Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-07-30

Peace; o. = st, H., sand with rs on the question Of slive-
~ we are with you, butt you seek 10 engage Us :" ", -" IS
ltion crusade, linen you are passing oeyohu 'o '"'"' "
your duty" -
WIG EXTRAVAGANZA.
VINO, due consideration is given 10 the circumstances
which havc surrounded the wing dynasty, its extraVaaan'
expenditure is without a parallel In discharsIng lis dulles
!, had nothing 10 originate To invent 1t mad SIM
MD +, follow a beaten track, and keep in motion machinery
rs,dv adjusted TO its hand. When Mr.. Polk retired, and the
whig marty resumed the reins OF power, every department o'
the government, was in most complete oFaer, ana every
branch of the public service was conducted according 10 d Il
efficient AMI economical system Tie natuFui tendencies o'
IL .,;, marry have been restrained. It has been prevented
from entering upon i wasteful system OF internal improve
mcn,s II mas he.n Unable 10 repeal the revenue bill or me
;caeueudcnt treasury law, and thereby incur the hcaVy eS-
pcudiiUre of new systems and new oTgahl"atlohs. Taxing
hose thinps into consideration, The expenditure ofthe ruling
dynasty is without precedent; while the inelhclency "h'ch
ha. been witnessed in every branch, Of the public service Is
without a parable.
Mr.. pix was inarguralci on the 4Ih Of March, t9sa.-
The Mexican war br1He our in May, 1876. The fiscal year
ends on the 30Ih ri June; and IL the army was mo- VIII
drawn from Mexico uulii after The rahticat!onS ~ me tcdS
nj ,..ar, were exchanged ct Quere,aro in May, l54s, me
;. three last years ot Nj Folks administration "tic onioe,c"
Win war cxornGituf"s. Yet The record proves lhat he US
charge, al the ordinary expenses ol Inc government u
conducted a In,.iyn wal, at less cost 10 the country than tie
Wigs demand daring 4 time OF proiouni pcacc-aha 'hls'
too. while the public business is 20 neglected a : To " ~
IN wide. spread dissatisfaction ana complaint. The Ol!cT
and unscruppIous prescription winch the wings established
when they GAGE into power, gave rise al once 10 HteNc'
and waste, and invited corrupt practices. Ia despite ui me
nlpdccs and promises of Grneial Taylor, made 10 the people
belurc Ms election, and reiterated when hc took ime oith "i
So Im, rirdicuyr cahal which surrnundcd him drove hun.
dreds and thousands Of honest, capable and ef1cnnt "lnctls
from Tho rublic service, and filed their places WIN lncXPerl-
cnccd mcn, and in many instances, with worthless FaFf!.
sans. whose only recommend i;ion for public employment
was ;l.pis total unftacss for everything else. Ihus The pun
lie interests became 10 be neglected until the puohc "s!ncso
fell into confusion, cntaiing uncrons and unnecessary our
dens OF Inc treasury, as the necessary fcsuHs u nrHPar
rn... Incoupc;ency and corruption. During Mr. Folks I'D
minisr m ton The c0niunrrcial and financial system YVES adopt
ed. All the Executive made every c5rftinn 10 compass me
rrra,r.t teprce of economy in the public expenditure. in
order 10 place it i'll operation under circumstances ":iGn
which The Wing party hns Of establishing lis system oil mea'
snrcs On the ruin Of the Dcnocra'lrc rohcy Is oy increasing
ILL.," amount nf expenditure until a treasury 'encit SI'ai! vi
nish II witt, an excuse for revising the revenue laws, "'ifa II
,x".rr. IN tssien on me labor OF III: country the heavy Bur.
den az a hint protective torif, concealed y q cunning =
r,np,i,rn. of minimum aud specific duties.
Mr. Walker estimated the cxperti;nre necessary for The
rear ending June 30, lS50-'hat being the hrs; year entirely
under Tue CONF ~, ID lo h"S '""N s37g9, l02 Is
n'c'es. ~. p"," 3,540000 0O
m. a.. ar,'"" ~25,S74,050 IS
43s 2l3,l52 50
Congress, in making appropriations, exceeded the sg:i-
mates of Mr. Walker by two million t"o hundred ana IL;
Ion ,,nua.nd eight hundred and eishty.eight dollars and
fnrty.scvcn cents, and the mears and appropriations ior the
year we're as !"!.i ;IsIi 1880 .7l3 IS
~, ~ " 49,, 35,429,0il 90
p,,,c. sl4,l71G72 IS
Had the WING administration paid attention 10 economy,
instead of dcvoting its time 10 political movements, and is
abilities 10 a division OF the spoils OF victory; mere snonIu
have been a surplus in The treasury July !, lSou, y more
than fourteen millions Of dollars, applicable 10 INC payment
Of the public debt and current expenditure But, unioriu.
ra,cly, extravaganza, and not economy mas oten ne otuel
nf ,h, DIV since Tho wing party come into power; and the
administration exceeded the amount which Congress- IA"
authorized it 10 cxpend, and then came tor"ar' WIN "n
I . =. ,, bl ,plipbt hn IA ltIr nI1O was
(urc,, 10 mass in order 10 protect the public credit and pre-
vent q sioppa.c If tho government. 50 Mite re-afo ia le
Cr,rnIs Of the administration pay 10 public opinion, iiEai they
were cIomurcus AT the delay nccessni! TO consider me rten.'
of the dcfci"ncy; and, viii. reckless and unblusting eiironi'
cry, clarccd The democratic members 0; congress win ~
tious and unreasonable procrastlnatlon Inc actual cSpch'
dIturc for The year was Sl2,0 02, los 90, which deducted rom
The available means as above stated, let a balance In the
treasury %. only S6,6gi, osi Az, when II ought ~ nave ptth
SILL G72 Is.
When the administration fonna iha, il had 10 call on Con,
gross fmy additional appropriations from the treasury. II acted
III a manner which Jusllhcs Ie se'eres' 'eoo" 'c9'''it
led for the year: =,
I ~, r,r,us -, 1888, i6i IS
Exc...o II cxa~s ndi,nres s5.e2s l2l &C
Tits csr;matc, made by Mr.. Meredith after one hall Of the
wear k.d ryuirrd, indicated a treasury deficit Of nearly Sl
miRionc Of doiIIrS; and an explanation Of such an cxtraGrdina-
rs state oiaitaits was iinrcr"usly demanded. In making that
explanation The admins! ratios attempted TO avoid the cOnse-
Guciccs of its acts, and skuk from its Just responsibility,
by drcciyiny The people as 10 the cause ol the excess OF cx-
prnditure and consequent deficiency. The attempt was
made II shift The responsibility on the democratic party, ana
| - relieve Il = admins tralion Of the odium OF its reckless
coniuct. II was e:ca authUritaiiveiy announced mat Tie tx.
r~raord!nary expenditure vas owing 10 the Mexican war,
wler The expenses OF that "9f 10 be paid during the year
had been taken into Mr.. Walkers cstimale, which was the
basis of the appropriation, as TIE items sc have given above,
derive! from .Mr. Folks last annual message, Will prove
The allegation If tic administration was without iouula-
tion-a false prc;cncc put forward 10 avoid and cradG Just
and rirht!ui responsibility. A mere glance al the figures we
have ~ resented shows, mat had the available means Of The
year been NJ more ihan Mr. Msrcdi;hs estimate, the appro.
pria;;ons. including the items grering out Of the lrdr, and
umouating 70 s. ,539 l02 Is, would have been fully met, and
a sur;!us left o. 81, 1874 ,423 %. Mr.. Meredith found hat he
coult not pay the cost of wing principles without using the
who'll ampun,, which he thought would conIs into the .ea.
snrv .,Iyi9g h;m no means whcrewilh 10 meet the appr,-
priat! .:is 10. tie interest on the Grot AMI The INSTRUMENT 10
DC POI! 10 Mexico; and he ace 3Tdinely charged The anti
cipai,i deficit Ia III. Mexican war, to which i was NJ more
20 be attributed than 10 the Presidents salary, or any other
item nf expenditure which had been ioreseen and pro.
ylttd or. Fortunately Inr the country, there was no deficit.
The rarenac law OF 1916 surpassed the anlicipllons OF its
warn st friends, 50 INA, the receipts INFO the ,tcaslr? wee
:, a,,,; liza; il vas era3!lt 10 meet tic heavy Gc un4nds VI
~iig rx,ravacance witrout being e!nptied.
Dariac the first year .: Mr. Pois's udninistratia =, when
war was Impending, for which preparations had 10 nr maGc,
The expenses Of The government reached only 81 ,3iQ,U49 IS;
and tar The whole period Of his administration tie annua!
average expenditure, exclusive OF payments on account Of
the public aeel. was less than il has heen during the three
years OF whig RUE, as the following figures will slcc:
During .Mr. Polk's administration $50 VStul SO
Durins wing rule 40.!7T,J3O 90
s. $3.50 81
Thus it will ,. seen tia; tie viii party reqriTes mc.c mo-
ncy 20 administer IN government 3d-t!, IN \ H'He .! pio-
founi peace, than : democratic administration require 10 al.
minister il satisfactorily, and ~ con!ucl i ioI'ign war al
the sa..s ;:nIc. The friends and a7o!psisrs 0: the aiIaiG.s
lralion caraG. deny that the public expenditure las seen
enormous during The last Three yca:s; but they cH1eavored
10 remove irom the administration al: responsibility for tia;
expenditure 5y affirming il to be !he legitimate !.sa;t Of the
Mey!cau war. Ii would, indeed, be a si:Iguiac .aGt ii the
war should cost us more, now that il is over, ard tie army
| and navy arc recalled, ard reduced TO 4 peace standard, than
il did when our ships b!ockated both Coasts OF Mexico, and
two armies were supported on her soil. This excuse viii
not answer; for the true reason OF the ex,ravaslncc OF gov