Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-07
WING ExTRAvAGANCE.

CANT expenditures The same cry was raised against
the administration of JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, whose
annual expenditures averaged about tcelce millions
of dollars. But SO Coon as change of rulers took
place, the average annual expenditures for the first
term of General JACKSON was fourteen millions,
for his second term t,oentytaoo millions, and for the
four years of Mr. VAN BURENs administration
about thirty millions The practice of the Demo
cratic party when in power, in this respect, has al
ways differed very greatly from their precepts when
out of Office. Yet, notwithstanding the notoriety
of the fact that the Wings have always administer
ed the Government on more economical terms than
their opponents, the old charge is still continued
and is already made one of the battlecries of the
campaign.
We have on recent occasion alluded to the sub
ject, but now propose to take it up more in detail
as regards Mr. FILLMoRE's administration.
In Congress the assertion has recently been made
that the Administration spending sirty millions
per annum! One member, having stated a rather
less sum, subsequently begged to correct his state
ment, acknowledged that he had overrated the
amount and requested permission to reduce his esti-
mate to Efty-tlree millions We will not attempt
forward to the world when the facts of the case
were perfectly accessible, in the annual Treasury
Report for the fiscal year ending the 30th june 1851
This, the latest official document at the time these
assertions were gravely made, exhibited the exact
amount to be SIS, 005 S7S.6S, with full details Of
the sums under each separate head of outlay.
This amount is only tcclee millions less than
stated by one member, and only fire millions less
than what was stated by another. These handful
ofmillions might have been considered small amounts
in the eyes Of the gentlemen referred to, but the
facts might well have been stated particularly
correct information ON the subject was at the very
time lying on their own desks in the printed Report
of the Secretary of the Treasury.
The accounts for the expenditures Of the fiscal
year which closed on the 30th June, 1852, have
just been completed, and they amount to about
S45750,000, of which sum 81, 867 $3.50 was for re-
demption of the public debt, whilst the amount for
this object included in the expenditure of the preced
ing fiscal year only 1921 ,265 being difference
of 81 1864. To this should also be added
$4,000 interest paid on the new issue of five per
cent. stock to Texas, no portion of which was in
Guided in the payments for the year lS50-5l, max
ing together 81 ,72l 374, which being deducted leaves
for the year 1872 the sum of s44, $4,000, be-
ing reduction Of nearly .tour millions Of dollars
upon the expenditure of 1S50I51.
But it is continually asserted by our opponents,
when comparing these expenditures with those of
Mr.. Folks administration, 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 allowance is made for
the heavy items arising from that war legacies
which Mr.. Folks Administration has left as heavy
burdens upon the Treasury, some to continue for
years, and some probably to be perpetual.
We are willing, however, to compare the present
Wing expenditure with that Of Mr. Polk, not du
ring the war with Mexico, but previous thereto,
making due deductions from the Wing expenditures
for those items of increased outlay which the Polk
Administration has entaed on the nation in conse-
quence Of that war, and the payment of which is
unavoidable, and such other items as have neces-
sarily become additional charges upon the Treasury
which had no previous existence 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 expenditures of Mr.
6iInlHi5tIdtlOu viii tHOSt VI WI. Olk
for the same objects
That there may be no mistake on the subject, we
will proceed to state them on the official authority of
the annual Treasury Report laid before Congress at
the opening Of the present session.
First let observe, however, that the peace ex-
penditures under Mr.. Folks administration for the
fiscal year ending june 80, 1916, previous to the
Mexican war, by official accounts, was s26,690,774
and we will make the comparison with the Wing
expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1851, though that, already stated, is nearly fur
millions more than in the last fiscal year, ending
the 30th ultimo The preceding expenditure for
the fiscal year 1876 included no portion of the
payments for either principal interest of the pub
lie debt, or for trust funds.
Though hostilities commenced in Mexico few
weeks prior to the end Of that fiscal year, and
though arrangements for the war were immedi-
ately commenced, yet very little if any actual pay
ments for the war were made from the Treasury
previous to the then new fiscal year and if re-
duction il made on that account and the real peace
expenditure placed at the reduced and round
Of SIG, 500 900, it will probably be very nearly
or quite correct.
In tho aynendituraa tban of the nresant Adn,in-