The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-22
Democratic Financieriny.

The Harrisburg (Pa) Journal publishes
startling list Of defaurers in that State, de-
rived from an official statement showing the
GUS public officers, as appears from the books
In the State Treasury Office on the first day
of January, 1852" The list embraces the
names of three hundred and fifty public officers,
the aggregate Of whose Indebtedness to the
State is little short of three millions of dollars
Two are for amounts exceeding $40, 900 each;
one exceeds $4,000; one $4,000; two be-
tween SC. 900 and IS 900; nine between SO 900
and $1,000 and thirty two range from 81 900
to upwards Of $4,000. The Journal remarks
that the defaulters are "Eocofocos, almost
without exception, /" and that "if the plunderers
were forced To disgorge, sufficient sum
could be realized to liquidate the one thir-
teenth part" of the entire State debt The
Lycoming Dem0crdt-a Democratic paper
has the honesty to assail the system Of roguery
for which its party friends are responsible. 1t
exclaims:
"No honest man would seek TO avoid the pay
ment of just debi; but to be compelled 10 pay the
rupt canal commissioners, swiudling contractors,
and shamefully iai,hless Senators and members, is
indeed applying the screws with a vengeance to
the overscrewed tax payers of this plundcred Com.
monwealth "
As an appropriate sequel to this exposure,
we notice a synopsis Of the General Appropria-
ton bill. passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature
at its late session. The appropriations amount
10 81 .5i2 ,433 exclusive Of loans to the tune of
$4,000; making an aggregate oflitte less than
five millions and a half The new loans
form an addition TO the already enormous pub
lie debt of the State, and form very sugges-
tive commentary on the blessings flowing from
years experience Of the existing Democratic
administration. Governor JOHNSTON, with all
his faults, managed TO make beginning in the
work of reducing the debt. Governor BioLER
sets out on an opposite tack, and has managed
we'll for single year. The State Journal
hints that the appropriations, large as they are,
may possibly fall short of actual expenditures
"lf the funds in the treasury should be found in
adequate to meet the appropriations authorized,
which we deem highly probable, another perma
nent debt viii be contracted. and the next Legsla-
ture VIII be called upon to loot the bill Thus the
public debt will go on increasing. and the tax.
payers may pay the piper.
III it be said that tho law provides against the
expenditure ofany money not in the treasury, we
reply that the laws no barrier TO Locofoco e1.
Tavngance and corruption. Experience teaches
us that provisions OF law standing between Loco
foco plunderers and the plumber are violated with
impunity. They have been thus violated on many
occasions heretofore, and they will be again. Es
pccially is THE the case when important elections
are pending, such as the Presidency, which comes
of this fall The services Of leading aud influen-
entail political trickstcrs must be occurred in con
test like this, snd by what better this be
effected than by giving them fat contracts on the
public works."
The Legislature has also authorized an ad
ditional loan of five millions, to liquidate State
bonds about to become due.