Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-03-26
Federal Extravagance.

The debate which occurred in the Senate on
Monday, with reference to the extension OF the
Capitol, is worthy of passing comment. The
discussion was begun by Mr.. Borland, who OBJ
iccted to the half million appropriation, not on
" because the work was badly done, but on gen
eral principles. In word, he was opposed to
the growing extravaganza of Congress, and
thought this one of the questions where that
lavish expenditure should be met. MIR. Manguln
followed in somewhat similar strain de recol-
lccted, he said, when one administration was
turned out for spending thirteen millions year.
whereas now the expenditure had risen to NIFTY
two millions, with every prospect OF its stlll 60
ing higher The extravaganza on winch these
honorabl Senators commented Is indeed an
alarming fact No republic can continue pure,
which s1uarders money as ours has been doing
lately; and when republics become corrupt they
soon cease to be free except in name. We are
clad, therefore, to see two Senators of opposite
parties unite to deplore this departure from
the original economy of the government. Mr..
Borland, indeed, wishes to throw the blame on
the Wings; and Mr.. Mangum, not to be out
done labors to shift it on the Democrats. But
the TRUTHS that both parties are equally to blame,
and that. partly in the endeavor to sustain what
appear meritorious Objects and partly from sheer
oStentation, the extravaganza of the federal gov
ernment has grown beyond endurance.
In fact, a period has arrived not unlike, in
many respects, that which was cotemporary with
John Quincy Adams election to the Presidency.
The federal treasury is regarded as an ineXhausti-
BILE fountain; to which everybody may resort, who
has tact in making money, or who is too indo-
lent to work. Does an impoverished inventor
wish to be repaid for labors originally underta-
ken out of love of science .-he goes to Wash
ington, and bores in Congress till he obtains a
grant which makes him man of fortune. Does
a prncely merchant plan line Of steamers by
which to make him a millionaire ?-he petitions
Congress for an appropriation, under the plea OF
carrying the mails, and gains his end at once.
Does covetous and grasping city become ambi-
tious of being the Paris or London of America I!
it sends committee on committee to Washington,
to ask that a sister city may be robbed of a
great national institution. In a word, from the
private citizen up to the wealthy municipality,
everybody and everything seeks to live on the
federal treasury, and grow wealthy and great
without the trouble of work. In this grand
scheme of plunder, A helps B, and c assists
both, on the pledge of being supported in turn.
1t is only honest men and good republicans
those who scorn to pilfer, and those who think
extravaganza unconstitutional-tha get nothing
in this scramble.
Had Senators Mangum and Borland, instead
of as,aing each others political principles, in
Weighed against the prevailing corruption, and
called on Congress to refuse any and every prl-
vate appropriation, we should have thought bet
ter of both of them. We trust that when the
subject comes up again they will take this manly
and patriotic ground. Neither of them can
have forgotten that Patrick Henry and John
Randolph, with a host Of early statesmen, fore
saw this evil day." Both must remember that
the objections which the first had originally to
the federal constitution were principally from
these fears. 1t is certain that the most eXtrava-
giant monarchies of Europe fall behind the Uni
ted States government in squandering money on
private Jobs and yet it was chief effort with
the trainers of the government to tie up Con-
gress so that economy would be inevitable.
Let us return before it is too late to the origi-
nal principles of the republic. We want more
patriotism both in and out Of Congress. But
we want also return to the E,r-rcaching and
statesman-Eke views of the early fathers OF the
Constitution, those noble men who abhorred
class legislation, and who detected and exposed
it, no matter how lovely the disguise it assumed.
Philadelphia Bulletin.