The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1852-08-06
aEXTRAVAGANT EXPENDITURES"

A few weeks ago we had occasion to cor
rect a statement made by a democrat of this
place in regard to "the extravagant expendi-
lures of the present Administration" The
charge was but the repetition of one made by
Senator Borland, of Arkansas. Since that
time, we have met with several articles on the
subject, from one of which we take the fol-
lowing extract. The writer, after referring
to the very small amount of business that has
been transacted during the present protract-
ed session of democratic Congress, says:
"a staple of the needless debates in which
those seven months have been wasted, has
been the extravaganza of the Administration
in its expenditures. The stories of those who
have dilated most upon alledged corruptions
are now returning to plague the inventors. -
Hon. s. Borland, verietable Scion come to
Judgment, has found it constitutional and pro-
per to take back and abate some five millions
of the sum total which he charged up against
the Administration month or so ago. This
falling five millions n month, Is like the man
who went out shaking, and came back before
breakfast with a solemn averment that he had
piled up his game to the length and breadth
of six cords, but found himself reduced,
when pressed for particulars, to n single gar
ter snake, and refused to fall another serpent.
This game was begun some time before the
democrats handed over the books to their
successors in l849. In July, l848, President
/ TX sent message to Congress, exhorting
them to economy. He censured Monroe and
Adams, and even Jackson for not having been
more Economically rigid in saving the PEN
MES. He did not conceal that he had run up
debt of from sixty-ive to eighty millions in
three years, and that his successors would be
called on to provide for the defence and gov
eminent of a territory, nearly double the ex-
tent of that which required the care of the
administration when he came into power, but
he told them to save money. Now, it is n
fact that during the last ten months of Mr..
Folks administration, in state of profound
peace, he expended revenue at the rate of
forty.six millions per annum. He left charges
upon the revenue arising from the Mexican
war and other sources, not before recognized,
of nearly fifteen millions per annnm. He left
four millions to be paid in interest, three and
a half millions due to American citizens as
indemnity from Mexico, twelve millions in
four years to be paid to Mexico, vast inaudit-
ed accounts from the war to be settled, the
territorial expenses to be arranged and de-
frayed, and finally the cost of collecting the
revenues to be charged as an expenditure
None of these things had existed in our finan-
cial system before, and the sum total of them
was an extra fifteen millions; which has been
duly and honoraby paid. And it has been
paid, not only without borrowing but eight
millions of the Polk war debt has been wiped
off, and the whole twelve millions of Mexi-
can indemnity has been paid; with its $780,
600 of annual interest. And witha, the ag-
gregate expenditure does not exceed by more
than two millions that of the last year of
peace under democratic rule. II more splen-
did financial achievement has rot been per-
formed by any administration. The surplus
revenue is now upwards of fifteen millions
of dollars, locked up in specie in Snb-Trea-
sury vaults. AS fast as the Polk debt falls
due, it will be paid off; and, if Gen. Scott be
elected, means will be taken to anticipate the
maturity of the loans. so as to balance the
books, and dispense with the expensive ma
chinery of managing stocks, paying interest
and SO on"