The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-26
Vol. Ill.
: the fiscal year ending 3Oth June. ls49. (Mr.

the other side to the dehciencics OF lo4I ana 1922
as in the last year Whig Congress (Mr. Vim
| ton chairman of the Ways and Mcans) made up
| for the deficiencies of Mr. Polk to the amount OF
over Sl3, ,300,0 900.
gentleman from New York if that was not during
the Mexican war. when We had fifty thousand
troops in the field?
| Mr. Baooxs. Yes; but Congress, in declaring
war with Mexico, authorized the raising of the
| troops, and provided the means of carrying it on;
and it was the duty Of the Executive to submit
| those estimates.
Now, it is very true that this was during the
| time of the Mexican war, and it was very proba-
| ble that there would be deficiencies, doubtless
larger deficiencies than would otherwise have been
necessary but it is also true that on the i3th OF
| May, 1876, when the President was authorized to
call into service the fifty thousand volunteers, he
could. IN the December following, have included
in his estimates for the year ending June, lS4s. the
cost of maintaining them. 1t was the power OF the
Adminstration-the country then being involved
in warto face that war, and to estimate for enough
| to carry it on. It knew that, in order to conquer
Mexico, it had to involve the country in prodi
gious expenditure and to bring in the field all the
troops Congress authorized in May, lS46, and it
was its duty, in submitting the estimates in De-
cember, 1876, for the year ending June, 1913, to
fully, fairly, and fearlessy estimate what the cost
of that job would be, certainly, just as much "a it
| ia the duty of this Administration now, a year
| and seven months ahead, to know what will be
| all, and the exact, expenditures of the Govern
ment in the now much larger fields of Oregon and
| California.
xsrIMArEs pURINo THE MKxIcAN WAR.
| But now the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr.
JoNxs) has chosen to introduce this justification of
| the Mexican war defence of erroneous esti
mates; propose to follow him there-not to at
tack but to demonstrate that the leading minds
and leading men Of his party are as faflible
not intend to introduce some facts which have
| before me at all, but it now becomes proper to
show, if war justi6es larger deficiency bills than
peace, or larger errors in estimates, the gentleman
Enl
| me.
Mr.. Polk, in his annual message, and Mr..
| Walker, in his Treasury report, December, 1916,
| stated that il the Mexican war continued to July
| /, IS49, a loan Of 823, ,OO0, 900 would be needed
| to carry the Government forward, and that that
| would leave surplus Of S4,O00,OOO in the trea
sury. But Mr.. Walker, in his report of Decem-
ber, lb47, Notwithstanding this surplus OF
$4,000, 900 that was to be in the trcasury-a loan
Of SIS. 500 900 additional to meet the expenses of
the Government the same year: The Ways and
Means Committee reported his loan bill asked
for-that is, for S,5O0,0O. This Mr.. Walker,
the Secretary of the treasury then, gladdcned the
country with letter to Congress- stating that he
had made the fortunate discovery of error, show
ing the treasury TO havc nearly seven millions OF
dollars more than stated in his annual report The
| Committee of Ways and Means then reduced that
loan of 3lS, 900 to $l2 100000, to carry out
that fortunate discovery But, before the country
was gladdened fully with this most satisfactory
announcement, as early as January, lS4s, the
Secretary Of the Treasury sent to the House an
other statement, saying that, when the first letter
was sent in, he did not know that Mr.. Marcy had
called upon the Committee OF Ways and Means
for 81, ,0O0, 900, 10 supply deficiency, which was
necessary in his (the War) Department, and there
fore that the sixteen million loan would be neccs
sary. This sum the Committee of Ways and
Means reported, and Congrcss acted accordingly.
Now, do not mean 10 censure Mr. walker, or Dir.
Polk administration, for this wild guessing, this
blundcring by millions, unless il be intended to
convey the idea that they had the power OF forcsee
ing all the actual expenditures OF the war, exactly
what it would cost the country, and that il was
their duty therefore, to make estimates that would
not admit Of any possible deficiency; but ] do
mean TO say that no administration. throughout
our whole history, has ever exhibited such want
of appr ehcnsion OF its own means that dd-ml-
lions at a tme-or such want Of comprehension
of the great task il had undertaken, in conquer
ing peace with Mexico. At one time II biundered
upon seven millions Of hitherto undiscovered trea-
sure, but at another time the cruel Secretary OF
War had robbed II Of four millions OF its precious
means and receipts. The war, it is clear, or rather
| the cost of it, had utterly bewildercd Mr. Polk,
Mr.. Walker, Mr.. Marcy, and all who, in Wash
1 ington, had been carrying 1t on.
Equally erroneous were the estimates Of Mr..
Polk's administration for the expenditures for the
hscal year ending July !, lsas. The Govern
ment set them down to be Sa5,7si7s4; but in
only the first months Of that fiscal year the
estimates were changed and run up to S62,7s3,-
ego. The Secretary Of War then estimated his ex-
the session OF Is47 and lS4s he asked for addi-
tonal expenditure OF over Sl4, ,033, ,a34-an addi-
ton OF more than the yearly expenses Of the Gov
crnment during John Quincy Adams's admins
tration
| repeat that do not intend to ccnsurc Mr. Polk,
Mr.. Walker, or Mr.. Marcy; but do intend to say,
| that If gentlemen suppose that this Administra'
tion calculate or estimate better than did the
| last, they require more OF than they did them
selves; and they pay US a compliment we ought to
thank them for.
The Quartermastcr General, Jcsup, submitted
to Mr. Marcy statement Of his deficiencies, upon
the 4th of November, ls47, and there were then
4 srrcarages in his department., for which he est.
mated 81 ,5O0,0OO and for clothing, camp and
| garrison cquipage, s 1860 600 more making In all
nearly Ss,s60 O00-a sum necessary for him as
deficiency. He estimated the expenditure for tho
next fiscal year, for bis own, the quartermsster's
department, to be over SIs,29l 200. This def
| cheney and this estimate were taken to Mr. Polk.
He was frightened by the magnitude Of them; and
IL il within the history Of the Committee Of Ways
and Means not the present committee-tbat Mr..
/ Polk compelled General Jesup to cut down bic
rcaragcs from 81 100000 to $5000O 900, and his
clothing and camp equpage from $1,000 to
| $500, 900 so that, instead Of 8s,460 900. only
| $500 900 given and the estimate OF the
quartermas,er general for the year was cut down
| TO Sl4,250.O 900. But on the I'd Of February, soon
| aftcrwards-for these estimates were cent in De
ccmber-Mr Marcy writes TO the Committee OF
| Ways and Means that he wants, and must have,
| 600 for the clothing department, which
brought back the sum necessary, then, to General
Jcsup's original estimate, 8960OO0. Now, Estate
these great facts in carping sprit, nor with any
love for elimination recrimina tion but to show
that deficiencies must exist, as they have existed
| under administration peculiarly beloved by the
! party now dominant in both Houses OF Congress,
and 70 ask that party to bear in mind that they
always will exist unless the high officers OF the
Government are gifted with omniprescnce, ON
piscience, and omnipotenoe to control all the elc-
ments, and all the circumstances Of war and OF
peace.
prrfcixrcses IN THE HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
But, Mr.. Chairman, DEFICIENCIES alone
| confined TO the executive officers OF the Govern
mcpp have in my hand now a letter from the
Clerk OF this Housc, directed TO the Committee Of
Ways and Means, in which be asks for 900
deficiency ic the cstimatcs OF the expenditures OF
this Housc, $4,000 of which are in the Deficiency
bill which you now have under consideration. And
if the Housc itself cannot judge of its cxpen-
dturcs, docs not know it's own means spends
more than IL has cstmatcded, let not hear
word from this Housc, the majority in IT, against
another branch of the Government, which
spcnd not a cent but ne it is appropriated. will
read the letter
| ''HovsE or RrrnEsrSTATrvxs, Jan. i5, 1852.
'sSfR: At the last session of Congress the som OF
S2O9, ,97l was appropriated to meet the contingent
4 n III n( ntotiv fnY fha