Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-09-30
POLITICAL.
From the National lntelligencer.
WING EXTRAV ANCE.

From the National lntelligencer.
wHIG EXTRAvA ANCE.
II is lavoriie theme for the opponents
of the present Administration to charge
il with extravagant expenditures. The
same cry was raised against the admin
istrasion of John Quincy Adams, whose
annual expenditures averaged about $l2,-.
100000 But, so soon as change of
rulers took place, the average annual ex-
penditures for the first term of General
Jackson was $l4,0OO,0OO for his sec.
ond term $22, 100000, and for the four
years of Mr.. Van Buren's adminisira-
llon about $30,000,000. The practice
OF The Democratic party, when in power.
in this respect, has always differed very
greatly from their precepfs when out of
office. Yet, notwithstanding the noiori-
e,y of the fact that the Wings have al
ways administered The Government on
more economical terms than their oppon-
ents, the old charge is still continued,
and is already made one of the battle
cries OF .he campaign. .s,a
We have on recent occasion alluded
to the subject, but'now propose to take it
up more in Geiail as regards Mr.. Fill
more's administration.
In Congress the assertion has already
been made that the Administration was
spending 100000, 900 per annum! One
me mber, having stated rather less sum,
subsequently begged to correc, his state
ment, acknowledged that he had over
rated the amount, aud requested permis.
sion to reduce his estimate TO $50 ,000,-
600! We will not attempt TO explain
why either of these assertions were put
forward TO the world, when the facts OF
the case were so perfectly accessible in
the annual Treasury Report for The year
ending the 30,h June, 1851. This. the
latest official document at the time these
assertions were gravely made. exhibited
The enact amount 10 be S46, ,50O.S7S 6S,
with full details of the sums under each
separate head of outlay.
This amount is only $i2 900, 900 less
Than staledby one member, and only $5,-
100000 less than what was stated by a.
mother. These handful of millions
might have been considered small a.
mounts in the eyes of the gentlemen re-
tsrred TO, but the facts might as we'll have
been stated, particularly as correct in-
formation on the subject was q, the very
time lying on their own desks in the
printed Report of the Secretary of the
treasury.
The accounts for the expenditures OF
Ihe fiscal year which closed on the 30th
June, 1852, have just been completed,
and they amount TO about $45,750, 600,
of which sum $l,s67,639 was for re
dempuon of the public debt, willis. The
mount for this object included in the ex-
penditure of tina, proceeding fiscal year
was only S52l ,265, being difference OF
81, ,346,374. To this should also be add
ed. S37 1000 interes, paid on the new is,
sue OF 5 per cent. stock 10 Texas, 10 por
iion OF which was included in the pay
men,s for the year 1850. 81, making to-
ge.her 81 ,72l,374, which being reducled
leaves for the year 1912 the sum OF
S44, l25.000. being a reduction OF near
ly s4,00O,0oo upon the expenditures OF
of lS50-'5l. sd s-.
But il IL continually asserted by our
opponents, when comparing these ex-
pendltures with those of MIR. Polk's ad
minisnaiion, that the latter included the
heavy expenses of war, whilst that OF
Mr.. Fillmore has been in time of peace.
In making this assertion. however, no al
lowance is made for The heavy items a
rising from that war; legacies which MIR.
Polk administration has lett as heavy
burdens upon The Treasury, some TO con-
tnue for years, and some probably to be
perpetual.
We are willing, however, to compare
the present Wing expenditure with that
of Mr.. Polk, not during the war with
Mexico, but previous ,here,o, making due
deductions ffom The Wing expenditures
tor those items of increased outlay which
the Polk administration has enlalled on
the nation in consequence of thar war,
and ,he pay ment of which is unavoidable,
and such other items as have necessarily
become additional charges upon the
Treasury, which had no previous exist
ence as such; or OF sums which really do
not form any portion of the usual and
regular expenses of the Government
Or. in other words, to compare the ex-
pendi,ures Of Mr.. Flllmore's admins
iration with those OF Slr. Polk's for the
same objects.
That there may be no mistake on The
subject, we will proceed 10 state them on
the official authority OF the annual Treas
ury Report, laid before Congress a, the
opening Of the present session.
First let us observe, however. that the
peace expenditures under Mr. Polk
administration for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1886, previous to the Mexican
war, by official accounts, was $26.690,-
TIA, aud we viii make the comparison
with the Wing expenditures for the fis-
cal year ending June 80, 1851, though
that, as already stated, is nearly $4,000
600 more thanln the last fiscal year. end
ing the 30lh ultimo. The preceding ex-
pehdlture for the fiscal year 1855 in-
cluded no portion of the pay ments for
either principal or interest Of the public