
terprise. Let this double object be ever borne in mind
and faithfully pursued by public authorities and
| our government will begin to approach perfection-
Ard let the people on their part, in holding to lust
accountability those agents of theirs who coutrol the
appropriation aud expenditure of public money en-
quire both into the suficency of the object of every
appropriation, and into the propriey of the mode in
which the money has actually been expended
These remarks are, with some notifications, appca-
Bile to private affairs also But corruption and ia.
vouritis, rolling and party SPIRIT and the absence
of true craftsmanship, them to be neglected in
public affairs, selfshness ignorance passion or
caprice will make disregard them in their private
expenditures. How much better, wiser and more useful
would be if we systematically and constantly made
every dollar spend upon ourselves perform two good
Offices once; bought only things really useful
to ourselves and purchased them to mako the ex.
pendure do the most good possible to Others Acting
on this principle should op off all things SUI"
perhuous mschievous from purchases: our vices.
vantiss and u Sures would after another 90 by the
board, and an infexbe determination not to buy aov
nj yOrTht ba
money, would promote our health, wealth. our COM
fort and content to an incacuable extent Them act
money spend will enquire where it is most wanted
where it is most deserved. Have you any sewing to
put QUIZ Give it to that poor widow, whose plain neat
dress and mild honest face are an index to her charac-
ter and who wants your work to enable her to supply
her little with bread Do you want coat or your
wife gown9 An there admit it is hard to resist
the worldly temptation OF paying high price FASH
ionabe tailor manua-maker who does not need your
custom, rather than apply TO one less known and less
fashionable, who is still struggling with fortune.
These Illustrations are probably sufficient for the
purpose. What would lnculcate is the vast and multi
form Importance of money, when properly used, as a
means OF doing coed and promoting happiness; and
hence the duty not only OF economy in our expend-
tures but in personal and family expenditures
of such Determinations justice and charity NAV die.
ta'e.
do lot mean to say that the two objects of benefit.
ing ourselves and Others should be combined in every
expenditure for this would be to forbid all disnteesed
charity. do not seek to persuade to be selfish
liz their charity, but 10 be Just and humane even in their
| selhshness. POOR RICHARD
COMMERCIAL RESTRICTION REMovRp-We under
| stand hat the Hon. E. Joy Morris our Charge DAT
fares at Naples, has succeeded in having very bur
| densome tax on our commerce removed with which il,
had for long time been encountered. American yes
sells making direct voyages from the United States to
the ports of Naples have tonnage duty of tour grains
per ton to paw, and those stopping intermediate ports
on their way to the Neapoan ports, have hitherto
been charged forty grains per ton. Our Charge has.
after months negotiation, induced the Neapotap
government to abolish this excessive duty and TO re-.
duce the tonnage for indirect voyages the same
scale exaced Tor direct voyages To show the amount
saved we may refer the first instance which has oc-
CURED under the new arrangement In this case the
barque Joshua Mauran arrived at Naples with cargo
of tobacco, part OF which had been landed at Leghorn