The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-12-02
COL. BENTON ON REFORM.

we Give another extract from the same
speech on the reform OF abuses. The Au.
sean stable at Washington requires more
Hercu!ean powers than Col. Benton pos
sesses to purify it; still his age, position
and influence, il rightly and continuousl,
directed may effect something
/ Reform is always difficult, often haz-
ardous, and sometimes ,hankless Office
The public voice now proclaims abuses Ill
the administration of The Federal Govern
ment, and demands their reform. In the
public restitution il has turned towards
me; but can ony answer IN the words oil
the first political lesson | ever learnt--,he
lesson of thirty years ago on my first arr.
val at Washinaton--that no one man can
reform abuses! that il requires an admins.
ltraiion to do that-requlres the lead OF a
President, aud the backing of Cablno'
and Congress. And the wisdom Of Ibis
admontion has been confirmed BY all sub
sequent experience. In one thing only
|, there can be no mistake 10 this appeal IL
me; and that is in regard II my feelings
and principles. nm opposed u all ahu.
-es, and ready 10 act with any admlnsifa.
Ion, Wing or Democratic, in the great
work u their total eAiirp ton.
Al me bend q these abuses ~ worthy
u tead them, md the legitimate all-prlng
i all minor onesl stands The present IN
anal expenditure oil the Federal Govern
neni, now Jumped al sixty millions Of dol
lars. an increase oi startling amount upon
aar former expenditures. aud out II II pro.
portion 10 our increase oil territory and pop
aation. Senator Houston, disciple q
Jackson and trend to economy, has said
in late speech that that sum should be re
luced al least twenty millions. say s..
too; and il Democracy obtains the execu
tive, as well as the legislative, reins 81
Government, on the iih of March nest.
that reduction should be inscribed on IL
b9naer as one OF the dntles which victory |
imposes. And here let me do Justice
Party warfare throws the blame of these
sixty millions on the present Wing admin |
isiralion. laexarable history will have T.
qualify that reproach! and to tell that
Democratic majafities were in both houses
If Congress when that appalling sum war
voted! And further, thtt ii would hive
been sevent", instead Of sixty millions. il
The 'lawern house fas il il called) Ind
sanctioned al the appropriations voted in
The supper"
One item in this eypeudilure-a new
me, large one. growing one-the one
most uDjnstfiable in itself, and most fruit
il, OF other abuses--is the fresh and mod
arn appropriations for ocean steamers.
commencing 10 1915, upon a sum Of $3.50,
NW. per annum, running up soon To SSH.
100 per annum, and jumping up at the late
session. 10 two millions; which is Isl
about the total annual product of all the
'ales Of all the public lands in the United
States, and this appropriation is for ten
years! with far better chance TO be
doubled, and even qnaarupled than to be
for there were no less than
seventeen additional applications, al the last
session, not granted then. but 10 hang on
i'll they are, now lying 10 wait for the
aext session, and demanding a far larger J
.um. Bat taken as The abuse now stand. J
md unless il can be abared, il NAV be n
:pmed that the whole product oitbe public q
ands-everg hard dollar which the bsrd 2
lands of our farmers can dig from The
,round, and save from their families, and Z
AIRY TO the land offices for ten wears 10
me-every dollar oft is 10 90 TO million
Try spectators IN ocean steam lines
Surely these gentry ought TO be nude tel
oay the expenses of the land :, stem during
hat time -m.de 10 paw the COS, of surveys
and sales! If they get all the proceeds
they ongh, 10 pay the expenses Blt ~
We. the people-you, tho old farmers
pay the cost. and then make a present Of
the ne, proceeds.
mention but one branch Of the plumber
legislation which goes on at Washington
II is not solitary and alone in its iniquity
but has numerous COMPANY. Personal
Legislation (ihe most vicious and ahnseini
81 all kinds Of law MISUNDERSTANDING
10 individuals and companies =
has grown into practice; and is extended
To great variety Of objects besides the
ocean steam lines. Jobs of various kinds
80 '' S'0''''N ~ "pI'fthH's, anu pittb ~
'he price which the jobhers themselves fix
Great purchases are made Of books, often
to be SOLD on the spot Tor little money!
Printing contracts are made by law. Otter
10 he broken against law; and Il douceu'
Of $4,000 sometimes granted to the
breaker: or a new or better contract.--
Documents are printed by the hundred
Thousand volumes, not by book printers.
who would do /, cheap and well, (if need
ed) but BY editors Of newspapers, and to
make fortunes for favnr,es.
CHRISTIAN LIBERALITr A fine new church
edifce for a PRESBYTERIAN congregation, has been
erected in Fort Wayne, Ia, and at a sale Of the
been reserved tor the use of strangers, and others
not regularly connected with the congregation
Chicago Jour.
If that be s'Chris,ian liberality" whal
will orr contemporary say when we inform,
him that 10 every Protestant, church H.
Davenport, save one, the seats are all free
to The use Of Strangers and those not regu.
IarIy connected with the congregation.
DOVE FORA gentleman stopped us this morn
! ing TO enquire the whereabouts OF the estate
Bank - uD0n which jpstitu,inn ha hoo .h..k